Dtn 21 1 16

Produce Dasuki on Feb. 16, Court orders FG

Ï `Ɔƌ Ɨ E Ƒè ƐƓ Ɛ ƆƏ ƈ EƑƉƆ ƍƏƈ Ï #dd ƏƆƍƋ ƅƆ ƅ Ə Ɔ ƈ Ɛ 9^R ƋƆ ƗƆƏ ÎÎÎThe

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

Federal High Court in Abuja presided

over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Wednesday ordered the Federal Gov-

ernment to produce former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki

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

(rtd), in court on February Continued on page 12

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 28

GAINERS

N150

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 19th January 2016.

WAPCO

78.3

80

1.7%

UACN

16.4

17.22

0.82%

NESTLE

703.05 675.1

-27.95%

MOBIL

145

137.75

-7.25%

INTBREW

14.9

16.3

1.4%

NB

94

94.65

0.65%

GUINNESS

102.89 93

-9.89%

7UP

166.25

162

-4.25%

2016 Budget splits Senate along party lines Ï ƑƗ ƆƐ óƗƆ Ɨ ƏƏƈƒ Ƌôè ƕ ^#^ dƆ Ɛ Ə Ï 9Ɛô Ɛ Ɔ ƄƆ Ɛ ƆƒƆƏ ^ dƆ Ɛ Ə Ï Ɔƍƈƅ ƄƑƗ ƆƐè ƕ 1Ƅ Ɖ Ƅƈ ƌƈƋ `Ɔƍ ƄƆ ƈ ƗƆƄ ƐƆ Olufemi Samuel and Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÎÎÎAs the Senate began de-

bate of the 2016 Budget proposal of President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe stirred the hornets’ nest when he described it as unrealistic and hence, “dead on arrival”.

While PDP members of the Senate hailed Abaribe’s position, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were obviously incensed and at different times rose in defence of the budget which they described as the best ever in the history of budgeting in Nigeria. ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ LƑ ƌƌ ƗƑ Ƒ Əƈ æƾ Ɨ Əƈ Ɛç ƈ Ɨ ƊƆ ƓƈƐ 0 Ƒ ƗƆƏè ƈƋƋ÷LƆƋƈ Ɨ 1 ƐƆ 0 Ƒ Ɨ Ɛƈ è LƏê ƈƋƋ 1 ƐƆ æƾ Ɨ ƋƆƇƐç ƗƑƏƈ ƅ ƑƏƐƆ ƕ ƒƈ ƈƐ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛƈ Ƌ yƈƋƋ è ƄƑƉ Č zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕê zƈƐ Ɛ Ɔƌ ƏƆ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ Ƈ # ƐƆ 1Ə Ƒƍ Ƈ ƌƍ ƈƆ è Ƌ Ɖƈ ƋƈƊ # ƐƆ æƋƆƇƐç Ɨ Lƈ ƈ ƐƆƏ Ƈ 6Ɔ ƋƐ è ^Ə Ƈê 9 ƅ ƗƆƓ ƋƆê

Attacks on pipelines: MM^ ƑƐ ^ ƏƐ 6 Əƅ ƑƏƐè E ƗƑ g B 1 ƏƆƇƈ ƆƏƈƆ

2019:

Power play at Imo Govt House g 8

ƑƏƐ ƏƆ ƆƏƒƆ ƉƑƗ ƌƆ Ɛ dƆ ƐƆ ƋƆ ƗƆƏ ƈƍ ƑƈƐ ƗƆ ƍƈƐƆ ƍƆƐƈƐƈ g 22

Ï Seriki House asks Court to stop Adetunji as next Olubadan

Continued on page 6

Stolen N1.34tr:

Name the culprits, g7 Fayose dares Lai Moh’d

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2

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Page Three Æ s

3

Editorial Al-Makura’s lamentation over Almajiri kids

R

ecently, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tank Al-Makura described as sad and embarrassing the Almajiri syndrome that has allowed young boys to roam the streets begging for food and alms in the Northern part of Nigeria, daily. AlMakura’s lamentation was informed by the sight of such young boys who are being denied education and left to wander like sheep without shepherd.

We share the pains and frustrations of Governor Al-Makura over the syndrome that has become a way of life in some parts of northern Nigeria.

In traffic everyday around towns in northern Nigeria, you see boys with plastic bowls begging. They are dressed in no more than rags and many times do not even have shoes on their feet. According to commentators, these children are pupils of Islamic boarding schools, known as Almajiri in search of religious knowledge. Unfortunately, these children are sent out to beg every day by their teachers and most times, the food they eat depends on what they bring in.

This system has been blamed for the rise of child beggars in northern Nigeria. Incidentally, many parents do nothing to help either, even as they send their children to these schools and do not bother to check up on them. More alarming is the fact that some of them are aware of the situation and ignore the danger this poses to the children. It is worth restating that the Almajiri syndrome can be said to be another form of child abuse, as it subjects these children to untold hardship of traversing cities, begging for food and alms. Reports and statistics show that there

are about 10 million of these children roaming the streets of Northern Nigeria.

Something urgent must be done by the authorities to end this embarrassing syndrome. That is why the admonition by Al-Makura for parents to send their wards to government-approved schools and not engage them in such retrogressive practice should be heeded. There is no denying the fact that the Boko Haram insurgency is being sustained by Almajiris who have not only shunned Western education but also through indoctrination become willing recruits.

Those who blame poverty and economic inequality as root causes of Boko Haram should know that the Almajiri system has perpetually kept parts of northern Nigeria from attaining educational progress in contrast to southern Nigeria. The system, as is currently practised, has outlived its usefulness. These children are the leaders of tomorrow and without educating them; the future of the country and the region may be bleak, developmentally. Therefore, the system must be stopped, remodeled and integrated into Nigeria’s educational system. Knowledge is the pedestal on which a nation’s economic development depends.

No nation achieves greatness if its children, who are its greatest assets and successor generation, have no access to quality education. The fact that the majority of these children do not attend conventional schools makes the situation quite worrisome.

It therefore behooves the political and religious elite in the north to come together, through such bodies like the Northern Governors Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum, to tackle this menace.

Lassa fever: Health minister’s gaffe Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏEight

months after assuming Nigeria’s Presidency, officials of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration have continued to blame the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for the woes that befell the country in the past as well as those currently afflicting the country.

However, a comic dimension to the Jonathan administration bashing took place last week when Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, said the Jonathan administration should be blamed for the outbreak of the Lassa fever viral disease currently ravaging the country.

The disease as at last week had killed 41 persons out of 93 reported cases across 10 states of the federation. Many more reportedly died from the epidemic this week.

According to the Health minister, had the Jonathan administration implemented a roadmap on health drawn up in 2012, Lassa fever viral disease would not have broken out in Nigeria in 2016. What an alibi!

It is sad that Prof. Adewole, a former vice chancellor of the nation’s premier university, University of Ibadan, with no less than 32 years working experience as a physician, can come up with such excuse when it is President Buhari and the APC that have been in charge of affairs in Nigeria in the last eight months.

Poser: How can anyone one in his right senses

Words On Marble :

blame the Jonathan administration which left office on May 29, 2015 for the latest outbreak of Lassa fever viral disease in Nigeria?

Even if the so-called roadmap on health drawn up in 2012 was not implemented by the Jonathan administration, why is it that Prof.

Adewole since assumption of office as Health minister not dusted the document and prevailed on the Federal Government to implement it before the disease resurfaced in the country?

It is imperative that the Health minister and other officials of the Buhari administration confront challenges in their sectors headlong, rather than blaming the Jonathan administration for everything that goes wrong. Continuing on that path will portray the officials and the administration as unprepared for governance.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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

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“When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind.”

“The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.”

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Attack on gas pipeline: Nigeria loses N470m daily ÎÎÎThe

Federal Government has announced that it is losing a huge sum of N470 million daily following the militant’s attack on the Escravos gas pipelines in the Niger Delta last weekend.

Besides, the repairs of the pipelines would cost the government N120 million to function again.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Hakeem Bello, the damage done to the pipelines would have far reaching effects on the power situation in the country.

The statement read: “As security agencies intensify the search for culprits behind the act, it has been established that the week-

end’s attack on the Nigeria Gas Company’s pipeline connected to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s facility at Escravos, will impact negatively on the Olorunsogo NIPP plant (capacity 600MW), and other Power Plants.

“The sabotaged gas pipeline which contributes to the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) has led to a loss of 160mmsfcd of gas daily. At a cost of $2.50 per thousand scf, this loss means about $400,000 loss to the country on a daily basis (N78, 800,000 daily) in gas volume. This is in addition to losses to be incurred daily from affected Power generation ($1,988,223 or N391, 680,000 daily). The total daily loss to the country is therefore estimated

at N470, 479,931. Repairs of the damaged pipeline is estimated as costing ($609,137 or N120, 000.000).

“The real sector of the economy has also been counting its losses as some cement companies around Olorunsogo like Ewekoro and Ibese are also affected.

“The latest incident has occurred just as the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, along with allied agencies has been making concerted efforts to improve gas supplies to the Power Plants. Such efforts led to previously offline plants like Ihovbor and Sapele coming back online and the subsequent output making up for the loss in

power. The pipelines are being actively monitored for further attacks or other unforeseen impacts.

“Available records show that six incidences of vandalism from December 2014 to February 2015 which affected the Trans Forcados Pipeline (at Oben, Sapele, Oredo) and Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (CNL) led to a loss of 1,100 MMscfd.

According to industry experts, a loss of 200 MMscfd is equivalent to a Power reduction of 700MW.” While the industry is currently generating about 4120Mwh/h on average (as at 17/01/2016), it is without doubt that performance would have been better without the additional setback caused by the weekend’s incident.

5 News

Court reserves judgment on Senate leadership Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎ Justice Adeniyi Ade-

mola of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, reserved judgment on the suit challenging the legality of the Senate Standing Rule used in the election of Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

The judgment has been held back following petition written by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, insinuating bias on the part of the Justice Ademola whose wife has been

appointed Head of Service, Lagos state government.

Justice Ademola said on Wednesday that the judgment on the suit will be delivered within the time limit stipulated by law, except the chief judge stop it.

The judge’s remark followed an objection by five Senators who instituted the action to a petition written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, asking for transfer of the case from Justice Ademola, even when judgment has been reserved.

Prof. Ilemobade: Tears as Court sentences domestic staff to death ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÎÎÎ The Ondo State High

Court, in Akure, has sentenced the two domestic staffs of Prof. Albert Adeoye Ilemobade, the erstwhile Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), to death by hanging.

Daniel Ita Effiong, a 24 -year- old night guard and Olayemi Bamitale, 36-yearold former driver of the late professor were convicted on Wednesday by Justice Williams Rotimi Olamide after

being found guilty of three count charge of conspiracy to murder, murder and robbery.

A copy of the charge sheet obtained by journalists read below; “That you Daniel Ita Effiog and Olayemi Bamitale on the 21st June, 2015, at about 9pm at No. 1 Ikere Street, Ijapo Estate, commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap.37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo state of Nigeria 2006.

PDP asks court to remove Faleke as lawmaker

Peter Fowoyo

ÎÎÎ The can-do Nigerian spirit on display on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI.

Reps to probe Abuja land swap, owners of undeveloped plots Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÎÎÎ The House of Repre-

sentatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory has disclosed that it will investigate the land swap policy of the last administration as well as unveiling the identity of the owners of undeveloped plots located in high brow areas of Abuja.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Herman

Hembe made this known on Wednesday while speaking to journalists in Abuja.

He said the House mandated the committee to carry out the investigative hearing in an attempt to unravel whether firms allocated plots of land under the swap initiative were complying with the regulations guiding the implementation of the policy, especially in the provision of infrastruc-

ture or that the beneficiaries were just out to defraud the government.

“This policy was initiated by the last administration because government said it lacked the funds to provide the much needed infrastructure and as such the allotees of such plots were to provide the infrastructure.

“I am aware of 850 hectares allocated to a single company. The land swap hasn’t been

done in Nigeria before and one would have expected that the former administrators of the FCT will have allocated one district to private developers as a pilot scheme and thereafter, assess how well the scheme works before extending it to other areas.

“For someone like me, I am a worried when you extend the scheme to eight districts in one fell swoop”, Hembe said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approached a Federal High Court, Lagos, in a suit No:FHC/L/08/1680/15 seeking an order to remove James Faleke as the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos state in the House of Representatives.

The suit was filed by Olakunle Okunola, a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, while PDP is listed as the second plaintiff.

Also sued apart from Faleke as respondents in the suit are: the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Okunola and the PDP are urging the court to declare that the All Progressives Congress breached Section 37 of the Electoral Act when it nominated Faleke for the

Faleke March 28, 2015 National Assembly election, and later nominated Faleke as its deputy governorship candidate for the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi state.

The applicants are urging the court to declare that Faleke’s membership of the House of Representatives had terminated because his voting data had been transferred from Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State to Ekinrin-Ade ward of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

2016 Budget splits Senate along party lines Continued from page 1 As this was going on at the Senate, the House of Representatives too on Wednesday commenced debate on the corrected version of the 2016 Appropriation Bill of N6.08 trillion as submitted

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APCLagos) in his lead debate on the budget proposal appealed to fellow House members to facilitate the speedy passage of the budget.

Gbajabiamila, who described the budget as epic and historical, added that it was an inclusive one that seeks to carry all Nigerians along, pointing out that with a N2.2 trillion deficit, it would be the first time that domestic borrowing estimated at N984 billion is higher than foreign borrowing of N900 billion.

He commended the President Buhari administration’s proposal to spend N500 billion for social intervention initiatives, adding that it would provide for the recruitment and training of 500,000 unemployed graduates. ``It is an epic budget because it is a budget based on the internationally acclaimed zero based budgeting system where every kobo has been newly justified by the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs)”, he said.

According to Gbajabiamila, when there is a downturn in the economy, “you rejig or stimulate the economy by pumping more

money into it. This is what the proposals contained in this budget seek to do. ``Stimulate an otherwise wobbling economy by infusing and injecting N6.08 trillion into the economy, particularly its capital component of N1.85 trillion, representing 30 per cent of the budget”.

At the Senate, debate on the 2016 budget kicked off after the Senate Leader, Muhammed Ali Ndume gave the breakdown, while harping on its ambition to ensure the diversification of economy, creation of employment opportunities, poverty reduction and lowering of corruption.

First to speak was Senator Abaribe, (Abia) who took on the government for increasing the spending on Presidency from N580 million in the past budget to N1.7 billion.

He said the adjustments made by the Presidency on the budget had indicated that the amount of N7 billion had been removed from the money voted for car purchase by legislators while spreading it on other subheads.

Abaribe also expressed surprise that the Presidency had voted in the budget the sum of N3.9 billion for renovation of the presidential villa, contending that the budget was not realistic in view of the dwindling fortunes of the country’s economy.

He lamented that while the Federal Government pegged the benchmark of oil on $38 per barrel, the

price of crude oil on the international market has been falling consistently and up to $27 per barrel as at Wednesday.

He, therefore, called for the withdrawal of the Budget which he said will run into a hitch at the implementation level.

In a swift response, Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe) fired back at the PDP Senator, stressing that the challenges the economy of Nigeria was having have nothing to do with the falling price of crude oil but large-scale corruption allegedly perpetrated by the past government of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Lawan, who at the start of the 8th Senate made a

bid to be Senate President, described the 2016 budget as the best ever, given the genuine intention of the government to attend to the interest of the ordinary Nigerians.

He said Nigeria had been short-changed by the past PDP governments for 16 years, stressing that besides that of 2005, no budget all through the reign of PDP in power recorded up to 40 percent level of implementation.

The PDP government, he said, carried corruption to the rooftop with a revelation that about 55 Nigerians who served in the past governments stole a huge amount of N1.34 trillion.

He lauded President Buhari on the 2016 budget,

which according to him resolve to set aside 30 percent of the votes for capital projects, while also voting the sum of N5,000 for the youths who are out of employment.

He noted that the budget has done well by de-emphasizing the influence of oil revenue while focusing attention most significantly on the need for diversification.

Speakers from both the APC and the PDP had canvassed different opinions on the budget while each of them apparently argued on party lines to either praise or castigate the budget accordingly.

Another PDP member, Philip Aduda in his contributions berated the 2016 budget on the basis that

while it voted the sum of N37.7 billion for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it failed to outline how it intends to offset the outstanding debt of N300 billion which FCT owed its contractors.

At a point, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu had to intervene with an appeal to his colleagues not to dwell on party sentiments while addressing pertinent issues in the budget.

According to him, debates on the budget should be made in the interest of the 30 other political parties who are equal stakeholders on national matters as well Continued on page 12

L-R: Governors, Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi; Nasarawa, Tanko Al-Makura and Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje, during the signing of Nigeria’s commitment to eradicate Polio in Abuja… on Wednesday.

Seriki House asks Court to stop Adetunji as next Olubadan

ÎÎÎAnother

acclaimed chieftaincy line in Ibadan, the Seriki clan, has asked an Ibadan court to stop the Oyo State Government and the Olubadanin-Council from installing the Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, as the next Olubadan of Ibadan land.

Head of the Seriki line, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, and five others on Tuesday, filed a motion seeking an order compelling the government and the Olubadan-in-Council to

install Oyediji as the next Olubadan.

Oyediji, 89, and others based their prayer on a 1989 Supreme Court judgment which ordered recognition of the Seriki as the third line to produce the Olubadan.

According to him and the motion filed by his lawyer, A.G. Adeniran, before the Oyo state Chief Judge, Justice Mukthar Abimbola, the Olubadan -in-Council had, since 1989 when the Seriki line obtained a Supreme Court judgment in their favour,

denied them the opportunity of being admitted into the Olubadan line.

The businessman alleged corruption and disregard for rule of law on the part of the Olubadan -in-Council. He said he was the next to be installed Olubadan based on the said judgment.

The motion will be heard on January 28.

According to him, the alleged marginalisation of the Seriki line began since the last Otun Seriki, Chief Adisa Akinloye, was denied the opportu-

nity before he died in 2007.

He said that Seriki House was the third line in the chieftaincy of Olubadan, adding that upon the denial, the Supreme Court in 1989 ordered that Seriki line be included as the third line to the appointment of Olubadan.

Oyediji claimed that the problem with the Seriki line started with the making of the 1959 Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration which put Seriki under the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadan and provided for

the first time that Seriki can only be promoted to Ekerin Balogun only if there are two simultaneous vacancies occurring in the Ashipa and Ekerin Balogun titles.

He further explained that upon winning against the then Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Oloyede Asanke and all the Chiefs in Balogun and Olubadan line, after challenging the said chieftaincy declaration, the Olubadan then prevailed on the Seriki chiefs not to insist on three lines for

the Olubadan chieftaincy, but rather chiefs in the Seriki line should cross to Ekerin Balogun and Ekerin Olubadan on the two lines whenever there is a vacancy in any of the two lines.

According to him, the out-of-court agreement was that the Balogun and Olubadan lines would each have two steps of promotion from Ekarun to Ekerin in their respective lines before the Seriki line shall have its own promotion to Ekerin in any of the two lines.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

7 News

Niger gets approval to access N10bn CBN bailout fund Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (right), receiving the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye to his Aba Lodge when Adeboye visited the Governor in Aba, Abia State… on Tuesday.

FG, states sign new Polio pact Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Federal Government and the six states with polio cases, on Wednesday, signed a new commitment for the routine immunisation against the crippling virus.

The commitment is also to ensure that the country achieved its ambition to be certified as poliofree by 2017.

Tagged “Abuja Commitment”, the MoU states the roles of state governments in the polio eradication effort, which includes prompt response to cases and release of funds to relevant agencies for that purpose.

The states with polio cases are Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto and Yobe.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman of the Nigeria

Governors’ Forum, Hon. Abdulaziz Yari, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the federal government and the states, respectively, at a ceremony, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. It was witnessed by the Chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates.

Buhari said the agreement would strengthen their Primary Health Care systems through community sensitisation and support programmes.

He said: “I am pleased to inform you that the six states, mostly impacted by polio, have signed an MoU on routine immunisation.

“This MOU is a commitment by the State Governments, namely Kano, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto and Yobe, to strengthen Primary Health care system through community sensitisation

and support programmes.

“Based on this, I will take this opportunity to call on all state governors, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health to sustain this momentum to ensure that we maintain the zero-polio case status.”

Buhari stressed the importance of the meeting on polio, noting that his administration and those of his predecessors had given the issue of polio eradication the highest priority leading to the recent de-listing of Nigeria as a polio endemic country.

According to him, “The issue of polio eradication in Nigeria has been a matter that I, and my predecessors, have given the highest priority. It is this continuous prioritisation that has got us, as a nation, to where we are today. The

N1.34tr fraud: Name the culprits, Fayose dares Lai Moh’d Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏGovernor

Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has challenged the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to make public names of the 15 former governor and 55 Nigerians that he claimed stole N1.34 trillion between 2006 and 2013 or keep his mouth shut permanently.

The governor, who also described as ‘disgraceful, bringing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh to court in handcuff ’, said; “Even the masterminds of Mandala and Nyanya bomb

blasts, Kabiru Sokoto and Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche were not handcuffed when they were arraigned in court.”

He continued, “The reality is that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government has destroyed the economy within eight months in power and rather than look for solutions to the problems facing Nigeria, Lai Mohammed and his cohorts are branding bogus figures about stolen money just to cover up their lack of solution to the country’s economic problems.”

The governor’s message was contained in a release issued by his Special Assistant on Public

Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

Governor Fayose also said it was funny that close to one year after it won the presidential election, the President Mohammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government was still operating as if it was campaigning for votes.

The governor continued, “They are turning governance to Nollywood, such that when one movie is about to end, they release another one. As it appears that the $2.1 billion arms deal movie is getting to an end, Lai Mohammed introduced another movie titled; N1.34 trillion loot.

Pita Chikwem Minna

ÏÏÏThe

Niger State Government, on Wednesday, got the approval from its House of Assembly to secure another bailout fund of N10 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had written a request to the House for the consideration and approval to secure the funds to states.

According to him, the bailout fund would enable the government to meet up with the development projects in the state.

The CBN bailout funds to

state is in line with the federal government’s resolve to reflate economic activities in the country.

Giving the approval, the Niger state House of Assembly told the state government to specify how the funds would be expended.

According to the Minority Leader, Honorable Bello Ahmed, the request came at the right time because the state was currently encountering financial challenges adding that the funds, when accessed, should be used on priority projects, which included youth empowerment, health, agriculture and rural development.

Saraki assures ex-legislative aides on payment of severance allowance

ÏÏÏSenate

President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has assured legislative aides and members of the 7th National Assembly that the payment of their severance allowance would commence soon.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said all efforts were being made to ensure that the former aides were paid their entitlements, and attributed the delay to the non-release of the funds by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The National Assembly had, on December 1, 2015, passed the N575 billion supplementary budget presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, out of which N10.6 billion was allocated for the settlement of the

Saraki

severance benefits of the legislative aides and members of the Seventh National Assembly. N5billion was earmarked for severance allowance of exlegislative aides It will be recalled that the tenure of the 2015 Appropriation Bill had been extended till March this year by the federal legislature.

Ambode welcomes admission of Lagos into Odu’a group ÏÏÏThe Lagos State Governor,

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has welcomed with joy the admission of the state as the sixth member of the Odu’a Group, describing it as a major landmark in the effort of the south-western states of Nigeria towards regional integration.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Ambode believed fervently that the drive towards regionally integrating the South West of Nigeria could be effectively pursued if all the states in the region combined their resources, work together and maximised their compara-

tive advantages in order to build a strong regional infrastructural and social links amongst the states.

“Governor Ambode said that Lagos joining the Odu’a Group is a priority for his administration.

“He observes that with its huge population, its vibrant economic base and its being the centre of economic and business activities in Nigeria, Lagos is uniquely placed to contribute to the development and growth of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OIC), the investment arm of the group, as well as the integration of South West Nigeria in general.

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Politics

Æs

2016 Political summit ‘ll consolidate gains of 2015 election — Ifedi Okwenna As countdown to the maiden National Political Summit, a brainchild of the Save Democracy Group- Africa ticks away, The director General of the group who was also a former commissioner in Anambara State and one of the brains behind the summit, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, bared his mind to a select group of journalists in Abuja. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE was there. Excerpts: Why is the National Political Summit coming at this period?

It is important at this point in time to always create a platform whereby the political class will

come to dialogue. Each time we wait for a national conference, it takes about 15 to 20 years, then it will run for weeks and months, and then we package the CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

2019: Power play at Imo Govt House

Okorocha Val Okara, Owerri As the crisis over the sacking of over 3,000 workers of the Imo State government by the state governor, Rochas Okorocha is yet to settle, a rumpus of a new dimension is rearing its head at the Government House, Owerri.

The new tiff has to do with a power play which has ensued at the Imo State Government House, over who takes the man-

Madumere tle of governance in the state as Governor Okorocha travelled out of the country.

The governor was yet to have travelled without handling over to any of his political aides to oversee the affairs of the state in his absence.

A press statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemodo at the weekend said the governor had travelled to Abuja enroute abroad for a brief vaca-

tion.

Daily Times reports that, the state deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere whom the governor would normally had handed over to was not in the state when Okorocha jetted out of the country, as he (Madumere) came back from his US trip last Sunday.

However, there are speculations within government quarCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Okwenna

Buhari

Jonathan

Politics of NUPENG, Lagos’ N224million alleged debt Unless care is taken, Lagosians and those in the environs may be thrown into another throe of needless fuel woes anytime from now.

This is be cause the Lagos State government and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have disagreed over an alleged debt of N224 million arising from the contract of supplying diesel and kerosene, NUPENG claimed it entered into with the state in 2014 and 2015.

Sequel to this, members of the oil workers’ union last Tuesday besieged the Lagos State House of Assembly at Alausa to protest what they claimed is N224 million debt owed the union by the state government, for supply of petroleum products to the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) during the administration of the immediate past governor, Babatunde Fashola.

They revealed that the N224 million debts arose from the supply of diesel and kerosene to the state for execution of direct labour projects in Ojodu between October 2014 and May 2015, and claimed that the contract was financed by Skye Bank which has been asking for the repayment of the loan.

Tokunbo Korodo, the SouthWest zonal chairman of NUPENG, led the protesters who were later addressed by Segun Olulade, member representing Epe 1 Constituency in the House, who received group’s petition in which they called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to settle the debt.

However, Steve Ayorinde, the commissioner for information and strategy, reacting to the union’s claim, said the

state government would not be blackmailed into paying a questionable N224 million debt, saying the claim was fraudulent.

According to Ayorinde, “the said transaction took place between an independent marketer and the LSPWC before this present government assumed office. The company wrote the government about the transaction, and government replied that it wanted to investigate the claim.

“The investigation proved that the claim by the company CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Ambode

Fashola

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

9 Politics

2019: Power play at Imo PDP: Ondo APC are cowards Government House for boycotting LG poll CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ters that Okorocha may have briefed his Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu, his son-inlaw on the affairs of the state before travelling.

Some of the government officials who spoke with Daily Times on condition of anonymity expressed worries on the development but hinted that Governor Okorocha had played a fast one on his aides in order to avoid a clash of interest.

Since Madumere returned from his vacation in USA, he had not performed any official duty as the newly swornin state commissioners were rushing to the office of the Chief of Staff, Okorocha’s sonlaw for briefing.

But the administrative hub of the government, the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG office) was said to have been deserted.

It was gathered that, there was frosty relationship among some of the top political aides of the governor which Okorocha had been trying to hide from the public glare.

‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

Ejiogu Investigations further revealed that this might not be unconnected with the 2019 governorship race in the state, which Okorocha would not be participating in.

It was learnt that the SSG, Sir Ejiogu and Prince Madumere are the major contenders angling for the governorship seat of the state come 2019.

As a result, the office of Chief of Staff appears to now serve as a clearing house for government activities in order to avoid a looming clash between the duo as well as affect the running of the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of cowardice for resolving to boycott the forthcoming Local Government elections slated for the 23rd of April this year by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).

Mr. Clement Faboyede, the state chairman of the party, said the PDP was already coasting to victory judging by its popularity among the people of the state.

Faboyede, who spoke exclusively with the Daily Times correspondent in Akure, explained that the members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state were only crying foul and afraid of participate in the elections because of losing out completely to the ruling party.

Faboyede declared that the All Progressives Congress was completely dead in th state and had no political relevance to match up with the Peoples Democratic Party in forthcoming local council polls.

He said the members of the op-

position party were hiding on the pretence of the sacked local government chairman dislodged at the inception of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration in the state.

“There is no APC in Ondo state as far as am concerned and they are only clamouring on the case before the court which was not instituted by them.

“The sacked local government chairmen had gone to the court demanding for reinstatement but now they are pleading for compensation since the matter had been taken to the Supreme court”, Faboyede said.

He noted that the umbrella party was fully prepared for the local government election considering the mobilization of its members right from the grass-

roots through the wards, and constituencies chapters for support.

The PDP chairman restated that nothing would stop the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) from performing and carrying out its ligitimate and saddled responsibility.

He disclosed that the PDP was planning for the polls and would ensure it give aspirants contesting the elections a level playing ground while ruling out the imposition of candidate on the people of the grassroots.

Faboyede, however, tasked members of the party to continue rally support for its aspirants and would be candidate as the elections drawn near.

Mimiko

Kekemeke

‘Abuja Declaration to stop conspiracy of the elite’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

outcome in a document which is always voluminous, and eventually send down to the Executive.

And most times the executive do not do anything with it.

So, we now said, instead of that system, let’s create a platform, such that every year, we bring the political stakeholders, discuss our polity, review the previous efforts and then come out with a workable document. Not just for the government but for each sector. What the business class, the women, the youths, the executive, legislature and judiciary can do to improve our democratic gains.

It is a means of coming together irrespective of our differences to think of how best to deepen our democracy. That is basically why the summit is created. It is an annual thing, just like the National Economic Summit.

But in this case, we are going to have what is called ‘Abuja Declaration’ whereby the political class will make a declaration on how best to run Nigeria democ-

racy. They will come out with a framework that includes how to make best use of different sectors including media. Politics models everything and that is why we can’t do without it.

Political issues are diverse and cannot be captured in a singular framework within a two days event. So in what areas is the summit expected to capture mainly in the deliberations?

Yes, you are right, political issues are diverse and that is why we have a term for the summit.

This year we are looking at the 2015 general elections. We want to build on the gains and consolidate on it. There are a lot of gains in the 2015 general elections. We want to identify, build and strengthen those areas. Our institutions are not strong and we want to develop a political culture. For example, former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat and that is a good culture. We also want to instill the culture of internal democracy in political parties.

Buhari

Jonathan

Okwenna

We want to put a halt to conspiracy of elites, who conspire and give us a candidate they determine, without considering the wish of the masses.

The gathering will give the women and youth groups an opportunity to discuss on how to participate in good governance.

The youths are coming up and we have to give them the op-

portunity because the world is coming up and going back to the youth. United States operates a 15 trillion dollar economy and is handled by a youth of 40 years plus. But in Africa, people over 90 and 80 years are still jostling for presidency in an economy of 20-100 billion. If the US can entrust 15 trillion dollar economy to a young man, why can’t we try

that in Nigeria and other African nations.

Critical issues of local government which has turned to a glorified tier of government equally have to be looked into. We would need to ask ourselves whether it is necessary to have it as a federating unit or to even scrap it entirely. We will also look at our CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Political Summit to address threat to democracy — Ifedi Okwenna CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

elections, how do we manage our elections? Are we getting it right?

The elections recently held in Kogi and Bayelsa states are not cheering. Are we progressing or making steps backwards. So, all these are part of the things we are discussing.

Since the tag is save democracy, are there identified threats to Nigeria’s democracy?

Wherever we are, so far we have not arrived there, democracy is under threat, and that is why we have to consolidate on the gains of the democracy in the last general election. So, what Save Democracy Group-Africa is doing is to consolidate the gains we already have. Since 1999, we have moved but we have not gotten there. So, let us discard the negatives and consolidate the positive and move forward. The group has 1000 membership, it’s a civil and private set up group of people who want to really consolidate our democracy, put their resources and ideas on the line, to strengthen the institutions of democracy. We are Non Governmental Organization and we don’t pray for government to take over it. Because we prefer it is better to work from the point of private sector and civil group.

Once government takes over it, there is tendency of playing to the rules of the government of the day. Though we must at all time, relate with the government of the day because if you want to correct the system, you must relate with the system to be able to identify and then correct. This is the maiden annual political summit and it will be a platform to discuss the performance of each sector yearly and to also fashion ways of improvement. If we reach a consensus on an issue, we could send it to the National Assembly as a bill.

The rule of law is an embodiment of democracy and save democracy group is out to protect democracy, what have you to say about the rule of law in our uninterrupted 16 years of democracy?

We are still in a learning curve; we are yet to arrive there.

There are some positives, there are some negatives. And that is part of why we said, let’s have a summit. The Supreme Court justice and the President of the Court of Appeal will all be there.

Jonathan

And that is where we can point out to certain things we are not happy with in the judiciary. We will have the opportunity of asking so many questions, ranging from youths unrest to unemployment, we will look into the number of Nigerian youths that are employed in the oil sector which is Nigeria’s main stay of economy. Expatriates have flooded our system. Does it mean Nigerians are not qualified to work there?

These are part of the numerous questions we will ask.

What are the various political sections to be held at the summit slated for January 2526?

There are total of ten sections, it will be televised live and be seen from every part of the world. One of them is Good governance section-You are elected into an office already, and the people are yearning for good governance. So, tell us the governance programme you have, especially for the Governors. Is there possibility of peer review among the Governors? Instead of running different things, why don’t they work together irrespective of differences in political parties? They could think of common service, instead of Nasarawa State Government or Niger State building an Airport, they can leverage on Abuja Air-

Okwenna

port. Electricity wise, instead of building your own turbine, while not do with another state.

Today, money is no longer flowing, so you have to ask yourself, how you manage the economy in a dwindling oil price which is the main stay of our economy.

We will equally have the women section, as you know; the issue of gender inclusion has become a top global burner in the society today. In Kenya, they have a female exclusive zone, a senatorial zone, where in a state they create a particular zone specifically for

Buhari

women. And no man is allowed to contest election there. They did that because they want to show up the number of women in the legislature. These are some of the things we will be discussing; do we need that in Nigeria? These are issues that will come up. How can we create an enabling environment where women can effectively contest and win elections, without being cowed out by men?

There are some natural issues you can’t take away, such as that of politics been always played at night. Can we stop playing poli-

tics at night? So that women can come out. We will equally talk about the youth section. How do we empower our youths, how do we entrust them with power, how do we return to the era when the youths held power at a younger age such as in the first and second Republic. We will equally have sections for discussions of local government administration, political party administration, election management, revisit of Diaspora voting, electronic voting, improvement of system of election.

Politics of NUPENG, Lagos N224million alleged debt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

was fraudulent, but while investigation was still ongoing, the company went to NUPENG, and the association agreed to demonstrate on behalf of the company.

“Our position is that the Lagos State government cannot be stampeded or blackmailed into making payments that have not been verified for which investigation is still ongoing. While government is not against peaceful protest by ag-

grieved citizens, we would like to urge Lagosians to go about their businesses peacefully.

“No amount of blackmail will stop the government from strictly following due process and rule of law”.

As things stand now, there appears to be a stalemate and when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, in this case, the people of the state.

Since government is a continuum, the new government of Ambode, as peace loving governor who has the interest of the

people at heart must need to move fast and verify what needed to be verified.

It is almost eight months when he took over from his predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, now Minister of Works, Power and Housing which is enough time to have looked into the books of assets and liabities he met on ground.

It would be in the interest of all if this is done and settled amicably without any sentiment in order not to cause the people of the state undue suffering.

11 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has declared that the party does not have an anointed candidate for the 2016 Edo governorship election.

Odigie-Oyegun made the declaration on Wednesday during a meeting with APC governoship aspirants for the Edo governorship race at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

“Once I open my mouth to support any candidate, it hampers my ability to be objective and fair in the process. The minute you begin to tell anybody: ‘why don’t you step down, the next question is what is in for me’?

“The APC has recorded credible primaries with examples being the presidential primaries and primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa state. Even in the case of Bayelsa State where there were issues, the party cancelled the first primaries an odered a fresh exercise - all in a bid to achieve credible primaries.

“The party assures of credible primaries for the Edo State governorship race when the time comes and may the best candidate with the right credentials and capacity emerge”, the APC National Chairman

Edo 2016: We have no anointed candidate — APC

Oshiomhole

Oyegun

Airhiavbere

said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, an aspirant Arc. Ilenre Austin Emuan said: “All aspirants were invited for

a meeting with the national leadership of the APC to come and have a chat as far as the campaigns for the Edo State gubernatorial elections are con-

cerned and it was a very fruitful meeting.

“As we know, the political climate in the state (Edo) is getting warmer hence the party felt we

had to meet so that we could be reminded of the party manifesto, ideology and the fact that everyone should embrace the rule of fair play and above all, to assure everyone of us that all the aspirants will be given a level playing field.

“Of course, there are a lot of insinuations going around that there is an anointed candidate but today, all that has been laid to rest. I can say that many of us left with so much confidence about the APC and in the process of the forthcoming primaries in Edo State.” he stressed.

Aspirants present at the meeting were: Emuan; Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki; Sen (Prof) Oserheimen Osunbor; Kenneth Imasuagbon; Omon-Irabor Casely; Chris Iyare; Chris Ogiemwonyi; Gen Charles Airhiavbere; Prof. Ebegue Amadasun and Blessing Agbomhere.

Increase in cost of airport: Osun PDP praises Aregbesola Osun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for owing up that he increased the Ido-Osun Airport contract from N4.5billion to N15.5billion saying: “it is a sign of a new era in Osun” The party however disagreed with the governor over the justification for the jerk up and insisted that it amounted to fraud to unilaterally re-award a contract without due procedures and flagrant disregard for Procurement Act. The PDP in a statement by its Director of Media and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi on Wednesday said: “It is a misplacement of priority for a governor to be building a phony airport, cruise around the country in a state funded helicopter, but embark on sacking of Doctors and Lecturers for lack of fund.

“We wonder where the Governor got the N470million he paid to the Airport contractor on the 8th of January 2016, when workers in the state are being owed five months salary while some categories have

Ï #ƈ ƏƆƆ ƒƆƏ ƉƑ ƐƈƇƈƅ Ɛƈ

Aregbesola been placed on half salary since May 2015”.

“It is sad that while the governor had sacked over 1,700 workers for lack of fund, he

Omisore has been living an ostentatious life apart from funding elections and enriching his Lagos friends by awarding contacts that are of no benefit to

the people of Osun State”, the party said.

The Party therefore repeated its call on President Muhammadu Buhari, EFCC and other anti graft agencies to send a secret team to the site of the so called Moshood Abiola International Airport, Ido Osun, to confirm what the government and the Airforce company had done with the N2.7billion taken from the purse of the state on the December 14, 2012 and another N470million paid on January 8, this year.

It also challenged the Civil Liberty Organisations, (CLO), the Nigeria media and individuals to probe the activities linking the Airforce company with Governor Aregbesola who unilaterally approved the multi billion naira contract review more so that he has been running the affairs of the state as “Sole Administrator” without having a state executive council and in clear contravention of the Public Procurement Act. “Every reasonable person knows, even members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some of his

former cabinet members agree that Osun State does not need an airport at this time. The governor knows that without covering up his wasteful spendings, there will be problem and that is why he is embarking on needless project in order to cover up.

“Aregbesola is the only one who is convinced that what the people of Osun State need now is an airport even when majority cannot afford transport fare within the city. The civil servants, doctors, lecturers, students have all been turned to ‘beggars’ because of profligacy of the governor.

He does not have money to pay workers but has N470 million take off to give to the contractor of the airport. What a compassionate governor!

“Osun Helicopter is another luxury that the governor has refused to do away with. He is the only governor in the South West who travels in chopper. We asked them to give an account of how much the chopper has generated, since last year, no answer has been provided”, Odeyemi stressed.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Produce Dasuki on Feb 16, Court orders FG Continued from page 1 16, 2016 to face trial on four count charge of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering.

Also, Justice James Tsoho, of the same court, on Wednesday, ruled that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial for treasonable felony, to be remanded in Kuje prison.

This is even as the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday obtained the permission of the Justice Tosho to replace charges it filed against Kanu on December 18, 2015, with the ones it filed against him on December 23, 2015.

The former NSA, who is facing charges of corruption and money laundering in other two separate Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high courts, has remained in custody of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) even though three separate courts have admitted him to bail.

At the resumed trial of the four count charges on Wednesday, the defendant (Dasuki) was conspicuously absent in court.

Following the defendant’s absence, the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, ordered that Dasuki must be brought to court on February 16, 2016.

“The defendant must be physically present in court before the trial will commence.”

“In a criminal matter, the law makes it mandatory that the defendant must be in court at every stage of the trial except if the court exclude his presence in court,” he ruled.

The court also struck out Federal Government’s application praying the court to set aside the bail it earlier granted Dasuki.

This followed the motion of the prosecution counsel, Chief Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), withdrawing the said application.

Meanwhile, the court on Wednesday reserved its ruling on another application by the Federal Government seeking to

exclude the public from attending the trial and to mask its witnesses.

Although, the defense counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), was opposed to the request of the prosecution and had urged the court to overrule the application on the ground of fair hearing, Chief Okpeseyi (SAN) said the masking, the exclusion of the public from the trial is meant to protect witnesses most of whom are unwilling to testify in an open court.

Also, the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice James Tsoho on Wednesday ordered the leader of the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial for treasonable felony, to be remanded in Kuje prison.

The three defendants who have been in custody of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) since October 10, 2015 were arraigned on six count charges. Each of them pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Kanu on December 23, 2015 refused to face trial before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja on same charges. On Wednesday, when he was brought before Justice Tsoho of same Federal High Court, he raised no objection but complained about his continued detention incommunicado.

After the pleas were taken, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Diri, applied that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS for the convenience of the DSS operatives. He said it would be easy for them to get to the court judging from the distance between the Federal High Court and DSS headquarters where the defendants are being held and the distance from Federal High Court to Kuje prison.

Defense counsel, Chief Chuks Mouoma (SAN), opposed the prosecution motion to remand Kanu in DSS custody.

According to him, “no amount of convincing can override the provisions of

the law as regards where to keep an accused person after his or her arraignment”.

Mouoma urged the court to discountenance the evidence given by the prosecution counsel from the bar and remand the defendants in prison.

In his brief ruling, Justice Tsoho ruled that “appropriate place after arraignment to remand the defendants is prison.”

“I found no compelling ground to allow the DSS to

continue to hold the defendants in their custody. The defendants are hereby remanded in kuje prisons,” the judge ruled.

He thereafter fixed the matter for trial on Monday, February 25, 2016.

Justice James also struck out six charges of treasonable felony brought against Kanu by the DSS, following a withdrawal of the charges by the secret police.

At the arraignment of Kanu on Wednesday, Mo-

hammed Diri, counsel to the DSS, asked the court to strike out the charges filed against the accused person on December 18, 2015, and proceed with the ones filed against him on December 23, 2015.

“We filed the first set of charges on December 18, and the second set of charges on December 23.

The prosecution intend to withdraw the charges filed on December 18 and proceed with the charges filed on December 23,” he said.

The new charges are not so different from the old ones, as they bear only a few alterations. The fresh six-count charges against Kanu, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who were arraigned with him, border on treason, management of an unlawful group, smuggling radio transmitters and illegal possession of firearms. Kanu arrived at the court a few minutes past 9am, appearing lean, with his beard unshaven.

Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (2nd right) and others at the General Hospital Ilorin during the Flag off of Cleft, Lip and Palate Surgeries Projects on Tuesday.

2016 Budget splits Senate along party lines Continued from page 6 as in the interest of Nigerians who, according to him, have been looking forward to the “Change” promised by the President during his campaigns.

Senators, he said, should put aside their differences during debate of the budget.

The Deputy Senate President, however, expressed worries on the problem of revenue shortfall confronting the budget, as he suggested some ways out for the government.

He said the overall budget figure of N6.08 trillion may be difficult to sustain, and called for reduction of the budget cost by 30 percent.

He advised also that Nige-

rians should begin to be creative in managing budgets, stating that rather than making attempt to borrow to fund deficits, the amount to be borrowed should be channeled towards energizing the economy.

The Chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun) commended the 2016 budget which he said is tailored to baking a national cake and not to share it, given its intent to develop the national economy.

He lamented that the past government failed to make the hay while the sun was shining, given the privilege of good oil price it enjoyed in the years past.

Omoworare said the omission by the past gov-

ernment in effectively managing the economy was the reason Nigeria at the moment is facing economic challenges.

He, however, advised that the government should henceforth concentrate efforts on improving power generation, building more refineries while placing emphasis on development of revenue generating sectors like tourism, solid minerals, agriculture and industries.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa also lauded the budget on the emphasis it placed on social intervention with the government’s resolve to employ 500,000 teachers across the federation and the plan to pay N5,000 stipend to unemployed graduates total-

ing 1 million.

He advised the government to develop the power sector as well as vote sufficient funds to revive the rail transportation sector to generate more employment opportunities for Nigerians Senator Barnabas Gemade commended President Buhari for introducing zero budgeting which according to him has opened up an avenue for testing the performances of items on the budget to avoid voting monies for projects that had previously been listed for execution.

He also commended the President for tailoring the 2016 budget to ensure diversification of the economy, curbing corruption as well as ensuring job creation.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

13 News

Adamawa NIS nabs Boko Haram suspect

By Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏThe

Adamawa Immigration command has arrested 15th person on the wanted list of Boko Haram as published by the Federal Government.

The Commandant, Mr. Ubi Inpki, did not give the name and where the suspect was arrested as, according to him, his men were working to apprehend other suspects.

Inpki revealed this to our correspondent in Yola, shortly after the official visit of the command to Malkohi camp for

internally displaced persons (IDP ), in fulfilment of a promise made to the IDPs. The command has pledged to give 10 sewing machine to the IDPS in Malkohi.

“Our gesture is predicated on the fact that you can’t give a man fish to eat, but you have to teach him how to fish.”

Inpki also added that the command had a big role to play in being “our brother’s keeper, with reference to the IDPs, who were forcefully ejected from their original homes.”

L-R: Vice Chairman, Parent-Teacher Association, Olashore International School (OIS), Mr. Adekunle Ogunbufunmi; Principal, OIS, Mr. Derek Smith, Chairman, Board of Governors, Prince Abimbola Olashore and PTA Chairman, Mr. Otunba Bolarinwa, during a Road Show event in Lagos… on Tuesday.

INEC plans stiffer penalty for election offenders

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Chairman of

Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof Mahmud Yakubu, has expressed serious concern over violence during elections. Yakubu pointed out on Wednesday, in Abuja, that the commission was now seeking ways of curtailing that.

The INEC Chairman stated this during a parley with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

According to him, “as long as electoral offenders are not dealt, severely, with, this cycle is likely to continue”.

He hinted that INEC may seek stiffer penalty for perpetrators of election offences.

The two recent elections conducted by the commission in Kogi and Bayelsa States were declared inconclusive due to violence that tended to mar the electoral process.

The Commission, he further said, was exploring the possibility of adopting simultaneous accreditation and voting pattern it used in the January 9 Supplementary Election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, in the conduct of future elections.

The 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) stipulates a maximum penalty of N1 million fine or 12 months imprisonment for perpetrators of electoral violence, and in case of a political party, a fine of N2 million in the first instance and half a million for subsequent offences.

Yakubu, however, challenged the party leaders to evaluate this mechanism to determine whether they were adequate enough to nip electoral violence in the bud.

He also called for a review of the peace pact signed by the 12 presidential candidates and

leaders of political parties before the conduct of the 2015 general elections, as well as the deployment of security personal, to determine their effectiveness in the prevention and containment of electoral violence.

The INEC Chairman further decried the spate of nullifications of the 2015 election results, and disclosed that the agency might introduce the use of technology in the processes of collation and transmitting elections result in 2019 general elections “so that the processes would be faster and accurate.”

Reps commence debate on 2016 budget Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

House of Representatives, on Wednesday, commenced debate on the corrected version of the 2016 Appropriation Bill of N6.08 trillion, as submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APCLagos), in his lead comment on the budget proposal, appealed to members to aid its speedy passage.

Gbajabiamila, who described the budget as historical, added that it was an inclusive one that sought to carry all Nigerians along, pointing out that with a N2.2 trillion deficit, it would be

the first time that domestic borrowing estimated at N984 billion was higher than foreign borrowing N900 billion.

He commended the Buhari administration’s proposal to spend N500 billion for social intervention initiatives, adding that it would provide for the recruitment and training of 500,000 unemployed graduates.

“It is an epic budget because it is a budget based on the internationally acclaimed zero- based budgeting system, where every kobo has been justified by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)”, he said.

According to Gbajabiamila, when there is a downturn in the economy, “you rejig or stimulate the economy by pumping more

money into it. This is what this budget seeks to do. Stimulate an otherwise wobbling economy by infusing and injecting N6.08 trillion into it, particularly its capital component of N1.85 trillion, representing 30 per cent of the budget”.

Rep. Mohammad Monguno (APC-Borno) decried the poor implementation of budgets by previous administrations, saying that, “year in, year out, we pass the Appropriation Bill into law, but when it comes to implementation it is done haphazardly.

“For example, for the past four years, there was never a time our budget was implemented up to 60 per cent; so there is a need for us to emphasise on the issue

Red Star Express gets SON’s re-certification

ÏÏÏIn

recognition of its strict adherence to global best practices, Red Star Express Plc., a foremost logistics company in Nigeria, has been re-certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, and adjudged it as compliant to quality management, as a result of its conformity to the requirements of NIS ISO 9001:2008 standard.

The re-certification came after a successful audit carried out by SON to certify that the company’s conformed to the requirements of NIS ISO 9001:2008 standard.

The Managing Director, Red Star Express Plc., Sule Bichi, reiterated that, the certification was a giant stride in the company’s pursuit of excellence in logistics industry, by evolving and marketing a range of technology-driven services designed towards quality delivery to its teeming customers.

Court reserves judgment on DSS seizure of civil servant’s car Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Hon. Gbajabiamila

of budget implementation.”

However, Rep. Abiodun Adeogun (PDP-Osun) said that income projection from the coun-

Federal High Court, in Abuja, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, on Wednesday, has reserved judgment till February 10, on a suit filed by one Mrs. A. M. Balogun, against the Department of State Service (DSS) and the former Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Prince Olushola Akanmode over an unlawful seizure of her Honda Civic saloon car since July 19, 2014.

Justice Ademola advised the parties to resolve the dispute out of court before the adjourned date, or the court would give its decision on the matter.

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Ugwuanyi assures prompt payment of Enugu workers’ salaries Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÎÎÎGovernor

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state has assured workers in the state that despite the present economic challenges in the country, he would continue to pay their salaries to ensure service delivery among the work force.

In a brief remark on the occasion of a prayer session to usher in New Year, organised by labour in the

state for civil servants at the new secretariat complex, Ugwuanyi observed that constant payment of civil servants’ salaries would also continue to activate the economy of the state.

“We will continue to pay salaries, it is only when we do that, we can activate the economy of the state,” he said.

The governor thanked the state organised labour and workers of Enugu state

for initiating and sustaining prayer session to usher in New Year in the state, adding that “without God we can do nothing.”

He also applauded the state workers for their solidarity to his administration since inception.

He therefore urged the civil servants to be steadfast in their faith in God, as his administration would not relent in prayers to God to direct the state.

In exaltation with theme “with God everything is possible” the Methodist Bishop of Agbani Circuit, Rt. Rev. Udoh Emeremgini said that God do wonderful things in the life of people who truly worship and trust Him, adding that all good works have their rewards.

Rev. Udoh advised civil servants in the state to always stand on truth and be mindful of their deeds.

He advised the authorities to always carry their subordinates along in the administration of the service. According to him, retired workers should be paid their pension promptly because workers deserve their wages.

The prayer was attended by members of the state executive council, permanent secretaries and a large number of civil servants in the state.

NDLEA raises the alarm over increase of cocaine, heroin in Anambra Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka

ÎÎÎThe National Drug Law

and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has raised an alarm over the increase of cocaine and heroin in Anambra state.

The State Commander of the agency, Mr. Sule Momodu, made this known during the third Lady Onyido/ NDLEA annual quiz award presentation at the Prof.

Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, the state capital.

A total of 84 schools in the state participated in the quiz competition while three schools won the prizes.

He expressed worry that despite efforts by the state governor, Willie Obiano, to reduce drug crime in the state, the two substances had continued to be on the increase.

Momodu said while cocaine and heroin were on the increase, cannabis sativa, known as “Igbo” had decreased.

He implored the state governor, to fulfill his promised of donating five vehicles to the agency, noting that the vehicles would enable his men to fully cover the state in their operations.

The NDLEA boss said the agency secured 30 convictions of drug offenders in the state last year.

Mrs. Bukola Taiwo (left); Mrs. Funmilola Ogunyemi (right) and Widow, Olori Moyike Odulana (middle) during a condolence visit to Olori Moyike over the death of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade in Ibadan… on Wednesday.

Akande

Pa Akande is dead ÎÎÎPa

Samuel Olatunji Akande is dead. Aged 88, the pious Christian died on 8th, December, 2015 at his Omoluabi Estate, Orogun area, Ibadan. Final burial arrangements will kick off with Christian wake at his residence at 5.00pm on Thursday, 28th January, 2016.

Funeral service for the repose of the soul of the community leader will hold at 10.00am on Friday, 29 January, 2016. Interment will later take place at his residence, while entertainment of guests will come up at Yinbol College, Orogun, Ibadan.

He is survived by wife, four children, many grand children, brother and uncle.

Truck crushes one to death, injures four siblings in Ogun Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

Senate moves to scrutinise NNPC, DPR, NAPIMS accounts Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Senate is set to break the secrecy on financial management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries as it asked them to submit details of their audited accounts in the past three years.

NNPC and its subsidiaries have been operating their finances independently and have never subjected their accounts for scrutiny by the legislators.

The development came as the committee blamed the federal government agencies for the worsening gas flaring in the country.

It said their inability to enforce payment of stipulated penalties on erring International Oil Compa-

nies (OICs), was mainly responsible for increased gas flaring.

The NNPC subsidiaries expected to submit the audited accounts are the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Nigerian Petroleum Investment and Management Service (NAPIMS), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), among others.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Albert Akpan, who gave the directive, during the committee’s engagement with the agencies in Abuja, said the request was in line with the mandate of the committee in its ongoing investigation into the activities of the agencies.

The Chairman faulted the activities of the agencies since their establish-

ments, insisting that they must submit their accounts as soon as possible to enable his committee meet its deadline given by the Senate.

He said the audited documents would afford the committee opportunity to know the joint venture funding and cost determination of the oil companies and government agencies.

“From here, we will know also who approves projects and how are the projects monitored and the mechanism for cost recovery and monitoring of the projects, ‘’ he said.

He also tasked the agencies to present the data of the quality of gas flared by the oil companies in the past two years.

“Give us the submission of the gas that you have

flared and each of your operators involved. The quality of gas flared, the operators, the terminal and the related penalties paid, ‘he said.

The Chairman expressed dismay at the 2016 budget of the Department of Petroleum Resources, saying the N3 billion only earmarked by the agency on penalties for gas flaring, was grossly inadequate.

The Group General Manager, NAPIMS /NNPC, Dafe Sajebor and the Managing Director of National Petroleum Development Corporation, Sadler Mai-Bornu, at the meeting with Senators, assured that the organisations were working assiduously to end gas flaring in the country between 2018 and 2020.

ÎÎÎA Truck belonging to a

company handling construction of roads in Abeokuta, on Tuesday, evening crushed four siblings, leaving one of them dead.

The incident, which occurred at Oke-Ijeun road in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun state, was caused when one of the underage boy Imisioluwa, aged, 15, was crushed to death by a truck, marked 44F-42FG and owned by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), while trying to cross the road.

Other siblings who were seriously injured and were on danger list at a government owned hospital were Ayomipo, Ayomide, and Nifemi.

It was gathered that the siblings were on their way back from school around 4pm while attempting to cross over to the other side of the road when the moving truck knocked them down.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

15 Opinion

What is happening to El-Rufai?

E

Michael Egbejumi-David

l-Rufai is someone for whom I have a lot of fondness. I find him to be a brilliant, stubborn, hard worker – some of the essential qualities needed to succeed in life.

So far, in Kaduna, El-Rufai is doing a fine job as governor.

Things were going swimmingly well until El-Rufai felt compelled to put his foot in it. Recently, he only went and dropped a couple of clangers. Perhaps he is letting his office get to him. What is it about power that change people so much and so quickly? Around our Independence Day celebration last year, El-Rufai went to town with some wildly off the mark financial figures. He wrote that the Jonathan administration spent N64 billion over four years to commemorate independence anniversary. The Buhari government later confirmed that the actual amount spent was N333.6 million.

Now, about a week or so ago, ElRufai interjected himself into the unpleasant debate about President Buhari stepping all over people’s constitutional rights. He issued

another statement in which he roundly condemned anyone that had the temerity to object to the executive arm of a democratic government disobeying court orders as it pleases. El-Rufai wrote, “…the rule of law itself is subject to the rule and right of a nation when it pertains to the security and wellbeing of the people of a country against that of a few individuals.”

Haba, Alhaji! Please say it is not so.

Stomping on the rights of individuals is a slippery slope to a very bad place. I have read El-Rufai’s book, ‘The Accidental Public Servant’ and I have read a few of his writings where he narrated his harrowing experience in the hands of late Yar’Adua and ex IG of Police, Mike Okiro. Things got so bad, El-Rufai and Nuhu Ribadu had to flee the country. It is a real pity that someone who went through that level of state persecution would turn around and take a position that it is alright for governments to deny citizens’ constitutional rights.

The emphasis here is on government taking away an individual’s human rights. Another danger in El-Rufai’s position is who defines the threshold at which a government can begin to subvert citizens’ rights for the ‘good of the nation’.

We have to be careful not to let our

desire to see justice done to a few people blind us to the tenets of democracy. The Nazis used the same line; they claimed they were protecting the German nation and within a few months, Hitler’s government was getting rid of many disagreeable people (as defined by him). People thought to have mental health problems were forcibly sterilised so that they would not have offspring that would pollute their pure Aryan race. All was done to protect the nation’s interest? Then, as now, there were many intellectuals cheering on the government.

To support his seemingly newfound support for a totalitarian state, ElRufai cited the example of American Special Forces summary dispatch of Osama bin Laden to a terrorist heaven. However, bin Laden was an external aggressor who perpetrated war against the USA. Habitually, the US government captures and arrests home-grown (and even some foreign) terrorists where possible, and put them through formal legal trial.

Their government anywhere in the world rigorously protects the rights of American citizens.

Furthermore, the government shouldn’t unwittingly create a situation whereby accused persons or those invited by law enforcement agencies

see fleeing as the best option available to them because they know that their fundamental and constitutional rights will be breached.

I do not think anyone is saying that Dasuki and co should be set free. Dasuki and his mates should be fully held accountable and be made to pay severely for betraying the people’s trust if found guilty. Frankly, I feared what could have become of the military if the PDP under Jonathan got another term. In my view, one of the good things that would happen to this country will be a proper and detailed forensic investigation of the 16 years of PDP rule. Additionally, all persons accused of various crimes of corruption and sedition against the state should be tried in court of competent jurisdiction. To suggest otherwise is dangerous over-indulgence and lazy.

Silence is bad enough, but why ask the people to clap as the judiciary is browbeaten to hold on to accused persons in order not to incur the wrath of the executive? Why are we being coerced into embracing fascism in the 21st century?

Frighteningly, El-Rufai finished off his essay with this: “Enough of lily livered leadership, it’s time to run this country according to dictates of the time we live in.” Well, what can I say? .

As Governor Ikpeazu unlocks potentials of Abia State

R

Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

ecent events in Abia demonstrate high capabilities of unlocking the potentialities in the cultural, tourism,hospitality sub-sectors, especially Aba, the state’s economic heartbeat.

As 2015 was winding up, Aba Sports Club commissioned its green golf course. The 18-hole course was constructed at N1.5million each and estimated maintenance fee per hole every month is N250, 000.

The economic implication of this venture on Aba in particular,and Abia in general cannot be over-emphasised. Golf is tagged an elitist sports. With a functional green golf course, major investors will be trooping into Aba for tournaments and this will rake in huge revenue for the state.

The impact of the green golf course on economy of the state was aptly captured by President of the club, Dr. Uwa Onwucheka when he commended Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for embarking on urban renewal.

“I commend what the governor is doing on urban renewal; fixing the roads and other infrastructure.

I appeal to him to help maintain the golf course. Any entrepreneur who wants a place to recreate, this is what Aba Sports Club represents.

From now, most major investors would look at the calendar and see

when the Aba Amateur Open will take place. They can plan to have their holidays in Aba and hotels in the city would be fully booked. We need excellent hotels. With this, Aba will bounce back “.

Now that Aba Golf Course has gone green a lot is expected from the government to achieve its full economic potentials. One area is the maintenance of the course.

According to Onwucheka, “In other places like Enugu, Uyo, Owerri, governments contribute to maintenance of the golf course. We plead that the state government sees the need to invest in golf. Government must work in conjunction with the people by investing and helping in the maintenance of the golf course. This would be to the betterment of the state”.

Besides regular maintenance of the course, efforts should be geared towards upgrading hotel facilities in the city. This brings to fore the state of the popular Enyimba Hotels.

The facility located at the bank of Aba River(Waterside) was a dream project of the Ukpabi Asika administration after the civil war.

It was designed with a standard swimming pool, garden and other recreational facilities.

The late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe of the old Imo State laid the foundation of the seven- storey edifice. The project, which was expected to cost N56million, had

reached an advance stage- with contracts awarded for procurement of furniture and fittings, utensils, among others when military intervention of December 31, 1983 truncated it.

Regime after regime abandoned Enyimba Hotels until 1991 after the creation of Abia State. The rumour then was that the Aba Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) bought the facility.

One of the remarkable efforts of the Ikpeazu administration to give the facility a facelift was the ejection of miscreants from it. Though overwhelming applause trailed the action , there are calls to revoke the purchase if ACCIMA fails to revitalising the project.

In mid December 2015, state residents were treated to another event that would in future shape the cultural and commercial potentials of the state. The Enyimba Cultural Carnival was test run. The event was a huge success.

The carnival with the theme”Reigniting our cultural and commercial values” was dedicated to the celebrations of the Christmas and Enyimba International Football Club victory at the National Premier League last season.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has emphasised severally that Aba is key to his administration’s policy. Efforts to achieve this came few days back

when the 1st Aba Urban Development Summit was held. It was a determination of the Ikpeazu administration to ensure that Aba attains its full potentials through providing government the opportunity to seek development partners for the development of the city.

It is not only that Aba in a near future would become a touristhaven but also motion has been set in place to ensure this.

In addition, to ensure that these roads constructed outlast the administration, the state has adopted the cement technology. Moreover, the perennial flooding that rendered the streets of Aba impassable has been taken care of through the dredging of the Aba River.

A paper entitled “From This to That: Restoring Spatial Sanity to Aba Urban” delivered at the just concluded summit captured the essence of Ikpeazu’s renewal drive thus:”Urban renewal entails redevelopment, revitalisation and remodeling of older structures.

Renewal efforts generally focus on areas that have fallen below current public standard. Aba urban is an example of a city that has fallen below the acceptable standard of development”.

Indeed, the stage is set for the potentials that abound in Abia to be unlocked.

Ukegbu is SSA to Gov. Ikpeazu on media.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Abia guber: CLO cautions PDP, APGA against over-heating polity

Govt can’t continue to finance education, says ESUT VC

Ifeanyi Onwuneme

ÏÏÏThe

Umuahia

ÏÏÏThe

Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has cautioned politicians in Abia State against undue comments and rallies over the recent Appeal Court judgement of the governorship election.

At its general meeting, in Umuahia, the state branch of the body noted that since the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, that nullified the election of

the incumbent governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, politicians of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had been heating the polity.

“The statements and actions of the contending stakeholders on both divides have created a charged atmosphere that has tended to rob the state of its hard earned peace”, said the state CLO chairman, Comrade Pedro Azuogu.

“We appreciate the state government and the police for putting on hold all forms of rallies and demonstration. A situation where little children of primary school ages are exposed to violent march on the streets portends danger to their future”, he added.

The CLO enjoined both parties to sheath their daggers and wait for the final verdict of the Supreme Court, and stressed that the civil society had intrinsic confi-

dence on the judiciary.

It also frowned upon what it saw as non-neutrality of the state-owned electronic media in matters affecting political activities and urged them to make room for all shades of opinion.

On the recent alteration of the time for the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state from 9a.m. instead of 7a.m., the human right body described it as an aberration and called on for its reversal.

Moses Oyediran Enugu

Vice Chancellor, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke, has said that government could not continue to finance education, if the best must be achieved in the sector.

Speaking during their 7th pre-matriculation media briefing, Anieke said that wholesome education was capital-intensive and government lacked the needed resources to grow the sector to attain enviable heights.

He said that it would be difficult for government to

provide all the funds needed for research purposes, adding that scholars and other stakeholders needed grants from donor agencies.

“This is one thing that is lacking in Nigeria. We depend on government to finance education but the government has no money to do that,” he said.

Anieke said that the institution understood the challenges in the sector and the need to encourage the academic staff to improve upon their intellectual capacity.

“Our university insists that, as a scholar, you must be writing grants. Government has no money to fund researches.

Awori indigenes lament marginalisation in Kosofe Iniobong Iwok

ÏÏÏWorried

L-R: Deputy Chairman, Democratic Progressive Movement, Mr. Victor Akpan; National Chairman DPM, Mr. Collins Edebiri and Director, Welfare and Mobilization DPM, Mrs. Docas Arabamen, during an interactive session on corruption in Abuja ... on Wednesday Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Niger gov commends support for APC in LG polls Saka Bolaji Minna

ÏÏÏThe Governor of

Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, on Wednesday, said that the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the last weekend’s local government election was a declaration of faith in the party as the vehicle to take the state to next levels of development.

He also said the overwhelming victory recorded by the party showed that the rejection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2015 general election was not a fluke.

Bello, who was reacting

for the first time after the elections to 24 of the 25 local government councils, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, gave an assurance that the APC would not fail the people of the state.

“The outcome of the last Saturday council election is the people’s declaration of faith on our party. The APC is the vehicle to take the state to the next levels of development.

“By the results declared by the electoral body, the electorate in the state have boldly inscribed their endorsement on the party and this has further affirmed

Bello

the fact that the victory the party recorded during the 2015 general elections was not a fluke as the opposition has claimed.

“If, after 16 years of plundering the resources of the state and subjecting the rural areas to total neglect, it will amount to taking the people of the state for a ride

if opposition had thought of winning the just conducted local government election,” Bello stated.

He congratulated the elected council chairmen and councillors and charged them to see their victory as a call to serve, and as an opportunity to further improve the lots of the grassroots.

“With this victory much is expected of our elected council chairmen and councillors. Your victory is a call to service. Local government being the closest to the people, you have the onerous task to improve upon the socio-economic status of our rural dwellers.

by several years of marginalisation of Awori indigenes in Kosofe Local Government, a group, Awori Indigenous Forum (AIF), has made a passionate call to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for equal opportunities for Awori indigenes in the allocation of political positions in the local government.

At a press conference held, on Wednesday, at the Awori Town Hall in Oregun, Ikeja, a leader of the group, Mr. Akintola Kamorudeen Balogun, lamented that that since the local government was carved out of Shomolu Local Government some twenty years ago, no Awori

FAAN beefs up security at MMIA Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe Federal Airports

Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday introduced a new security measure aimed at stepping up safety and security of the airport.

With the recent development, the main access gate leading to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO),

son or daughter had held a meaningful position in Kosofe both at state and federal level.

He noted that several meetings held with the former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who promised to look into their demands, had not yielded any result.

The union, however, warned that the peaceful and accommodating nature of its people should not be taken for granted, adding that its people would no longer sit idly and be cheated out of their right to govern themselves, and reiterated that it was their turn at governance in the local government ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state. which, hitherto, served as entrance gate, had been converted to an exit.

The Daily Times gathered that the introduction of the security measure was to check the activities of miscreants, who claimed to be clearing agents at the NAHCO shed who did not have any business at the airport.

Daily Times further learnt that screening machines had been installed at the new exit gate, which will be used as pedestrian gate.

There has been a lot of security concern at the airport in recent times.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Features

17

Æs

Why LASU Governing Council may send bad eggs packing — Prof. Ninalowo Professor Adebayo Ninalowo came on board only in September 22, 2015 and the many cracks on the walls of the embattled Lagos State University (LASU) are beginning to be filled up.

In this exclusive interview with Daily Times at his University of Lagos (UNILAG) office, the Prof threw some light into his manifold pedigree that brought him into office as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU).

“The post of Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of a university are not positions one lobbies for.

“As a personal principle I don’t lobby for positions since I left post graduate school 33 years ago. Interestingly, I started my teaching career in Canada, so I believe the Lagos state government that appointed me must have done some background checks before appointing me.

“It happened also that my research as a sociologist has been anchored on legitimisation of domination and juxtaposition of social conflicts dating back to some four decades.

“So as regards whether I was prepared or not for the challenges in LASU, I’m not being immodest: if my academic experience and research have been in tune with origin of social conflicts, there is no point questioning my ability to handle the challenges.”

Furthermore, Ninalowo boasts he is a Lagosian of Lagosians; therefore LASU being the only university owned by the state government invariably qualifies him as a stakeholder. To drive the point home, the Prof affirms, “As a professor in one of the federal government-owned universities, I will not be oblivious to activities in LASU.” Turning the searchlight on the problems that have rocked LASU since its inception, Prof Ninalowo took Daily Times to the genesis.

“What my Council discovered was that non-adherence to the rule of law and violations of their own guidelines under previous administrations were the root

Less than four months in office as Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU), stakeholders and academicians in LASU are in consensus that Gov. Ambode of Lagos State could not have made a better choice in appointing Professor Adebayo Ninalowo to the trouble prone institution. OGUNTADE ISMAILA chronicles the intrigues

Prof. Ninalowo

of LASU’s problems.

“Since the Council was inaugurated formally in September 22, 2015, we have been trying to attain some measure of stability. Our mantra for all members of the community is trying to know from them the origin of series of crisis. I and my colleagues in the Council have engaged various stakeholders to convince each other on the root of the crisis.

“LASU has law that set it up, and since we came on board, I have been dealing with the university law. I carry the document everywhere I go. It might interest you to know that sequentially, we have invited and interacted with all the unions, including students.

Governor Ambode

“They would come in anger to interact with us at the plenary level of the Council, but would leave with smiling faces.

Some of them even sought personal appointment in my office here at UNILAG.” The strategy “We have established six ad hoc committees dealing with various grievances from various stakeholders. One or two of the committees have been made standing committees because we envisaged that from time to time, people might have grievances and, instead of communication with the Pro Chancellor, let them document their grievances and send to the standing committee.

“But while we have been trying to in-

Prof. Obafunwa

still confidence among stakeholders, we always tell them that the governing council should not be seen as the messiah and that we must collaborate together even with the media to achieve our respective goals.”

Daily Times learnt that the committees have received heaps of allegations from stakeholders regarding alleged atrocities under the previous administration.

Professor Ninalowo hinted that “Investigations are currently ongoing that I will not speak about yet because we are considering whether the report of the investigations would be in public domain as some

Continued on page 18

Features 18 Continued from page 17 stakeholders are demanding or otherwise.

“But you see, some of those that perpetrated the atrocities are like our children. When they err, we try to scold them and at the same time try to rehabilitate them so that they will make marked improvement and can more useful to the society. That kind of logic pertains to the university system such as LASU. We don’t want to throw away the baby with the bathwater.

“I know you would have loved to hear words like punishment and all that; but if certain individuals have erred and Council realises that their remaining there would not serve the university community well, they are advised or assisted to look for things to do elsewhere instead of parading themselves as members of LASU where they constitute misfit.

“As an academic, we are compelled to say things along the line of extrication. Social justice must ultimately be allowed to prevail,” the Prof said.

The external system Another concern is the University’s External System; this has gulped a lot of money which the former Vice Chancellor, Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa claimed had made appreciable progress.

“That management ought to have been blamed for the uncoordinated nature of the External System,” Ninalowo said. “That platform produced certain elements that took advantage of the development but I acknowledge it is strictly an academic matter though.”

Of properties and finances Prof Ninalowo explained that the role of the Governing Council strictly borders on policies that borders on properties and finances.

“Because of the existing chaotic nature and uncontrolled operation of the External System however, National Universities Commission (NUC) had to place embargo on their operation. The new thinking is now streamlining and disharmonising learning through the Distant Learning Institute.

“Administratively however, if you don’t want people to engage in act of malfeasance, you assist them; in other words, you allow for system of checks and balances. I have held so many positions in the university system and as a rule, I don’t handle cash. Let nobody think the literary rendition of my name ‘Ninalowo’ means spending money indiscriminately! (Laughs).

“If you must spend money, you do so prudently and according to explicit guidelines,” the Prof

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

In the university system I don’t handle cash as a rule

The trouble LASU gate

continued: “The millions of Naira pumped into the External System but with little progress made is of great concern to the current Council. I have been a key observer to what was going on in LASU from a distance.

“Sometimes when I drive along Anthony or Maryland I see some of these satellite campuses, I see people particularly on Saturdays claiming to be students hanging around the streets, pedestrians competing for space alongside vehicular movement and under the pretext of being students, then you know something is fundamentally wrong.

“So I was not surprised about the NUC action against satellite campuses. It then means that, in the midst of chaos, certain individuals thrived. If you make it easy to engage people in act of malfeasance they take advantage of such situation - including stealing and misappropriation of what have you.

“Conditions of disharmony normally allow for acts of grievances, so if you allow for situation where external learning is streamlined, it will be better.”

The Council Chairman commented on the withdrawal of the PhD certificate of the ASUU-LASU Chairman alongside another fellow early in 2015 by the previous administration. Although the Council on Friday December 4 last year, ordered that their certificates be reissued, Prof Ninalowo said the matter was straightforward. He explained further: “When I heard about the cer-

tificate issue, it dawned on me that if a university credential had been issued and somewhere along the line an error was discovered, I used some harsh words such as, ‘did the authority that issued the credential mentally in a state of comatose or something?

And what were they thinking now?

“If indeed an error was committed, the error should have been corrected administratively instead of making it a public affair which got to embarrass the department of Business Administration.”

The Professor stressed why the public image of the institution is of great importance.

“People have been wondering about the image of the university. When people invoke the adage: ‘action speaks louder than words’ there is a lot of wisdom in it.

“How can you say at a point in time you issued a certificate and at another point you just withdrew the certificate arbitrarily?

Remember those whose certificates were withdrawn were 19 originally and somewhere along the line, 17 were reissued to their original owners while two others were withheld while the other one withdrew. Idris, the ASUU Chairman was only sued as a decoy: there were political readings to it.

“Even if an error was discovered, the correction of the error should have been better managed. And we saw some sort of victimization, or should we say, unjust way of doing things.

“Part of our discovery was that the Senate of the university had deliberated on the matter and in its own wisdom had ordered for the certificates to be corrected and new ones reissued - yet that was not done until we came on board. So we simply followed the precept that we found on ground.

It was not as if we concocted anything or acted arbitrarily. No. “I know you would have loved to hear words like punishment and all that but that will be incorrect. But if certain individuals have erred and remaining there would not serve the community well, they are better advised or assisted to look for things to do elsewhere instead of parading themselves as members of LASU where they constitute misfit. As academics, we are compelled to say things along the line of extrication.”

Ninalowo would have loved to remain mum as regards the ongoing process on Obafunwa succession. As far as he is concerned, after screening about 10 contestants, those who qualified had been shortlisted and the information is already on the university website.

“At this point, we have to be extremely careful,” he said. “If the procedure was subject to public consumption, we would have loved to call a press conference.

But at this point in time, we just want to say that everything is under control. At present, some people have been shortlisted and the information is on the university website.”

Reacting to rumours mak-

ing the rounds that the Prof is a strong apostle of ASUU, Ninalowo had this to say: “Well, you said ‘according to a rumor’ - so it is up to you to go and double check your source.

I told you earlier that all staff unions met us angry and left happy. So how does that reality correspond with the claim of my being unfair? It then means that allegation warrants further investigation on your part.”

Professor Ninalowo lamented that the problems in the Lagos State University (LASU) under the immediate past administration, would not have gotten to the rooftop, if certain media organisations had not constituted themselves as fifth columnists, the Governing Council of the university has alleged.

The frivolous reports which were run by some newspapers in series, according to the Council, were sponsored by certain individuals in LASU who have skeleton in their cupboards. However, instead of crosschecking such reports as professional ethics demands, the effected reporters ‘sold their conscience’ by damning the consequences, the Council Chairman further lamented.

Admonishing the mass media to desist from compromising professional ethics, Ninalowo said, “This institution is 32-years-old and we all, including the media, have a role to play in further developing it.

“They should not constitute themselves as fifth columnists.

It is unfortunate that some media houses were writing stories sponsored by some belligerent parties from LASU community. Meanwhile, some of them (reporters) are not smart to crosscheck their reports and to also know that the sponsors of such stories have cases to answer along the line of allegations of malfeasance. Meanwhile by my own training, I happened to know the author and sponsors of such campaigns.

“LASU remains an institution in a strategic location and a state considered the nation’s economic hub. That simply means we should not allow LASU degenerate but rather rise to where she belongs in the committee of universities along the lines of teaching, research and community service.”

Nonetheless, he said the Council may not hesitate to wield the big stick if it found that there are certain elements he described as ‘contaminants’ that needed to be rooted out to allow the institutions enjoy lasting peace.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Crime

19

Æs

The story behind Nigeria’s vast bitumen deposit Now that the nation’s crude oil has dropped to an all time low at 28 US dollars per barrel, there can be no better time to look deep into the hitherto abandoned huge reserves of bitumen.

GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR traces the history of the liquid gold in this report.

Nigeria’s next liquid gold

Iriele, a small community situated in Ondo state and her indigenes have high hopes for development of their natural endowment. Over the years, they have dreamt of the day when bitumen would be exploited, creating job opportunities, infrastructure and economic prosperity.

The people of this town consider bitumen as a God endowed heritage which should be harnessed immediately to create jobs, deliver infrastructure and

reduce the hardship they face daily. Those dreams have not become reality up till now, denting their hopes and leaving them frustrated as the indigenes of these towns wait endlessly for the government to attract the needed investment.

In the light of the foregoing is the pressing need to tap into Nigeria’s rich mineral reserves.

The failure of government to properly utilise the wealth of the nation to the betterment of lives

of the citizenry has long been overlooked. This belief is voiced by majority of the ordinary people in this bitumen bearing community - including border communities like Agbabu and Ilubirin.

Nigeria has the sixth largest bitumen deposit in the world with most of the reserve found in Ondo state.

This belief is voiced by majority of the ordinary people in this bitumen bearing community

including border communities like Agbabu and Ilubirin. They have argued that since Nigeria’s crude might no longer generate sufficient revenue to run the nation’s economy, there should be an alternative to fall back on.

In the perspective of these probitumen agitators, bitumen is a guaranteed option as Nigeria redefines its roadmap to economic recovery.

Honourable Afolabi Iwalewa, a lawmaker representing the Irele-

Agbabu State Constituency in Ondo State House of Assembly, and one of the key proponents of bitumen thinks that the wobbly situation of Nigeria’s oil is a wakeup call for the exploitation of bitumen: “Any moment from now, crude oil will fade off. Look at what is happening now with the talk of oil theft. Every state is crying now, even the Federal Government is crying that it is not getting what it used to get CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Crime 20 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

from oil. What is the Federal Government doing, and why can’t we find another alternative? If crude oil is not going to fetch us what we project (in terms of revenue), why can’t we switch over to bitumen?”

Another standpoint of Honourable Iwalewa’s pro-bitumen advocacy is that the non-exploitation of the resource that is causing people in these communities a lot of trouble because they have to cope with the reality of spillsravaging precious farmlands where bitumen is found so close to the surface that a simple shovel can excavate the glossy black substance.

Bitumen is found in tar sands, which is also a combination of clay, sand and water. A heavy black viscous substance, oil-rich bitumen is extracted from tar sands, which is then refined into oil. The bitumen in tar sands cannot be pumped from the ground in its natural state; instead tar sand deposits are mined, usually using strip mining or open pit techniques, or the oil is extracted by underground heating with additional upgrading.

In essence, it involves a complex process that will certainly disrupt their lives and livelihoods beyond what they can imagine.

This is what the people of the bitumen bearing communities in Ondo State are calling for when they appeal for the exploitation of the resource in their soil.

Taking a closer look at the experience of Canada, the biggest producer of tar sands globally, shows that exploitation has actually resulted in serious damage to the local communities and the environment. The clearing of vast area which is a component of the mining process is responsible for the Canadian moon-landscape we see in Alberta, Canada, where large forest with pristine trees that sprawled across its landscape now looks more like a waste land ravaged by the exploration of bitumen.

In spite of all of the warnings pointing at the dangers of venturing into tar sands exploitation, especially the apparent impacts of livelihoods of ordinary people due to the far reaching implications for the environment, including the lands and water bodies, the people in the bitumen bearing communities have inclined to brush these opinions aside.

Olofun of Irele, Oba OlarenwajuLebi, the octogenarian traditional ruler of the Irele community, for instance criticizes talk of possible environmental hazards if bitumen were to be extracted in the area. Hebrags about of what his realm would look like if development were to prevail, us-

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Our bitumen deposit is the second largest in the world — Prof. Odeyemi

Mimiko

ing bitumen as the tool. “If development were to succeed the way the people of this area want it, this town would have looked like Lagos. I say so because bitumen will provide a lot of employment for all the youths in this area, not in Irele alone, but all over the Southern senatorial district and even in the whole of Ondo State.

The bitumen deposit here is a very huge one. It is the second largest in the world, according to the survey conducted by some experts,” he enthused.

And on the Canadian experience he explained: “In Canada, they do it in Calgary, and I have been there. They don’t drive away communities, and they replenish the soil. Where they mine the bitumen, they mix the soil with some chemicals, and restore it for the farmers to go back there and farm. And when those people were working here, I talked to them and they told me that even if they have to relocate some communities, they will have to build some fine buildings for them, and that the exploitation won’t affect much of their lands. It is something that they will dig from the ground, and it won’t affect us adversely.”

There’s no doubt that the allure of jobs, development and the improvement they envisage that bitumen development would give to their communities has strengthened their resolve to continue campaigning for the exploration of their God-given wealth. Any attempt to make the

Buhari

Our problem is not bitumen; our problem is corruption. What do we do with the money we have been getting from oil? The one we are exploiting, what are we doing with it? The people are getting poorer; there is no electricity, water, healthcare, and education. This is despite the fact that we are making trillions of dollars. So, if we now exploit bitumen and add another trillion, we are just going to multiply the corruption - Professor Odeyemi pro-bitumen agitators to consider the consequences is usually met with cold shoulders.

However, a geologist at the Federal University of Technology,

Akure, Ondo State, Professor Peter Odeyemi offered a much more balanced picture of the realities on the ground. Odeyemi, who was a member of the defunct Federal Government’s Bitumen Implementation Committee (BIC) made a poignant observation when he noted that the mere presence of a resource does not necessarily translate into commercially viable deposits.

“The first thing is that how much is there? We don’t know!

We need to carry out further work in that area in the first instance. Secondly, exploration can be carried out by an oil company because bitumen is a hydro-carbon but also there are some technical difficulties.

“If an oil company is going to carry out an exploration there, there is an interest, financial one. This company will calculate how much it’s going to get. It will also look at certain technical issues and the ease of exploitation.

This is so because although both of them are hydro-carbon, one is easier to exploit than the other.

“Also how will you exploit without exposing the soil to direct rain fall impact, denudation, erosion and degradation? So they have generations of enlightened professors and everything. The place is highly enlightened and the environmental issues are potent here like in Europe.

“If you look at the Niger Delta, the people just welcomed oil companies with open hands not knowing that oil companies are devils.

They are only interested in profits.

They are not in any way interested in environmental sustainability, in flora, in fauna and even in the development of the people.”

He continued: “Our problem is not bitumen; our problem is corruption. What do we do with the money we have been getting from oil? The one we are exploiting, what are we doing with it? The people are getting poorer; there is no electricity, water, healthcare, and education. This is despite the fact that we are making trillions of dollars. So, if we now exploit bitumen and add another trillion, we are just going to multiply the corruption.”

There is no doubt that the exploration of bitumen will have a heavy toll on the environment of Iriele, and neighboring Agbabu and Illubirin Communities in Ondo state.

Water will be polluted, farmlands destroyed, large expanse of forest will be brought down and communities destroyed. Are the communities willing to pay this kind of costs or are there alternative development paths these communities can take that will have more sustainable economic impact?

As the federal government plans to diversify the economy, let them seriously consider exploring the mining of solid minerals as an alternative.

There’s no gainsaying that the environment must be protected even as the nation seeks improved economic fortune.

21 21

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

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OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS DTN COMPLEX LATEEF JAKANDE ROAD, AGINDIGBI, IKEJA, LAGOS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 44 ADETOKNBO ADEMOLA CRESCENT WUSE 2, ABUJA

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Court reserves judgment on Senate leadership despite petition Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏJustice Adeniyi Ade-

mola of the Federal High Court in Abuja Wednesday reserved judgment on the suit challenging the legality of the Senate Standing Rule used in the election of Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

The judgment has been held back following petition written by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu insinuating bias on the part of the Justice Ademola whose wife has been appointed Head of Service, Lagos State

government.

Justice Ademola said Wednesday that the judgment on the suit will be delivered within the time limit stipulated by law except the chief judge stops it.

The judge’s remark followed an objection by five senators who instituted the action to a petition written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu asking for transfer of the case from Justice Ademola even when judgment has been reserved.

The five senators are: Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Garba Marafa, Robert Ajayi

Boroffice, Bareehu Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Othman Hunkuyu. In their objection to Ekweremadu’s petition, they dismissed the allegation of bias made against Justice Ademola as unwarranted and a calculated attempt to blackmail the judge.

The objection was filed

by Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman who on Wednesday told Justice Ademola not to be dettered by the content of Ekweremadu’s petition on the ground that there was no basis for the petition in the first instance.

The five senators claimed that Ekweremadu’s petition was unrea-

sonable and in bad taste and faith because he (Ekweremadu) has never for once appeared in court personally to witness proceedings in the matter and therefore cannot make a case of bias.

The plaintiffs also told the judge that the Deputy Senate President is being represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Patrick Ikweto, who has never and will never associate himself with such an allegation of bias that cannot be substantiated in the court or anywhere.

Other defendants in the case also told the judge that the petition was strange to them because they were not copied.

Lassa fever: Two tested positive in Ekiti, one feared dead

Fayose

Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏEkiti

State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has warned people of the state not to expose their food items to rats and other rodents to have contact with, just as he directed health workers to embark on massive sensitization of the people.

This came just as the blood sample of a dead person was sent to laboratories outside the state for test to ascertain the cause of the death, while another seriously took ill at an undisclosed hospital.

The dead person reportedly showed some signs that experts need to ascertain whether they were Lassa fever related.

Fayose, in a statewide broadcast to the people in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday, said government was already trailing people who had contacts with the victims.

In a press release by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor also emphasised the need by residents to maintain clean environment and embrace healthy living.

KINGS AND MAIRO FOUNDATION

JESUS PATTERN DISCIPLES PRAYER MINISTRY

K1 DE ULTIMATE FANS CLUB OF NIGERIA

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

The Trustees Are: 1. Abdulkarim Kings Momoh 5. Micheal Akenabor 2. Mairo Momoh 6. Suleiman Momoh 3. Haruna Omoye Momoh 7. Jummai Mohammed Kamal-Deen 4. Ogheneochuko Eileen Momoh 8. Papy Katanga Kabamba Aims And Objectives 1.To promote and protect the interest of the members.

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

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

TRUSTEES 1.Pastor, Jacob Kolawolu Olamoyegun 2. Sister Esther Olamoyegun 3. Pastor Solomon Adewoye 4. Assistant Pastor Wilson Jimoh 5. Pastor Sunday Adesola Olamoyegun 6. Pastor Jonathan Adewole Olamoyegun AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. To promote the gospel of Jesus Christ 2. To promote Godliness and Blibical Doctrines Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Pastor, Jacob Kolawolu Olamoyegun

This is to inform the general public that the above named CLUB has applied for registration under part C” of the companies and Allied matters Act1 of 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. ALLISON RASAQ AJIBOLA 2. ADEDOYIN OLADIPO AKAGBUSUM. 3. OLATUNJI ADEGOROYE 4. ADIGUN SAIDI 5. ADENIRAN ADENIKE ABIMBOLA 6. BOLAJI AJIBOLA JOHNSON. 7. ILUFEMILOYE BALQIS IYABO. 8. JIMOH TAIWO. Aims and Objectives are: 1. To foster unity and peace amongst members.

Any Objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

The property known as 30/32 Adeniyi Jones Ikeja, Lagos registered as No. 6 on page 6 in volume 642 of the Lagos State Land Registry, Ikeja , Lagos was purchased from Miss Bolanle Adebimpe Onayemi and the property owner Mr. Felix OkeyNwaebo is seeking registration of property instrument at the Lands Registry, Ikeja, Lagos.

Any objection to the registration should contact the Registrar of Title, Lagos State within 7 days from this publication.

Signed: Mr. Felix Okey Nwaebo 30/32 Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT (CAP. C20) LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, 2004

The general public is hereby notified that I am the lawful owner and so-signatory to the under- listed First Bank of Nigeria PLC Account Numbers: Account No. 2004948065 for ‘ B. Bello Ebhomeana Nigeria Company Limited’ Account No. 3031900312 for ‘Braimah Bello Ebhomeana’ Account No. 3015399417 for ‘ Braimah Bello Oregbemhe’ That I am the bearer of the above names and that ‘B” stands for BRAIMAH. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC should please take note.

Signed:BRAIMAH, BELLO EBHOMEANA

GOD CHARIOT OF FIRE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH 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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) PASTOR EDWARD OMOKPO – CHAIRMAN (2) PASTOR EDITH EDWARD OMOKPO – SECRETARY (3) CHIDIEBERE NWORGU THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE WORLD 2. TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED AND GIVE DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES 3. TO SET AT LIBERTY TO THEM THAT ARE BRUISED. LUKE 4:18 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 BY:- SECRETARY

OLOLADE ABISOLA OKEOWO i formerly known as Miss Ololade Abisola Daniel now wishes to be known as Mrs. Ololade Abisola OKEOWO. All former document remain valid and General public should take note

IKECHUKWU NWERONWE I formerly known and addressed as MARK CORNELIUS IKECHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as MARK CORNELIUS IKECHUKWU NWERONWE. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF ORGENICS NIGERIA LIMITED [RC 413777]

[Pursuant to Section 478, 481 (e) CAMA and Under the Winding up proceeding Rules] Notice is hereby given that a final meeting of the members of Orgenics Nigeria limited will be held at 2A, Oladejo Sanyaolu Street, Agege, Lagos on the 22nd day of March 2016 at 10am.

AGENDA Ï ^ƏƆ Ɔ Ɛ Ɛƈ Ɨ ƅ ƈƗƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ GƈƎƑƈƗ Ɛ Əô ƏƆƍ ƏƐê Ï ^ƏƆ Ɔ Ɛ Ɛƈ Ɨ ƅ ƈƗƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƌƍ ƕô 0ƈ Ƌ ƅƅ Ƒ Ɛ ê Ï #ƈ ƋƑƐƈ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƌƍ ƕê Ï R ê Dated this 19th day of January 2016

Signed: Isimeme Ojeah Suite 4, No 15e, Muri Okunola Street, V.I. Lagos GƈƎƑƈƗ Ɛ Ə

OKEOWO OLUFEMI TEMITOPE I formerly known and addressed as OLATOYE RASHIDI OLUFEMI now wish to be known and addressed as OKEOWO OLUFEMI TEMITOPE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. First Bank and General Public take note.

AMINAT MARY OGUNLEYE

ALHAJI MOMODU

I formerly known and addressed as AMINATU YUSUFF MARIAM now wish to be known and addressed as AMINAT MARY OGUNLEYE. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMADU ALHAJI now wish to be known and addressed as ALHAJI MOMODU . All former documents remain valid general public take note.

ENIGBEWO ADEWALE JOSEPH I formerly known and addressed as OMOTOLA JOSEPH ENIGBEWO now wish to be known and addressed as ENIGBEWO ADEWALE JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

OGUNDAIRO BAMIDELE I, formerly known and addressed as MR. OLUSOLA TOKUNBO now wishes to be known and addressed as MR. OGUNDAIRO BAMIDELE. GT Bank and general public take note.

FO

A RS

LE

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

23 News

Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade (1914-2016)

Ooni mourns Olubadan ÏÏÏOoni of

Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Wednesday, said the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade I, left the world when the entire Yoruba race needed him the most.

He said the monarch left at the moment that the long overdue unification of the Yoruba traditional rulers, and the race in general, is gradually gaining momentum.

The monarch, in a statement issued by Moses Olafare, the Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, said the departed Olubadan has indeed secured God’s heart while on earth because he lived substantial part of his life serving the good people of Ibadan, Yoruba land, Oodua race, Nigeria and humanity in general.

The statement reads: “As a public servant, Ibadan traditional chief, Yoruba leader of thought and finally as the revered

king of Ibadan which remains a pride of House of Oduduwa, Oba Odulana was exemplary and he distinctly raised the bar of good leadership among his subjects.

“I will personally miss him and he would have played host to Ooni and his entourage; during my unity tour to all Yoruba Obas and leaders of thought which I commenced a couple of days go with the visit to Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.”

Olubadan was a father to all – Kogi Gov-Elect Ibrahim Obansa Lokoja

ÏÏÏKogi

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi

Late Olubadan was a courageous monarch - Saraki ÏÏÏSenate

President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, expressed sadness over the news of the passing on of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I. Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, said the late Olubadan was a great and courageous monarch who fought valiantly to preserve the dignity of the Ibadan traditional stool and by extension the na-

tion’s traditional institution.

He described the late traditional ruler as a highly accomplished parliamentarian, frontline politician and a statesman who was a member of the Federal House of Representatives in the First Republic and remained till his death a role model for current members of the parliament at state and federal levels.

The late Olubadan, the Senate President stated, was a personality who became an inspiration to the

Saraki

entire Yoruba nation in particular and the country in general.

Saraki said: “Looking at the life and times of the

Dogara, Lasun mourn Olubadan of Ibadanland Henry Omunu Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and his deputy, Lasun Yussuff have expressed their sadness over the death of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.

Dogara, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, extended his condolence to the family of the deceased monarch, the people of Ibadan and Oyo state as a whole.

He said that though the late revered monarch can be said to have lived to a ripe

old age, his death is a loss to Ibadan, Oyo state, and Nigeria in general as his wise counsel can no longer be sought in matters relating to moving the nation forward.

The Speaker prayed God to grant the late monarch eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the big loss.

Lasun, in the condolence message released by his Chief Press Secretary, Wole Oladimeji, described the late traditional ruler as a peace lover whose reign witnessed unprecedented peace and development in his domain.

He said that Ibadan people would forever miss the

peace loving monarch for his contributions to the development of Ibadan and environs.

The deputy Speaker however, urged the family of the late Olubadan, Ibadan people, and government of Oyo state as a whole to take solace in the Lord that giveth and taketh.

He said that the late monarch died at a ripe old age and hopes that Ibadan people would make use of his legacy in order to transform the ancient city, just as he commended the Ibadan Traditional Council for a good succession plan which has always made it easy to crown the next Olubadan.

late Olubadan, I cannot but hold my breath considering his achievements. This was a man who started as a clerk, became a teacher, soldier, politician, educationist, parliamentarian, philanthropist and first class traditional ruler in a span of about 100 years. I will simply say he lived a worthy and exemplary life.

His was a true life story of grass to grace. This I believe would remain a great source of inspiration to all of us and the upcoming generation.”

state governorelect, Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello, has commiserated with Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the people of Ibadan and the generality of Nigerians over the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba (Dr.) Samuel Odulana.

Bello described the late traditional ruler who joined his ancestors on Tuesday, as a unifying factor who used his good leadership to transform the economy and cultural awareness of the Ibadan people.

In a message of condolence through his Media Officer, Prince Abdulkareem Onyekehi, Bello described the late Olubadan as “a great Nigerian who will be greatly missed for his unifying aura and un-

Oba Odugade left indelible footprints, says Atiku ÏÏÏFormer

Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has described the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, as a towering character whose footprints in Nigeria’s politics and traditional rulership

Ambode mourns Oba Odugade ÏÏÏLagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, extended heartfelt commiserations to the people of Ibadan and Oyo state government over the death of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.

Oba Odulana, who was born on April 14, 1914 and became the Olubadan in July 2007, passed on at the ripe age of 101, on Tuesday evening, in his palace, at the Monatan area of Ibadan.

The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, described the late monarch as a well accomplished Nigerian, who cut

dying commitment to the transformation of Ibadan and Oyo state as a whole”, saying the nation has lost a gem and cultural Ambassador of African history.

“The late Oba was a father to all Nigerians and through his actions he greatly showed the receptive spirit of the Ibadan people by accommodating Nigerians from different parts of the country. By conferring chieftaincy titles on various Nigerians, he succeeded in making Ibadan a home for all.

“During his reign, the departed Oba attracted development to the ancient city of Ibadan and promoted the city as a blend of traditional power and modernisation. I wish to commiserate with Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state and the people of Ibadan over this painful loss”.

his teeth in various positions of office he occupied during his hay days.

“Oba Odulana was an accomplished Nigerian in the true sense of the word.

He gave his all to serve the country in various capacities. He was a seasoned civil servant and a thoroughbred politician which eventually saw him becoming a Minister in the First Republic.

“His contributions towards the establishment of both primary and secondary schools in various parts of the old Western Region of Nigeria cannot be forgotten in a hurry”, Governor Ambode said.

will remain indelible.

The Turaki Adamawa recalled that the late Olubadan’s wisdom and counsel, which he rendered to those who encountered him during his reign were invaluable.

“On several occasions during the reign of Oba Odulana, each time I visited Ibadan, I will always pay homage to him at his palace, and at each time I am particularly delighted by his fatherly advice and prayers for me.

“I share in the grief of the people of Ibadan over the demise of this outstanding monarch, but I am more delighted about the fact that Oba Odulana led an impactful lifetime” Atiku said.

Atiku

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Stop Fayose from encroaching on our farmland, Ekiti farmers tell FG Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÎÎÎFarmers at the 4,000 hect-

ares of land earmarked for the proposed Ekiti Airport

by Governor Ayo Fayose, on Wednesday staged a protest, in Ado-Ekiti, and called on the Federal Government to prevail on Fayose not to usurp their land.

The enraged farmers, gathered at the project site, bearing placards with various inscriptions, condemning

the Ekiti State Government for allegedly planning to take over of their lands, and willful damage of their means of livelihood over a project they branded as a misplaced priority.

Fayose had, last September, rushed to the farmland with five bulldozers to clear the site for the proposed airport.

Since then nothing has been done on the land, while the people who were farming there are now worried over what they described as insen-

sitivity by Fayose for not consulting them or offering them compensating for his action.

Specifically, the farmers condemned the destruction of their cocoa farms and other valuable crops by the Fayose administration without prior notice or compensation as “wicked and callous”.

The spokesman of the group, Mr. Ojo Awe, specifically called on Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, to speak

with all relevant authorities to suspend the airport project that was ravaging the agricultural nerve centre of the state.

Awe added that the Land Use Decree of 1976, which empowered government to appropriate lands for overriding public interest, still mandated that there should be a dialogue with the owners and the government before any land was taken for whatever project.

“If you want to send me packing out of my house, you need to inform me. The laws

they are relying on recognised that some people were using the lands and they need to be engaged before taking it over.

“The other area where government also erred was that, when we heard the rumour that the land might be appropriated, we went to court and papers were duly served.

“When the process was going on, the government invited the monarchs of the affected communities and served them papers indicating that the land had been taken over,

Kwara govt, Rotary partner on children’s health

Made-in-Delta shoes for global market soon

Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

Monday Osayande, Asaba

ÎÎÎMore

than 100 children with cleft lip and palate are undergoing surgery in Kwara State at a health programme organised by the government – in partnership with Rotary International , Mike Omotosho Foundation and Alliance for Smiles, just as more than 120,000 rural dwellers have so far enrolled in the Kwara State Community Health Insurance Scheme.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who called for more partnership with his administration by government and non-government organisations in promoting quantitative healthcare delivery and healthy population in the state, disclosed this at the flagoff of the free cleft lip and palate surgery in Ilorin.

He said that many parents with children with cleft lip and palate would be gladden by the free programme because of the remedy to their children’s ailment through surgery.

ÎÎÎA

multi-million naira leather works factory run by the Delta State Government in Partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) would soon launch its top quality shoes and other leather products in Nigeria and the global market.

Delta State Leather and Footwear Production Centre is the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa with a capacity to train 3,000 people annually and produce high quality products.

Ravaged Ibolo Community Road, Anambra State-turned dump site on Wednesday.

LASG demolition of property: Court fixes Feb. 2 for ruling Peter Fowoyo

ÎÎÎJustice

Morenike Obadina of Lagos High Court, Igbosere, has fixed February 2, 2016, for ruling on two applications in a suit brought

by Mrs. Olubukunola Osomo against Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Also sued in the suit No:LD/506LM/15 are the Attorney-General of Lagos state and the Lagos State Develop-

ment and Property Corporation (LSDPC).

Osomo, through her lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), is asking the court for an order declaring that the estate of the late Kayode Fashina is the rightful owner of the property at plot 439, Karimu Giwa Street, South West Ikoyi, Lagos and registered in No 69 page 69 Volume 2432 of the Lagos Land Registry.

Besides, the claimant asked the court for an order declaring that the purported acts of trespass, interference and possession and harassment of the claimant on the property mentioned above by the defendants were unlawful, null and void and outside the scope of their powers.

The claimant asked the court to award damages in the sum of N20 million for the acts of unlawful trespass,

Anti-graft: Army orders officers to declare assets ÎÎÎChief Gov Abdulfatah

despite the pending court action. This is illegal and unacceptable.

“We want to put on record that forceful takeover of this land may push many youths into robbery and that will threaten the security of Ekiti State”, he said.

Also speaking, Chief John Owolabi, added that the shock caused of the government’s action, had led to the demise of over ten of their members, while many were now gravely depressed.

of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has directed all officers of the Nigerian Army, yet to declare their assets to do so immediately.

According to army spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, the army chief gave the directive on Wednesday during a conference with principal staff officers and directors serv-

ing at the army headquarters.

Recall that Gen Buratai declared his asset after his appointment as Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force in May 2015 and also on

interference with possession, threat and harassment perpetuated on the claimant’s property at plot 439, Karimu Giwa street, South West Ikoyi, Lagos.

While the matter was pending before the court, the Lagos State Government was alleged to have encroached on the land and demolished the said property without any court order.

At the resumed hearing of

the case, Ayorinde, informed the court that they had an urgent application dated January 16, 2016, and filed, the same day, an order of mandatory injunction for the defendants to immediately vacate the property in dispute, restore the claimant into possession to protect the integrity of the court and to show cause why the defendants should not be found guilty for contempt of court.

his appointment as Chief of Army Staff in July 2015. Copies of both are with the Code of Conduct Bureau.

According to the release, “This directive is in order,

considering the fact that all military officers are having Presidential Commission and are public servants, as well as subject to both civil and military laws.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

25 Opinion

Nigeria Vision 20-2020 Mirage (4)?

ÏÏÏIn this column last

week, we began a study of Alexander Chiejina’s comprehensive review of the potential of agribusiness in Nigeria in his work titled “Unlocking Nigeria’s Agribusiness Potential”.

Citing Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), he informed that Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer, supplying over 20 percent of global production.

Notwithstanding, in spite of the rise in cassava production on the heels of the Presidential Initiative on Cassava (PIC) in 2002, overall output remains below potential with production largely at subsistence level. But the point remains, he argues, that there is a significant opportunity for the creation of a strong comparative advantage in cassava production.

Investment in different points along the value chain, from production to packaging to distribution of a high quality cassava product for consumption and industrial purposes would be rewarding. He expressed the view that businesses seeking to engage in agribusiness will find numerous opportunities along the value chain that they can contribute to help develop and leverage

for profit.

He further argues that another area of agribusiness, the production and distribution of agricultural inputs, such as fertilisers, seeds and pesticides awaits investors. He argued, correctly, that the revitalisation and development of the agribusiness value chain offers huge potential not only to address food security and economic development but for creating a model of socially-inclusive economic growth.

He cites the World Bank to show that urban food markets are set to increase fourfold to exceed $400 billion by 2030 in Africa, which would require major agribusiness investments in processing, logistics, market infrastructure, and retail networks. This is apart from the growing middle class seeking greater diversity and higher quality in its diets. He predicts that the most dynamic sectors would be rice, feed grains, poultry, dairy, vegetable oils, horticulture, and processed foods.

Citing United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)’s “Agribusiness for Africa’s Prosperity: Country Case Studies”, he submitted that with an array of crops in Nigeria’s produc-

Buhari

tion profile, each with a substantial output in terms of commodities, optimal yield would come from a careful selection based on feasibility for value addition. He named front runners in the crop sub-sector as cassava, rice, maize, fruits and vegetables, soybeans and palm, which are critical for vegetable oil production.

Citing again UNIDO, he named cocoa as belonging to a unique class, as it is the dominant crop

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in the non-oil products and accounts for nearly 80 percent of all non-oil contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural earnings: the products of cocoa are adequately exploited since the country consumes less than 10 percent of its cocoa output. In the livestock group, poultry production (meat and eggs) have the greatest opportunity for expansion and trade in domestic and regional markets.

Citing UNIDO, however, he argues that much

of this has not been adequately exploited since imports of dressed chicken and other poultry meat products pervade the West African sub region. On the other hand, fish production through aquaculture is rising and the market is equally expanding, offering opportunities for producers to scale up production and output.

This is in line with the desire of government as presented by then minister of agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, in August 2013 while justifying government intention to ban fish importation.

He was reported to have argued that a ban would promote local fish production through the aquaculture value chain. He had further argued that the importation of fish was not a good business for the country given its huge natural resources.

I cannot agree more.

I had made the same point while writing on some states’ inability to pay their staff salaries when the same states are situated by, in and around waters that can produce fish to meet Nigeria’s shortfall in fish production. In terms of constraints, Chiejina gives precedence to erratic agriculture policies. I agree totally with him, not just in regards to situation at the federal level but more importantly at the state level. He also cited limited access to land, low level of inputs and inadequate trade outlets.

Other constraints as contained in the 2013 World Bank report titled “Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of

Agribusiness” are poor infrastructure, high transportation costs, including difficulties for smallholders and small firms to access technologies, information, skills and finance.

Transportation costs are high, making farm products less competitive in urban markets in comparison with imported products.

With processing centres often located far away from producing centres, the costs of sourcing these raw materials are high, thereby reducing the advantage of a local sourcing of raw materials. Besides, the assembly of products from scattered producers is done at a high cost. “A major constraint on competitive commercial agriculture and agribusiness is the lack of skills at all levels, from vocational to postgraduate education, including management and entrepreneurial capacity.

With few exceptions, vocational and university programs need a major overhaul to focus on unmet demand from the private sector for operational, technical, and managerial skills. At the same time, experiences with developing entrepreneurship through training in business models and practical hands-on training show promise in helping to create a new generation of entrepreneurial farmers and businesspeople,” the report explained.

Next week in this column, we shall conclude our study of the agribusiness potential of Nigeria.

Alabi Wuya can be reached at: @alabiwuya

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26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Health Æ s

Afolabi

A man having heart attack

In the past four decades, hypertension wasn’t common but three years ago, statistics show that 1 out of every 3 adults in Nigeria above 30 years have high blood pressure but new studies now even show that 1 out of 2 adults in Nigeria has high blood pressure but unfortunately, many people are unaware. LARA ADEJORO writes

Why many Nigerians die from heart attack, stroke

Hypertension usually does not cause symptoms initially, but sustained hypertension over time is a major risk factor for hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease, and chronic kidney disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number 1 cause of death globally. More people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. An estimated 17.5 million people died from CVDs in 2012, representing 31 per cent of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.4 million were due to coronary heart disease and 6.7 million were due to stroke .Over three quarters of CVD deaths

take place in low- and middleincome countries. Out of the 16 million deaths under the age of 70 due to Non communicable diseases (NCDs), 82 per cent are in low and middle income countries and 37 per cent are caused by CVDs, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute events and are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The most common reason for this is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain.

A cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, Dr

Akinkunmi Afolabi said, 60 per cent of people with heart attack die before getting to the hospital and for those who even make it to the hospital, over 50 per cent still die because the damage has already been done.

Dr Afolabi said, “Stroke is becoming common now and on daily basis at the medical emergency in LUTH, we see at least, one patient with stroke and this is very worrisome, as it claims people’s lives at their prime because the country has invested in a lot of them only for them to die when they are to give back to people behind them.

“A school of thought on stroke says, one third of people with stroke will die, one third will

make it but will have neurological or functional disability and one third will recover fully. When a person develops heart attack or stroke, the damage would have been done and nothing can be done about it, except for management. That’s why it is very important for people who have high blood pressure to make sure it is controlled. Unfortunately, a lot of people with heart attack don’t even make it to the hospital.,” he said.

The cardiologist said, high blood pressure can cause kidney failure “and that’s worse because the cost of dialysis is expensive and you have to do three sections of dialysis in a week and that cost N50,000 to keep fit or one starts

looking for kidney donation.”

Corroborating this, the Executive Director of Nigeria Heart Foundation (NHF), Dr. Kingsley Akinroye said, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide.

Prevention Akinroye said, cardiovascular diseases could be prevented if there is an increase in awareness programmes, addressing the causes and risk factors involved in heart disease.

Dr Afolabi said, cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by regular medical check-up, addressing sedentary lifestyles such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and

Continued on page 27

Ondo:Health programme will have legislative backing for enduring legacy- Dr. Adeyanju ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure The Ondo State government has said there would be proper legislative backing for all its programme in the health sector in order to consolidate on its achievement while leaving an enduring legacy behind for the incoming government.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, made

the disclosure while briefing journalists on the 2015 activities of the Ministry in Akure, the state capital.

Adeyanju explained that the various programmes initiated by the Olusegun Mimiko led-government has received various accolades and awards both locally and internationally and are sustainable for the any government coming on board in the state.

He said since the beginning of the government of the present

administration many residents and people both within and outside the state have had access to quality health care through various programs of the government mostly specially the Agbebiye initiative.

“We have been able to sustain and record success in all the programmes. The Abiye Motherhood programme which metamorphosed into Agbebiye was successfully scaled up to the entire eighteen local government of

the state.

“This has drastically reduced maternal and child mortality rate by over 78 per cent while skilled deliveries have increased to 89.9 per cent, therefore when this is sustained, the slogan of the state government which is pregnancy will no longer be a death sentence in the state will be a reality”.

Adeyanju positioned that the routine immunization programme known as Orirewa and also family planning is waxing

stronger which has made the state to received Bill and Melinda Gate Awards twice on immunization.

The Commissioner, who said no fewer than 400 health personnel were employed last year, noted that about 800 health workers were also promoted in the Secondary Health Care alone in the year, including renovations of health facilities across the state.

He informed that over 50,000

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Coalition unites to block ‘urban development’ PPP water privatisation schemes

World Bank’s president, Dr. Jim Yong Kim

LARA ADEJORO This week, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation Employees’ Union (NMCEU), 25 Nagpur grassroots civil society groups, and organizations from across India kicked off two weeks of escalating events to demonstrate the failure of Nagpur’s public-private partnerships (PPP) water privatization scheme, including a call for the contract’s cancellation and the utility’s remunicipalization.

The events, part of a nationwide push, are bolstered by a global petition signed by more than 700 organizations from 20 countries and more than 18,000 individuals.

The escalation, endorsed by affiliates of Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) and Public Services International (PSI), is the latest in a global movement to protect the human right to water from PPPs and similar forms of water privatization.

The mass mobilization aims to prevent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government from replicating the failed Nagpur model in its recently launched nationwide pro-PPP urban development initiatives. The programs, including “Smart Cities” and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), together target 600 municipalities , and Modi himself has called explicitly for replication of the Nagpur project.

“In Nagpur, the PPP scheme has enabled companies to squeeze profits from what should be a public water system, while workers suffer and families struggle to pay unaffordable bills or withstand life-threatening water shut-

offs,” said Jammu Anand, president of NMCEU, a member of PSI that has opposed the Nagpur municipal authority’s water privatization—managed by Orange City Water Pvt. Ltd.—for the last eight years. “The idea that the Indian government would expand the Nagpur model—a glaring violation of the fundamental human right to water—to hundreds of cities and millions more people across India is simply dangerous and puts corporate profit before human life.”

Nagpur’s water PPP has led to shutoffs, skyrocketing bills, poor service, and lengthy project delays—common outcomes of water privatization detailed Corporate Accountability International’s reports, “Shutting the spigot on private water” and “Behind World Bank spin.” The Nagpur case garnered international notoriety when a coalition of civil society organizations awarded Veolia, whose subsidiary is the 50% partner in Nagpur’s privately operated utility, a “Pinocchio Award”for violations of social and environmental rights.

Veolia’s poor track record in the water sector has been exposed widely, including the scathing report, “Troubled waters”. Just recently, Romanian prosecutors charged the CEO of Bucharest’s Veolia subsidiary with briberyand illegal influence-peddling.

Despite the Nagpur model’s disastrous results, the World Bank holds it up as a success story, and Veolia and its competitor, Suez, are hoping to profit from an expansion of water privatization throughout India. Until 2014, the World Bank even held an ownership stake in the Veolia subsidiary involved in Nagpur.

Now, the World Bank, which has widely promoted and facilitated the PPP model, is in discussions with the Modi administration to provide funding for the expansion of this model.

“In the pursuit of these water privatization projects, the World Bank continues to confuse ‘development’ with profit,” said Shayda Naficy, a water privatization expert at Corporate Accountability International.

“For years it has ignored the concerns of the people most affected by this dogmatic pursuit, but with people across the globe raising their voices, it can’t run from the truth any longer.”

The escalation around the Nagpur case echoes a campaign launched in October 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria, the largest city on the African continent, that successfully led to the cancellation of a proposed World Bank water PPP advisory contract and has so far stalled a large-scale privatization scheme that had once been deemed imminent. Timed with the escalation in India, Corporate Accountability International unveiled a new exposé, “The truth about public private partnerships” debunking common myths about this form of water privatization.

The World Bank’s president Dr. Jim Yong Kim, chief economist Kaushik Basu, top water official Junaid Ahmad, and country director for India Onno Ruhl have neglected to respond to a December invitation issued by the Nagpur-based organizations to receive testimony about the water PPP from Nagpur residents at an event in the city on January 29th.

27 Health

1 out of 2 adults in Nigeria have high blood pressure Continued from page 26

excessive use of alcohol.

“People should go for regular medical check-up, at least once in six months, that is twice in a year, that way, a medical expert can tell if one has high blood pressure. The management is unending. One needs to check ones blood pressure regularly and once it’s detected that one has high blood pressure, the medications must be taken regularly.”

Adding, Afolabi said, if a family member has or has died of heart attack or stroke, then one is at risk.

“People need to modify their lifestyles. In the past four decades, hypertension wasn’t common but three years ago, statistics show that 1 out of every 3 adults in Nigeria above 30 years have high blood pressure but new studies now even show that 1 out of 2 adults in Nigeria have high blood pressure and that’s alarming. That means that out of every five family, one or two persons will have high blood pressure. Then, it shows something has changed about our lifestyles.

“In those days, our fathers

used to trek to the farm but now, people prefer sitting in a place for a long time, they don’t trek anymore, instead they use the elevators or take a bike; people are no longer physically active.”

The expert said, it is recommended that, people should have 30 minutes of brisk walk three to four times in a week. “That also help to control the blood pressure. People should stop smoking, reduce alcohol intake to its barest minimum and if it’s possible, it can be stopped.

“From studies, male can take 21 units of beer in a week, which about 7 bottles and 14 units of beer for female in a week. Apparently, a bottle of beer in a week is okay. People should consume more fruits and vegetables, reduce salt intake, curry, locust beans, maggi and foods that have high concentration of salt,” he said.

He advocated that government should expand the health insurance scheme.

“Out of pocket payment in the hospital cannot go far. Sometimes, people come and might not have money to buy the medications, these are things that should ordinarily be covered by the insurance scheme.”

‘Maternal, child mortality reduced by over 78% in Ondo’ Continued from page 26 deliveries has taken place in the Mother and Child Hospitals which has now been accredited for obstetrics and gynecology residency training.

Adeyanju also noted that the State School of Nursing and School of Health Technology have also received adequate attention with the construction of more hostels and laboratories with equipment’s to make teaching and learning conducive.

Adeyanju

The health commissioner added that the Emergency and Medical Service (EMS) established by the government has reserved many accidents and crashes victims.

“EMS has also been linked with the Agbebiye program to ensure prompt attention to community pregnancy delivery emergencies while the Kidney Center has been offering quality health services to patients with kidney diseases at affordable costs”, he noted.

g 29

CHAN: Chansa thanks Lwandamina

I

Chansa

saac Chansa has thanked George Lwandamina for believing in what his and Christopher Katongo’s experience could bring to the team at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Chansa scored a goal on Tuesday to inspire Zambia to a 1-0 Group D victory over Zimbabwe at the ongoing tournament in Rwanda.

The 2012 Africa Cup winning star said the victory has given Zambia a good

springboard in their quest to reach the CHAN quarterfinals.

Chansa and Katongo were recalled to the team last December after previously featuring for Zambia in June and October 2014 respectively.

Be patient, Oliseh tells Nigerians

Page 28

Thursday, January 21, 2016

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

N

igeria’s U-17 girls, nicknamed Flamingoes, have arrived in Namibia ahead of Friday’s 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against that country’s Baby Gladiators.

Coach Bala Nikyu, his assistants, 18 players and backroom staff, alongside a couple of administrative officials, flew aboard a South African Airways airplane from Lagos to Johannesburg before connecting another South African Airways flight to Windhoek, on

Pasuwa

Pasuwa rues missed chances

Z

imbabwe coach Callisto Pasuwa regretted his side’s wasted opportunities in the 1-0 loss to archrivals Zambia in their opening CHAN 2016 Group D game on Tuesday at the Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu.

The Warriors dominated the first opening 45 minutes with more control of the ball and looked the sharper of both sides in front of goal.

Ronald Chitiyo squandered an opportunity to give Zimbabwe the lead in the 12th minute when his shot went inches off the mark before Knox Mutizwa’s free header went inches off the woodwork from an Ocean Mushure pass on the right flank.

“If you can see the number of chances we missed, it cost us a lot.

They got one chance and scored yet the whole game, we were missing chances,” lamented Pasuwa after the game.

Zimbabwe continued their jinx of failing to score in the first game at a CHAN tournament, setting a fouredition record since the inaugural event in 2009 in Ivory Coast.

“We wanted to collect points from the first game but unfortunately we could not but we can play better in our next game. We need to work with the strikers to get into scoring positions,” Pasuwa said.

Wednesday morning.

The Flamingoes have never failed to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals since the event was launched in New Zealand in 2008. They thrashed the Baby Gladiators 4-0 in the first leg in Abuja penultimate weekend.

Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who scored two of the four goals in the first leg, said: “We are confident that we will progress into the last round of the qualifiers. Though, we will not under-rate the Baby Gladiators.

“Our Coaches have been telling us to forget the result of the first leg and play the second leg

match as if we lost the first leg. Our spirit is high and we will do the country proud.”

Officials of the Namibia Football Association have confirmed that the second leg match will take place at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, starting from 4pm Namibia time (3pm Nigeria time).

The winner of this fixture will play South Africa’s U-17 girls, who have reached the final round of the qualification series following the withdrawal of Zambia.

This year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will take place in Jordan between September 30 and October 21.

Flamingoes

arrive

Windhoek, battle Baby a Gladiators tM l i o remain Nikyu

Drame urges

Ex-Madrid

boss, Calderon

blasts inflexible

FIFA over ban aa

Calderon

F

ormer Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has slammed FIFA’s lack of flexibility after the governing body imposed a transfer ban on the

club.

This month Real and Atletico Madrid were banned from registering players for the next two complete transfer windows for breaches of regulations “relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18”.

Both clubs are appealing the sanction and Calderon - president from 2006 to 2009 - told reporters: “I think FIFA should be more flexible with the interpretation of the rule.

“Almost all the children come here to fulfil a dream, to forget a difficult situation. And here, they can have a hope.

During my nine years in Real Madrid, the club has given everything to them in terms of their sport and personal education.

“We take care of them given an opportunity, so maybe there are some cases where Madrid has broken the rules but I think FIFA should manage this matter with more flexibility.”

Just over two weeks ago Zinedine Zidane took over as coach following the sacking of Rafael Benitez, the Frenchman assuming control of the first team having

focused

M

ali coach Djibril Drame has emphasized that his side is at CHAN 2016 to compete for the title and are not in Rwand a as tourists.

Speaking after his side came from behind twice to force a 2-2 draw against Uganda on Tuesday, Dra me expressed confidence in the Les Aigles who displayed a never-give-up attitude all evening.

Sekou Koita and Hamido u Sinayoko cancelled out Erisa Sse kisambu and Farouk Miya’s goals to sec ure a point for the West Africans who are eyeing a place Ojerinde in the quarterfinals.

“We are here to compete for the title and not as tourists. We kne w that Uganda is a good team and that the y won Cecafa.

However, I have been wit h this team for only three weeks and it is the first time they have played wit h me in charge so I can say that this is a good result,” explained Drame.

He added that, “They are good players and they played and we played. There was no such thing as luck.”

Thursday, January 21, 2016

EXTRATIME

29

CHAN 2016…CHAN 2016…CHAN 2016…CHAN 2016…CHAN 2016

Ifeanyi Ubah FC

sign 10 Brazilians

T

he Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2015/2016 season which resumes on February 21 will be full of glamour as IfeanyiUbah Football Club of Nnewi have signed 10 Brazilian nationals.

Six of the players touched-down in Lagos on Wednesday and will head straight to Ibadan where the team is camping to meet up with their colleagues.

The players arrived at the Murtala Muhammed Airport at about 1.30pm same day.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, club chairman Chukwuma Ubah hailed the historic event and urged the players to do their best so they can earn their contracts with the club.

The chairman also noted that though not all players will be signed, at least two or three of the players will be signed.

He said: “This season we decided that even if you are a Messi or Ronaldo, you have to touch the ball in Nigeria. We have insisted that whoever must play for us must touch the ball and after they must have gone through the trials then we will determine who will be signed.”

“If you agree with me, Ifeanyi Ubah (club owner) is someone that goes for near perfection, we know only God is perfect, we try to put finesse in anything we do. We don’t go for little measures, we aim so high.

“As it is, our target is to bring good football into Nigeria and it is an opportunity for anyone who will be playing with them to learn from them.”

He also hailed the League Management Company’s support of the club and its ambitions.

Speaking further, the chairman said the players will be fully paid their salaries without any issues. He also said the club has an agreement with English club West Ham United and a Brazilian club which involves the transfers of players amongst other logistics.

The team owned by oil business mogul Ifeanyi Ubah ended in the 11th position last season as they could only manage 50 points from 38 games.

Rwanda players celebrate after qualifying for the quarterfinals of the ongoing CHAN 2016 tourney.

Some of the Brazilian players on arrival in Lagos

Rwanda

book quarter final ticket with Gabon win

A

frican Nations Championship hosts Rwanda booked their place in the quarterfinals of the tournament with a 2-1 win over Gabon at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Wednesday, with striker Ernest Sugira scoring both of their goals.

The win is Amavubi’s second of the 2016 CHAN, following their 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast on the opening day, and ensures that they will finish in the top two of Group A. However, they were given some scares in the final quarter of the match by a 10-man Panthers team that simply refused to give in.

There were few clear scoring chances created in a first half which was dominated by Rwanda. The

hosts had to wait until the 42nd minute to break the deadlock, with Ernest Sugira latching onto a loose ball in the box before beating Yves Moto with a low shot.

Sugira made it 2-0 just a couple of minutes into the second half, cutting inside a challenge in the box before firing the ball into the top corner via the stinging palms of Moto, who did all he could to try and keep the shot out.

Gabon, who by this stage had made all three substitutions, looked dead and buried but they were gifted a lifeline in the 55th minute when goalkeeper Eric Ndayishimiye flapped at a cross from Mario Mandrault, allowing Aaron Boupendza to score with a header.

30

Thursday, January 21, 2016

EXTRATIME

Blanc hails Ibrahimovic’s

Dortmund

coach fears team’s fatigue

B

orussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel says his side are still not completely fresh as they prepare to enter the second-half of the Bundesliga season.

There has been no Bundesliga action for over a month due to the Bundesliga’s traditional winter break.

Dortmund spent the majority of their break in Dubai - playing friendlies against Eintracht Frankfurt and Jeonbuk Motors before returning to Germany to face Slavia Prague on Tuesday.

Tuchel’s men ran out 3-1 winners over their Czech opponents in the friendly, but Tuchel said there is still plenty left to work on before the Bundesliga resumes.

“We had good and not-so-good spells that’s how it is when you play again on a Tuesday evening and are looking ahead to Saturday,” Tuchel said.

“We got another victory that was our third game won. But there is still room for improvement in all areas.

“We are still not completely fresh, the competition and the atmosphere are still missing too. For the point in time we are at, we are looking good on the pitch.”

BRIEFS

Milan target Fellaini

A

C Milan are interested in signing Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini, according to reports in Italy. The Italian club are understood to be targeting the 28-year-old, but could be put off by United’s reported asking price of £19m for the midfielder. Milan’s joint chief executive Adriano Galliani will meet with Fellaini’s agent Luciano D’Onofrio this week, with the preferred option in the transfer window being a loan move.

Courbis handed the reins at Rennes

F

ormer Montpellier coach Rolland Courbis has replaced Philippe Montanier as coach at Rennes following their Coupe de France defeat to secondtier Bourg en Bresse. Montanier guided Rennes to sixth in the league, but saw his side throw away a lead to lose 3-1 at home to the Ligue 2 side on Tuesday and left the club the following morning. Courbis arrived at Rennes as an advisor to president Rene Ruello last week and initially talked up the prospect of helping both Ruello and Montanier. However, Ruello confirmed at a news conference on Wednesday that Montanier had been replaced by Courbis for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea chase PSG star

C

helsea are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, according to reports in Italy. The 30-year-old Argentina international’s contract with the French champions expires in the summer. The player’s agent, Alejandro Mazzoni, is in London and will meet representatives from Chelsea, who are one of the options available to him.

Ibrahimovic

leadership skills

L

aurent Blanc praised Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s leadership skills after the Sweden international guided Paris Saint-Germain past Toulouse in the Coupe de France.

Ibrahimovic started the round-of-32 encounter on the bench as Blanc gave Edinson Cavani the nod up front, but he came on in the 64th-minute and netted a last-gasp winner from the penalty spot.

“Ibrahimovic does not just score goals, but he is an important player in our system and gives confidence to the team,” Blanc said

a

he added.

“Imagine another team without three or four key players, they would feel it as well.

“But despite that, we’re still competitive, so credit to the players.”

following Tuesday’s 2-1 triumph.

“He is one of the leaders of the team. People should not forget he is a leader and he has been one for quite some time.”

PSG were also without Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta, but nonetheless progressed to the last 16 and Blanc was pleased with his display.

“When you play without Thiago Silva, who’s a team leader, without Thiago Motta, who’s a team leader and without Ibrahimovic, who’s a team leader, you obviously feel it on the pitch,”

Messi backs

Neymar to win Ballon d L

ionel Messi has little doubt Barcelona team-mate Neymar will win the FIFA Ballon d’Or at some point in the future.

The former Santos star had to settle for third place behind Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in 2015, but the Argentina international is convinced his team-mate is destined to become the best player in the world.

“I believe Neymar will win the Ballon d’Or one day,” Messi said.

“He possesses all the qualities you need and is a player of extraordinary class.

“He will one day be what he wants to be.

Everything is possible for him. He is quick, has great technique and is excellent in one-on-ones.

He really has it all.”

Neymar and Messi have formed a lethal

´Or

attacking trident at Barcelona alongside Luis Suarez following the latter’s arrival in 2014 and the Argentina international is thoroughly enjoying life at Camp Nou. “Every time I get the ball, Neymar and Suarez are making themselves available, which gives me more space and more options to create something. We know each other very well,” he added.

“Neymar was the first to arrive of the two and we got to know each other really well, creating an amazing connection.

And then Luis joined us as well and immediately adapted. It all went quite natural. We have a great relationship.

Le Gcraaseet makes for embattled

Benzema F rench Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet has admitted Karim Benzema has made mistakes, but feels the Real Madrid striker deserves a second chance.

Benzema has been charged with complicity

Benzema

in an attempt to blackmail and participating in a criminal conspiracy as part of an investigation into a sex-tape plot involving France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

The 28-year-old is currently suspended from national-team duty by the FFF pending the

Neymar “When I play out wide, I get into one-onone situations more often, whereas there’s less space in the middle of the pitch because there are more players out there.

results of the investigation and could miss out on the European Championship in his home country later this year.

Le Graet has always defended Benzema, though, and remains adamant the striker does not deserve the harsh treatment he has been receiving, regardless of his flaws.

“Maybe I have protected Karim excessively in this matter, but I really like him and we all make mistakes,” Le Graet told reporters.

“He got carried away by stupidity in this case. He has been stupid like a donkey. But I don’t believe in lecturing people.

“There are good and bad people in all environments, among teachers, among businessmen, anywhere.”

Thursday, January 21, 2016

EXTRATIME

Lampard fears Chelsea squad overhaul

C

helsea legend Frank Lampard believes the reigning Premier League champions need a major squad overhaul in order to be able to challenge for top honours again.

The Stamford Bridge side finished eight points clear of Manchester City last term to claim the title, but they have been nowhere near their best form this campaign.

Guus Hiddink’s men sit 14th in the league table with 25 points from 22 games, just four points clear of the relegation zone, and Lampard feels they need several new signings in order to return to the top.

“From seeing some of the games I saw when I was back in England over the Christmas period, I think they need a new injection around the team,” Lampard told reporters.

“It’s strange because a year ago, you’re thinking, ‘They’ve got a great squad and if they add to it they can really go.’

“Now you’re thinking, ‘They need to revamp, to change some players.’

“I think that will happen in the summer. I think there will be three or four or five players and positions in the team that change around.”

Chelsea opted to replace Jose Mourinho with Guus Hiddink earlier this campaign in an attempt to get back on track after their underwhelming start to the season and Lampard is confident they will bounce back.

Toure set to quit Man City Y

aya Toure could leave Manchester City in the summer, according to his agent.

Toure has no plans to quit in the January transfer window but Dimitri Seluk has revealed he will consider his options at the end of the season.

The Ivory Coast international, whose contract runs out in June 2017, is reportedly a target of Chinese

Super League side Shanghai SIPG and has previously been linked with former manager Roberto Mancini’s Inter Milan.

“He will not move in January,” Seluk told reporters. “However, in the summer things can change. We are ready to listen to any offers that are on the table.”

Earlier this month Seluk branded Pep Guardiola - who is favourite to succeed Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad - as ‘overrated’ and voiced concerns over Toure’s future

Toure

should he take over at City.

Guardiola previously sold Toure to City in 2010 when he was in charge of the Barcelona.

The Monaco-based agent revealed in May that Toure was “90 percent certain” to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season.

Seluk also fuelled transfer speculation 12 months previously when he said Toure was “bitterly upset” with City after the club failed to adequately mark his 31st birthday.

t t o c l Wa now deadly, A

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Theo Walcott has developed into a lethal finisher during his 10 years at the club.

The 26-yearold joined from Southampton in January 2006 and Wenger has been impressed with the England international’s development.

“Theo is very intelligent. He always had pace and his movement off the ball was always

J

urgen Klopp says Christian Benteke does have a future at Liverpool, despite the striker starting as a substitute in three of the Reds’ last four games.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager admits Benteke has struggled to form a partnership with midfielder Roberto Firmino, who has been deployed as a forward in recent weeks.

Wenger confesses perfect. I think he is much more conscious of teamwork and he has improved as well in his finishing,” Wenger said.

“He is absolutely deadly compared to 10 years ago. He needed many chances to score a goal and he can finish very well. His final ball and his technique are much better.

“Ten years here, that shows as well that he loves Arsenal and I’m convinced he will give us much more in the next five years than the last

Benteke has started just two of Liverpool’s last six Premier League games and Klopp has suggested he will remain in a substitute’s role more often than not, until he can find a formation more suited to the Belgium international.

Liverpool are currently without Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi, meaning Benteke is Liverpool’s only available striker in the first team.

Klopp:

Walcott

31

Benteke has Reds future!

five because he is a player who is always moving forward and trying to do better. He has a very positive attitude.

“A player like him is very difficult to find and Theo’s movement off the ball and intelligence is really his brand and are part of his characteristics.”

Walcott has netted three goals in 16 Premier League appearances in 2015-16.

“Of course he has a future - that is not in question,” Klopp said of the £32.5m summer signing from Aston Villa.

“We have to think about how we create chances. First of all, we can get the ball into the box and then maybe Christian will finish it.

“For this situation, you have to look at how it fits. We had our games with Roberto Firmino at No.10 and Christian at No.9. It did not work in this moment, but that does not mean we can never play like this.”

Benteke

Published by folio commUNicATioNS lTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.28

Price: N150

Ifeanyi Ubah FC

sign 10 Brazilians g 29

Messi backs

Neymar to win Ballon d´Or

g 30

: d u a r f x Ta

, i s s e M father face 1 3 y a M l a tri

L

ionel Messi and his father Jorge will begin their trial over tax fraud charges on May 31, the Catalan Superior Court of Justice has confirmed.

The Barcelona star and his father have been charged with three counts of tax fraud worth €4.1million dating back to a period of time between 2007 and 2009 and has had his trial date confirmed as being between

May 31 and June 3.

Messi had been set to avoid a trial on the grounds that Jorge Messi was apparently responsible for his son’s tax obligations.

However, the state attorney later opted to overrule the advice of prosecutors and ordered both to appear in the Eighth Court of Barcelona.

The trial will begin three days after the

Messi

Champions League final in Milan but could impact on Messi’s and Argentina’s preparations for the Copa America in the United States.

The Copa begins on June 3, with the schedule for the tournament due to be confirmed in New York on February 21.

Walcott

has become deadly, Wenger confesses g31

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

CBN’s policy somersault, bane of banking system — Salako Page B3

14 countries, 85 exhibitors to attend maiden AfricaBuild Int’l trade show in Lagos Page B2

NSE CEO to speak on uncertainties shaping stock markets in sub -Saharan Africa Page B6 at Davos

Number of unemployed to exceed 200m by 2017 — ILO

FG to end unbridled importation of all kinds of food items

ÏMn`jz ƃ ƉƉ for effective implementation of FG’s policies

Charles Okonji

Joy Ekeke For the first time on record the number of unemployed persons globally will reach and exceed 200 million according to a CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

L – R: Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Markets Division, (NSE); Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, Group MD/CEO Skye Bank Plc at the closing bell ceremony of the bank on the Nigerian Stock Exchange... on Wednesday.

Attacks on pipelines: NNPC shuts Port Harcourt, Kaduna refineries Ïƽêƽ Ɗ ƉƆƎƍƄ ƕ ƆƉƓ production affected Augustine Okezie, Abuja Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday in Abuja, announced the operational shutdown of Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries owing to crude supply challenges arising from

recent attacks on vital crude oil pipelines.

A statement signed by the Group General Manager Public Affairs of the Corporation, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said the plants were shut simultaneously on Sunday after the Bonny - Okrika crude supply line to the Port Harcourt Refinery and the Escravos-Warri crude supply line to the Kaduna Refinery suffered breaches.

The statement further stated that before the closure, the Port Harcourt Refinery was recording

daily PMS yield of over 4.1 million litres while Kaduna Refinery was posting a daily petrol production of about 1.3 million litres.

The statement also said the Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company (WRPC) is still on stream and producing a little above 1.4 million litres of petrol per day.

The Corporation however assured that it has put in place strategies to guarantee unimpeded country-wide availability of petroleum products.

The statement said, “In response to the unexpected setback, we have activated comprehensive remedial measures to sustain the prevailing stability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.”

There have been recent bomb attacks on oil facilities particularly in the oil rich Niger delta region by suspected militants which is said to have disrupted both local and international distribution and sales of petroleum products.

FG may scrap NIMASA — Amaechi

Babajide Okeowo

In the light of the rot in the maritime sector, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has blasted the past administration of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and hinted that if the rot continues, government might be forced to scrap the agency.

Amaechi gave the hint in Abuja yesterday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, headed by Sen-

Thursday, January 21, 2016

ator Ahmed Sani, to brief the senate panel on the activities of the agencies under his supervision.

“Currently, the way NIMASA is, if you look at it very well, it was worse in the last administration. It was as if it was established just for the purpose of collecting money and nothing more. What we need to do is to ensure that NIMASA discharges its core responsibilities.

“If NIMASA failed to perform its core responsibility then it has no business existing. If it is just

to collect money from individuals, anybody can do that. We can hire a tax collector to collect money from maritime operators on behalf of Federal Ministry of transport.

“So it is either NIMASA sit up and carry out its own responsibility or we come to the National Assembly to repeal the Act setting it up and allow the Department of Marine Security in the Ministry of Transportation discharged the responsibility currently being discharged by NIMASA,” he said.

Amaechi

Federal Government has stated that this administration would strive to end unbridled importation of all kinds of food items, which has led to the growing youth unemployment, impoverishing the local farmers and neglect of the existing potential in the agricultural sector.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, stated this last Tuesday at the flag-off of the second phase of agricultural equipment hiring enterprise programme in Ilorin.

He said “With our natural resources, we can attain self foodsufficiency. This renewed commitment informs the decision of this administration to sustain, deepen and widen the Private Sector-driven Agricultural Mechanisation Framework (PSDAMF) strategies in partnership with local fabricators and manufacturer representatives.”

“The importance of mechanization in agriculture needs no emphasis, as it reduces drudgery; increases farm productivity, increases farmers’ efficiency and guarantee food security. In Nigeria, agricultural mechanization constitutes the greatest CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Number of unemployed to exceed 200m by 2017 — ILO

FG to end unbridled importation of all kinds of food items

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

challenge to agricultural development in the time as tractor density is generally very; low and farmers hardly get access to appropriate agriculture tools and equipment,” he said.

He said that it would be unthinkable and counter-productive to think of developing agriculture in Nigeria by continuing to distribute hoes, machetes, axes and ordinary and low yielding seeds to farmers.

Ogbeh noted, “Capitalism puts wealth in the hands of the drivers but the time to democratise capitalism, especially in the Nigerian agricultural sector is now and this government is committed to achieving an all-inclusive growth. The Buhari Administration’s vision is to aggressively commercialise and mechanise Nigeria’s agriculture by introducing 2,000 units of tractors and various kinds of harvesting and processing equipment to mechanise farming annually, while also building Nigerian local content and capacity to sustain and advance mechanisation to suit best practices worldwide.”

He lamented that agriculture in general and farming in particular has regrettably been misconstrued to be synonymous with poverty as it is dominantly practiced at the rural areas, stressing that the government would focus more on developing and creating enabling environment for the rural areas to grow in order to achieve the needed change.

The Minister said that the total number of tractors in the country is estimated to be 35,000, adding that over 50 percent have broken down due to the nature of farm lands, lack of sustainable products’ sales, service and poor maintenance culture.

He stated that the low level of mechanisation limits the ability of Nigeria farmers to expand cultivated areas, perform timely farm operations and achieve economies of scale in increasing food production.

NLGN faults ActionAid claim on N650b tax incentives

Enelamah

14 countries, 85 exhibitors to attend maiden AfricaBuild Int’l trade show in Lagos Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo No fewer than 85 exhibitors from 14 countries have indicated interest to participate in the forthcoming maiden International Trade Show AfricaBuild, slated for Lagos from 16 to 18, February, 2015.

The exhibition, which tends to showcase the latest technologies and machineries in construction, building equipment, building materials, interior finishing materials and tools seeks to expose Nigerians to the array of business opportunities in the construction sector.

Some of the countries include Austria, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Poland, Spain, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Nigeria, which is the host country.

The organisers of the event also said that the exhibition became necessary as a result of huge investments into mega-projects and a strong demand for affordable housing in Nigeria, stressing that professionals who wanted to participate in the three-day event can do so by logging in to its website,

Opeoluwani Akintayo The Nigerian LNG limited, NLNG, has faulted a report by an NGO, ActionAid published by an online medium on Tuesday on the impact of tax breaks on social services in Nigeria which the company, through a “dubious negotiation,” was exempted from

report released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said the number of unemployed persons globally has exceeded 20 million.

ILO in a recently released report predicted that more than three million people would be unemployed worldwide in the next two years, warning that existing jobs will become vulnerable, fuelling potential social unrest as the global economy slows.

According to the report, unemployment will rise by about 2.3 million this year to 199.4 million, while 1.1 million will be added to the global count in 2017, taking joblessness to more than 200 million for the first time on record.

The ILO, a UN agency focused on labour standards and social protection, said the effects of last year’s economic slowdown would play out in higher unemployment in 2016, particularly in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Developing markets in those areas will bear the brunt of increased joblessness after the prices of oil and other commodities tumbled in response to slowing growth, the ILO said in its World Employment and Social Outlook report for 2016.

The ILO released the forecasts as the global financial elite gathered in the Swiss ski

www.africabuild-lagos.com.

The Regional Industry Director, ITE Build & Interiors Divison, Mr, Darryl Pawsey told journalists in Lagos yesterday that Nigeria’s booming economy and its ever growing construction market are some of the major attractions for international suppliers in the country, adding that the 2016 launch of AfricaBuild Lagos was intended to stimulate international investment into the country’s construction and capitalise on the lack of international players in the unsaturated and growing market.

“It is incredibly exciting that for a launch event we have secured such a high number and diverse selection of international brands, which indicates a positive outlook for the future of the show.

More than 85 exhibitors from 14 countries will display all the materials and equipment at the show.

“There is a multitude of reasons behind this vibrant and exciting growth. Nigeria, its Gross Domestic Product, GDP, hit $569 billion in 2014, is Africa’s largest economy and it is particularly robust.

Yasin

paying tax to the Federal Government to the tune of over N650 billion naira.

According to the report, the exemption cost the country a total of $141 million, about N27.8 billion.

The third component of the controversial exemptions, for which the report said was diffi-

cult to come by are accurate data, covered capital allowances the partners got from government each time they bought equipment, which were allowed to roll over to periods not covered by the pioneer status regime.

Details of the loss through the arrangement the NGO said that the Nigerian government lost

resort of Davos for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting. The event takes place as oil prices hover near 13-year lows below $30 a barrel, share prices tumble and analysts try to determine the impact of China’s slowing economy.

Raymond Torres, one of the report’s authors, said market turmoil at the start of 2016 meant his already gloomy predictions could prove over optimistic. The International Monetary Fund cut its global growth forecast on Tuesday.

“There are risks and they are mainly on the downside,” Torres said. “We don’t know the exact dimensions of the slowdown in China. The labour market impact is one of the unknowns because we are going into uncharted territory.”

In a related development, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has urged the federal government to ensure effective implementation of its policies in order to attain the national development and improve the welfare of Nigerians.

The Presdent of NURTW, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin said in Abuja while lauding the economic reform policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari, which he described as the best that has happened in the history of Nigeria.

a minimum of $1,668 million, about N328.6 billion in revenues through the share of tax the Shell BV should have paid for the period.

Another $977 million, about N 192.5 billion was said to have been lost through Total, in addition to $677 million about N133.4 billion through ENI.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

B3 Money Market

CBN’s policy somersault, bane of banking system— Salako

cursed by policy somersault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which has form part of the banking system crisis.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Times, Salako noted that banking sector was presently very volatile and policy somersault of CBN has not also been helping matters, because

banks were now operating in a tough environment.

He, however, urged banks not to cut jobs because of the current operating environment, adding that is not a situation that would last for long but for a limited period of time.

According to him, we expect the bank owners to reason in

this direction and know that tough time don’t last long but tough people do. So, we expect them not to think of job cutting as the last solution.

“Even the president of the federation, President Muhammadu Buhari, has also appealed to all the private organisations and business owners that cut-

ting job should not be the solution to the current nation’s economic downturn.”

The associations leader said: “For now, we have not received any signals from any of our banks that they want to toe that line and we don’t even want people to encourage them to go that line, because it’s like Nigerians are the one pushing banks into doing that.”

While explaining the readiness of banks in the country to actually put the economy where it should be, Salako noted that one of the core values and mandates of any bank was contribute to the development of a nation, because that is why they are there.

“In all honesty, they are already doing that but while they do that, government must complement the efforts of financial service operators in the country.

“Let me give you one instance, the banks could want to give you money to do business either as a small scale entrepreneurs or big time manufacturers you need to operate in an environment that is conducive. If there is no power, the roads are bad, how does entrepreneur works and manufacturer sell his products. So, the banks would be willing to invest and they have been investing money into the system but it is for the government to also create the enabling environment for economic activities to triumph,” he said.

Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, has assured its customers of its readiness to help offset the financial burden of paying their children/wards fees through its school fees payment solutions.

The bank said in a statement that it has developed a bouquet of educational products and payment solutions such as the school fees facility, Short Term Loans, Salary Advance (SALAD) for salaried workers and its payment cards that parents could easily access and use to pay the school fees of their wards.

According to the statement, the prepaid cards are available to load pocket money for children/ wards while the credit cards, which currently offer a 55-day interest moratorium, can be used to seamlessly pay school fees, adding that the school fees payment solutions underline the importance the financial institution attaches to education.

While commenting on the new offer, Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC, Babatunde Macaulay, said the development of the educational products was the bank’s way of showing that it cared about its customers as well as the educational development of their wards.

According to him, the bank understands that education is the bedrock of personal, societal growth and development, remarking that, “At Stanbic IBTC, we are attuned to the needs of our customers and we regularly strive to provide innovative financial and payment solutions tailored to those needs.”

“Stanbic IBTC will continue to develop products and services to support the attainment of quality

education. The school fees loan is a fast, simple and convenient way by which customers can meet their short term financial obligations to educate their children.

And the repayment terms are very convenient,” Macaulay said.

Other benefits of the school fees loans, according to Macaulay, include low interest rates, access to a revolving line of credit, flexible repayment terms, and the opportunity to access credit up

to 100 percent of the customer’s income.

On how to access the products, Macaulay said the beneficiary must be an account holder with Stanbic IBTC Bank after which the customer could walk into any branches of the bank and apply for any of the loans in a few easy steps. The application is then processed within one week and the customer is contacted with feedback.

L-R: Representative of Airport Council Int’l (ACI) Douw Smuts; IATA representative, Seda Protus; ICAO representative, Albert Taylor; NCAA Director of Operations, Capt. Abdulahi Sidi, NAMA MD, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam; IATA representative, Adefunke Adeyemi and FAAN Director of Operations, Capt. Henry Omeagwu during the opening of Runway Safety Workshop Lagos recently.

Stories by Motolani Oseni National President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Comrade Sunday Salako has said that hash operating environment under which banks are currently operating was

Stanbic IBTC offers school fees payment solutions to customers NIBOR as @ Jan. 20,2016 Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

O/N

2.85

0.48 ?

1M

8.0387

0.36 ?

3M

9.7336

-0.04 ?

6M

11.0787

0.15 ?

CBN Exchange Rates Date

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central(NGN)

Selling(NGN)

1/20/16

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

POUNDS STERLING

277.4772

278.1851

278.8929

EURO

213.8752

214.4208

214.9664

SWISS FRANC

195.4722

195.9709

196.4695

YEN

1.6817

1.686

1.6903

CFA

0.3056

0.3156

0.3256

WAUA

269.9362

270.6248

271.3134

YUAN/RENMINBI

29.7809

29.8573

29.9338

RIYAL

52.2597

52.393

52.5263

DANISH KRONA

28.6495

28.7226

28.7957

SDR

270.97

271.6613

272.352

David-Borha

Brands & Marketing B4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Smile Oladapo wins Cussons baby toddler grow, shine contest

L-R: Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar Iii; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai, and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi Ii, at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Routine Immunisation with bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in Kaduna... on Wednesday

Technology must take centre stage in Nigeria – Redding Stories by Godwin Anyebe For brand Nigeria to actualize its set objective, technology must take the centre stage Micah Redding has said.

Redding USA based software developer disclosed this at the median edition of ICT fest organised by mascot Information and Technology Solutions recently in Lagos, spoke on the topic: “Christianity, Emerging Technologies, and the developing world, Nigeria’s role in humanity’s future” and challenged the view that Christians are not supposed to be actively involved in society

While explaining vertical and horizontal development, he said that; vertical development refers to developments that are revolutionary while horizontal developments refer to improvements on existing technologies.

He however admonished Nigeria to think outside the box as that is the only way that they can earn global recognition.

Also speaking at the event, Mira Kwak, an artificial intelligence researcher from South Korea, Mira Kwak said that for Nigeria to become a global brand as a country, technology must its top most priority.

Kwak who spoke on culture

and how Nigerian culture could be portrayed positively to the international community, said; “advantages to latecomers – developing world is that they can grow faster than developed countries, avoid trial and error, achieve technological and industrial upgrading and redesign current technologies and solve current ICT problems” Top scientists and philosophers such as Dr. Aubrey de Grey, Dr. James Hughes, Dr. Ben Goertzel and Dr. Natasha Vita-More spoke remotely at the event.

Dr. Aubrey de Grey, a top UK based gerontologist and Chief

Science Officer of SENS Foundation spoke on his research in regenerative medicine and aging, which he defines as the lifelong accumulation of “damage” to the body that occurs as an intrinsic side-effect of the body’s normal operation. Dr. Ilia Stambler, Israeli researcher on aging and Affiliate scholar with the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies spoke remotely on the topic: “The tasks of longevity: promotion science, ethics and public policy.” He said that to extend healthy life, we need to ameliorate degenerative aging and given the benefits, longevity needs to be actively pursued.

Osinbajo commends Airtel for support to less privileged Wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, has commended Airtel Nigeria for its steadfast support to the underprivileged in the Nigerian society through the platform.

Mrs. Osinbajo, who was the Special Guest of honour at the premiere of Season 2 of noted that the inspiring programme has positively touched the lives of many underprivileged Nigerians, urging other Nigerians to emulate Airtel in reaching out to the downtrodden, hard to reach, internally displaced persons and other Nigerians in

need of help.

“Support for those suffering and underprivileged should not be left in the hands of Airtel alone. It is the responsibility of us all. I was particularly touched by the Season 1 story of the Chime family whose children suffered various forms of physical disabilities. It shows that more attention and concern need to be shown to the less privileged people who are part of the society.

“We are told that the colour of love is red. But the red of the heart needs to stop the river of red, the river of blood that

flows in this land,” she said.

She also cited her personal contributions to the course through her two shelter homes, while encouraging Nigerians to do more in touching the lives of those who need care and love.

Also speaking at the event, the MD& CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, urged Nigerians to join efforts in supporting humanitarian causes.

“To promote the spirit of giving, we must build a society where the rich must support the poor. It means giving to someone who cannot give to

us in return, that is the whole essence of Airtel Touching Lives,” he said.

The initiative is an inspiring corporate social responsibility that seeks to offer practical relief, succor, hope, opportunities and credible platforms to liberate and empower the underprivileged, disadvantaged and hard to reach persons in the society.

The activities of Airtel Touching Lives are recorded and produced for national television with a view to promoting the spirit of giving, self-sacrifice and love among Nigerians.

A 4 year- old Imisi Subomi Smile Oladapo from Chrisland School, Victoria Garden City (VGC) emerged the inaugural winner of the 2015 Cussons Baby toddler competition tagged “Grow and Shine’ to the N1million education grant grand prize and products from the Cussons Baby range of products.

Meanwhile Ehiarekhian Peter Hayble, 4, a pianist and Amarachi Akujobi 5, a dancer came second and third to win N250,000 and N150,000 education grant respectively. Other 17 kids also went home with product gift and N20, 000 and N10,000 shopping voucher each.

Smile whose chorographic performance received standing ovation from judges, parents and other contestants smiled home with the competition’s educational grant of N1million at the competition grand finale held recently in Lagos..

The judges for the inaugural competitions were Jude Abaga popularly known as MI, Waje Iruobe and Chidinma Ekile all musicians.

Addressing the transparency of the competition, PZ Cussons’ Regional Marketing Head of Africa? Charles Nnochiri stated that the judges were objective in their judgment and the event turned out the way we expected it to be.

“What this tells me is that the event was as transparent as we expected it to be. The judges were objective as they could have been because the winner is someone who sang a lot of songs that edified our country Nigeria through choreography. That on its own is a lot of talent from 4 years old.”

Reinforcing the brand belief in its core audience, Cussons Baby Senior Brand Manager Family Care, Oluwaseun Ayeni said the brand believes that all babies are uniquely gifted and that is the reason the Cussons Baby added to the earlier platform- Cussons Baby Moments Competition, to give toddlers between the age of 2 to 5 years the opportunity to share their amazing talents.

We captioned this category as the Cussons Baby Moments Toddler Grow and Shine competition, she said.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

B5 Features

CBN:

Building a people centred central bank ‘‘Unfolding his 10-point agenda at his maiden address to the Nigerian business community in 2004, Emefiele had said among other things that his vision would be a people-centred central bank.’’

Emefiele

Friday Atufe When Mr. Godwin Emefiele was appointed as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he did not mince words about the kind of central bank he wanted to create. Ever since then, he has kept faith with the vision.

Unfolding his 10-point agenda at his maiden address to the Nigerian business community in 2004, Emefiele had said among other things that his vision would be a people-centred central bank.

By this he meant, the vision of the CBN under his watch would be a model Central Bank delivering price and financial system stability and promoting sustainable economic development.

“This vision draws inspiration from our understanding of the multiple mandate of the Bank to pursue both price and financial system stability as well as provide complementary developmental functions by creating an environment for Nigerians to live better and more fulfilled lives.

Rather than being competing goals, as some may argue, these mandates are truly complementary,” Emefiele had said.

He added that, “In fact, price stability can rarely be adjudged a goal in itself except cast against the ultimate objective of improvement in the quality of life.

Price stability, therefore, remains a cardinal contribution, indeed a cornerstone, to the ultimate goal of economic development.”

For him reasonably stable prices provide a catalyst for rational consumption and investment decisions and for orderly economic progress, remarking that is why throughout most of economic history, periods of price and financial system stability have coincided with economic growth and development.

According to him in order to realize the CBN’s vision, therefore, I believe we must start with championing policies that promote the sustainability of our hard-earned macroeconomic stability: These policies include macroeconomic stability, oil and gas sector, contribution to policy development, support for refineries and pipeline construction as well as policy that will enhance the contribution of the health sector to the national economy.

Under macroeconomic stability, the CBN through its monetary policies: exchange rate and financial system stability among others have been able to achieve stable financial system.

Also, in a bid to preserve the dwindling foreign reserves against the backdrop of the ongoing fall in the price of crude oil and other commodities in the international market, the CBN has closed the weekly auction of foreign exchange in the Dutch Auction System (DAS), banned 41 items from the forex allocation in order to enhance local production in the manufacturing sector and also to make locally produced goods very competitive.

Also, in this regard, the CBN early this month banned the sale of foreign exchange to Bureaux de Change (BDCs) and in apparent response to public outcry allow banks to accept foreign currencies into domiciliary accounts, a move which has been commended by economic stakeholders.

One of such stakeholders, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), recently threw its weight behind the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the stop the sale of foreign exchange, forex, to Bureaux de Change, BDCs, as part of measures to reduce the

pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves.

President of the CLO, Comrade Igho Akeregha, who addressed the media explained that the BDCs were a framework designed and re-engineered to facilitate and ease corruption in Nigeria, especially as a potential vehicle for laundering the proceeds of corrupt funds into foreign currencies.

According to him, an economy that encourages a BDC operator to obtain publicly earned funds at N190/U$ and then turns around to sell it at N270/U$ is an economy that is determined to remain backward. This huge window creates a huge disincentive to seek other avenues for sourcing FX by the operators and allows them to make humongous profits at the expense of Nigeria and Nigerians.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at its 104th meeting in November 2015, reduced the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) by 500 basis points from 25 percent to 20 percent with a view to channeling the liquidity arising from the initiative to the real sector of the economy.

The reduction was part of the apex bank’s initiative towards stimulating output growth, expanding the industrial base, diversifying the economy and increasing the accretion to foreign reserves. To give effect to this policy thrust, the CBN has introduced measures to ensure that funds realised from the reduction in CRR were applied to qualifying projects.

Under the policy direction, deposit money banks were required to appraise their customers’ loan request relating to the agricultural value chain, manufacturing and solid minerals, infrastructure and other real sector-related projects and forward same to the

CBN for final approval and disbursement.

The CBN also in November 2015 reviewed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) to enhance liquidity to the real sector of the economy.

As part of its developmental role and mandate of promoting a sound financial system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) launched the MSMEDF on August 15, 2013. This was in recognition of the significant contributions of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sub-sector to the economy. The sub-sector is characterized by huge financing gap which hinders the development of MSMEs. Section 6.10 of the Revised Microfinance Policy, Regulatory and Supervisory Framework for Nigeria, stipulates that ‘a Microfinance Development Fund shall be set up, primarily to provide for the wholesale funding requirements of MFBs/MFIs’.

In a bid to fulfill the provisions of Section 4.2 (iv) of the Policy, which stipulates that women’s access to financial services to increase by at least 15 per cent annually to eliminate gender disparity, 60 per cent of the fund has been earmarked for providing financial services to women.

This informed the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria to establish the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF). The fund prescribes 50:50 ratio for on-lending to micro enterprises and SMEs respectively by Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

In the area of oil and gas, and especially support for refineries and pipeline construction, Emefiele recently showed strong support for the on-going Dangote Refinery.

Emefiele during a recent tour

of the refinery said the CBN would assist the Dangote Group to access foreign exchange to facilitate its $14 billion refinery project which is projected to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The CBN governor said the support was to ease the importation of equipment needed to bring the Dangote refinery to reality.

“Your on-going 14 billion dollar refinery investment will enjoy our support, no doubt.

“We are doing this to fast- track the importation of equipment you need for a speedy completion of that project and to encourage other Nigerians to follow your lead,” Mr. Emefiele said, adding that the tour is necessary to lend our support to this laudable project that will transform Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.

The CBN under Emefiele has also been able to successfully implement the Bank Verification Number (BVN) policy both within and in the Diaspora.

There has been reasonable stability in the price of goods in the economy despite devaluation of the national currency from about N150 to the dollar while inflation rate is about 9.6 percent as at December.

Although, the Nigerian stock market is presently experiencing a slump, the development could be traceable to what is happening in the Chinese economy.

Analysts at Meristem Securities Limited noted recently that the current sell-off especially by foreign investors was a reaction of global portfolio managers to perceived emerging market vulnerabilities given the developments in the Chinese economy, which is the benchmark for Emerging Market Economies (EMEs). However, when this accelerated drop in the market is put in recent historical perspective, it adds another variable to the equation as it begs a question – Is another tacit devaluation in the offing?

From the narrative we can say that Emefiele has continued to live up to its mandate of building a model central bank that will delivering price and financial system stability and promoting sustainable economic development.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Stock Market Report Nigeria’s stocks appreciate by 4% Ï Ɖ Ƃ Ɖ stocks sink The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index (NSE ASI) and the market capitalization increased by 3.91 percent while the Year-to-Date return stood at -18.53 percent.

The All-Share Index closed at 23,335.01 against the previous day’s close of 22,456.32 while market capitalization closed at N8.025 trillion against previous day’s close of N7.723 trillion.

Volume of shares traded decreased by 5.42 percent from 256.439 million to 242.530 million, while the total value of stock traded decreased by 19.92 percent from N1.974 billion to N1.580 billion in 3,865 deals.

The Financial Services sector led the activity chart with 205.37 million shares exchanged for N0.814 billion. Consumer goods came next with 10.328 million shares traded for N0.433 billion, services, oil and gas, conglomerates sectors followed in that order on the activity chart.

FCMB, UBA, Guaranty, Access and Unity Bank were the most active stocks by volume.

FBNH, Guaranty, UACN, Zenith Bank and African Prudential Registrars emerged the highest price gainers on the chart, while Honey Well Flour, Ashakacem, Ikeja Hotel, Flour

Mill and Seplat topped the losers chart.

In a related development, after appreciating in the first two weeks of the New Year, U.S. stocks tumbled yesterday, following a renewed selloff across stocks worldwide as skepticism about the strength of the global economy intensified.

A recent report by Bloomberg Inc. showed that commodity shares remained at the forefront of the selloff, with energy companies sinking further into five-year lows and on pace for their worst monthly slump since 2008. International Business Machines Corp. fell 5.5 percent after its earnings forecast missed projections. Banks slid for a third day, with Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. down more than 3.4 percent.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 2.1 percent to 1,842.19 at 9:58 a.m. in New York, putting it on track for its lowest level since April 2014. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 319.16 points, or 2 percent, to 15,696.86. The Nasdaq Composite Index and the Russell 2000 Index sank 2.4 percent.

“What the market is focused on is Chinese hard-landing fear, oil prices and the strength in the dollar,” said Phil Orlando, who helps oversee $360 billion as chief equity-market strategist at Federated Investors Inc. in New York.

Summary of activities on The Nigerian Stock Exchange ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

22,456.32 4,731.00 256,439,035.00 1,973,545,527.37 7,723,148,274,291.62

NSE CEO to speak on uncertainties shaping stock markets in sub -Saharan Africa at Davos

L-R: Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc and Bola Onadele Koko, the MD/CEO of the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange during the listing of the company’s N10bn Series 1 bond at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, yesterday

Skye Bank works towards appropriate share price Stories by Azubike Nnadozie Skye Bank of Nigeria Plc has said it is working to ensure appropriate pricing of its shares at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by providing timely information to the stock market.

Speaking during the closing Bell ceremony on the floor of the NSE yesterday, Group Managing Director/CEO of Skye Bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo stated that Skye Bank was at the NSE to express its appreciation to the Exchange for its support over the last ten years of its operation.

He said the bank would be back in March this year to present its facts behind the figure to the exchange.

Asked what the bank was doing to ensure appropriate pricing of its stock at the exchange, he explained that although it is not the job of banks or other listed corpo-

rate bodies to ensure appropriate pricing of their shares, we are doing the best we can to supply all the necessary information to the NSE to ensure appropriate pricing of our shares.

According to him, the bank which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in February this year has done very well and has been able to manage its merger with other banks successfully. “When we came on board in 2006, we were an unknown quantity, people were calling us different kinds of names, but today we have become a brand that is unmistakable.

Before the acquisition of Main Street Bank, we had 250 branches, I recall that when we became Skye Bank, we had less than 150 branches, and we have grown in various indices over the years.

“The economy has also gone through different transformations in the last 10 years and we

have also been affected equally.

There have been ups and downs, but on the average, we have done better than what we started with,” Oguntayo said.

Asked if the bank laid off some members of staff recently, Oguntayo said that Skye Bank was a performance driven organisation and staff performance is judged by laid down deliverables.

He said at the time of acquisition of Main Street Bank, the staff strength was rather high and they had to employ a well-known human resources consultant who assessed the work force from both banks through a very transparent process and those who scaled through were retained.

With staff strength of more than 4000 nationwide, Skye Bank Plc has evolved into one of the top financial institutions in Nigeria, after its very seamless consolidation exercise in 2006.

Chief Executive Officer of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) , Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, will be speaking in an exclusive session today at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The session titled, “Regions in Transformation: Sub-Saharan Africa,” will bring together experts to explore and discuss what shifts and uncertainties are shaping the business market in sub-Saharan Africa.

With the fears of tighter U.S. credit and a rising U.S. dollar, and coming alongside a secular slowdown of China’s economy

and an implosion of the related commodity ‘supercycle’, there is need for African business and economic leaders to explore ways to respond to these macroeconomic issues.

Other speakers at this session include: Justin Lin, Professor, Peking University; Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Lesetja Kganyago, Governor, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and Benno Ndulu, Governor, Bank of Tanzania.

The World Economic Forum is the foremost global gathering of world leaders from Govern-

ment, Business, Academia, Civil Society and the Media. At the beginning of each year, world economic leaders come together to shape the global, regional and industry agendas. The NSE, a company limited by guarantee, services the largest economy in Africa and is championing the development of Africa’s financial markets. The Exchange offers listing and trading services, licensing services, market data solutions, ancillary technology services, and more.

The NSE continues to evolve to meet the needs of its valued customers, and to achieve the highest level of competitiveness.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

B7 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 19-01-2016

Motoring B8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 21, 2016

Toyota details tough new Hilux In many ways it appears to have been upgraded close to the standards of the almost-indestructible Land Cruiser, with a stronger ladder chassis, improved all-wheel drive system, reinforced load deck and greater towing capacity - up to 3200kg, in fact.

At the same time, however, family and leisure owners get more comfort, more features

and more driver aids, active traction control, hill hold and trailer sway control.

At 5350mm long, 1855mm wide and 1855 mm high, the new Hilux is 90mm longer, 20mm wider and 5mm lower than its predecessor, with a new front end that integrates the upper grille and headlight clusters to form distinctive daytime running lights featuring 12 LEDs.

three months with one Samsung Galaxy Tab for every car purchased.

Also describing vehicle credit facility as a common practice in advanced markets, Mr. Nadkarni said the initiative is consequent upon the federal government National new vehicles, particularly home made cars.

The company listed some passenger and commercial vehicle models that can be procured during this bonanza as Hyundai i10, Xcent, Accent, Elantra and Hyundai H100 truck with H1 van

and school bus respectively.

He dismissed risk of hidden charges in the liberal credit facility, remarking that Hyundai Motors with Diamond Bank have integrated the vehicle acquisition plan to enable many more customers including those without functional account with the bank to embrace the facility.

“The evolving needs and preferences of prospective vehicle buyers prompted this campaign, which essentially would lessen the burden of owning a serviceable car, Mr. Nadkarni affirmed.

Hyundai motors,

Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo From now through February 2016, prospective patrons and fleet managers willing to access soft bank loans to procure discounted Hyundai vehicles have been given waiver from unnecessary bank bureaucracies.

They will not necessarily undergoing bureaucratic bank charges in the Hyundai Motors Nigeria with Diamond Bank

PLC ‘Dream Deal’ vehicle finance offer to buy choice Hyundai vehicles.

The management of both organizations have announced.

The scheme christened ‘Hyundai/Diamond Dream Deal: It’s the best time to own a brand new Hyundai’ was extended to meet yearning customers’ request and it promises to ease payment with 48 equal monthly installments without collateral or management fee, the duo assured.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria head of sales and marketing, Jatin

Nadkarni who gave this hint at the inauguration ceremony in Lagos said the credit scheme was in line with Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) aimed at encouraging patronage of Hyundai strategy and direction to make Hyundai vehicle acquisition a seamless experience.

He said successful customers would aside these seamless benefits enjoy series of other offers including interest as low as 14%; special prices; waiver of commitment and management fees, free labour and consumables for

Life&

TIMES Thursday, January 21, 2016

L.A.X:

On path to becoming a renowned musician L2,3

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 21, 2016

What makes an artiste is his ability to be consistent

– L.A.X

Damilola Afolabi is the son of popular Maritime industry guru, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, MD /CEO, SIFAX Maritime, and one of Nigeria’s fast rising musicians with stage name L.A.X, a name he got in school while rocking designer shoes named ‘ Lacrox’ which gave birth to his musical logo.

Signed on the same record label with internationally acclaimed musician, Wizkid, on his Star Boy record label, L.A.X has stolen so many shows both home and abroad with electrifying performance. His hit single, ’Ginger,’ became a national anthem.

In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, the Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship Master’s degree holder from the Manchester University, speaks on his New Year resolution, readiness for challenges ahead and industry beefs amongst others.

Life&

T E A M

What is L.A.X currently working on?

I’m working on a lot of singles currently. I have close to 60 songs recorded already as I am going to be dropping a lot of songs this year to meet the expectations of my teaming fans who have been showing me support all this while. I am not resting as the industry is really competitive right now and blessed with great talents.

Do you think you can still do another single better than Ginger?

Definitely, I believe what makes an artiste is your ability to be consistent on the game not with just any how music but a quality one that can trend along with your fans. I tell you the truth, when I released my first single, ’Ginger,’ I never believed it could gain this ground and ever since I have twice my strength and quality of songs I release because when the single was actually released was when I was undergoing my Masters programme abroad.

How will you rate your performance at the Olamide Live in Concert show?

It was amazing as I was able to connect to the audience very well because most time when I perform in show, I try as much as possible to focus on the people who are feeling me because that gives me more energy not the people who are sited all through. I received great commendation from people after the show as that have made me work more on stage performance as an artiste.

With over 60 yet to be released songs, are you looking at dropping an album or EP before the end of the year?

Yes, I am working toward releasing an album before the last quarter of the year but it all boils

down to what I will be doing before that time and also if everything works out as planned; then by God’s grace I will drop the album.

Mid last year you embarked on a tour, what was the experience like?

The tour was an exciting one for me because I travelled to 15 European cities and the connection was massive as at every point of the cities visited, there was mammoth crowd in attendance and we all enjoyed the show together.

As a son of a popular figure in the maritime world, how has that affected you as a person and your music?

When I started singing, my dad did not know about it, nobody in the family knew about it. I started singing when I was in school at that time, I was also using my pocket money to shoot video, to do everything musically until my dad saw my video on TV. It wasn’t a really nice experience, he didn’t really like it but so far my dad has being really cool. If you are talking about people seeing me outside when it comes to my dad, it is always difficult because when I go to a studio to record, they will be like, you have to drop something because your dad is very influential and I’m just trying to be my own boss, I’m my own self, it’s not all about my dad.

Do you still share same label with Wizkid?

I’m still on STAR BOY label but I’m trying to create my own brand because end of last year when I started dropping my own songs, they were say-

Movie and Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

ing I’m WIZKID boy like WIZKID kid. WIZKID is an amazing artiste and everybody knows that but I’m trying to create my own brand so that people will know L.A.X for who L.A.X is. I am still under the Star Boy entertainment label and it will amaze people that Wizkid and I have a lot of unreleased singles that we have worked on.

How will you describe your first time experience on stage professionally?

To be honest, I have been a performer since when I can remember because when I was young, I always went for birthday parties and have never lost in any competition. Trust me, I have always been the winner. The day I lost was on my birthday; I didn’t really loose but I think it

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Adebambo Segun

was because it was my birthday. Have being a performer since I was young, but when I started music, the only reason why I’m nervous when I’m going on stage is the acceptance and when I get on stage and the acceptance is 100%, then my ginger level is high.

If you are to collaborate with any international artiste, who would that be and why?

I think I love Beyoncé because she has a crazy fan base and she is just beautiful.

A lot of your musician colleagues have delved into acting, would you?

The only time I will act is when I’m doing my

Continued on L3

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 21, 2016

L3 Interview

Continued from L2 own movie, one man movie from beginning to the end.

How will you rate the entertainment industry?

Nigeria entertainment industry is growing higher, everybody is listening to our music worldwide. I get calls from China for shows. I never believe that they are listening to Nigerian music. I went Malaysia last week and most of the people that came for the show were actually Asians singing Ginger and Caro and it was amazing.

I think things are changing, we just need to have a better structure in Nigeria and that will be when we have a better government.

What is your reaction when you watch your own musical video?

I criticize myself, like my videos. I just feel comfortable in my videos because when I started my videos, I will be saying ‘why did I do this like that. When I wake up, I spend close to 30 minutes rehearsing with my mirror, but now I know how to take care of myself when I’m shooting video.

Where do you see yourself in years to come?

Where God put me, where me I want to be greatest.

As from your label mate that you have done collaboration with, who else in the industry do you look up to for collaboration?

I will like to collaborate with Timaya; though we have done a collaboration together but we haven’t finished yet because of my schedule and his schedule. I’m trying to go back to him so we can finish the song. I will also love to work with Wande Coal, Ice-Prince, 2Face and all our talented female singers.

What are some of those things you did in 2015 that you want to correct this year?

My major New Year resolution is that I don’t want to sleep as much as I slept in 2015 and I want to be cautious of my timing. I am used to procrastinating but this year, I believe and know that they have all gone with 2015.

If you are to write a song about yourself, what will be the title and why?

If I am to write a song about myself, it will be surely be titled ‘Girls’ because I love girls not as a Casanova but because I like to talk about my feelings for girls.

‘I am prepared for scandal 100%’ When do you intend to settle down?

My mother told me yesterday that at age 25 I am going to get married. Seriously, I don’t want to rush in, so I won’t rush out.

If you are not doing music, what other profession will you have ventured into?

I will be a business man. While growing up, I always wanted to be like a boss. It is so funny that a times, I just sit in front of a table and chair and I will rehearsing like, hello secretary!! Get me the file right now.

Will you say beef is good in the industry presently?

For me, I will say yes it because it is also a form of entertainment and fans are really enjoying it. I don’t beef people, so I don’t expect

What Mrs. Kogberegbe TV role did for me – Dunni Badru Dunni Badru is a fast-rising actress who is popular for her role as Mrs. Kogberegbe on the popular Yoruba TV series, Mr. and Mrs. Kogberegbe showing weekly on Africa Magic Yoruba.

The Marketing graduate from Lagos State Polytechnic hails from Ajilete Yewa, Ogun State. A mother of two, Dunni, who relocated to the US few years ago, was a TV presenter on MITV morning show WAZOBIA Plus. In this interview with MUTIAT ALLI, she shares her experience on the TV programme among other things. Excerpts How will you describe your journey into acting, is it a coincidence or long time desire?

I have always been interested in acting but did not really have time or should I say was engaged in other activities. So when the opportunity to act as Mrs. Kogberegbe came, I jumped at it. I started as a presenter on MITV, which was like a preparatory ground for my long time desire in acting.

In which way has acting generally affected your life positively?

I would say determination, perseverance and above all prayers. I just don’t want to be an actress but, being able to touch lives and make an impact in homes, in marriages to be able to send a message that people can relate with. I’m so happy now because finally I’m fulfilling my dreams. Knowing that people are happy about what I’m doing gives me great joy. Above all, the only positive effect I want so far is to see that no family bond is broken because I have been there.

As the popular face of Mr. & Mrs. Kogberegbe, can you tell us more about the Yoruba TV drama series?

Mr. & Mrs. Kogberegbe is a family programme and an eye opener for couples out there. In Nigeria today, there are so many broken homes, marriages that have fallen

to be beefed by somebody. Also, beef a fellow act for me must be something that is genuine not for cheap publicity or gaining followership on social media.

How prepared are you for scandal?

I am prepared for scandal 100%. When I was in secondary school, I was like the kid that everybody wanted to be like. I was a cool kid and everybody wanted to be like me from when I was in secondary school, so at the end of the day, I have been receiving that kind of attention from when I was a kid and I have been dealing with it because I have a great mum that keeps me on check and a great manager that keeps me on check. My manager is like family to me.

apart over little issues such as ego, background and trust.

As they say little drops of water makes an ocean if care is not taken; so we use our narratives laced with comedy to let couples know that there is no issue too big for couples to resolve. Mr. & Mrs. Kogberegbe is more than comedy.

What should your fans expect in the new season of Mrs. Kogberegbe?

Our fans should expect the more aggressive, but matured Mrs. Kogberegbe who is ready to defend her home against all odds. It’s an eye opener for women to know how to relate with their mother in-laws; some mother inlaws deserve your respect while you should just allow the other ones to just be. I can tell you that Season 4 is my best act so far. Please watch out.

How has your relocation to the US affected your career?

My relocation to US really affected my career both positively and negatively. Firstly, as regards production, we have to contend with a lot of limitations because we are in a different culture and clime. Secondly, there is also issue of distance from our fans. Our interactions has been reduced to just the social media. The positive part is that I am happy to be here with my partner, Mr. Kogberegbe, which affords us to brainstorm and give our best to the show. It has been God all the way.

What is your view about the Yoruba movie industry generally?

Yoruba movie industry is vast and improving every day.

Story-wise they are doing fine and production-wise they are improving. Mr. & Mrs. Kogberegbe is still in the realm of TV series and we have not released any movie yet; in a way we are not a full part of the movie. However, I still think that there is a lot of improvement to be done in the marketing aspect.

Which actor or celebrity do you look forward to acting alongside with?

The first person I’m looking forward to act with is my role model, Sola Sobowale. I have acted alongside Toyin Adegbola (Ashewo To Re Mecca). It was a privilege and I am also looking forward to acting alongside Yomi Fash Lanso and Femi Adebayo.

Music Gists L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 21, 2016

Mutiat Alli

2Face, Patoranking, others unveiled as Coaches for The Voice Nigeria!

L-R: Danesh Balsingh, Director, Segment, Usage and Retention, Airtel; Waje Iruobe, The Voice Coach; Innocent Idibia (2Face); Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, M-Net West Africa; Timi Dakolo, The Voice Coach and Emeka Oparah, Director Corporate Communications, Airtel, during the press conference to unveil The Voice Nigeria Judges.

Top leading Nigerian vocalists that includes Legendary 2Face Idibia, Patoranking, Timi Dakolo and Songstress, Waje, have been unveiled as coaches for the maiden edition of the Airtel sponsored show, The Voice Nigeria.

The announcement of the coaches comes as preparations for the maiden edition of the show reached fever pitch following talent auditions in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos.

On why M-Net is delving into music reality promotion, its Regional Director, West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said: “It’s an exciting time for us at M-Net. The Voice is an internationally renowned franchise and has consistently provided exciting television content whilst giving great opportunities to talented individuals to showcase their talent to the world. The Nigerian adaptation will be no different and our viewers can expect the best television entertainment even as we wait to discover the next generation of talented singers!” The Voice Nigeria employs the same format including a panel of four coaches who critique the contestants’ performances. The coaches guide their teams of selected artistes through the remainder of the season whilst also competing to ensure that their act wins the competition”.

Commenting on the unveiling of Coaches, Mr. Ahmad Mokhles, the Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, sponsors of The Voice Nigeria, noted that Airtel is passionate about creating platforms that will delight, excite, entertain and engage talented youth as well as telecoms consumers across the country.

He said: “The Voice Nigeria demonstrates Airtel’s commitment to its vision of connecting Nigerians to their dreams. We are also pleased by the fact that the majority of the coaches are not just icons in their respective music genres but also members of the Airtel family, underscoring our intense interest and support for the entertainment and creative industry.”

Aina More set to release ‘Afrikan Lady’ visual UK/Nigerian star and former GBT Audition celebrity judge, Aina More is set to release new pictures from ‘AFRIKAN LADY’ inspired photo shoot as well new video this month, a follow-up single to her smash No 1. Hit song, Girl killing it.

The afro house single ‘AFRIKAN LADY’ produced by Bennie Macaulay is receiving heavy radio airplay nationwide and internationally. Aina’s inspired shoot images depicts the energy of a young Afrikan female in the diaspora which sees her in a style reminiscent of the Northern Nigerian woman followed by a provocative interpretation of the Yoruba influenced style inspired by the traditional oleku style ‘iro and buba’. The visual of the Afrikan lady is expected to drop before the end of the month.

Aina More

D’banj powers SLOT electronic campaign

Phyno, Reminisce, Wande Coal, others feature on MTV Base TV Special! … As MTV Base Lagos Party Special premieres this weekend Some of the biggest music artistes in Nigeria including Wande Coal, Reminisce, Phyno and many others will appear in an all new MTV Base television special. The first of many on MTV Base this year, the programme titled “MTV Base Lagos Party Special” premieres this Saturday, January 23, 2016 on MTV Base (DSTV Channel 322) at 8pm.

Featuring a headline performance from Olamide in addition to sizzling performances by Lil Kesh, Falz, Adekunle Gold, Niniola, May D, CDQ, Immaculate, Big Sheff, Viktoh, JJC, DJ Xclusive, DJ ECool and many others, the MTV Base Lagos Party Special holding at the Ikeja City Mall is hosted by MTV Base VJs Ehiz, Stephanie Coker and City 105.1FM’s Sensei Uche and C-Von. The show features exclusive interviews, party footage and backstage access to the stars, giving viewers a complete experience of one the biggest Lagos party nights ever.

D’banj

Phyno

Energetic performer, D’banj, has been doing his best in recent times to deliver his promise to support the SLOT brand ever since he was named a brand ambassador for the company.

The artiste, who was unveiled last year in September, was also handed a brand new red Porsche Boxer at the unveiling ceremony with the CEO of the company, Nnamdi Ezeigbo, presenting him with the keys to his ride. Since then, he has been part of activities to mark the 17th year anniversary SLOT Systems Limited which recently introduced a latest addition to its line of products - SLOT Electronics.

Potential customers can visit the dedicated website - www.slot.ng and SLOT’s experience centers to sample a wide range of first class electronics. SLOT Electronics comes with standard warranty from 24 months and first class after sales service which includes free delivery and free installation. Customers can also get up to 30 percent discount on any electronic product purchased.

SLOT Systems also expanded its reach when the exclusive mobile phone retailer opened shop in Port Harcourt where customers can log on to: www.slot.ng to buy your phones, accessories and Laptops at best prices from the comfort of your home or office and have it delivered to you within 24hours anywhere in the garden city.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 21, 2016

L5 Movie Gists

Mutiat Alli

Wole Ojo, IK Ogbonna star in “Jim Iyke’s Dress Sense is wack… 2face and Annie are in Wrong Reasons desperate need of a Stylist” … Fashion critics throw jabs on MTV #BaseSlayedorShade

Mike Godson on set

Jim Iyke

The Idibias

As the 2016 entertainment year kicks off on MTV Base Africa, the pan-African music and lifestyle channel will be airing an exclusive red carpet fashion police special titled #BaseSlayedorShade on January 24th, 2016.

Hosted by Stephanie Coker alongside Media personality, Hauwa Mukan and fashion blogger, Tokunbo Owolabi, #BaseSlayedOrShade will be the first of its kind in Nigeria and it features a number of activities from the 5th edition of Music Meets Runway which held late last year with several A-list Nigerian celebrities in attendance.

In the course of the show, the three hosts dissect the fashion sense of the celebrities who walked the Red Carpet at the event, awarding the various outfits with positive judgment or thumbs-down as in the case of 2face Idibia and his wife Annie. Their dress sense is summed up

by Tokunbo who simply remarks, “2face and Annie Idibia need a stylist.”

Jim Iyke is not spared as well as the Nollywood superstar’s fashion sense is criticized by Hauwa who remarks, “Jim Iyke is wack. Jim Iyke has always been wack.”

The programme will be airing on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 7 pm on MTV Base (Channel 322) and you can join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #BaseSlayedorShade.

Mercy Aigbe unveils movie academy In a bid to give back to the society that has supported her this far, lightskinned actress, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry has announced the commencement of her movie academy ‘ MAG School of Drama’ which is expected to commence on March 1, 2016.

According to the Victim movie producer, the school of drama will impact skills in participants in areas of art that includes stage management, acting, script writing, make-up, and cinematography to mention but few.

“This is something I have always wished to have. It took me this long to make a proper announcement of the school of drama as I tried as much as possible to fully ready before venturing in any act. I am excited and I can’t wait to impact in the future filmmakers,” Mercy said.

Mercy Aigbe

Top Nollywood stars are currently on set of a new movie ‘For the wrong Reasons’ as produced by talented filmmaker, Elvis Chuks.

The star-studded movie tells the story of love, sacrifices and decisions made in relationships.

The movie stars veteran actress, Liz Benson as well as Wale Ojo, Adunni Ade, IK Ogbonna, Mike Godson, Bolanle Ninalowo, Mary Lazarus and Zimbabwean reality star, Vimbai.

Nollywood loses child actor It was indeed a trying moment for filmmakers most especially producer of ‘Cobweb’ movie, Foluke Daramola-Salako when news of the death of child actor, Olamide David, took over the internet.

In a chat with the Life and Times, Foluke Daramola noted that it was indeed a sad news when the news of his death was confirmed by the family of the deceased.

According to several reports, the 14year actor passed away after he was mistakenly kicked in the stomach during a football game.

The late Olamide played the lead character in Cobweb movie and equally won the Best Child Actor in 2014 on his role in the movie ‘Black Silhouette’.

Liz Da Silva, others support KSF’s charity initiative As part of rendering support to members of the public, the trio of leading production manager, Taiwo Adebayo, Stella Ajulo and Kuburat Muhammed whose charity initiative, KSF Off the street Foundation, recently stormed the Bariga Slum where relief materials were distributed to Actress, Liz Da Silva, KSF team flanked by some of the beneficaries the people of Ilaje community of the area.

According to the KSF team, there was need to put a smile on the faces of people as it is believed that not everyone is opportune to have three square meal as this is the major motive why the foundation decided to put a smile on the people’s faces and as well empower few of the widows.

Commenting on the initiative, actress Liz Da Silva noted that it is a laudable move and as such there is need for the government to render assistance to people living in slum areas as a way to improve their condition of living.

Relief materials such as food, clothing items and cash amount were distributed.

Mixed Grill L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 21, 2016

Mutiat Alli

Q-Peller out with Eleniyan

Cartoon network announces brand new website – cartoon network imagination studios!

In order to continue their search for the next generation of talents, Cartoon Network has announced a brand new initiative – cartoon network imagination studios – a specially-crafted, creative online platform to inspire, motivate and celebrate the wild imagination of children across Africa.

Cartoon Network Imagination studios provides a sneak-peek into the “real” cartoon network studios, giving children insight into the making of their favourite cartoons, encouraging imaginative, unfiltered, creative thinking - providing the perfect constructive entertainment to combat boredom.

The channel’s own artists and creators, such as ben bocquelet (the amazing world of gumball), Rebecca sugar (Steven universe) and many more will accompany the children on their journey through the site, with tips and

guidance on how to create their own characters, animate and tell stories. The children will then be able to enjoy the wide range of activities featured on the site, including drawing, coloring, storyboarding, music, special effects, voiceovers, movement and animation, thus inspiring and directing the wild trains of thought towards conceptualizing and creating their very own character creations.

The network will be offering children, aged 6 to 12 years, the opportunity to enter their very own original, unique creations – be it a new character drawing, storyboard or animation – to the cartoon network imagination studios awards, and in return may win an opportunity to see their creations come to life as each winning project will be aired, live on screen, on televisions across Africa on cartoon network, DStv channel 301.

Malta Guinness steps up You Vs Campaign

…unveils Basket Mouth as Brand ambassador Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Mr. Obinna Anyalebechi at the Malta Guinness You vs…

Campaign Brand Ambassador Signing Ceremony in Lagos) Malta Guinness has recently stepped up its inspirational You Vs Campaign as it unveiled BasketMouth as its official brand ambassador during a sign on event at Guinness Headquarters in Lagos. The signing of BasketMouth is geared towards expanding the You Vs campaign. The You Vs campaign is designed to inspire Nigerians to take on their daily challenges with determination and a smile on their faces.

Launched in a bid to celebrate the can-do attitude of Nigerians, the Malta Guinness You Vs campaign generated public interest with its You Vs traffic challenge in the last quarter of 2015. During activation, Malta Guinness provided commuters in Lagos with free bus rides to and from work for the day as they enjoyed their free cans of refreshing Malta Guinness.

Speaking on the campaign and the endorsement of BasketMouth as Malta Guinness’ Brand Ambassador, the Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Gavin Pike, said it is a move to consolidate on the on-going success of the You Vs campaign.

While speaking on his vision for the brand, BasketMouth promised to live up to his role as an inspiration to Nigerians and also to promote the image of the brand.

Q-Peller

Aquila Records artiste/magician, Que Peller has released the most anticipated video for his smash hit single ‘Eleniyan’ which was shot at the Ilashe private beach in Lagos with star studded attendance that includes Wizkid, Olamide, Tilla, Lil Kesh, Base One, CDQ, amongst others.

As directed by Frizzle and assisted by dance maestro Kaffy, Eleniyan is sure a video to see.

93 Days off to a winning start

The screenplay for the highly anticipated movie, 93Days, has made it to the semifinals of the 11th edition of the Kairos prize for spiritually uplifting screenplays. The competition is open to screenwriters worldwide. The Kairos prize was established by MOVIEGUIDE® in 2005 and supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

The primary purpose of the KAIROS PRIZE is to further the influence of moral and spiritual values within the film and television industries, seeking to promote a spiritually uplifting, redemptive worldview.

The three winning screenwriters will be recognised in the presence of the top mass media of entertainment leaders, producers and talent at the 24th Annual MOVIEGUIDE Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry on February 5, 2016.

The three winning screenwriters will share a combined prize money of $50,000. (Grand Prize: $25,000; 1st Runner Up: $15,000; 2nd Runner Up: $10,000) In addition to the prizes, key entertainment industry studio executives will review the winning scripts. The Kairos Prize has generated a tremendous amount of interest over the last 10 years. That interest continues to grow based on the caliber of scripts Kairos has attracted.

The Salma Show: Television Now Has a New Northern Sweetheart!

The Salma Show, a weekly programme focused on stimulating and interesting topics on societal issues is set to hit your TV screens on Sunday, the 7th of February on Africa Magic Urban, DSTV Channel 153 at 7.30pm CAT/6.30pm Nigerian Time.

Hosted by new television sweetheart, Salma Phillips, the 30-minute northern infused talk show will feature celebrity interviews, round-table panel discussions and a useful tips segment.

In expressing her excitement, Salma Phillips said: “Being a talk show host is a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted to have a platform where I can air my views on topics that I’m passionate about. This journey started 3 years ago when I shot my pilot episode, amid a lot of setbacks and discouragement, I was determined to give whatever it takes to succeed. It feels great to finally see it coming together”.

With an aim to inform and educate viewers, ‘The Salma Show’ will engage in absolute discussions on current affairs, politics, beauty, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment and more.

The show is definitely a MUST-SEE as the Fulani host is ready to raise the bar in the talk show industry among the northern community.

Salma Phillips is a writer, talk show host, presenter and TV producer from the North Eastern part of Nigeria. The adorable wife and mother was born to a Fulani Shuwa father and a Kalabari mother.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 21, 2016

Mutiat Alli

L7 Reviews

Abimbola Obatayo

Tango with Me!!

More than just an emotional film, a movie with a difference

When your greatest happiness in a short while turns to your biggest nightmare, what do you do?

Every woman’s dream is to lose her virginity to the one she loves on her wedding night but this was different for Lola (Genevieve Nnaji) who got raped on her wedding night by an armed robber. That night of endless tears became the beginning of disagreement, pain, sorrow, sadness, cheat and heartbreak.

Lola finds it difficult to have sex with her husband due to her wounded emotional mind which starts to cripple her destiny and marriage. She and her husband become victims of their own overconfidence, leaving them feeling in secured, rejected, experiencing self-doubt and having negative feelings about themselves.

Lola is a Yoruba girl who falls in love with an Igbo man, Uzor Dike (Benjamin Joseph). Her parents are not in support of their courtship but they eventually got married due to the love they proclaim to have for each other. Lola is left to carry her cross on her own after facing the greatest challenge of her life making her the shadow of herself. Even when everything seems to be crumbling down for these two, not even the help of their psychologist seems to be making things better for the both of them but they come to realise how love over lasts all tribulations. They decide to make their marriage work and fix loosened parts of their marriage, leaving their past behind them and living in the future. It takes two to tango.

Shot on celluloid, Tango with me is not just a regular Nollywood movie; unlike other movie, it is absolutely realistic and able to carry its audience along right from the beginning to the climax.

It is also important to note that the movie was nominated for 5 awards at the7th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Mahmood Ali-Balogun’s Tango with me parades the brightest and biggest of the film industry which includes Genevieve Nnaji, Joseph Benjamin, Tina Mba, Ahmed Yerima, Joke Silva, Bimbo Manuel, Bimbo Akintola, Kate Henshaw, and Sade Alder-Hayes The movie deployed the use of imaginative filming language in his expression of ideas from the several camera tricks, lightning, costumes, great dialogue and proper props.

In all, Tango with Me which is in memory of late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya holds lofty the light that the movie was shot to make a difference in Nollywood.

Filmmaking in Nigeria has been offered a new grand niche with the global appeal of Tango with Me. In times of cinematic effects and use of standard equipment, it’s a 9\10.

Initial release: 2010 Running Time: 110 minutes Screenplay: Femi Kayode Director: Mahmood Ali-Balogun Budget: N100 million

Techno own the stage: The FaceOff: Mary goes home The TECNO Own the Stage music competition had begun with fifteen contestants from Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania slugging it out for the $25,000 star prize. However, only six were left standing by the time episode nine of Africa’s first televised karaoke competition went on air on Sunday, January 10. The Kenyan quartet of Pascal, Sikin, Mary and Ramar254; Mary, the Nigerian, and Nandy from Tanzania were the last six standing. And on the day, they encountered their toughest challenge yet as they each faced off against a fellow contestant.

With only three songs on the playlist – Omawumi’s Bottom Belle, Nico and Vinz’s Am I wrong, and Patoranking’s Girlie O – it meant that each contestant not only had to give everything they had in their vocal cords, but also had to outshine whomsoever they got paired with.

Before the song battle began, Nigerian-based Kenyan artiste, Victoria Kimani, thrilled the audience with a rendition of one of her songs. Luckily for the contestants, they received much needed advice from Kimani who charged the contestants to “have fun and to remain focused” once they step out on the stage.

With words from the Kenyan diva, the tone was set for the evening’s opening battle between Mary and Nandy. The Kenyan was selected to perform ahead of the Tanzanian, who then stood by and watched as her fellow contestant performed Omawumi’s 2012 hit song. Thereafter it was Nandy’s turn to perform the same song at the end of which the judges – M.I., Yemi and Bien – declared the contest a draw.

The evening’s second battle was a showdown between the show’s most outstanding acts, Pascal and Shaapera, who had to separately perform Nico and Vinz’s 2013 hit song. First up was Pascal who practically brought the house down with a superb rendition of the awardwinning song. But no one was expecting anything less from the affable Kenyan. And with such a performance, it was always going to be hard for anyone to replicate or surpass it. But Naija’s own Shaapera isn’t just anyone as she gave another hint of why she remains one of the frontrunners for the show’s star prize with an electrifying performance which, like Pascal’s, also had the audience and the judges excited.

The judges ran out of superlatives during their appraisal of both contestants with an excited M.I. going as far as predicting that they could likely end up competing in the TECNO Own The Stage grand finale; with co-judges Yemi and Bien nodding in agreement.

The last pair of Sikin and Ramar254 engaged in an all-Kenyan battle for supremacy with their respective rendition of Patoranking’s 2011 hit song, at the end of which Ms Kimani thrilled the audience once again before the judges announced the three contestants shortlisted for eviction – Shaapera, Mary and Ramar254. But only one had to go, which turned out to be Mary.

So for a second successive week, a Kenyan drops out of the race for the TECNO Own The Stage top prize. But Ramar254, Sikin and Pascal are still in it alongside the gorgeous Tanzanian, Nandy, and the lively Nigerian, Shaapera.

And they are scheduled to make a return next week when they would be performing songs originally composed and performed by the judges. So mark the date and time on your calendar, follow the contest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and don’t miss the next episode on the various Africa Magic channels - Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Urban and Africa Magic Family.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 21, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

112 Studio

105 Movies Family

19:00

13:02

Thu, 13 Jan | PG

Thu, 13 Jan | PG

A hotel handyman’s life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. Adam Sandler, Guy Pearce, Keri Russell. (2008) Adam Shankman

You’re never too young to dream big as this endearing family film shows, Saige must overcome her fears to save her school’s art programme- and a very special friendship. Alexandra Peters, Alana Gordillo, Sidney Fullmer.(2013) Vince Marcello

101 M-Net

23:19 Behind The Scenes: Transformer Age....

23:39 Behind The Scenes: The Purge: Anarchy

00:10 Made In Hollywood 00:57 Ed Sheeran 01:15 Nanny Cam 02:42 Behind The Scenes: Beatenberg 02:53 Behind The Scenes: Swing City...

03:10 Made In Hollywood 04:00 Masterchef Australia 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Middle 06:30 Sarah Graham's Food Safari 07:30 Chicago Med 08:30 Captain Webb 10:30 The GoldBergs 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 Carte Blanche 14:00 Shades Of Blue 15:00 The Muppets 15:30 The Muppets 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 Kevin From Work 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 My Story

118 Telemundo

23:40 The Face Of Destiny 00:30 Elena's Ghost 01:20 Cruel Love 02:10 For Love And Justice 03:00 The Face Of Destiny 03:50 Fearless Heart 05:20 Elena's Ghost 06:10 Husband For Hire 07:00 The Face Of Destiny 07:50 Fearless Heart 08:40 For Love And Justice 09:30 Cruel Love 10:20 Husband For Hire 11:10 The Face Of Destiny 12:00 Fearless Heart 12:50 For Love And Justice 13:40 Cruel Love 14:30 Husband For Hire 15:20 The Face Of Destiny 16:10 Fearless Heart 17:00 For Love And Justice 17:50 Cruel Love 18:40 Husband For Hire 19:30 The Face Of Destiny 20:20 Fearless Heart 21:10 For Love And Justice 22:00 Cruel Love 22:50 Husband For Hire

L8 TV guide

120 BBC Entertainment

23:14 The Graham Norton Show

11:45 QI

00:05 An Idiot Abroad

12:15 The Cube

00:54 The Cube

13:10 Top Gear

01:41 Police Interceptors

14:05 Police Interceptors

02:31 Demolition: The Wrecking Crew

15:00 Undercover Boss

03:25 Undercover Boss

15:55 Would I Lie To You?

04:12 Pointless

16:30 QI

05:00 The Cube

17:00 Pointless

06:20 QI

18:00 Top Gear

06:55 Police Interceptors

19:00 Dragons' Den

07:45 Top Gear

20:00 QI

08:40 Pointless

20:30 Pramface

09:30 Undercover Boss

21:10 Top Gear

10:20 Ducks Quacks Don't Echo

22:15 Top Gear: The Race

11:10 Would I Lie To You?

08:30 Living With Trisha 09:30 Goge Africa 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas

23:00 Most Shocking 23:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 00:35 World's Wildest Police Videos 01:25 Kenny Vs Spenny 01:55 Extreme Reality Clips 02:20 Rude Tube 02:45 Sexy Car Wash 03:15 Sexy Car Wash 03:45 Video Zonkers 04:10 South Beach Tow 04:35 South Beach Tow 05:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 05:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 06:35 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking

155 AfricaMagic World

154 AfricaMagic Family

128 SONY MAX

07:25 Video Zonkers 07:50 South Beach Tow

08:00 Jara

08:15 South Beach Tow

09:00 Good Morning Africa

08:40 Most Shocking

10:05 Doctors' Quarters

09:35 World's Wildest Police Videos

11:00 Doctors' Quarters

10:30 World's Wildest Police Videos

12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA

11:30 Baywatch

13:00 Music On Africa Magic

12:30 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking

14:00 Music On Africa Magic

13:30 South Beach Tow

15:05 Music On Africa Magic

14:00 World's Wildest Police Videos

16: Star Gist

15:00 World's Wildest Police Videos

16:35 Deal Or No Deal SA

16:00 Most Shocking

17:25 53 Extra 18:00 Jara

17:00 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking

18:30 Tinsel

18:00 South Beach Tow

19:00 Lies That Bind

18:30 South Beach Tow

19:30 Lies That Bind

19:00 Baywatch

20:00 Jacob's Cross

20:00 Extreme Reality Clips

20:49 Jacob's Cross

20:30 Rude Tube

21:38 Jacob's Cross

21:00 Rude Tube

12:00 Music On Africa Magic

23:32 Behind The Scenes: Broken

13:05 Tinsel

23:50 Music On Africa Magic

23:06 Living With Trisha

13:35 Star Gist

00:45 Behind The Scenes: Make A Move

00:00 Tinsel

14:00 The Dzigbordi Show

01:00 Good Morning Africa

00:36 Star Gist

15:00 Windeck

02:05 53 Extra

01:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh

16:00 At Homw With Michelle Attoh

02:45 Star Gist

02:00 Good Morning Africa

17:00 Affections

03:15 Star Gist

03:00 Good Morning Africa

17:30 Nowehere To Be Found

03:45 Jara

04:00 Music On Africa Magic

18:10 Living With Trisha

04:25 Jara

05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh

19:00 Tinsel

05:00 Good morning Africa

06:00 Good Morning Africa

19:30 Star Gist

06:00 Deal Or No Deal SA

07:00 Star Gist

07:00 53 Extra

22:24 Behind The Scenes: Secret Room

21:30 Kenny Ve Spenny

20:00 2 Sides Of A Coin

07:30 Windeck

21:35 Scarlet

07:30 Star Gist

22:50 Music On Africa Magic

22:30 Sexy Car Wash

22:00 Sexy Car Wash