`Ɔƍ ƍƏ ƄƆ MM^ ô C ƈ Ɛ yƆ ƐƑƏƆ ƏƆƆƌƆ Ɛ Henry Omunu, ƄƑƉ
ÎÎÎThe House of Representatives on Tues-
day resolved to investigate the operations of the Joint Venture agreements entered into with foreign oil multinationals by the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over allegations of massive leakages.
The House also summoned top officials Continued on page 2 www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.213
GAINERS
N150
LOSERS
NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 16th October 2015.
FO
280
10.00
3.57%
ZENITHBANK
17.51
0.66
3.77%
MOBIL
148
-7.00
-4.73%
TRANSCOHOT
6.42
-0.68
-10.59%
UACN
28.05
1.20
4.28%
GUARANTY
23.51
0.47
2.00%
GUINNESS
150
-1.00
-0.67%
ETI
18.3
-0.55
-3.01%
Amaechi: Senate dares Presidency
Ï 0 ƈƋ Ɛ ƅƏƆƆ ƆƔé`ƈƒƆƏ ƒ Ï d ƑƐ Ɨ Ɠ Ƈ Ə d Ə Ɗƈô ƍƍƆ Ə ƅƆ Ɛ j Ɛ Ɨ ƕ Ï L ƒƆ ƅƏƆƆ ƈ Ƈ ƌƈ ƆƆ Ɛ j ƑƏ Ɨ ƕ Ï ódƆ ƐƆ ƑƋƗ ƅƋƆ Ə ƌ Ɔƅ ƈ Ƅ ƆƗ ƅ ƌƍƆƐƆ ƅƆô Olufemi Samuel, ƄƑƉ
ÎÎÎThe Senate, in a move seen by many as daring the Presidency, again, on Tuesday, refrained from screening former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, as a ministerial nominee despite earlier indicat-
Continued on page 2
NNPC denies involvement in $25m oil block cash g17
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TIMES Wednesday, October 21, 2015
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Ezinne gL1 Akudo: From beauty queen to law Chamber
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News 2
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Senate dares Presidency, fails to screen Amaechi Continued from page 1 ing preparedness for his screening in the Order Paper for the day’s plenary. Amaechi is believed to be critical to the yet-to-constituted cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. Recall that the former River State governor was among the first batch ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by President Buhari on September 30, 2015, for confirmation as ministers.
There are reports that Amaechi is being used as a bargaining political tool by the Senate leadership, a reason his screening is being consistently delayed despite earlier clearance by the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition Committee, which probed a petition against him. However, indication emerged on Tuesday night that the Senate will not sit today (Wednesday), as the plenary where more ministerial nominees are to be screened had
been shifted to Thursday. The Acting Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, indicated this in a terse statement, which did not state reason for the shifting of the sitting. The statement read: “This is to inform the distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic that resumption in Plenary has been rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday October 23. Senators by this notice are requested to resume for sitting on Thursday”.
There are indications that the postponement of the Senate sitting is to enable Senators solidarise with the Senate President who may appear in person at the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting today (Wednesday. The Senate had dropped Amaechi’s name from the list of nominees it screened on account that its Committee which probed the petition against him authored by a group, Integrity Group from Rivers, was yet to table its re-
L-R: His Grace, Rev. (Dr.) Lekan Akintayo; Rev. (Mrs.) Tola Oyediran; Supreme Head of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, His Most Eminence Pro. Dr. Solomon Adegboyega Alao and Special Apostle Akin Owolabi during the condolence visit to the Awolowo family on the death of their matriarch, H.I.D Awolowo at Ikenne, Ogun State… on Tuesday. PHOTO: OLAWALE ROTIMI
Reps probe NNPC’s Joint Venture agreements Ï dƑƌƌ ^ƆƐƏ ƋƆƑƌ ƌƈ ƈ ƐƏƕ ƇƇƈƅƈ Ƌ Continued from page 1 of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to brief members on government’s initiative to end gas flaring by oil companies in the country. The House therefore mandated its committees on Petroleum Upstream and Downstream when constituted to carry out a forensic assurance and review of the Joint Venture agreements to establish the amounts of income that accrued to the Joint Venture partners in the past seven years and the actual amount remitted to the Federation account and report back to the House within seven weeks. This resolution was sequel to a motion entitled: “Re-
covery of revenues payable to the Federation Account from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its joint venture partners,” sponsored by Rep. Nicholas Ossai. According to Ossai, under the joint venture agreements, the NNPC and oil companies are expected to fund the joint ventures and share the oil produced as well as other benefits with their interest holdings while all collectable revenues of the government of the federation are to be paid into the federation account. He added that the sources of the joint venture income amount to billions of Naira, saying that besides the lifting of oil in the agreed sharing ratio, there are associat-
ed income or miscellaneous revenues accruable to the joint venture for which the Federal Government is entitled to a good share in accordance with the agreements. “The operator companies net off these income against expenses (already settled) allegedly in collusion with officials of the NNPC to avoid the remittance of the income to the federation account. “The Joint Operation agreement largely favour the operator companies to the detriment of the nonoperator, the NNPC, which is the agent of the Federal Government”, he said. Meanwhile, the summons extended to officials of the Petroleum Resources ministry follows the unanimous adoption of the motion sponsored by Rep. Uchechukwu
Nnam-Obi over the failure of the Federal Government to attend the Zero Routine Gas Flaring Initiative which held on April 17, 2015 in Washington DC, USA. Thereafter, the House mandated its committees on Gas Resources and Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to conduct a comprehensive review of all the relevant government policy initiatives aimed at curbing gas flaring in the country and assess the policies to determine if they conform to global best practices. Rep. Nnam-Obi while moving his motion expressed displeasure at the failure of Nigeria to participate in what he called “a very important meeting that would have serious positive impact on the Continued on page 12
port for a concrete decision. The Committee Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in a chat with newsmen at the close of last week, affirmed that the report was ready and that his Committee would lay it before the Senate during plenary on Tuesday. However, the Committee also failed to fulfil its promise, while the Senate leadership gave no reason why it did not screen Amaechi. Findings by the Daily Times are indicating however that the screening of Amaech is being delayed by the Senate leadership as part of a game plan to sort out the case against the Senate President, Buhola Saraki, with the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Although the Senate Ad hoc committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye, told newsmen that Amaechi would be screened on Wednesday (today), emerging realities in the Senate are indicating that Melaye’s information should be treated with cautious optimism. Our correspondent learnt that Saraki has resolved to appear in court today (Wednesday) in order not to leave room for any further embarrassment from any quarter. The tribunal on Saraki’s fail-
ure to heed its earlier summons had threatened to issue a bench warrant for his arrest, a development which eventually compelled his appearance during the last sitting of the court. What, however, signalled that all was not well with the proposed screening of Amaechi on Tuesday emerged shortly after the Senate resumed for plenary, just as his name was hurriedly removed from the Order Paper, which had earlier indicated that he was to be screened along with seven other nominees. The names of nominees listed in the Order Paper included Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Heineken Lopkobiri, Chibuike Amaechi, Khadija Abba Ibrahim, Hon. Bawa Bwari, Ocholi Enjojo James, Munsur Muhammed and Zainab S Ahmed. Meanwhile, the Order Paper containing the names was discarded while a new one was hurriedly prepared, a process which delayed the sitting of the Senate for almost 40 minutes. When the new Order Paper was released, the name of Amaechi was conspicuously missing, while only three nominees, Barrister AdeContinued on page 6
Again, two aircraft collide at Lagos airport ÎÎÎThree
months after the nation’s aviation industry recorded two major incidents involving four aircraft, another two airplanes belonging to Arik Air on Tuesday afternoon were involved in another incident at the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos. The two aircraft, Boeing 737-800NG, the airline said involved in a wing-tip brush when one of the aircraft with the registration number 5N-MJP was marshalled out of the ramp for a scheduled flight when its wing brushed that of another aircraft, 5N-MJQ parked on the ramp. Statement by the spokesman of Arik Air, Mr. Ola Adebanji, said the incident
was not major as safety of passengers was not compromised. Banji said that the management had since grounded the two aircraft that were involved in the incident while appropriate authorities had been informed. In July, at the airport, an Emirates aircraft, Boeing 777-200 with the flight number EK782 to Dubai with over 300 passengers on-board had collided with a stationed Hak Air aircraft when it was taxing to the take-off point at the local wing. Its wingtip made a contact with the tail of a Hak Air aircraft parked at the apron of the airport. Continued on page 12
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
3
Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Repealing the Nigeria Railway Corporation Act
F
ollowing the second reading at the Senate of a bill repealing the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Act, all hopes are being rekindled of better days ahead for the organisation. Titled: A Bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act, Cap N129, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,and to enact the Nigeria Railway Bill, 2015 to Provide for the regulation of the Railway Sector”. The new bill will provide for appropriate legal framework for the implementation of government’s reform programme, while providing a platform for the introduction of private sector investments and promote competition for efficient rail services in the country. Indeed, we welcome the development and believe that when implemented would make rail transportation more customer-driven and efficient. It is sad that Nigeria which boats of being the largest economy in Africa lacks the basic infrastructures for operating a modern rail system. In comparison to its population and geographical size, Nigeria ranks among the least developed countries in matters of rail transportation. It is fact that the country runs most of its land transportation system on roads because the rail system is archaic and dilapidated. There is no denying the fact the centrality of rail transportation in the development of any country. Moreover, an indicator of a country’s economic development is the functionality of its rail system. More over, railways provide the overwhelming means that facilitates easy haulage and mass transportation at affordable rates. Those whose train systems are functional have made difficulties in the movement of goods and services issue of the past. It is disheartening that successive administrations in the country had
consciously left the deterioration of the railways to fester for too long. With exception of the immediate past Jonathan administration that tried to resuscitate some of the rail routes and refurbish ageing rolling stocks, not much is being done to sustain the momentum. In spite of being the major means of mass transportation of passengers and freight, there has been remarkable decline in investment with frightening consequences. One of the fallouts is the resultant burden on road transportation, as the country’s roads now witness chaos and carnage on a daily basis. With dwindling revenue from oil, there is indication that the Federal Government alone cannot undertake the mammoth task of revitalising the railways to meet global best practices. It is clear that given the scale of demand for transportation in Nigeria, the government is incapable of providing the capacity to adequately manage the conflicts it bears as an operator and regulator of railways. Therefore, the railways need to be restructured. The government must cede control of operations of railways and provide appropriate support for private operators to secure funding from external sources because of the lack of capacity in the domestic financial markets. If this is done, the private sector would bring the much needed technical expertise and managerial competence. Such partnership would ease the financial burden on government and ensure an efficient running of the system. Unfortunately, the rail system is still managed under laws enacted in 1955. The National Assembly should therefore pass the Act now to open the way for private sector funds to develop the rail system.
Can someone call Gov. el-Rufai to order? Sam Nzeh
ÎÎΓIf you are not happy
with appointments made, you can go and climb Kufena Mountain and fall. It was what you voted that you got because we are aware that there are people who did not vote for us, in fact they worked against us. “But now they claim to be All Progressives Congress (APC) members and loyal to the party. We know such people. And so there is no way they would expect anything from us. You didn’t vote us but you want appointments. What you will get is zero.”
That was the response of Governor Nasir elRufai of Kaduna State in answer to questions from stakeholders at the 4th town hall meeting with Kaduna Central zone on Saturday as he tried to justify why he could not give appointment to persons that did not vote for him during the last governorship election. Clearly, the statement is unbecoming of a governor. It was an insult. It was arrogance on display. Granted that Gov. el-Rufai is right to decide who to appoint into his administration, still he did not have to insult those who didn’t vote for him by his statement. He did not have to ask them go and
Words On Marble :
commit suicide. It smacks of arrogance and insensitivity for a governor who is under oath to look after all citizens in his state including those who did not vote for him, to turn around to cause them and even push them to ‘go and die’. As governor, it is expected of el-Rufai to exhibit maturity in the face of provocation. This is what civilised behaviour teaches people. So, those who have Gov. el-Rufai’s ears would do him a world of good if they make him learn to keep his temper under control. The same goes to his counterparts in other states who denigrate their subjects.
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Ibrahim Lamorde
Ayo Adebanjo
Abdulaziz Yari
“When corruption and impunity become the order of the day, human rights abuses flourish.”
“I don’t want Buhari to fail. I only want him to prove people like me who spoke against his ambition wrong.”
“The only thing that can save us is to diversify the economy. We have so many ways like agriculture, mining and infrastructural development.”
4
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Normalcy gradually returns to N’East, says Air Chief Andrew Orolua Abuja
ÏÏÏChief
of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said that normalcy is gradually returning to the North East following the achievements being recorded against the Boko Haram terrorist group by the military and other service agencies. He made the assertion when the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi, paid him a courtesy call in his office, in Abuja. He said the military would defeat Boko Haram
very soon, stating that the December deadline given to them by the President to defeat the terror group was achievable. Abubakar said the Nigerian Air Force had renewed its air operations and re-strategised to make the service more effective in the conduct of its operations in the battlefield. He maintained that whether in support of the Army or while acting singly, the Nigeria Air Force had made tremendous gains in ensuring that the terrorists were degraded and no longer able to move freely within the theatre of operations. Abubakar said the effect
of the successes had further reassured the citizens who had started returning back to their villages. He further stated that the NAF was committed to supporting NEMA in taking care of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the various camps throughout the North East, adding that it had already provided a level-two hospital at the Dalori camp with over 34 highly specialised medical personnel. Sidi called for more support and co-operation from NAF in the discharge of the agency’s responsibilities of managing and coordinating disaster in Nigeria.
He said NEMA was struggling with the task of managing over 2.1million IDPs in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration and support from other donor agencies. He said NEMA was moving to the stage of rehabilitation and reconstruction in collaboration with other agencies of government as normalcy gradually returns to the area. Sidi further said that many of the IDPs were voluntarily leaving the camps and returning back to their villages. This, he said, has enabled NEMA to start closing some of the camps.
5 News
Army probes personnel’s involvement in Ekiti, Osun elections Andrew Orolua Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
Nigerian Army has set up a high powered board of inquiry to investigate among other things alleged malpractices and involvement of its personnel in Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections in 2014. The body is to investigate the alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct of some Nigerian Army personnel in Ekiti and Osun states’ gubernatorial elections, in 2014, as well as in any other state in Nigeria where other allegations of misconduct were made during the 2015
Osun NASU suspends fivemonth strike Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo
ÏÏÏNon-Academic
Staff Union, (NASU) of Osun Government- owned tertiary institutions have suspended their five months old industrial strike action. While suspending the strike, the workers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state government. The MOU was signed at
general elections in the country. A statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the committee would also review the involvement of the Nigerian Army formations/units and its personnel in elections and other duties in aid to civil authority. The essence of the probe is to prevent future unprofessional conduct by officers and men in the performance of the constitutional roles, while strengthening Nigerian Army’s support to democratic values and structures in Nigeria. the Governor’s Office in Osogbo, on Tuesday. Among the provisions in the MOU, was that the government would pay the workers within seven days of resumption. Representatives of the union in all the four state owned tertiary institutions led by the State Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, of the union, Comrade Olusoji Fasipe, urged government not to renege on its promises. He explained that the strike had been suspended in line with the agreement made with the government.
Riot claims bus driver in Ibadan A cross section of Indigenous People of Biafra on a Peaceful Protest over the arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra along Ikwerre road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State… on Tuesday.
Minister: We supported Buhari because of Amaechi, say ex-militants Tom Okpe
Abuja ÏÏÏA group of former militants in the Niger-Delta region, under the platform of the Niger-Delta Coalition, has called on the Senate to screen the former Rivers state governor, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi as minister, saying that he was their support for President Muhammadu Buhari. The ex-militants, led by their president, Mr. Young Piero and secretary, Toriomo Excel, said on Tuesday, in Abuja, that Amaechi was the ‘Lion of Niger Delta’ and that he represented
the ‘Change’ the All Progressives Congress (APC) stood for. The militants said, “It is time for the Senate to recognised him and some others who worked for the peace enjoyed during the last general election. The Niger Delta Coalition does not see any reason why he (Ameachi) has not been screened by the Senate. He is a leader, a coach, an instructor, a mobiliser and a motivator who put his life, family and the lives of many that believed in the struggle to bring about the change Nigeria is talking
about today”. The former South-South fighters recalled how a faction that was loyal to the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatened to kill one of them (Young Piero), “yet, we went ahead to protect the Niger-Delta territory for a free and fair election.” The statement added that: “We supported Buhari-led APC because we wanted change. The Senate should know better that a fight against Ameachi is a fight against the progressives; a delay to screen Ameachi is against
the peace-loving people of Niger-Delta and millions of Nigerians. “We are using this medium to call on the leadership of the Senate not only to screen this notable personality for the benefit of Nigerians and Niger Delta, but his contributions to President Muhammadu Buhari’s success.”
Buhari
ÏÏÏThe orgy
of violence by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), may have returned to Oyo State as a middle aged commercial bus driver was hacked to death in a bloody riot between tipper drivers and members of the union who were protesting the death of one of their members last week. It was that learnt that the riot which started on Sunday night during a party at Omi Adio motor garage left about fifteen people severely injured, and was still on, untill Monday night, leaving about ten vehicles travelling along Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway damaged. It was gathered that he
expressway was blocked and barricaded with heaving objects by the rioters on late Monday night while many shop owners and residents were said to have deserted the streets for fear of attack. Some youths and thugs also joined in the riot, wielding dangerous weapons such as iron rods, cutlasses, clubs and knives. The windscreens of some vehicles were smashed, while innocent residents were assaulted. The injured, it was further gathered, were rushed to Alaafia Hospital, Apata, while others who were said to have been rejected by the private hospital were admitted at the University College .
News 6
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Terrorism: Court rejects FG’s request to chain Charles Okah Andrew Orolua, Abuja
ÎÎÎThe Federal High Court
sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, declined the request of the Federal Government to put Mr. Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bomb blast that killed twelve persons at the Eagle Square in Abuja, under chains. Trial Justice Gabriel Kolawole refused the application which Federal Government made through its lead pros-
ecutor, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN. Charles, who is a younger brother to ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, who had since been convicted by a South African Court, is facing terrorism charges alongside one Obi Nwabueze Okah. He had on October 6, 2015 attempted to commit suicide while his trial was going on, by jumping down from a window in the court room
which is situated in the third floor of the high court complex. Before his attempt to leap through the window was foiled, Okah who addressed the judge from the dock, expressed his frustration over what he described as his “endless trial”. At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, Federal Government lawyer, Dr. Iziyon, SAN, made an oral application before the court, requesting that Okah be chained in
view of his action at the last adjourned date. In making the application, Iziyon, referred the court to Section 269 of the newly enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. He urged the court to grant the application that Okah, who is the 1st defendant be always put under fetters throughout the duration of his trial. “Where a defendant or an accused person misbehaves or misconduct in the course
Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio in a discussion with Sen. Oluremi Tinubu during the screening of ministerial nominees at National Assembly Abuja… on Tuesday.
Senate dares Presidency, shifts Amaechi’s screening Continued from page 2 bayo Shittu, Claudius Omoleye Daramola and Khadija Abba Ibrahim were eventually scheduled for screening. Indication that there was more to the refusal of the Senate to screen Amaechi emerged when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate caucus announced a meeting to discuss some issue, which they said were pertinent to the opposition party. The PDP has not been happy over the case of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with the Senate Minority Leader, God-
swill Obot Akpabio, whereas the meeting, according to a Senator was to review the case. Although details of the PDP caucus meeting was still sketchy as at press time, there are reports that members resolved to be on guard to safeguard their interests which extends to the support they have been giving the Senate President. During the Plenary on Tuesday, only two ministerial nominees, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and wife of the former governor of Yobe State, Kadija Abba Ibrahim, were screened, while as indications are rife that the
screening of other nominees will now be scheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, Senior Special Assistant to the Secretary to the Government to the Federation, Rt Honourable Gideon Sammani, has said the rigmarole in the Senate over the screening of former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, for ministerial post was needless, contending that Amaechi deserved to be screened by the Senate. Sammani said Amaechi has sacrificed much for his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Director General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation
and had all the while demonstrated loyalty to the party. He said if performances must be rewarded in politics, it was time all APC members in the Senate must rally forces to ensure the screening of Amaechi. He said: “Whosoever planted, must harvest”, stressing: “The Senate I feel should not delay the screening of the former governor of Rivers State for any reason. Sammani said President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Amaechi for ministerial appointment because of his conviction that he will add Continued on page 12
of proceedings, such a person can be placed under fetters”, Iziyon submitted. However, Okah’s lawyer, Mr. Samuel Ozidiri, SAN, in his response, apologised on behalf of his client, even as he urged the court to discountenance the application by FG. He contended that the application was not only premature, but also against the ethos of human rights and principles of fair trial. In his ruling, Justice Kolawole, rejected the application which he described as a “great distraction”. The Judge said: “By the provisions of section 6 subsection 6 paragraph 8 of the 1999 constitution as amended, this court as one of the superior courts of record created by the constitution, is imbued with discretionary jurisdiction which can be exercised without the need for an application from the prosecution once it is of the view that the conduct of the 1st defendant (Okha) is such that may impede a smooth administration of proceedings on the charge of which the defendants are standing trial. “It is a discretion which the court will exercise whenever the occasion demands, but must be exercised with
caution perhaps circumspection otherwise the court’s purpose and attention will be needlessly distracted by incidents such as we have witnessed on Oct 6, 2015.” Besides, the judge held: “I have decided to pull back the court’s exercise of discretionary jurisdiction on the apologies given by both defence counsel, but the powers to make any of the orders prescribed in Section 269 and 71 of the ACJ Act, are exercisable once the court forms the view that the defendants or the 1st defendant needs to be restrained so that the proceedings of their trial can no longer be distracted by what I would regard as a “side show” meant to draw public attention perhaps of sympathy on what has been going on since 6 December, 2010, when the charge in this case was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation against the defendant. “1st defendant may see this as perhaps the last opportunity not to test the resolve of this court to exercise such powers that are conferred on it by both the constitution the ACJ Act”, he added. He thereafter adjourned the matter till October 27, 2015 for continuation of trial.
Buhari fires HoS, Kifasi Egena Egena, Abuja
ÎÎÎIndications emerged on
Tuesday evening that President Muhammadu Buhari may have relieved the Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), Danladi Kifasi of his position. The decision which is yet to be officially announced is believed to have been communicated to top Federal Civil Service officials already. His replacement is however, still a top secret in the Presidency as at the time of filing this report. It is also believed that Kifasi’s removal may not be unconnected with the need to observe Federal Character principle since the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, from Adamawa State, is from the same north-east geo-political zone as Kifasi. He had served as Permanent Secretary in several ministries including Federal Ministry of Finance, Aviation and Petroleum Resources. Kifasi was appointed by former President Goodluk Jonathan in August 2014. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed Kifasi’s removal through an SMS to our reporter. “He is due for retirement in December and has proceeded on terminal leave,” he wrote in reply to our enquiry.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Yakubu Salisu Kano
ÏÏÏThe
Nigeria Association of Agricultural Economists (NAAE), on Tuesday in Kano, called on government at all levels to give agriculture a special attention and implement policies that will promote agricultural practices in the country. Speaking during a conference organised by the association at Kano State University of Technology, Wudil (KUST), the National President, Prof. Bola Okuneye, stated that research has revealed that with effective management, Nigeria would be able to produce all the agricultural products imported into the country. He further stated that the over
Govt urged to implement Agriculture polices dependence of Nigeria on the oil sector as its major source of revenue generation must "Change", now that we have a government whose slogan is "Change". According to Okuneye, with proper policies, agricultural sector is no doubt one of the easiest way of providing jobs to the unemployed in the country, a means of providing cheap raw materials for industries in the country, as well as a means of generating revenue which will go a long way to promote the economic development of Nigeria.
Man docked over N13.9m theft Titilope Joseph
ÏÏÏA
30-year-old man, Hammed Abiodun, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly receiving stolen property worth of N13.9million. The defendant was said to have received two unregistered Toyota highlander vehicles valued N4,000,000m, one unregistered Toyota Rav4, valued N1,4000,000m, one unregistered Ford Jeep, valued N4,000,000m, one unregistered Toyota Camry Saloon Car, valued N1,000,000m, and one Toyota Highlander with Registration number KJA 760 AK, val-
ued N3,500,000, and which makes the total sum of N13,900 million, knowing same to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. Abiodun, who is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy, receiving stolen property and unlawfully obtaining property before the Chief Magistrate Y.O Aje-Afunwa, was said to have allegedly committed the offence on September 14, 2015 at Shasha roundabout, Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos. The prosecutor, ASP Samson Ekikere, in his address, informed the Court that the vehicles belonged to different individuals which are yet to be known.
A section of successful candidates during the Call to the Bar ceremony held in Abuja… on Tuesday.
‘Nigerians should reject call for immunity for NASS leadership’ …Buhari ’ll surely succeed
Segun Adio
ÏÏÏA call has gone to Nige-
rians to resist any attempt by federal lawmakers to introduce immunity to the Senate President, his deputy or the Speaker House of representatives or his deputy. The introduction of the clause, if allowed, would further subject the country to a laughing stock in the comity of nations and make efforts at fighting indiscipline in the country a mirage. This was the position of Supreme Head of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, His Most Eminence Prophet Solomon Adegboyega Alao, when he
Osun NDE trains 900 in commercial farming Osogbo
ÏÏÏThe National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Osun State has trained no fewer than 900 people in commercial farming. The Director-General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, stated this during the flagging off of the Commercial Farmers Training Projects (CFTP) in Osogbo.
Mallam Mohammed, who was represented by Osun state coordinator of the directorate, Mr. Sola Daramola described the training as a deliberate one, noting that it aimed at building the capacity of the unemployed. He added that after the training, participants would be able to identify viable opportunities in the agricultural value chain and become self-reliance.
led a high-powered delegation of the conglomeration of the church to commiserate with the families of the late Yeye Oba of Ife and wife of the late sage, Hannah Dideolu Idowu Awolowo, at their Ikenne, Ogun State family home on Tuesday. According to Prophet Alao, “It was reported that the National Assembly should amend the constitution to confer immunity on Senate President, Deputy, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker. If this is true, then it is immoral and should not be allowed to stay. “That will be a wrong signal for Nigeria. It is wrong
for them to pass a law to protect themselves. Legally they can legislate on anything, but morally it will be a wrong step to be taken. I feel they should not do so.” Also, the clergy urged Nigerians to rally round President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to instill probity and discipline in the country. He said the president has already imbibed the philosophy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which he said included financial probity, transparency, honesty and firmness. He also urged President Buhari to remain focused in his wish to have stolen funds repatriated
back into the country from where they were stashed by corrupt government officials of successive governments. Receiving the delegation, first daughter of the late HID Awolowo, Mrs. Tola Oyediran, commended the leadership of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria for the visit, describing the visit as a sign of miracles to come for the family and for her personally. She maintained that the Awolowo family would continue to uphold the ideals of the late sage and all that he stood for while alive.
Money laundering: Court admits ex-Gov Ohakim's statements as exhibits Andrew Orolua
Sodiq Adekunle
7 News
Abuja
ÏÏÏA Federal High Court,
sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, admitted five voluntary statements made by the former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim as exhibits in the trial over his alleged laundering of 2.2 million dollars. Also tendered and admitted as exhibit was Ohakim's Assets Declaration Form which he made on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) letter head. The court admitted the exhibits following the testimo-
ny of Mr. Ishaya Daudu, a senior investigator with the EFCC. Daudu told the court that following Ohakim invitation by the agency, he was interviewed, investigated, and took his voluntary statements on five different occasions between 2013 and 2015. He said that the anti-graft agency took time on the investigation as Ohakim continued to deny ownership of the property situated at 60 Kwame Nkuruma street, Asokoro, Abuja, until the man he claimed to have rented the mansion confronted him at EFCC office. The court also heard that Ohakim made payment of
2.2 million dollar cash for the said property at night at Imo state lodge, Asokoro, to one Abu Sule for Alhaji Mukhtar Maidabino, who was at that time the rightful owner of the property. They also entered into an agreement which presented Ohakim as a tenant of the said property after he paid additional N20million that was credited to him as rent, but in the actual sense the said sum was meant to renovate the property and another one at Maitama, Abuja. Daudu said that the accused and the sellers of the property, who are listed as witnesses, took the unholy
steps in the transaction to conceal the source of the money. The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola has adjourned further trial till November 12, 2015.
Ohakim
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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Politics
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Despite cash crunch, states get cabinet, settle down to business Akinjide Akintola and Adedeji Sulaimon After over four months of inactivity, some of the states are settling down to business having put in their cabinet in place with a charge to move their states to the next level. Out of the 28 states where governorship elections were
conducted in April with the governors and their deputies taking oaths on May 29, only six or seven states have so far inaugurated their state executive councils with many of them ruling like an emperor over their states, while using only permanent secretaries like President Muhammadu CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Ambode
Amosun
El-rufai
Okowa
Udom Emmanuel
Dave Umahi
CACOL: Buhari’s anti-corruption war is for real Debo Adeniran is the Executive Chairman Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), a coalition of human rights, community based, and civil society organizations with anti-corruption agenda across Nigeria. In this interview with our Correspondent, MATHEW DADIYA, he bared his mind on some activities of his group, the efforts of the present administration to curb corruption and other related issues. Excerpts: What are the achievements of CACOL? We started on Obasanjo’s case by writing a petition to the EFCC in November 2007, and we have been following up every year. We reminded both the EFCC and ICPC every year of the petitions. When the then EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri took over and denied having any petition against former president Obasanjo, CACOL organized its members again to picket the Commission’s Lagos office where the Heads of the Commission’s Operations who incidentally is the same Mallam Umar Sanda, and that of Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Babafemi publicly delivered their Chairman’s message that work would begin within 24 hours later and indeed work started 24hours later which culminated in the discreet report earlier mentioned. Two days after receiving of the petition, we were invited to Abuja where the then Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri herself confirmed that she was confident to confirm that she had received our petitions against Obasanjo and actions had already commenced on it. True to the promise, the EFCC announced by the following day that a 5-man panel has been set up to carry out the investigation of the former president, although no further information had been given whether, privately or publicly since then by the agency. It was our activ-
Buhari ities that made the EFCC to make a public statement that they had come-up with discreet report. No other group has forced any agency to make public statement on investigation of Obasanjo. Although we do not have the discreet report because they said they do not release it to petitioners but we are still pursuing further investigations on him. Our pressure on anti-corruption agencies to bring Obasanjo to book forced him to actually mention and castigate us in his recently launched book, ‘My Watch’.
Debo Adeniran The prosecution of James Ibori also started as a result of our protests to the EFCC in the days of Nuhu Ribadu. We were there when he was being tried in the Kaduna Federal High Court where his supporters attacked and injured our members. When the former Minister of Justice, Michael Andoaka said that Ibori was among the former governors whose cases had been cleared by the EFCC of culpability in corruption allegations against them, we protested to the EFCC which forced Nuhu Ribadu’s
successor, Mrs. Farida Waziri who was forced to promise that she was going to charge Ibori to court within the next three weeks to that time. True to her word, before the end of the second week, Ibori had been charged to Asaba Federal High Court. The pressure we also mounted on her, forced her to make a public statement against her then supervisory Minister, Michael Andoaka to say that the statement by the MinCONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Amina Zakari
Electoral Act full of lapses – INEC boss Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Amina Zakari, has called for a review of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) with a view to addressing the shortcomings and improving on the processes of the commission. She disclosed this in Abuja when a delegation of Military Attachés of accredited foreign missions in Nigeria, led by the Assistant Director, Attaché Management Defence Intelligence Agency, Col. Everest Okoro, paid a courtesy visit to the commission. She, however, declined speak on whether the current composition of the commission’s management could impair negatively on the decisions taken so far by the commission. She did not also said whether this development was one of the flaws she was referring to. INEC, which is made up of 13 national commissioners, now has only two commissioners as 11 others had served out their tenure. Her own term has also expired before President Muhammadu Buhari re-appointed her as Acting INEC Chairman without Senate’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
9 Politics
Our Concern on Buhari’s Ministerial Nominees – CACOL ister that they have cleared three former governors including Ibori didn’t emanate from the EFCC. Our petitions to NJC while Ibori case was going on led to three queries that were issued the trial Judge, Justice Matel Awokuleyin and it was on that basis that the justice had to postpone his ruling, at least, twice. He then made the statement that he was going to hear on the side of caution which was reported in the papers. He also castigated us that we made unfounded allegations against him. Our members were also injured when we protested against his invitation to deliver lecture on corruption by Hallmark Magazine at NIIA in Lagos. Eventually we were vindicated by the conviction of the former governor in the United Kingdom. We traced Ibori from Lagos to Ogara, his village, to United Arab Emirate and eventually our affiliate in the United Kingdom were always in court to follow up the case of Ibori till he was convicted. All these activities contributed to the understanding of the issues and strategies involved in the need and popular agitation for the probe of every sector of the economy under the various regimes in Nigeria and what individual or collective action to take by the cross section
Debo Adeniran of the Nigerian populace. What’s your assessment of President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign after including some alleged corrupt officials in his ministerial list? We would like to look at Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign from thee basic aspects: (i) President’s proclamations and appeals at various fora coupled with contacts so far made since assuming office, especially with governments of those countries which have, over
Buhari the years, provided the store-house for stolen monies by corrupt public officers - all serve as a pointer to his determination to rid the country of the scourge; and they also enhance the image and integrity of Nigeria within the committee of Nations. (ii) Those anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC, ICPC, CCB, SFU and other regulatory bodies like NAFDAC, SON, NERC, Consumer Rights Commission(CRC) etc. which hitherto seemed to have turned to mere sleeping and lame
watchdogs, have suddenly woken up and begun to bare their fangs at alleged offenders. They now appear to have been adequately strengthened to confront that seemingly untamable monster called corruption headlong. With the proposed ‘special court’ to try mainly corrupt cases; is a bold step at putting a stop to unnecessary protraction in the trial thereby ensuring quick dispensation of justice in corrupt CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Electoral Act full of lapses – INEC boss CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
approval. She said, “We need a review of the Electoral Act because during the course of our assignment, we noticed some lapses and lacunas in some of the clauses. “We are working with the National Assembly and have recommended certain reviews. “We also remind the current National Assembly on the need to look at these aspects of the Electoral Act so that we can improve on our processes and also improve on elections.” While explaining the composition and functions of the commission to the Military Attaches, the INEC boss highlighted some of the challenges encountered in the course of delivering the 2011 and 2015 general elections. She listed some of the challenges to include lack of internal party democracy, challenges in the control and monitoring of party finance and expenditures. She explained, however, that the commission had been building capacity internally and had commenced a pilot model monitoring of campaign finances. Other challenge, according to her, is election-related violence which has been part and parcel of elections in the country.
After a lull, states settling down to business CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
Buhari. Last Monday, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State joined others who have formed their cabinets when he swore in 23 commissioners and 14 special advisers with a charge on them to be accountable and be loyal to the people. The swearing in ceremony was held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, and attended by well-wishers of the cabinet members and government officials. Other governors who had similarly constituted their cabinets were Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun, Thursday October 15; Malam Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna, September 7; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, September 22, Delta; Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom, July; Dave Umahi of Ebonyi
Ambode
Amosun
El-rufai
State, who was the first to constitute his cabinet in July. Speaking at the occasion, Ambode said the event represented a milestone as it afforded him the opportunity to choose his 37-member cabinet that would help in
moving Lagos to greater heights. He said Lagos State is the fourth largest economy in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $131bn, equaling that of 42 other countries in Africa. “Lagos has a rapidly growing
middle class of presently over 4 million people with youths constituting 60% of its population. Not only is Lagos the nerve center of Nigeria’s economy, it bears more than 90% of all the Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria in the last
few months. “The challenges that come with the boisterous profile of the state as one of the world’s fastest growing cosmopolitan City-States are as many as the opportunities that abound in it. Lagos is a magnet for many Nigerians who want to pursue the Nigerian dream. The dream that wherever you are from, regardless of tribe or creed, you can achieve what you wish. This is the Lagos dream,” he stated. The governor explained that developing befitting infrastructure to cope with the exponential growth in Lagos population and its rapid urbanization required hard thinking and ingenious solutions. He said despite that one-fifth of Lagos is covered in water, Lagosians today relied almost entirely CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
States get cabinet, settle down to business CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
on land transportation system as the addition of thousands of new people and automobiles to Lagos demography on daily basis, inevitably puts unbearable pressure on road networks and traffic situation. Ambode stated that relying on traditional modes and methods for protecting the people in an age in which men of the underworld use sophisticated weapons and transport to commit crimes and escape from crime scenes left the people vulnerable, saying that leaving the potential of the teeming youths unutilized would severely undermine the economic well-being of the state and its people in the longrun. The governor, therefore, said as Commissioners and Special Advisers, Lagos charged them to develop ingenious means of transporting its people across the land as well as implement decisions that would combat crimes and secure the people. “Lagosians call on you to create job opportunities for our youths. As with most nations with a monoeconomy, Nigeria is going through an interesting time. The continuous fall in crude oil prices means vastly dwindling revenues for Nigeria. In turn, states will have less and less money to fund capital projects and face enormous challenges in catering for their people. “The future of any modern state to provide infrastructure and effectively cater for its people lies
Okowa
Udom Emmanuel
Dave Umahi
critically in its ability to generate stable revenues and resources to drive growth. In the last four months, our government has worked hard to lay a solid foundation to drive effective governance. “Our decisions have stabilized the financial economy of the state despite inherited heavy financial liabilities. We have vastly reduced the cost of governance without bail-outs from the Federal Government and our reforms will be continuous,” he said. Ambode added that his administration would demand absolute loyalty from the cabinet members as their primary allegiance was to the people of Lagos, irrespective of creed or colour. “You must dedicate yourselves
to the service of Lagos State. Your work must reflect what Lagos stands for: leadership, accountability, good governance, opportunities and service. “Lagos is on the brink of greatness and you have all been given this platform to write your names in gold. You must work to leave a legacy that will be spoken of in glowing terms in years to come. Lagos is the most promising emerging City-State in Africa today. We have all the ingredients to compete globally in all sectors; and we must. “We owe it to the people of Lagos and to ourselves. You are today, being handed the reins to the government of Lagos State and together, we must fulfill the massive poten-
tials of our state. I look forward to working with you to deliver, a cleaner, safer and more prosperous Lagos State,” he charged. Last Thursday, his Ogun State counterpart swore-in 18 commissioners and 12 special advisers to form the State Executive Council with a charge to see themselves as members of a restoration and transformation team. The governor urged the newly sworn in appointees to faithfully and efficiently implement the five cardinal programmes of his government which are– revitalization of the state’s educational system right from the primary school to tertiary level; free and effective health care delivery system which guarantees not only curative, but
prevention and rehabilitation; employment generation program; affordable housing and urban renewal, rural and infra structural development; agriculture and industrial development. ” Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Dr. Soyinka said each and every member of the team sees the appointment as a call to serve. He said they can’t wait to hit the ground running to actualise the governor’s vision of rebuilding the state. Dr. Soyinka said many of them had watched with keen interest events in the state in the last few years and have often wondered how things got so bad. He said their appointment is therefore an opportunity to contribute their own quota towards the upliftment of the state. The Ogun State House of Assembly had on Tuesday 13 October, approved the list of nominees sent by the governor. Earlier, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on September 8 swore into office 13 new Commissioners to help in the running of his administration. He had in June swore some of his personal aides including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). At the swearing-in ceremony at Sir Ibrahim Kashim House, the governor charged them to be honest and just while discharging their responsibilities putting aside sentiments based on reliCONTINUED ON PAGE 11
We forced EFCC to investigate OBJ, says Adeniran CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
cases. President Buhari’s recent order to every ministry and parastatal to maintain just one bank account as opposed to what had become the tradition of one ministry operating limitless number of accounts which had been discovered to have, over the years, facilitated sharp practices by public officers. iii. Without any doubt, majority of patriotic Nigerians, CACOL inclusive, were certainly taken aback by the inclusion of the names of some alleged corrupt officials in his list of ministerial nominees and gladly enough they individually and collectively expressed their reservation on the exercise especially when given the long delay coupled with the President’s promise of appointing mostly technocrats with intimidating credentials to man the ministries. Most
commentators and critics were unanimous in describing the long wait with its attendant anxiety as unwarranted and so regrettable. However, whilst CACOL is not very comfortable with this development, we must concede to Mr. President, the powers conferred on him by our constitution, to solely determine who would work directly with him at this level. So looking at it legalistically, we can’t accuse him of having done any wrong; we can only fault him on moral ground and of course label him as not been sensitive to the sensibility of the average Nigerian that voted him in – after all, democracy is all about the people. This is why we will not be deterred from criticizing the said list and demanding that those alleged to have been involved in one corrupt practice or the other is thoroughly screened and their past dug into with a view to determin-
ing their culpability or otherwise, before being assigned any portfolio. We need to be able to trust our leaders. And be that as it may, CACOL acknowledges President Buhari’s seriousness and sincerity in his resolve to rid our society of official corruption especially; we therefore enjoin all and sundry to give his government the desired support to deliver. Do you think some of the people in the ministerial list can help the President in his fight against corruption in the country? Quite naturally, given our reservation to the list submitted to the senate, our answer to this question cannot be outright categorical. However, given President’s Buhari’s antecedent and character, and given the enormous power given him by our laws to hire and to fire at any time, as he deems fit
and without recourse to anyone or quarters, we want to believe that his stature could have such a bandwagon effect on the overall performance of his team. We have it in our local maxim that, the fish rots from the head. Therefore, our optimism could only rest on the belief that he would not hesitate to throw out any black sheep in his stable, in order to ensure that his integrity remains untainted. Some of the nominees, for instance, are too controversial for comfort: MRS. KEMI ADEOSUN – A very powerful commissioner in the cabinet of Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State. There have been allegations ranging from financial impropriety and corrupt enrichment to graft. She is been severally accused of diverting state projects to her personal benefit or that of her cronies. Also according to the news
sources, no fewer than 25 petitions have been submitted by various individuals and groups seeking to stop the clearance of some of the 21 ministerial nominees. There had been news that petitions were also submitted to the National Assembly against former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Another senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District has been reported to have submitted a petition against the nomination of Mrs. Amina Mohammed from Kaduna State. It must be understood that, by citing these few examples, we are not trying to label the others as saints, what CACOL is only saying is that, since these nominees are to be entrusted with state funds and projects, the presidency ought to have carried out a thorough findCONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
11 Politics
‘Our Concern on Buhari’s Ministerial Nominees’ ings on the allegations leveled against them with a view to determining their culpability or otherwise before proceeding on making such nominations. The average right-thinker would have expected to see in the list, names of established technocrats in the roll-call of academics and professionals of repute and there is no disputing the fact that our nation has it in abundance, both within and outside these shores. Do you think that the President Buhari led administration is witch-hunting those who served in former President Jonathan’s administration? For us in CACOL, we are realists; so, we tend to analyze and treat issues holistically, both from the moral and legal angles. But when it comes to issues bordering on prosecution of an alleged crime or issues arising from constitutional provisions, morality takes the back stage. This is because we have so far discovered that oftentimes, whenever we try to mix morality with legality, we end up with avoidable confusion. So we do not give in to such insinuations like witchhunting, selectiveness, vendetta and the likes, when a public officer, placed in a position of trust, alleged to have abused his office via
Debo Adeniran
Buhari
corruption, is being prosecuted by a competent court for the alleged offence. Such sentiments we see as self-defeatist, self-condemning and a product of a guilty conscience. As far as we are concerned, corrupt person, no matter the political or social status, no matter which party or group he belongs to, is a criminal and must be punished accordingly. Again, let’s look at it this way; granted that the process of apprehending thieves in our society is selective, one fact that stands out is that only thieves can be selected;
non-thieves needs not be apprehensive of such process. My advice to those flaunting these sentiments, is that if they have identified that, say, we have 20 thieves in our midst and only five are being pushed forward for trial, let them borrow a leaf from CACOL by coming out to mention to the appropriate authority and members of the public, the names of the remaining 15. That settles it, isn’t it? But to just sit back and point accusing fingers at concerned authority would not help our common cause to build a society that upholds respect for the
rule of law. What measures do you think this administration can take to curb corruption in the Civil Service? To curb corruption in the Civil Service, the Buhari’s-led administration, should; Make civil servants earn their pay: To whom much is given, much is expected, they say. A new orientation program should, without delay, be drawn up for the civil servant; to move him away from this already rooted inclination of always wanting to take and not to give. Today, what we have is the civil servant, regardless of his level or grade, places more emphasis on what he is able to amass for himself, through whatever means and at whatever cost to the nation, than his productive contribution to its growth. However, we hasten to say that this cannot be done in isolation; his earning power too should be strengthened to build up his loyalty and commitment to service. Sincerely, an N18,000 per month worker, who has a wife and four children to cater for, cannot be expected to give his all in terms of dedication and commitment, given the hard economic pressure he is constantly subjected to. This administration’s attention should be focused on both aspects of earning
and service. Give and take should be the watch-word. When a worker is paid a worker’s wage and NOT a slave wage, there is always that moral obligation placed upon him to commensurately deliver to justify his pay. The administration should have complete data on each one of them and ensure that their lifestyles are monitored: Sadly enough, the average civil servant especially the one placed in a position of high responsibility and trust, must, in most cases, have risen through the ranks and we know that he must have inherited a tradition from his predecessor(s) – we mean, a tradition of ‘it’s-my-turn’ and so, he goes all out to amass as much he’s able to. And because no one blinks any eye-lid, he becomes so confident that he even flaunts his ill-gotten wealth around his workplace. He knows, from experience, that nobody or quarters would ever call him for questioning. But in a setting whereby such a senior civil servant knows that he is monitored and that a data is kept on his lifestyle and possessions, and that facts from such data would certainly serve as possible materials for prosecution in the future, his excesses are bound to be curbed extensively.
States get commissioners, set for real business CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
gion, tribe, or ethnicity. “You were selected based on your education, capacity, integrity and track record. You were not appointed to represent your LGA, religion or ethnicity. You were appointed to serve the 8 million Kaduna citizens. “You may not be the best, only God knows the best. But you are the best we know. We are representing change. That is what the people of Kaduna State want. The change should not be through mouth, but by action. The way you dress and the way you walk to the offices matters. It will show the people that there is change”, he stressed. According to him they should represent change in all their activities so as to make a difference from the previous administration. “What change means, is that everyone is representing President Muhammadu Buhari. That means, we must be honest. We must tell the truth. We are not saying you should not aim higher. For those of you who want to be lawmakers or governor, you must do the job you have at hand now. You
must do the job you’ve been appointed to do”, he said. He also assured them that, himself and his deputy would not interfere in their work, as such he expects good performance from them for the benefit of people in the state. “We will defend you both privately and publicly. If you do wrong, we will tell you what you do wrong. None of us will interfere in your Ministries. If anyone comes to you claiming he or she is from me or from the Deputy Governor, please subject that person to full due process”, he stressed. Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on Tuesday September 22 also swore in 13 commissioners and four special advisers into the state executive council with a charge to make resourcefulness and diligent teamwork their watchword towards midwifing the process for wealth creation, which is the hallmark of his administration. He called on the appointees to share in his vision and mission as governor which is in growing the economy through promotion of entrepreneurial development and expand investment opportunities
by assisting Deltans to be not only self-reliant but also to be employers of labour. Okowa said: “As governor, my priority is to grow the economy of this state and ensure that every person has a chance to pursue his or her dreams of success and achieve their full measure of happiness. By accepting to serve as a commissioner or Special Adviser in this government, you have accepted this responsibility.” The governor further said: “The situation we find ourselves calls for drive, innovation, prudence and above all, ingenuity and resourcefulness in managing our assets and in our internal revenue generation process, because, we are confronted with serious economic challenges and it is incumbent on us all, especially, the political appointees, to rise up to the challenge with courage, determination and selfless service. “I implore you and indeed, all Deltans, to muster the can-do-spirit and problem-solving mentality that our people are known for”, Okowa said: “As commissioners and special advisers, I enjoin you to treat the business of government as a serious business. Every
ministry, department and agency of government under this administration is expected to be costconscious in its operations and be alive to its revenue-generating potential, because in the face of dwindling receipts from the Federation Account, we cannot afford to do any less.” He charged the appointees to shun sectionalism, nepotism and be diligent, honest, and accountable and be diligent in attending to the needs and aspirations of the people in their respective capacities. “As a government, we are committed to creating the enabling environment for micro, small, and medium scale enterprises to thrive and flourish, because they are the heartbeat of any economy; and, I am confident that with deep thinking, creativity, fiscal discipline and the cooperation of all and sundry, we can put the current challenges behind us and lay a solid foundation of prosperity for this generation of Deltans and those coming after us”, Okowa said. Delta State Governor, Senator, Ifeanyi Okowa also swore in 12 new Commissioners and five Special Advisers with an assurance
that his administration has zero tolerance for corruption in the management of government business. The newly sworn in Commissioners are Barr. Mrs. Mary Iyasere (Commerce and Industry), Hon. John Nani (Environment), Dr. Kingsley Emu(Economic Planning), Chief James Augoye(Works), Mr. Vincent Uduaghan(Transport), Mr. Newworld Safugha(Energy), and Mr. Joseph Ogeh(Housing). Others are Mr. Fidelis Tilije (Water Resources Development), Rev. Mrs. Omashola Williams (Women Affairs), Mr. Austin Chikezie (Agriculture and Natural Resources), Hon. Joyce Overah (Science and Technology) and Mr. Chiedu Ebie (Basic and Secondary Education). The special advisers are Bro. Emmanuel Ogidi (Rural Development and Peace Building), Sen. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo (Infrastructure and Housing Development), Rt. Hon. Martins Okonta (Land Resources and Legislative Matters), Hon. Pascal Adigwe (National Assembly Matters and Inter-governmental Liaison) and Comrade Mike Okeme (Labour Relations).
News 12
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Botched Immigration recruitment: EFCC Reps probe NNPC’s Joint quizzes ex-Interior Minister, Abba Moro Venture Agreements Continued from page 2
Monday Agu Jr. Abuja
ÎÎÎThe Economic and Fi-
nancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, quizzed former Interior minister, Comrade Abba Moro, over the 2014 illfated recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Ser-
vice (NIS). The botched exercise claimed more than 16 lives across several recruitment centres in the country. Over 700,772 applicants paid the sum of N1000 each to write the test for employment into the NIS. Moro was taken into
EFCC custody on Monday in the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency. Recall that over 700,772 applicants paid the sum of 1000 each to write a test for an employment slot of just 4,000. An official of the EFCC confirmed the quizzing of Moro by a team of investi-
gators. Another EFCC official said: “It will be a disservice, to sweep under the carpet, the job scandal allegation against the former Minister, which led to the death of innocent job seekers. So, operatives have to invite him for interrogation.”
nation’s petroleum industry as well as the environment.” He said that the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative was launched by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, as part of the World Bank’s Spring meeting in Washington DC, USA. “The initiative strives to get governments, Oil companies, and developmental institutions to see gas flaring as unsustainable as it constitutes waste of resources, poses grave environmental dangers to the people and also detrimental to the climate, and thus, agree to cooperate to eliminate routine flaring, not later than 2030. “Nigeria’s absence at the meeting and its inability to sign the treaty, the cardinal objective of which is to end
gas flaring by oil companies by 2030 is a major cause for concern”, the lawmaker added. According to him, since Nigeria is faced with severe challenges arising from unbridled gas flaring at onshore/offshore production sites by international oil companies operating within its shores, the Federal Government had no excuse not to take advantage of such global initiative that would have helped in chatting a way out of the dangers of gas flaring. He said further that “10 multinational Oil companies, six global development institutions and nine nations, such as Norway, Cameroun, Russia, Kazakhstan, Gabon, Congo, Angola and a host of other major industry players were all in attendance while Nigeria with serious gas flaring issues was not represented”.
Senate dares Presidency, shifts Amaechi’s screening Continued from page 6
L-R: Ogun State Deputy governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; National President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Mr. Gabriel Fasooto; Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and out-going Chairman, APBN Ogun State chapter, Mr. Bimbola Alagbe during a courtesy call on the governor at his Oke-Mosan office, Abeokuta… on Tuesday.
Two aircraft collide at Lagos airport Continued from page 2 Both aircraft involved in the incident had substantial damage and source close to the scene of the incident said the incident might have occurred due to the closure of the international runway, 18Left, which had safety issue as at the time while there was already a Notice To Airmen, NOTAM, by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to all operators. Less than two weeks later, another disaster was again averted at the airport with two aircraft belonging to FirstNation colliding at
the same airport. One of the aircraft, Airbus 319 with about 130 on-board passengers was taxiing from the runway to Murtala Mohammed Airport Two, MMA2, to disengage passengers while the other aircraft, another A319 was preparing to take off to Port Harcourt Airport from the same terminal. The management of the airline blamed FAAN’s marshaller that handled the aircraft, saying that he misdirected the pilot. FirstNation Airways management stressed that if the marshaller had been well-trained, he would have
carried out his job more diligently while the accident would have been avoided. Speaking on recent incidents involving airlines at the airside, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Century Securities, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), said that paramount in global aviation industry was about safety and security, which he said had been neglected in the country’s aviation sector. He warned that the recent incidents may be a build up to another accident if not immediately tackled by the respective agencies especially the Nigerian Civil Aviation Au-
thority, NCAA. Besides, he emphasised that most of the incidents or accidents continued due to the inability of the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, to publish to the public and operators in the sector its safety recommendations. He said: “Aviation goes beyond passengers airlifting, but about safety. Government has not done anything in the past 10 years to protect the sector. Safety recommendations are not shared to operators. Out of 150 safety recommendations, only 30 have been implemented by NCAA in the past few years.
value to his government if given the chance. The Second Republic Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly said the President would not have any issue with Amaechi if cleared to be a minister, as according to him, he already has the support of the APC. Amaechi, he said, has worked hard with sterling contributions to politics in the present Republic, adding that he deserved to be brought on board to continue to make more contributions to national development. The Special Assistant to the SGF said the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, had recently demonstrated how loyalty should be rewarded by appointing an over 70-year-old carpenter as a local government chairman in Ekiti State. He said notwithstanding that the carpenter is barely literate, Fayose considered the virtue of his loyalty to bring him on board governance in the state, just to encourage loyalty on the part of party members.
Sammani, however, called on Senators to set aside bickering and crass intrigues of politics by allowing the screening of the former Rivers State governor on the basis of his competence, hard work and love for Nigeria, which he said Amaechi demonstrated during his tenure as governor. Speaking further, Sammani said Amaechi and others will be coming into the Cabinet to work and not to amass wealth as generally believed by some Nigerians. According to him, no one should think that a minister in the cabinet of President Buhari will have the chance to amass wealth because President will not leave room for corruption to thrive in his government. He said there would be no time for indolence, mediocrity and corrupt practices in the present government because every serving public officer will be under searchlight. He said: ‘’I don’t envy the incoming ministers. They cannot come in with a notion that they will amass wealth as it has been happening in the past.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
13 International
Pistorius released from prison, now in house arrest
Pist
ÏÏÏ
South Africa’s superstar athlete Oscar Pistorius got an early release from prison Monday night, bringing his time behind bars to just over a year. His family made clear that Pistorius is simply going from one prison to another — he’s required
to spend the remainder of his fiveyear sentence under house arrest. "It is very important for the family to emphasize that Oscar's sentence has not been shortened or reduced,” family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess told a media scrum gathered outside the
Pistorius family mansion Tuesday. “He is simply entering the next phase of his sentence now. He will serve this under the strict conditions that govern correctional supervision," she said. Those conditions also include
psychotherapy and community service. The icon-turned-inmate was due to be released Tuesday, having been granted parole after being convicted of culpable homicide — equivalent to the U.S. charge of manslaughter — for killing his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, at his Pretoria home on Valentine’s Day in 2013. But correctional officials, in an apparent attempt to sidestep the media frenzy that has trailed the runner since his shocking arrest and hotly followed trial, quietly released him from Pretoria’s Kgosi Mampuru II prison Monday night. Under cover of darkness, the athlete, who made history in 2012 as the first double amputee to participate in the Olympics, was driven to his uncle Arnold Pistorius’ large home in the wealthy Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof. South Africans raced to social media platforms to weigh in on Tuesday. Reactions ranged from indifference — “Plz we got more serious problems to worry about than this man” wrote user Mbekezeli Zulu — to outrage.
Uganda troops begin S’ Sudan pull-out - official
ÏÏÏUganda's army has begun its
pull-out from neighbouring South Sudan, in line with a peace deal aimed at ending nearly two years of civil war, an official said on Tuesday. Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni deployed troops to South Sudan in support of President Salva Kiir, who is fighting rebels led by former deputy president Riek Machar. The Ugandan soldiers have played a key role in defending the capital Juba and have used helicopter gunships to fend off rebel
Tens of thousands flee new Syria offensives ÏÏÏTens of thousands have fled
new regime offensives in Syria, the UN warned on Tuesday, as Russian air strikes were reported to have so far killed 370 people, many of them civilians. The mass exodus was focused south of Syria's second city Aleppo, one of five areas where regime troops have launched renewed attacks since Russia began its air war on September 30.
attacks elsewhere in the country. As part of a peace deal mediated by regional bloc IGAD and signed in Addis Ababa in August by Kiir and Machar, the Ugandan soldiers were supposed to leave South Sudan earlier this month. "There is an agreement between the government of South Sudan and the government of Uganda that the UPDF (Uganda People's Defence Force) withdraw from South Sudan back to Uganda," South Sudan government spokesperson Michael Makuei told AFP. "This process has started today,"
he added, explaining that Ugandan troops in Bor, a key town north of Juba, were moving south to the capital where they would link up with other UPDF troops and then leave the country. "It is a force with a lot of equipment and lot of things that need to be assembled, need to be organised," he added, hinting the process would not be quick. The demilitarisation of government-held Juba to allow the return of Machar and his rebel entourage is a key provision of the peace agreement.
The Ugandan soldiers are due to be replaced by a neutral force, while South Sudanese soldiers are to be relocated to barracks outside the city.
"Around 35 000 people are reported to have been displaced from... the south-western outskirts of Aleppo city, following government offensives over the last few days," said Vanessa Huguenin, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). She said many of the displaced were living with host families and in informal settlements in the west of the province. "People urgently need food and basic household and shelter items," she said. "Aid agencies are growing more and more concerned for families living outdoors as the weather is getting colder, especially overnight."
Syria's conflict has left more than 250 000 dead and forced millions from their homes since March 2011, sparking a mass migration of refugees that has left Europe struggling to cope. Russia has carried out more than 500 air raids in support of President Bashar Assad's forces and a monitoring group on Tuesday gave the first estimate for the total number of dead in the strikes. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 370 people had been killed, including more than 120 civilians. Among them were 45 rebels and civilians killed on Monday in a series of Russian strikes in the north of government stronghold Latakia province, it said.
Dozens were also wounded in Monday's raids, some of the deadliest yet in the Russian campaign, and a rebel commander from a moderate opposition group was among the dead, it said.
Museveni
The Observatory also said tens of thousands were fleeing the new offensives, estimating that up to 100 000 had been forced from their homes in Hama, Aleppo and Latakia provinces. Aleppo, once Syria's economic hub, has been a key focus of the fighting. The city has been ravaged by war and divided between government forces in the west and rebels in the east since shortly after fighting there began in mid2012.
Boycott, lack of enthusiasm mar Egypt's elections ÏÏÏEgyptian authorities grant-
ed government workers a half-day off Monday in an attempt to boost low turnout for the country's first parliamentary elections since a chamber dominated by Islamists was dissolved by a court ruling in 2012. But voters appeared to be shunning the ballot box for a second day, highlighting growing disillusionment since the army seized power in 2013 and promised to restore democracy. The low voting levels were in sharp contrast to the long lines of the 2011-12 election. The decision to give government workers a half-day off reflected deep concern over the turnout, which analysts said may not exceed 10 percent. Final results are scheduled to be announced in December and the 596-seat chamber is expected to hold its inaugural session later in the month. Private broadcaster CBC aired simultaneous live footage from 16 polling centers across the country that were mostly empty. The channel played advertisements between segments appealing to Egyptians to go out and vote.
Rights advocates protest in Britain as Xi visits
ÏÏÏHuman rights advocates are
urging questions about China's human rights record as Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a fourday visit that the British government is touting as an opportunity for the two countries to boost trade and investment. Human rights advocates are planning protests throughout Xi's visit and calling for Prime Minister David Cameron to address Beijing's human rights record with the Chinese leader. A spokeswoman for Cameron said Monday that "nothing is off the table." The group Freedom Now, which represents detained Chinese Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo and his wife, Liu Xia, released a letter Tuesday written by 12 fellow Nobel Peace Prize winners urging Cameron to call on China to set the pair free. The laureates, including Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, also ask that Cameron push for Liu Xia to be allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment. Xi was greeted by Queen Elizabeth Tuesday at Buckingham Palace during a lavish welcoming ceremony. Later in the day, Xi will address Britain's parliament and attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
News14
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
FG plans Crisis Communication Centre on Boko Haram – Osinbajo Egena Egena Abuja
ÏÏÏA Crisis Communica-
tion Centre that would provide counter information on violent extremism in the North-East would soon be set up by the Federal Government, Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo said on Tuesday. Osinbajo gave the hint while receiving the United States Special Envoy on Counter Terrorism Communication, Rashad Hussain, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. A statement from the media office of the VicePresident quoted him as saying that it was critical to define and disseminate positive narratives that would
expose the evil of terrorism to assert the ultimate victory of good over evil. “For some strange reasons something that appears so completely mindless and almost insane gains currency in a way that gets regular recruits,” Osinbajo noted. He said it would have been understandable if the terrorists had preached better life, equity and such other lofty ideas, wondering why their narratives had gained the kind of attention and conviction it had received. He equally expressed surprise that aside from those who were lured into participating in terrorist acts for money, he had seen people who were well-to-do being recruited into terrorism.
Accordingly, he said government was going to put up a campaign involving civil societies, young people and non-governmental organisations, coming together and interacting to provide positive counter narratives against those of violent groups like Boko Haram, the statement noted. Hussain said based on the American experience and the happenings in other parts of the world, Boko Haram had a strong propaganda in the media that had to be countered. He observed that the majority of the people had already rejected Boko Haram but the voices of the minority was being played and replayed in the media causing
content imbalance According to him, Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Barack Obama had discussed this issue during their White House meeting in July. He said that there was a need for Nigeria to develop and disseminate contents that would educate and inform audience about efforts to counter Boko Haram insurgency. The Special Envoy was accompanied by other US officials including Ms Maria E. Bruwer, Deputy Chief of Mission in Nigeria and Stevie Hamilton, Deputy Co-ordinator, Center for Strategic Counter-terrorism Communication at the United States Department of State.
Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right) checking the attendance register of workers, during an unscheduled visit to ministries at the State Secretariat Complex… on Tuesday.
Buhari inaugurates construction of N600b Calabar Super Highway Emma Obi Calabar
ÏÏÏPresident
Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, performed the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the N600 billion 260 kilometre dual carriage highway from Calabar to the northern part of the country. Speaking at the event held at Obung village, Netim Clan, Akampa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Buhari said the Federal Government would give the needed support to the project. He stated that upon completion, the road would reduce travel time from six hours to about two hours from Calabar to the famous Obudu Ranch Resort, adding that it would also reduce man-hours presently wasted on the road. Buhari said, “The 260km road is intended to serve as the evacuation route for the Bakassi deep seaport, another signature project of the administration. When completed, this road, which starts from the seaport and terminates at the boundary between Cross River and Benue states will link the southern part of Nigeria to the North-Central, the North-
Court jails man for theft Titilope Joseph
Ooni stool: Ife kingmakers urged to suspend selection process ÏÏÏAn
organisation known as Ife Elders Forum (IEF), has advised kingmakers to immediately suspend the processes leading to the selection of the new Ooni of Ife. It said this had become imperative in view of the recent death of a prominent kingmaker of the town – the Obalufe, Oba Solomon Omisakin – and the various litigations in courts expected to be settled out of court. Warning the kingmakers not to present any candidate with questionable character to Governor Rauf Areg-
besola for approval, it said whoever would emerge as the new Ooni must be accepted by a majority of the indigenes. The forum, in a statement signed by Chief Mosadoluwa Iyiola Omisore (Chairman) Sooko Adewoyin Owoyomi, AMB. Olagunju Adesakin (Otun Balogun of Ife) Chief B.O Omirefa, Chief Dupe Omisore, Chief O. Alex Duduyemi (Asiwaju of Ife), made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Osogbo, noted that there were litigations surrounding the
succession to the throne of Ooni, which were not in the best interest of Ife. The statement read: “In view of the importance of the Ooni’s stool in Ife kingdom and entire Yoruba nation, well-meaning Nigerians are anxiously waiting for the vacant stool to be filled with appropriate personality. “Ife being a well-structured and well-organised community in view of the Akodi concept, leading to the formation of the Ajo, the problem at hand should not be
intractable. The death of Obalufe being one of the two principal kingmakers has further compounded the problem surrounding the selection process. The Sookos should appeal to the ruling houses to withdraw the cases in courts in order not to cause undue delay in the selection process. “There is a need for a review of the Ooni’s chieftaincy declaration, and this should wait till Ooni is in place, since chieftaincy declaration cannot be amended during an interregnum.”
ÏÏÏA
Lagos State high court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a 30-year-old man, James Opeodu, who conspired with another to steal two Zenith Bank cheques worth N7.4million to two years in Kirikiri Prison. Opeodu, otherwise known as Adeosun Ismael or Aderemi Adeyemi, pleaded guilty before Justice S. Ogunsanya to a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy to steal two Zenith Bank manager’s cheques valued at N4million and N3.47million respectively, property of one Lanre Lawal. The convict was said to have committed the offences between March 25 and May 2, 2015, at the bank’s branch in Matori, Lagos.
East and ultimately, Central Africa. “This will undoubtedly expand the boundaries of our economy by providing countries such as Niger Republic and Chad access to the seaport. “It is my expectation that, in turn, this should swing open the doors of opportunity for the people of Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole.” He commended the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade for creating a new vista of business opportunities for Cross River and the rest of the country. Speaking earlier, Ayade said super highway which was an evacuation corridor from the seaport would have a track of 14 metres and a key wall of 680 metres which would allow for vessels to berth.
Buhari
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Opeodu along with Adedeji Adegbenga (alias Okoh Peter Ndidi) on a six-count charge bordering on stealing, conspiracy and forgery. The convict had earlier denied all charges but when his trial began, he admitted committing two of the crimes which was contrary to Section 409 and 285(9)(b) (c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Having satisfied that the Opeodu understood the charges and clearly admitted same, Justice Ogunsanya convicted him on both counts. Justice Ogunsanya explained that the defendant had not wasted the court’s time. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison on each count. Both sentences are to run concurrently.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
15 Opinion
Is Buhari the Change we are waiting for? Kayode Ajulo
“Hope springs eternal in the human breast;Man never is, but always to be blessed:The soul, uneasy and confined from home,Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” – Alexander Pope, Essay on Man
N
igerians are generally a hardy peopleresilient in the face of bleak circumstances. This trait perhaps is the reason the nation has survived the tumults of decades past, from independence until date. Our resilience as a people is a child of hope that “springs eternal in our hearts” apologies to British poet Alexander Pope. Hope is an optimistic attitude of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes related to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large. Twenty One Gun salute to the Almighty God for the hopefulness of our hearts and the resilience of our hearts; as a nation, we have weathered all forms of storms and like the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians, “we are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed”. Not given to avarice or any of its undesirable cousins- sloth or greed, Nigerians do not demand too much; all the people want is a nation that works and allows every man to aspire to the fulfillment of personal dreams in a secure, conducive and enabling environment. Nigerians desire a nation that is free from the threats posed by insecurity, dilapidated infrastructure, ineffective health facilities and widespread poverty. It could be said that all Nigerians hope for is a nation that cares for, and supports its citizens as a mother loves her offspring and as a father supports his seed, as
seen in other developed nations to which many of our citizens have fled for succour. It is this hope that, perhaps in our lifetime, we might witness a renaissance in Nigeria that would lift the nation out of its doldrums and into its pride of place amongst the comity of nations, that has kept us time after time from the brink of anarchy and discord. It is this hope that brought the nation to the crossroads, to the March 28 valley of decision where Nigerians once again, expressed indefatigable hope in the future of the nation as they cast their votes. It is in this hope that Nigerians embraced the Change mantra of All Progressives Congress, and voted General Muhammadu Buhari as President. Indeed, Nigerians weary of the decadesold burden of bad leadership exercised that irrepressible hope that perhaps the retired soldier, might succeed where many others, in our eventful history as a nation, have sought but failed to chart a course to our Promised Land. However if the omens we have observed in our polity since the May 29inauguration of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration are anything to go by, it is fast appearing that again, Nigerians have been sold a dummy, and the much expected and celebrated change may very well be turning out to be nothing but a mirage. The APC campaign propaganda prepared a menu of delectable promises for Nigerian citizens and inevitably whetted the appetite of a population starved of good governance for over three decades, even though many of these promises were considered too good to be true by a more perceptive minority. The piper played the tune, and for the period that the music lasted, the nation danced. Alas, the music has stopped, the honeymoon as requested is over, and the nation appears in for a rude awakening to a reality not as rosy as painted by the ruling APC government. Promises made have been denied by spokesmen of the president, even though it is public record that those promises were indeed made. The Boko Haram insurgents are still wreaking mayhem and shedding blood in the Northeast even though President Muhammadu Buhari made a promise to put an end to terrorism on our territories within a few months of assuming office. Fulani herdsmen have gotten more brazen in their dastardly attacks on innocent and hapless citizens leaving a trail of blood
Buhari and tears in their wake, yet the presidency has neither addressed the nation on this budding menace nor told the people how it plans to nip the threat in the bud before it grows to become a full-fledged menace of the same magnitude with Boko Haram. The economy is on a freefall as stock prices have continued to plummet owing to the absence of a well-charted and articulated economic policy. As a result, investor confidence is on an all-time low and many potential investors have made other promising climes to establish their businesses. Unemployment continues to ravage the youth demographic as our universities continue to churn out graduates in hundreds of thousands filling our cities with jobless graduates who end up turning to unsavoury options for making money. The much-vaunted anti-corruption war has taken off albeit with cries of witch-hunting and bias on the part of the presidency and state prosecutors as some persons, being considered as ‘political exposed’, are being hounded by the nation’s anti-graft agencies while many equally complicit persons in the mismanagement of state funds have been granted ‘amnesty’ by government on the grounds of hob-nobbing with the president or being members of the ruling party. It is in the wake of all these depressing developments that the National Assembly commenced a senatorial screening process for those nominated to occupy ministerial positions by President
Buhari. It has been mooted that the highly anticipated list is lacklustre and generally uninspiring. However, what offends the true and discerning patriot in all of these are the smooth but dubious rhetoric and largely unserious manner in which the screening cum confirmation process is being conducted. It is very appalling that President Buhari- a man perceived as an icon of incorruptibility, after having affirmed to the entire country that he “belongs to nobody and everybody” and that even though “Nigerians have nothing to fear from him as a person, and everything to fear about the consequences of their actions”, would go on to nominate out of 170 millions Nigerians, persons tainted with gross allegations of mismanagement of state funds for appointment in the cabinet of a government that rode to power on the premise of integrity and probity. The circus that was called a senatorial screening process saw nominees, senators backslapping, and exchanging jokes as if they were at a cocktail dinner or at a reception dinner for old friends. The lack of seriousness that characterised the proceedings alerted all perceptive viewers to the fact that the entire process was nothing but an extended charade intended to further hoodwink Nigerians that something germane was going on. The right questions were left unasked and even when asked; the questions were skillfully evaded by the nominees. The nominees were repeatedly indulged by the senators as they embarked on an evasive, and sometimes, longwinded rhetoric, while some were simply advised to “take a bow and go” without any form of screening. The inherent marginalisation of women in the released list is nauseating and very insensitive to the place and role of our mothers and sisters in the ministerial nomination. The total omission of the Nigerian youth which is apparent when one considers the age demographic that characterised the list of the nominees is another issue altogether as it exposes the budding conspiracy against the Nigerian youth with the youngest nominee in the list being 48 years old. As it stands, Nigerians born within the bracket of the 1970s to the present have been effectively excluded from service and deleted from the membership of Federal Executive Council. The absurdity is revealed when one considers the distinctly young
ages of public officers in other African nations and across the globe. It is made more absurd when one considers the ages of the founding fathers of this nation when they started active participation in politics. It is also common knowledge that former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke was 38 years when he assumed office in 1999. Is it that Nigerian youths have suddenly become inexperienced and useless as a whole all of a sudden? Is this the Change Nigeria unwittingly voted for? If these are signs of what is to come, it takes no soothsayer to know that contrary to the promises made during the campaign and also contrary to the rhetoric being dished out in press statements by the presidency’s spokesmen, Nigerians are in for more of the very same dish that they have been served for over three decades by the political leadership. Like someone wittily observed, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. Nigerians are a patient people; they have waited for decades, and are now being chided for being impatient with the new administration. Wait for security, wait for power, wait for good roads, wait for an upright government to handle the affairs of state. It brings to mind a 1953 play written by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot, in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly and in vain for the arrival of someone named Godot. Are Nigerians being asked to be like Vladmir and Estragon, who sat around stupidly, passively and ignorant waiting in vain for a Godot who never showed up? Is the call for patience and time a way of encouraging the Nigerian masses to remain passive and ignorant regardless of the cost to the nation and the generations to come? I am constrained to echo the words of John the Baptist who sent word from prison to inquire of Jesus: “Are you the messiah spoken of in prophecy, or do we await another?” Like Nigeria, the nation of Israel had languished under the jackboots of oppressors and under dark clouds of corruption at the hands of the priesthood, and the common man in the Israel of that era. The people looked into their scrolls which spoke of the coming of a redeemer who would bring liberation and emancipation to Israel. Like Israel, Nigeria has long sought her liberator too. I therefore also ask of President Muhammadu Buhari, “Mr. President, the honeymoon is over! Are you the change we seek, or should we seek another?”
16
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Business Times Æ s
17
NNPC denies involvement in $25m oil block cash Augustine Okezie Abuja
Alegbe
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has denied involvement in the failed bid by an Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited, to acquire an oil block and the consequent non-refund of the signature bonus it paid for the deal amounting to$25 million The corporation, in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, which was signed by its Group General Manager Public Af-
fairs Ohi Alegbe, said the reports linking it with the transaction showed a high level of ignorance on how the oil and gas industry in Nigeria worked. The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to the repeated reports linking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with the failed attempt by a certain Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited (OMEL), to acquire an oil block during the 2006/2007 oil bid round and the consequent failure to get a refund of the funds it committed to the deal.
“We wish to clarify that NNPC is not the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of organizing bid rounds and so could not have received the alleged amount of $25 million or any payment from OMEL for the transaction. “We find the deliberate attempt to drag NNPC into the various allegations surrounding the transaction as mischievous and unfortunate. We urge those who are interested in the story to seek clarification with the relevant agencies responsible for conducting bid rounds and to whom OMEL may have paid the alleged fee.”
L-R: Justin Ijeh, Head Card Products, Access Bank Plc; Tope Folayan, Chief Executive Officer, Mall for Africa and Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Access Bank Plc during a business partnership meeting between Access Bank and Mall for Africa in Lagos recently.
Entrepreneurship: Plateau seeks partnership with ITF Charles Okonji Plateau State Government has pledged its continued support and partnership with the Federal Government through the Industrial Training Funds (ITF) in order to create jobs and entrepreneurs. The governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong, who spoke at the recently concluded Abuja International Trade Fair, noted that
Plateau state as the home of solid minerals in Nigeria will soon establish a solid minerals processing plant in the state, adding that training and capacity building of Plateau indigenes will be needed to actualize the objective. Lalong who visited the ITF’s stand at the fair was represented by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, who stated that the state will seek greater ties and col-
laboration with the ITF in the quest to industrialize the state and create jobs for Plateau people through the acquisition and deployment of vocational and technical skills. Harping on training and development as a prerequisite for economic growth and industrialization, the governor listed some of the proposed minerals abundant in the state as kaolin, gemstone and lime, adding that
the government would complete its mineral museum and international lapidary complex to serve as training and laboratory centres. According to him, establishing mineral processing plants in all localities they exists in the state will help to eliminate bottlenecks associated in processing them abroad, while creating jobs and economic opportunities for the people at the same time.
Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun
PR Professionals to converge at 15th NECCI PR Roundtable Friday Atufe Stakeholders in the public relations industry will this year’s November converge on Four Points Sheraton, convention centre, in Lagos for the 15th edition of the Public Relations Roundtable with the theme “Charting the future of public relations.” The conference will be graced by communication managers, marketing communications managers, brand perception managers, CEOs, business owners, entrepreneurs, human resource managers, corporate affairs managers and advertisers among others. The content of the roundtable include: Rethinking PR, Charting the future of public relations, the public relations personnel of the future, PR in policy evolution and implementation as well as measuring PR outcomes. Among the array of the speakers for this year’s edition are: Mr. Bolaji Okusaga, CEO, Quadrant Company; Mr. Yemi Badejo-Okusanya, CEO of CMC-BurstonMarsteller; David Okeme, Brand Building Director with Unilever; Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, Head Brand Communications, Stanbic IBTC; Emeka Oparah, Director of Communications, Airtel; Nkechi AliBalogun, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) who also doubles as the CEO of NECCI Limited, the organisers of the forum as well as Joachim Atunwa, a former marketing director and communication strategist with Globacom. Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Principal Consultant/CEO of NECCI Limited Public Relations and Training Consultants said, “We at NECCI are excited at this edition of the PR Round-table because it is like no other you have attended in the past.
Business News 18
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
SlimTrader receives $1m boost from Interswitch for expansion Mutiat Alli SlimTrader, a leading turnkey ecommerce solution provider for businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, has received a US$1m investment from Interswitch, an Africa-focused integrated digital payments and commerce company that facilitates the electronic circulation of money as well as the exchange of value between individuals and organisations on a timely and consistent basis. The additional funding pro-
vides the clearest sign yet of the power of SlimTrader’s flagship ecommerce platform, MoBiashara as it expands into the hospitality sector. With the funds from Interswitch, SlimTrader will now be able to ramp up operations and help more hotels expand their market reach. The investment comes from the Interswitch ePayment Growth Fund, a new US$10m fund intended to serve as a catalyst for innovation and disruptive business concepts within the African payment industry.
The Interswitch fund collaborates with entrepreneurs and start-up businesses developing innovative products and services that empower Africans to participate in the emerging payment ecosystems currently transforming business on the continent. According to Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Group Managing Director of Interswitch, SlimTrader is a dynamic and ambitious business dedicated to growing Africa’s ecommerce sector. This makes them an
ideal candidate for investment from the Interswitch ePayment Growth Fund. At Interswitch we are committed to encouraging innovative ideas in the digital payments and commerce space in Africa and are excited to be working with SlimTrader to expand MoBiashara services into the hospitality sector. With massive potential in the African market, over 1500 hotels across sub-Saharan Africa used SlimTrader’s online hotel management platform – MoBiashara for Hotels to increase visibility and sales. The platform allows hotels to manage their offline and online reservation with major exposure through strategic channel partners such as TripAdvisor and hotelnownow.com.
Speaking on the new investment, Slim Trader’s founder and CEO, Femi Akinde stated, “We remain committed to our mission of unlocking the potential in African businesses. This funding puts more hotels a click away from their own free property management system, website booking engine and channel manager; connecting them to multiple local and international online booking sites. We see this as transformational to the subSaharan Africa hospitality industry.” The new funding will allow SlimTrader expand to other African countries championing hospitality by bridging the gap and connecting hotels with their target audience.
Nigerian businessmen lose foreign credit lines – LCCI Charles Okonji
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated that most Nigerian business owners have lost their foreign credit lines due to the recent CBN’s Foreign Exchange policy (FOREX), which has hampered their smooth operations. Alhaji Remi Bello, President, LCCI, who stated this at the 2015 Annual Seminar of the Industrial Group of LCCI in Lagos yesterday, with the theme “Survival Strategies Under CBN’s Forex Policy” noted that a major confidence crises have been created for investors. He said: “Several foreign credit lines hitherto extended to Nigerian investors by their foreign counterparts have been lost following the numerous cases of payment defaults to foreign suppliers. Even reputable blue chip companies have defaulted for the first time in their several years of business relationship with their foreign suppliers. Considerable change has and is still being done to the image of many companies and the country in the international trade and investment arena.” In his presentation, Mr. Ayo Salami, a partner at KPMG says Nigerian entrepreneurs would survive the challenges posed by the recent foreign exchange policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria using the right strategies. He noted that entrepreneurs could implement a short, medium and long term survival strategy for continued existence in business, stressing that the short term measures include engaging with the CBN with the view to postponing implementation and allow clearance of backlog on
orders already placed before the policy was introduced. He advised LCCI to dialogue CBN for exemption of inputs with inadequate local capacity and collaboration with local producers to exhaust all local supply channels, explaining that medium term strategies are to explore local productions of the inputs through backward integration strategies, encourage foreign companies to set up factories in Nigeria. Salami advised that engagement with CBN and other arms of government to incentivize would-be local producers would suffice as a long term strategy. He noted that some of the survival strategies could be achieved through active deliberation of the organised private sectors, the CBN and Ministry of Finance, stressing that for Nigeria to survive, improved investment in research and technology, value addition to agricultural products must be given prominence.
Bello
L-R: National Secretary, Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FIDSON), Mr. Paul Akinbobola; National Treasurer/Acting State Treasurer, Fisheries Society of Nigeria(FIDSON), Lagos State Chapter, Mrs. Justina Balogun; General Secretary, Lagos State Chapter, Busari Akinloye; 1st Vice National President, FIDSON, Dr.(Mrs.) Mabel Yarhere; Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, FIDSO, Mr. Olatunji Giwa and Vice Chairman, Lagos FIDSON, Mr. Abiodun Ogunbona, during the FIDON Lagos State Chapter Annual General Meeting, yesterday.
FG’s plot to eliminate North from bureau de change - Dansudu Charles Okonji The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has finally hatched its plans of eliminating the northern practitioners and dealers of bureau de change from the country’s forex market. Alhaji Ado Shuaibu Dansudu , national president, Arewa United, a consultative forum, who stated this in a chart with Daily Times team, noted that the CBN took such action, knowing that the north dominates the business. He said; “There is something which is very surprising on this issue of bureau de change, this is because the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that every dealer should deposit nothing less
than N35 million before it start beading for money from CBN, which is a very wrong decision. But we Northerners believe that they want to send us away from the business. We are the founder of this business; we are the ones that started it in Nigeria.” “When you look at the licensed bureau de change today, even before this law was made, the people who are not on the practical are the ones making the law, which is a very wrong decision. In the first place, we are not banking, people are not banking with us, customers are not saving their money with us like the banks.” “Why should we deposit such amount? The reason why banks normally deposit huge amounts with the CBN is because people
bank with them and in a situation whereby the customers deposit is lost or when the banks face crises, the CBN would pay back the customers. But our own is different, if we must pay money to the CBN, it must be cleared before the CBN would release any money to us.” He stated that many bureau the change dealers are now out of business, adding that the huge amount the CBN asked them to deposit made them to lost their license. He noted that majority ran into financial problems, explaining that most of them took loan from the banks, and the profit that they are making from the biding is not up to the interest which they would pay to the lenders.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
19 Insurance
Education, awareness to boost insurance penetration— Ambode
Ambode
Stories Isaac Agber Lagos State Government has called on insurance brokers in the country to pay more attention on insurance education and awareness as a strategic measure to penetrating the grass roots with the message of risk
NRC orders Shoprite to refund premiums sold to ignorant customers The National Credit Regulator (NCR) has ordered one of Nigeria’s mega supermarkets, Shoprite Investment Ltd, to immediately refund the insurance premiums it recklessly sold out to overzealous customers without carefully educating them on the implications and the accruable benefits. It will be recalled that Shoprite had been accused of selling retrenchment and occupational disability covers to pensioners and consumers receiving government’s old-age grants. The company also faulted regulatory benchmarks of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) by selling retrenchment cover to a consumer with a waiting period of six months on a six-month loan. The NCR insisted that the company had violated credit rules by “granting credit recklessly to
management and other brand packages. Speaking at the investiture of Mr. Emmanuel Kayode Okunoren as the 18th President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIAB) in Lagos recently, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr.
consumers.” “The sale of retrenchment and occupational disability covers to pensioners and consumers receiving government social grants is unreasonable and imposes an unreasonable cost to such consumers because they cannot claim benefits under these covers,” Jacqueline Boucher‚ NCR’s Acting Manager for Investigations and Enforcement‚ said. According to her, credit providers are required by law to explain the terms and conditions of insurance policies to consumers at the point of sale. Consumers are not be coerced or compelled stylishly to buy insurance that is not suitable and appropriate for their needs. NCR had already referred Shoprite to the Nigerian Consumers Tribunal for appropriate remedial actions which include: Shoprite to refund the affected consumers the retrenchment and occupational disability premiums; an audit be conducted into Shoprite; the reckless loans be written off; and Shoprite to pay an administrative fine.
Akinwumi Ambode, called on the new leadership of the council to brace up with the challenge of educating and enlightening members of the public particularly the informal sector on the need for insurance for life’s and properties. The Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Adegbuyi Onikoyi, said disasters and tragedies are not discriminatory, adding that the effect can only reduce when more people imbibe the culture of take up insurance for the properties and life’s. He noted that existing insurance policies are outdated and that calls for change of orientation and need for insurance education and enlightenment of the public is necessary. He stated further that in order to ensure more people embrace insurance culture, there is need for the insurance industry to consider making the process more people friendly and less cumbersome for majority of the public that are not highly educated. He tasks the new leadership of the council to take the issue of education and enlightenment serious especially the informal sector whom are more vulnerable to disasters and losses in the
process of doing business. According to him, the deemed it necessary to engage the brokers base on the fundamental need to promote professionalism, hence they have kept with only registered members of the industry. He also disclosed that Lagos state has maintained a cordial relationship over the years with the council, adding that the relationship lead to the engagement of over 200 registered brokers on a yearly basis’s to form the consortium of Insurance brokers who handle all the policies of the state government. Also speaking , the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, represented by Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Finance and Admin, George Onekhena tasked insurance brokers to play their role in insurance penetration, especially in the development of financial inclusion products nationwide, adding that the insurance brooking profession holds the potential of facilitating Nigeria’s economic growth. “When your council has completed a lot of change in the past, it has a role for the future in maintaining the code of ethics and compliance with relevant
laws and regulation. There is need for insurance brokers to show commitment and install necessary organisational infrastructure to ensure they comply with all the laws of the land,” he stated. According to him, as professionals, insurance brokers should take equitable interest in discharging their duties in the interest of all the stakeholders. They were also advised to ensure their function is not exploited as a vehicle for corruption including money laundering. He said the commission has always enjoyed the cooperation of the brokers, expects this to continue in the tenure if the incoming president. The chairman of the occasion, Dr. Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, also urged insurance operators to educate their clients on their various brand packages, noting that most clients were not well informed of the products sold to them. Adeluyi added that a buyer of a product deserves satisfaction of service to make him stay put as a one-shop customer. He said this would help the brokers douse the challenge of competition from others selling the same products.
Military Pension Board warns Unverified Retirees of Delisting
Olonishakin, Chief of Defence Staff
The Nigerian Military Pensions Board has warned its retirees to ensure they were verified, else they would face delisting from the data of the military, thus barring them from getting their pensions as at when due. The board also said that it had started a process towards digitalising its records in order to ensure that all its retired and discharged personnel were properly accounted for. The Chairman, Military Pension Board, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Rabiu Dabo, said the digitilisation of its data bank was
the essence of the verification exercise of military pensioners, adding that in the process, the bio-metric data of every pensioners would be taken and those who were not able to do this would be delisted from the pension list. Speaking during a visit to military pension verification centres in Lagos, he said measures had been taken to ensure that military pensioners did not die while being verified. He said that to ensure smooth running of the programme, three centres had been opened in Lagos, as against one centre in previous verification exercise. He also said that all genuine military pensioners would have their documents checked and the biometric data taken and stored to ensure smooth payment of their pension, adding that persons who served below the required number of years were not eligible for pension, but their reg-
istration would be carried out, in case there was a change of policy in future. He said, “This verification exercise is special because we are working to ensure they get their biometric data capture, if they do not get their biometric data capture, then it is assumed they do not exist and their pension would not be paid.” He lamented that retirees who disengaged from the military before the number of years for military personnel to be pensionable was reviewed, may not be eligible for pension if they did not serve up to the required 15 years then. Dabo also said those who disengaged after serving 13 and half years before 1987 were not eligible for pension but personnel who served up to 10 years after 1987 when the former President Ibrahim Babangida reduced the pensionable years from 15 to 10 were eligible for pension.
ICT 20
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Ikeja Computer Village stakeholders advise tech market leaders to ‘Think Big’
Telecom
LASIMRA to check illegal installation of telecom facilities
Stories Tony Nwakaegho
The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) has reiterated its commitment to the regulation of the communication infrastructure space in the telecommunications, financial services and utilities sectors. Newly appointed general manager of the agency, Babajide Odekunle, who gave this assurance, stated that the era of impunity by service providers in the areas of adherence to using substandard materials in erecting communication infrastructure, undue delay in completion of approved works on major roads by utility Companies will no longer
be tolerated. The LASIMRA boss also gave an insight into the plans and programmes of the agency indicating that a session will hold before the end of the year to formally meet the stakeholders and that an enumeration exercise of all communications infrastructure will soon be undertaken by the agency. As part of steps aimed at identifying with the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make governance responsive, the agency has also give out two dedicated telephone lines; 09081154716 and 08162667719, for the public to reach out to the agency for enquiries, and report any attempt to lay cables on or under any road in the state.
Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, Chief Executive Officer Connect Marketing Services Limited has challenged business owners in Ikeja Computer Village, Nigeria’s largest technology market cluster to start thinking out of the box in order to scale up in today’s competitive business landscape. Adeyinka gave the advice in a thought leadership keynote presentation, “Small is Unsafe” delivered at Technology Times Breakfast Meeting, which was attended by business leaders from Ikeja Computer Village. According to Adeyinka , business leaders in Ikeja Computer Village, popularly called “Otigba,” have to start thinking out of the box if they still want to remain relevant in the technology business. CEO of Connect Marketing began by explaining how the competition in the jungle relates to the real-life business terrain, adding that, “our life is wildlife and the kind of market where we participate in is like wildlife where the big players devour the smaller ones. “no matter how small or big the market we operate in, there is always a fight where the big always overpower the small.’’ According to Adeyinka, it is important for business people to have a conceptual framework for competition where you devise a market strategy on how best you can compete in your market space. He advised the business owners to look beyond the now and tap into the harvest of opportunities that abound especially in this tech-driven age where virtually most businesses are now online. The CEO of Connect Market-
Adeyinka
ing told attendees at the event that, “You are competing with a virtual market and an organised brick and mortar shop like the shopping malls, big plazas and you are dealing with a large percentage of consumers who are willing to pay for convenience, so it’s better you start thinking big now. “A lot of us operating in this market operate as a retail channel, so we need to think out of the box. The fear of operating in this channel is that the risk I see like a market in Computer Village is that in the next three years, that market will consolidate and about 70 per cent of the businesses there will be eaten up. If your presence is only limited to Computer Village alone, then your risk is 80 per cent. That is why increasingly, we need to think start thinking big. “We need to start looking at various options moving forward
‘Kaymu Village’ to be launched ÏÏÏLjM MƆ ƄƍƆ ƔƄƍ -rates Kaymu data usage for next 12 months In a move to broaden e-commerce to more users in Nigeria than just the estimated 67 million Internet users, Kaymu will on Wednesday October launch offline drop off and pick up points dubbed, ‘Kaymu Village’ to reach out to the over 180 million people in the country. The launch comes just hours after the firm announced a zero-rated data usage policy to all MTN subscribers; allowing them to access the desktop site and mobile apps minus incurring any data costs. By inverting its tactic, Kaymu.
com.ng says the offline stores will help it woo more people to the online shopping demographic and help it achieve its dream of being an “eBay for Africa.” The first ‘Kaymu Village ’set on 60 Queen’s Street, Yaba, Lagos is specially designed for customers who have no access to the Internet and therefore, can’t shop online. The pilot experiential centre with ‘Drop off ’ and ‘Pick up’ service will help local Kaymu sellers to drop off a sold item at the Kaymu village and it will be shipped to them or picked. The ‘Kaymu Village’ will also help offline users to interact with other users, traders as well as Kaymu staff to double up their trust in the online marketplace. Local entrepreneurs will also
L-R: Olufunbi Falyi MD iDea Nigeria, Ibikunle Bolorunduro SME Expert Fidelity Bank, Sefik Bagdadioglu MD Kaymu Nigeria
access marketing support, learn how to sell online, access to logistics, and e-commerce training to attract more buyers and increase their revenues on a daily basis. After this training, the local entrepreneurs can set up their own online stores on Kaymu mi-
nus costs for advertising, staff and premises thereby bridging the digital divide, increasing entrepreneurship and creating jobs. According to Managing Director, Kaymu, Sefik Bagdadioglu, “We’re leading the way in giving
and one of such options is collaboration. The future is about partnership and collaboration. We need o start looking out for people who have competence in our business areas and synergize with them. That way, we would achieve more.’’ On his part, the Managing Director of Brian Integrated System, Mr. Tunji Balogun, also underscored the need for more collaboration among the business leaders in the market. Balogun, who is also the immediate past President of Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association (CAPDAN), the umbrella association of the Computer Village said that, “it is about time for us to start trusting each other and you can’t do business on your own. Even if you are not merging, you can have consortium of companies where you put your force together and go after the market.’’
people convenience when they shop online, so it makes perfect sense to extend this for when they sell offline too. The Kaymu village further dissolves the lines between digital and traditional retail.” With the offline model, Kaymu it’ll listen and respond to customers’ needs and increase convenience, choice and value. In a related development, MTN Nigeria has just announced it has zero-rated Kaymu web and mobile app data usage, opening up the site to over 62 million customers for the next 12 months. MTN Nigeria said it is changing the e-commerce game in Nigeria for good and the value add will bolster Kaymu Nigeria’s user acquisition, app downloads and cause a likely steep rise in activity on Kaymu Nigeria.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
21 Public Notice
THE ESTEEMED JEWELS MINISTRY
ESO UNITED FRUITS SELLERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 Of 1990.
This is to inform the general public that the above named association has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 Of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE I, Mrs, Silifat Ajoke Dosumu - Chairperson, 2, Mrs. Sauliat Kikelomo Lasisi - Vice Chairperson 3 Mrs. Kuburat Ayoka Bodunrin - Treasurer 4, Mrs, Caroline Abosede Arowosafe -Secretary 5. Mrs. Oluwakemi Abike Eweje - Chief Whip 6. Mrs. Risikat Arinpe Bakare - Finacial Secreatry, 7. Mrs, Elizabeth Ajoke Elegbede - Adviser, 8. Mrs. Taiwo Adenike Adeshilola - Auditor
The Trustees Are: 1) Agun Ajanaku Omotiafe 2) Agun Opeyemi Patience 3) Agaga Anthonet AIM AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To preach the gospel of Christ nationwide 2. To teach the bible 3. To use crusade to bring people closer to God.
DE MASTER HOUSE MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part ‘C’ of Companies And Allied Matters Act (CAMA) Cap C20. LFN 2004. The Trustees are; 1. Mr. Tunde Babalola. - Chairman 3. Mrs Eunice Orji 5. Ms. Yetunde Sunmonu
2. Mrs. Rounke Babalola 4. PST. Adeniyi Ajibola
Aims and objectives are; 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to all Nation for the liberation of humanity 2. To promote Unity among Christian and non Christian, 3. To cater for Spiritual and social welfare of members and rhe society at large, 4. To organize seminars, conferences, workshop, faith clinics, training centers and school to enhance the spiritual growth of people in the Lord. Any objection to the registration should be directed to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420Tigris crescent, Maitama District, PMB198 Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of publication. Signed: Barr. Olarewaju Ademola Tel:08056679200.
PARAGON PACT RADIANCE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE
The general public is hereby notified that the above named church 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 Sunday Olutokun (2) Pastor Stephen Isaac (3) Mr Omotayo Olutokun.
Aims-Objectives To co-operate and seeks for the progress of every member of the association
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, Maitama, Garki Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Secretary
LIFEGIVER PROPHETIC AND EVANGELICAL CHURCH
AIM AND OBJECTIVE To preach the word of God
Any objection to this registration should be addressed to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abaja within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed: OSHINMI ALIMI GLOBAL SERVICES O8O2833O387 O8O97575799
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Austine Ikujuni - Esq
MOUNT HARVEST TIME HEALING MINISTRY
UNION WATERWAYS PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION
This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) Cap C20, LFN 2004
The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The Trustees are: 1. Missionary (Dr.) Emmanuel O. Odebode (President) 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Stella A. Odebode (Treasurer) 3. Pastor Z. Afolabi (Welfare) 4. Sis Wisdom Odebode (Secretary) 5. Lady Evang. Iseyemi (Exco Member) 6. Pastor T. Obisanya (Exco Member)
Trustees. 1, Adegboyega Solomon Adedotun, 3, Adbulrahman Habeebah Abdulkadir, 5, Oguntola Abdulganiy Adedayo
The Aims and objectives are: 1. To extend the kingdom of god by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, most especially to heal sick marriages. 2. To seek and save the lost via evangelism, crusades, mission school and various love works. 3. To deliver marriage destinies from the enemies as we obey the Holy Spirit’s teachings and instructions. 4. To open the people’s eyes to their kingdom rights in this world.
2, Agbude Tunde Pius, 4, Adeyoola Akeem Ademola,
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. Promote the safety of all water ways passenger in all local water transportation routes in Nigeria 2. Push for the provision of adequate facilities to support the case of passage along all water transportation in Nigeria. 3. Ensure the overall welfare of all passengers of WPA. 4. The passenger come together to ensure their welfare is ensure and interest is protected by all shake holders in marital and waterway transportation service.
Any opposition to the registration should be directed to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, P.M.B 198 Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of publication. Signed: SOLICITORS - Seun Adeyeye & Co. ( Babawumi Chambers)
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Secretary
DOROBUCHI FOUNDATION
DE-MIRACLE ORPHANAGE CENTRE
The general public is hereby notified that the above named initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION
The general public is hereby notified that the above named CENTRE has
has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration
applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the
under the part C of the companies and allied matters act NO1 of 1990.
part C of the companies and allied matters act NO1 of 1990.
Trustees 1.Mrs christabel Ogechi okoye chairman 2.Mr John chigozie okoye secretary 3.Mr Joseph Chidozie Ezere
The Trustees are: 1. Prof. Doro Amadi Godspower (Chairman).
The Trustees are:
2. Mrs. Doro Benedicta Amadi.
2. Amuleya James Adebanjo
3. Mr. Doro Obinna Gabriel Goodluck Amadi. 4. Mr. Doro Michael Ugochukwu Amadi.
3. Atama Aminu Ahmodu
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To help less privilege women 2.To give support to Windows and orphan
1. Abadariki Joel Oladipupo
Aims and Objectives:
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication. Signed: Secretary
SELF HELP ADVANCEMENT PEOPLE CENTRE
Aims and objectives:
1. To provide humanitarian services for the orphanage children.
1. To ameliorate the hardship of indigent Nigerians.
2. To help the less privilege in the society.
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.
Signed: Secretary.
UJUNDU SOCIAL CLUB
Signed: Trustees
FIRST GREAT ROYAL BORN SOCIAL CLUB OF NIGERIA
The general public is hereby notified that the above named CENTRE has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act NO1 of 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named club has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act NO1 of 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above Named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990.
The Trustees are: 1. Agbaje Dauda Oluyemi 2. Agbaje Josephine Mary
The Trustees are: 1. Nwoye Innocent - Chairman 2. Ejike Michael Nnaji - Vice Chairman 3. Okoye Alloysius - Secretary 4. Aguegbulem Jude Chukwudi - Treasurer
The Trustees Are: 1. Okeke Obed Alochukwu 2. Okorofor Onyinyechi Gift 3. Robinson Tochukwu Solomon 4. Arachie chiedozie Francis 5. Ohanuka simeon Ginikachi
Aims: 1. To assist the less privilege. 2. To support the government in poverty alleviation.
Aims: To assist in empowerment and improving lives of the members
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: Trustees
POWER IN THE WORD CHRIST CHURCH The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990. The Trustees Are: 1. Lawal Ademola Sarafa - General Overseer
2. Lawal Mrs Funmilayo Christiana
3. Olatoyan Serifat Ayobami Jafaru
4. Adegbenle Phillip Adelana
5. Owodeyi Dupe Abake Ayinde
6. Olatoyan Odunola Martins
7. Ominiyi Jonathan Funso Aims & objectives: 1. For the propagation of the gospel of Christ 2. Holding of open air crusade and printing of tracts 3. Organising children evangelism and for the spiritual growth of our children 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: Trustees.
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES
Aims And Objectives Are: 1. To promote the general welfare of the club 2. To enhance integration among members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Trustees.
CHRIST THE LIGHT AND THE TRUTH MINISTRY
BETHESDA INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
This is to inform the general public that the above named CHURCH has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Oyeleke Abiodun 2. Rev. Olufemi Robert 3. Mrs Julianah Olubamike Oyeleke 4. Pastor Sayo Oludele 5. Pastor Mayowa Akinyoola 6. Elder David Aina 7. Elder Oluyemi Ajayi 8. Rev. Amos Adeniran
The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To be committed to bringing up the children and teenagers spiritually in the way of the Lord; 2. To live a life worthy of emulation to lead the nation to her land of inheritance through prayer meetings, seminars, outreaches, book publishing, teachings and Christian film shows. 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 by Folake Ajayi (Mrs) Folake Ajayi & Co (08035721993)
The Trustees are:1. Pastor Mark Olanrewaju Joseph - President. 2. Pastor (Mrs) Mark Folashade Esther - Secretary 3. Bro. Maiye Sunday Mark - Member. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Christ to all parts of the country and beyond. 2. To establish churches. 3. To be involved in community services. Any objection to the registration of the above named should be forwarded to the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of the publication of this notice. Signed: ELIM SOLICITORS 08034743519
News 22
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Plateau tribunal bans PDP lawmaker from elections for life Chijioke Kingsley Jos.
ÏÏÏNational
and State House of Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Tuesday blacklisted the lawmaker representing Langtang South in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Vincent Bulus for life from contesting future elections. It would be recalled that Bulus won the election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh elections into the seat within 90 days. The judgment was sequel to a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate,
Mr. Jackson Danladi, in the April 11, 2015 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections. Danladi had petitioned the tribunal alleging that the lawmaker was not fit to vie for the election as he was an ex-convict. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O O Akeredolu, in her judgment, said the respondent was not qualified to contest the election having been convicted of an offence in line with Section 107(1) (d) of the 1999 constitution as amended. The Chairman said, "The respondent having been convicted of an offence involving fraud and dishonesty by a court of law was not qualified to contest the election into the Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South constituency.
"That the election and return of the first respondent as member of Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South is a nullity", the judge said. However, the tribunal, while observing that the petitioner obtained and scored the second highest number of votes held that the only order it could give was for a fresh election to be conducted into the constituency. Also the tribunal upheld the election of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Azi of the APC. The tribunal struck out the petition filed by Mr. Peter Choji of the PDP, which sought to nullify the Speaker's election as member representing Jos North West in the Plateau State House of Assembly.
DSS operatives shut FCTA revenue agency Idu Jude Abuja
ÏÏÏCrisis
rocking the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the dissolution of the Agency for Internal Revenue Services, took a new dimension on Tuesday as security operatives from the FCT Department of Security, headed by one Alhaji Usman, shut down the Kaura District Head Office of the agency.
The operatives, who arrived about 4am, padlocked the main gate of the building and prevented staff from gaining access into the premises of the office. The Administrative Secretary of the agency, Mrs. Boma Ayirete, who spoke to journalists, expressed shock over the shutting down of her office, which according to her, has generated well over N1billion in few months. On the leadership tussle be-
SOLAR ENERGY EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE
tween the FCT administration and the Chairman of the agency, she noted that the circular dissolving boards of federal parastatals and agencies was clear on the matter concerning chief executive officer that remains in office after the dissolution. She lamented that tax payers who are coming to collect receipts for money paid would be disappointed seeing the place under lock and key.
I’ll do more for Akwa Ibom if..... - Akpabio ÏÏÏFormer
governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio has declared that given another opportunity as governor, he would continue to transform the state. Akpabio stated this while featuring on a live television programme, shortly after plenary session in the National Assembly. Akpabio, who once again used the opportunity to declare his innocence on the allegation of
mismanagement of public funds while presiding over affairs in the state said: "as a law abiding citizen, who did the best for our people, I bear no grudge against anybody who petitioned me because my visit to the EFCC afforded me the opportunity to clear my name and explained to them how government works. Infact, given another opportunity, I will continue to do my best for our people. "Sponsoring politically motivated petitions against me cannot in any way erase the life changing achievements we achieved in the state in the last eight years", he added.
Buhari, Gowon, NASS members to attend national prayer breakfast Henry Omunu
Abuja ÏÏÏPresident Muhammadu Buhari and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, will on Thursday in Abuja, join members of the National Assembly to pray for the repositioning of the country. Others expected to attend the 6th National Prayer Breakfast include: Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President, Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, former Heads of State, State Governors; Federal, State and Local Government legislators across the country, members of the Diplomatic Corps and captains of industry. Senator Barnabas Gemade (APC-Benue), who doubles as
GOLDSPRING CARES INITIATIVES
Buhari
President of the Christian Legislators' Fellowship, who gave the hint while briefing newsmen in Abuja, explained that Dr. Tamrat Layne Admassu, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia will deliver the keynote address at the National Prayer Breakfast, which will take place at the This day Dome in Abuja.
THE FINGER OF GOD COVENANT CHURCH
The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.
This is to inform the general public that the above named initiatives has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990
This is to inform the general public that the above named church have applied to the corporate affairs commission for Registration under part c of the companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.
THE TRUSTEES ARE :(1) Mrs Omotayo Tanwa Adeyinka (2) Mrs Ngosi Louise Ogboru (3) Mr Foluso Dawodu
TRUSTEES: 1. Com. Ayoola Moses Kayode 2. Mrs. Atolagbe Shade 3. Com. AyinlaOlatunjiMutiu 4. Com. Odedeji Michael 5. Com. ShorunAbayomi Joseph 6. Com. AdeyemiOluwaseyi.
TRUSTEES 1.Rev. Idemor Joseph Adams, President/General Overseer 2. AjibolaOlatunde 3. Idemor Praise Joseph Jnr. 4. Kingsley Patrick IGBEKILE 5. Pastor MrsDemor Joy Anuli- Secretary.
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:To encourage better understanding of renewable energy generation clean, energy sources , community ownership and environmental sustainability Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Secretary
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1, To empower the youths for self-reliant Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to The Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Trustees
AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate affairs Commission (CAC) P.M.B 198, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: Secretary
THE HOST COMMUNITIES OF LAFARG-HOLCIM BASE ASSOCIATION
THE CHANGEMAKER FOR CHRIST INTERNATIONAL
CORDELIA OSEMIHA
BARNABAS CHUKWUEMEKA
The General Public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.
The General Public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) UKPAKA ELVIS UDOKA PRESIDENT (2). UKPAKA CONSTANCE CHIZOMAM SECRETARY 3. JOHN OLOTU MEMBER
I Formerly known as Cordelia Odion Ali now wish to be address as Cordelia Osemiha all formal document remain valid and First Bank Plc take note.
I formally called Uche Barnabas, now wishes to be known and called Ugwuja Barnabas Chukwuemeka. All Banks and other financial institutions please take note.
OLADEJI OLORUNYOMI SEGUN
MRS. OLUYORI TOLULADE OLAKUNBI
Formerly , OLADEJI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as OLADEJI OLORUNYOMI SEGUN. All formal documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
Formerly , Miss Shomefun Tolulade Olakunbi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs , Oluyori Tolulade Olakunbi. All formal documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Oba Abdulai Akamo 2. Oba Jimoh Rasaki Ishola 3. Baale Rasheed Balogun 4. Baale Oniyitan A. Joshua 5. Baale Ogunsola Mukaila Ajani 6.Baale Satari Akanbi Lawal 7. Baale Onigbinde Waheed 8. Baale Oludele Akinlade 9. Baale Gabriel Taiye Olushesan 10. Baale Elkanah Abayomi Adesanya THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To foster & promote good relationship between the communities & lafarge plc 2.To mediate & broker peace as conflicts arise btw the host communities & lafarge plc 3. To endure that lafarge -holcim carry on its business in accordance to internationaly acceptable standard & ensuring a safe environment Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Secretary
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. TO preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ 2. To convert lost souls to God 3. To propagate the good news of the holy bible Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: PRESIDENT
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Enugu women protest against Fulani herdsmen Moses Oyediran Enugu
ÏÏÏWomen
from four local governments in Enugu State numbering over 20, on Tuesday, called on Enugu State Government to, with dispatch, stop Fulani herdsmen from molesting them or destroying their farm or in alternative send them away from the land. Making the call, the women who represented the Anglican Diocese of Enugu North comprising Enugu North, Enugu East, Udi and Ezeagu lamented that the herdsmen rape women, kill both men and women while their herd destroy farmlands. The women made the call when they undertook
a peaceful demonstration that took them to the Enugu State House of Assembly. Leader of the group, Mrs Achogaonye Eze, said unless the herdsmen are stopped, their lives would be in a grave danger, because they arm themselves with sophisticated weapons making it impossible for the vigilante to confront them. Eze, who is the wife of Bishop Sostenance Eze of Enugu North Anglican Diocese, pointed out that apart from raping women and killing people in the communities, the herdsmen also engaged in robbery and kidnapping and lamented that they were helpless, because they had complained to the law enforcement agencies to
no avail. She said that people were now afraid to go to the farm unless they were in groups for fear of rape or outright killing. She recounted their ordeal thus: “They have butchered two men who tried to confront them, they rape women and destroy their crops. They pretend to be selling bush meat and when you stop over to buy, their gang will come out of the bush and rob you of your belonging. “They are now wielding AK-47 guns at villagers, who confront them and since the vigilante do not have such sophisticated weapons they withdraw. The Fulani herdsmen should be asked to vacate Enugu State for good.
Our people are molested, the herdsmen feel that they own the land. If they are not called to order, they may rape your own wives.” The demonstrating women carried placards that read, in part, “Fulani herdsmen kill our men with AK 47”; “All we are saying is, Fulani, leave our farmlands”; “They butchered two men at Eke”; “Stop robbing us on the highways”. Addressing the women, the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi, represented by the Public Relations Officer, (PRO) of the House, Mr. Jonas Ugwuanyi, advised them to take it easy and eschew violence in demonstrating their anger.
23 News
Lagos Assembly tasks transport commissioner on free flow of traffic
Alade Tasma
ÏÏÏThe Lagos State House
of Assembly has urged the newly appointed Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Dayo Mobereola, to direct relevant agencies to ensure free flow of traffic in the state, while condemning the constant gridlock in the state. While adopting a motion moved by Hon. Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, at Tuesday’s plenary, the House called on the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bashir Braimah, to appear before it over snarled traffic. Speaking on the issue, the Speaker of the House, Hon.
Okoroafor reacts to corruption allegation Moses Oyediran Enugu
ÏÏÏA
L-R: Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Rev. Christopher Omotunde; Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola and High Court Judge, Justice Christopher Akintayo during the special service for the 2015/2016 legal year at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti … on Tuesday.
Stop propaganda, prepare your handover notes, Bayelsa APC tells Dickson
Akam James
Yenagoa ÏÏÏThe Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has refuted the alleged protest over the ministerial nomination of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, by two of its stalwart, Hon. Timi Frank and the state chairman, Chief Tiwei Orunimeigha, noting that it’s another failed propaganda stunt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a statement, signed and issued in Yenagoa by
its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Fortune Panebi, the party said the choice of Senator Lokpobiri showed the president was ready to answer to the yearning and needs of the people of the state and country. The party described as false and shameful the spread of malicious and deceitful statement against its leaders by Governor Seriake Dickson and his cohort, adding that it showed the lack of vision and ideas of leadership, which would
be reflected on December 5, when Bayelsans would vote them out of office. The party reiterated that Dickson and the PDP should conclude plans on their handover notes rather than devote time on spreading propaganda. The party advised its members, supporters, wellwishers and all Bayelsans to shun the many lies and deceit of Dickson, noting that the choice of Lokpobiri is a round peg in a round hole. The party further noted
that the combination and robust working relationship between the leader of the party in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, Senator Lokpobiri, Orunimeigha, Frank and other state leaders and members would propel victory in the forthcoming elections.
Dickson
leader of the faction of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, has said that the people who accused him and his cabinet of corruption, want the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to wade in to tarnish the image of the church. He said in response to a petition to the EFCC on allegation of embezzlement and fraudulent conversion
Tom Garba Yola
ÏÏÏThe
Secretary to the Adamawa State Government (SSG), Dr. Buba Bindir, said, on Monday, that the state was the only one in the country that had over 48 Permanent Secretaries, with hundreds of Directors but operating weak policies. He lamented that the Permanent Secretaries were more than the ones in the Federal Government and the office of the Deputy Permanent Secretary was unconstitutional, as it was only the state that had such an office. He said there was, therefore, a need to streamline the ministries, so as to
Mudashiru Obasa, observed that the state ought to device other means of transportation, such as rail and sea to ease congestion. “We should invite the General Manager of Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to come and address us on the issue, while the newly appointed Commissioner for Transportation should be called upon to direct relevant agencies to ease the traffic situation in the state. LASTMA was established to ease traffic, and also provide jobs for people and any official of the agency that is not ready to work should be shown the way out. We have to urgently do something about this,” he said.
of monies belonging to the church made against him and his allies – including Rev. Vincent Alaje, Rev. Femi Adegoke, Mr. Dickson Ukpai, Mr. Michael Ugbor, Elder Mike Okoro and Tony Ewelike. He told the Daily Times that it was premature to make any comment on the issue, but advised those behind the petition to desist from dragging the church to the anti-graft agency. “My response is to laugh because it is funny; it is still premature to make any comment because the petition is strange to me. The people who gave you the petition are out to tarnish the image of the church, but I want to warn them to be careful in handling matters that has to do with the church,” he said.
Adamawa SSG faults over-bloated workforce slash the cost of governance. He was of the view that unneeded ones should be deployed to the state-owned institutions where they would be of immeasurable use. Bindir added that because of past maladministration present Governor Muhammadu Jibrila Bindow inherited a myriad of problems, including, weak policies with virtually nothing on ground to run them.
News 24
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Lagos guber: Ambode hails S’Court ruling Hammed Oyindamola
ÏÏÏLagos
State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, described the Supreme Court ruling upholding his victory at the April 11, 2015 governorship election, as a welcome development, saying that the people’s mandate which was expressly demonstrated on election day had been reaffirmed by the highest court in the land. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, Ambode said “the decision of the Supreme Court has put all issues on election matters to rest once and for all.
“Our Government is poised to provide the needed leadership to justify the confidence reposed in us, especially with the ruling coming in the wake of the swearing in of members of the State Executive Council.” Ambode also commended the Judiciary for its consistency, saying that, “the ruling has further proven the judiciary to be the critical institution that could further deepen our democratic values. “We have, in the last four months, embarked on reforms in the judicial and security sectors based on our conviction that these
are the fundamental organs on which any government can carry out its duties optimally. We believe this is the way to go, we won’t relent until we achieve our goals to make life more comfortable for our people,” the Ambode said. It would be recalled that following Ambode’s victory at the April 11, 2015 polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, filed a petition at the Election Petitions Tribunal challenging the victory at the polls. The tribunal had, on Wednesday, July 1, struck out the petition filed against the election of Ambode of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Agbaje, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party, following a preliminary objection filed by Ambode’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN). The Appeal Court also on August 26, upheld the ruling of the State Election Petitions Tribunal and also ordered the PDP candidate to compensate each of the respondents in the sum of N50, 000 each. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, Ambode reiterated his call on the opposition to move beyond partisanship and join hands with his administration to move Lagos to the next level. L-R: Ex-officio, Committee of Wife of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs. Ajose Arinola; a winner, Mrs. Afolake Ogunfile; First lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; another winner, Mrs. Toyin Ajayi Ogbei; wife of Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Falilat Obasa at the presentation of keys of two Ford Focus Saloon Cars to winners of the Star Prize of COWLSO 2015 Raffle Draw in Lagos...recently.
Community involvement key in battle to defeat Boko Haram - Rep Babajide Okeowo
ÏÏÏIn the light of
the renewed onslaught of bombings by the notorious Islamic sect, Boko Haram in the North-east, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mutiu Shadimu representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1, has urged the military to involve community leaders and youths in the bid to flush out members of the dreaded sect. Speaking on the spate of bombings which had drawn negative attention to the country, Shadimu said that there was a need to tackle the problem from the homefront as there was little that international assistance could do in eradicating the menace of the dreaded sect. “There is a need by the Federal Government and the military to involve the leaders and youths of the various communities in the North-East in the fight against Boko Haram, because they (Boko Haram) members are also human beings who eat, sleep and
Ugwuanyi frowns at workers’ laxity
Victor Jibrin
Kaduna ÏÏÏThe Executive Secretary, National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), Professor Rashid Aderinoye, has identified educating youthful and adult nomads as the panacea for ending cattle rustling in Nigeria. While urging the federal government to give prompt and sincere attention to this, he said if the nation failed to educate the youth and children of pastoralists, it would be difficult for them to in turn correct the attitude of their children.
DPC lambasts el-Rufai over comment
Aderinoye stated this in Kaduna, on Tuesday, at the opening ceremony of a 3-day professional capacity development workshop for members of School Based Management Committee (SBMC) and Relevant Stakeholders on New Strategies for Effective Implementation of Nomadic Education Programme at Community (field) level. "If we fail to educate them, they will not be able to support their children. When it comes to cattle rustling some of these pastoralists are involved; they need to be properly educated about the
evils of rustling cattle. “When it comes to the issue of banditry, they need to be educated on the evils of banditry, and is better we catch them young. That is the essence of making sure that the children are motivated to go to school. “When we educate them on various aspects of life, they will have good future leaders, rather than bad ones, and that is the essence of this programme, Aderinoye explained. He said that “apart from academic lessons that the commission is giving to the nomads, it has begun to teach them
different skills such as beekeeping, making of shea butter, fashion design and so many others. “The plan is such that the women will be engaged in processing milk, yoghurt etc., while the commission will buy from them”, he said. Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Shehu Usman, said the workshop was another testimony of the commission’s efforts at empowering the communities to acquire practical skills and widen their horizon of seeing governance and educational provision as a collective responsibility.
Mathew Dadiya
of Kaduna State responded to aggrieved people of the state, who accused him of lopsided political appointments in his government. According to the party, the governor was said to have asked the citizens from a particular senatori-
al district of the state to go and commit suicide, when they complained against marginalisation in the state appointments. In a statement made available to Daily Times, signed by its National Chairman, Rev Olusegun
Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) has condemned in its entirety the way and manner Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai
Shadimu
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Tuesday, stormed the new State Secretariat complex in the capital city and observed to his utter dissatisfaction workers’ lateness to work and outright absenteeism. The governor, who arrived the new secretariat at about 8.30 a.m., was surprised to see that very few workers had come to work at that time. In fact, the visibly angry governor conducted checks from ministry to ministry and from one office to another and in most cases met almost empty offices. He was also unhappy to observe that even as majority of the workers were
absent, even some of those he met did not seem to approach their duties with a sense of responsibility, but for one dutiful cleaner who was seen cleaning up a large area in one of the ministries. As at the time of the surprise visit, most of the offices were under lock, a situation that angered the state chief executive. As at the time the governor visited the complex, no Permanent Secretary had come to the office and only one commissioner had arrived just as other heads of departments were yet to report for duty. However, Ugwuanyi expressed delight with the early arrival of some of the workers, which meant that there were still some dedicated ones among them, urging them to sustain the spirit of punctuality and hard work in order to achieve effective service delivery.
Peters, the DPC said that El-Rufai was wrong to have attacked the concerned citizens of the state, for expressing their feelings on the issue. El-Rufai was said to have vowed not to give appointments to those who
did not vote for him during the April governorship election and maintained that the aggrieved citizens should go and commit suicide. “You can go and climb Kufena Mountain and jump down from there,” the governor was said to have said.
Moses Oyediran Enugu
NCNE boss proffers solution to cattle rustlers’ crisis
move around the neighbourhoods. Therefore, people in the communities should be able to identify any strange faces amongst them and quickly pass on the information to the necessary authorities before it leads to any carnage and loss of lives,” he said. Shadimu said there should be concerted efforts at identifying the sponsors of Boko Haram as financial and artillery support had been key elements in the success of the sect for the past three years as they have been able to maintain a strong hold in major parts of the North till date.
ÏÏÏEnugu State Governor,
Education Times Æ s
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Okojie urges govt. to establish civic centers for the aged
Marketing Director, Reckitt Benckiser, Oguzhan Silivirili; member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikeja Constituency 1, Honourable Folajimi Lai-Mohammed and students of Bola Memorial Primary School, Ikeja at Reckitt Benckiser’s Global Hand Washing day initiative held at Bola Memorial Primary School, Ikeja in Lagos...recently. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI
The Executive Secretary National universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, has called on government at different levels to establish day care centers for the elderly especially in the rural areas, to ensure adequate care and protection and to promote sustainable social programme for the aged. Prof. Okojie, who was speaking to newsmen in Abuja, shortly after being inaugurated as the chairman of the board of trustees of African Society for Ageing Research and Development (ASARD), by Professor Nurudeen Nimbe Adedipe, described ageing as an irreversible process and the consequences of increased absolute number of older persons on individual, family and special services. He said: ‘’In Africa, the popu-
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has lifted the ban on admission into the programmes of the University of Abuja Centre for Distance Learning and Continuing Education (CDL&CE) programmes following what it called “remarkable progress made by the Centre in addressing the short-comings that necessitated the ban”. Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Julius
IGP sets up scholarship foundation for children of Police personnel
lation of older persons aged 60 years and above has been rapidly growing and was expected to increase from 59.8 million in 2012 to 64.5 million in 2015.’’ He assured Nigerians and Africans in general that the board will continue to conduct research on ageing and encourage affirmative action for sustainable support and protection of the aged, insisting that the focus this time around will shift from advocacy to affirmative action and sustainability.
Okojie
Okojie, in a letter to the ViceChancellor of the University, Professor Michael Adikwu, dated October 12, 2015, said that the moratorium placed on admission into the university’s centre had been lifted following a recommendation by a panel constituted by the Commission for an on-site assessment which concluded the exercise between second and fifth of September, 2015. A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja over the weekend which was signed by the university’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Publica-
tions, Mr. Waziri Garba, recalled that the university’s distance learning programme failed a revalidation assessment by the NUC in 2012 resulting in the ban on admission into the Centre’s courses for nearly two years. The statement further stated that a post-revalidation visit in December 2014, however, which now resulted in the ban being lifted provisionally and only allowed the university to commence the process of admitting students while remedying outstanding deficiencies and awaiting the NUC’s final postrevalidation visit. The NUC executive secre-
tary in his letter lifting the ban said that the Commission had now approved that “the moratorium on admission of students into the five (5) approved programmes be lifted and academic work may commence for 2015/2016 academic session.” The five programmes approved to commence academic activities include B.Sc. degrees in Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Business Administration and Public Administration. Okojie advised the university to address other areas of deficiencies pointed out in the technical report comprehensively
before the expiration of the session in a bid to secure a full re-validation status for all the Centre’s courses, adding that a desk officer had been appointed by the NUC to follow up on the revalidation of outstanding deficiencies to ensure success. Commenting on the development, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, and the Director of the University’s Center for Distance Learning and Continuing Education, Professor Peter Siyan, said that plans were underway to reinvigorate the distance learning component of the university with a view to regaining the confidence of its teeming patrons across the country. The University of Abuja distance learning programme commenced at the same time with the conventional academic component on January 1, 1988, the first university in the country to assume under a law such a dual mandate at inception.
Sam Nzeh
ondary school levels. A statement by the Acting ACP Olabisi Kolawole, Force Public Relations Officer, on Tuesday, the action is in furtherance of the determination of the IGP to guarantee the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force
for a robust quality service delivery to the members of the public. Forms for the scholarship scheme, according to the statement, are available at all Police children and secondary schools for collection by interested pupils and students of Police per-
sonnel. The statement equally stated that the scholarship scheme is in line with the policy trust of the IGP, which is aimed at improving the standard of living of Police personnel, including their services to Nigerians.
NUC unbans UNIABUJA distance learning programmes Stories by Augustine Okezie Abuja
25
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has set up a scholarship foundation to sponsor talented children of serving and deceased Police officers both at primary and sec-
Education Times 26
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Okowa pledges quality education in Delta Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, said on Tuesday that his administration was committed to improving quality of education in the state. The governor made the pledge at the Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Teachers of Technology in Asaba. He was represented by his Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Mr. Mike Okeme. The governor told the conference that the State Government would refocus attention on schools curricula in response to the increasing complexity and
challenge of the contemporary world of technology. He said that emphasis would be laid on technical and vocational education that would empower people with the requisite knowledge and entrepreneurial skills for business, trade and commerce. The National President of the association, Dr. Matthew Ukpongson, called for diversification of the nation’s economy for growth and development. The association president said the diversification would require a robust, strategic and market-responsive Technical
Vocational Education Training (TVET) system to succeed. He said that when operational, the diversification would result to a development where students would be equipped with skills that would meet employers’ demands. ‘’We are living in a rapidly changing world and we are daily striving for new information, knowledge and ways of doing things. ‘’We are all expected to be lifelong learners, continually adapting to change by acquiring new skills and new way of thinking.’’
Okowa
NHRC chair elected scribe of FGC Okigwe Alumni
Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, acknowledging cheers from the pupils of Community Elementary/Middle School, Olorunsogo, Dada Estate, during the inspection tour to the ongoing construction of the school... on Monday
Return of schools to former owners retrogressive
Augustine Okezie, Abuja The Lagos State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Tuesday said that the return of schools to their former owners could bring about retrogression in the sector. Its Chairman, Mr. Segun Raheem, said the development would further create class distinction and make access to quality basic education unachievable. Some of the schools that are being proposed for return to their former owners belong to the missionaries and some private proprietors.
The Chairman, Governing Council National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has been elected National Secretary of the Federal Government College Okigwe Old Students’ Association (FEGOCOOKOSA). The President of the association, Engr. Okey Chikwendu, was also returned for a second tenure. The election of the new executive of FEGOCOOKOSA was the highpoint of the National Convention/Annual Reunion of the association held recently in Abuja. According to a statement issued by the Mazi Paul Ibe, National Publicity Secretary of the association, Prof. Odinkalu was elected with nine other persons into the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the group. Odinkalu, a professor of Law and “one of Africa’s leading human rights lawyers”, also heads the Africa Programme of the
Open Society Justice Initiative. The 1983 graduate of Federal Government College, Okigwe, Imo State was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in November1988, received his PhD in Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); his Masters Degree in Law from the University of Lagos and his first degree also in Law from the then Imo State University. Odinkalu is widely known as an authority on International Law, including human rights, international institutional law and international economic law affecting African countries. He is a visiting Professor of Law at the International Criminal Law Centre at the Open University of Tanzania, and was formerly Jeremiah Smith Jr. Lecturer at the Harvard Law School in Cambridge Massachusetts and Brandels International Fellow at the International Centre for Ethics, Justice and Public Life at the Brandels University in Walthan, Massachusetts, USA.
``Returning schools to anybody other than the government running it in this century is retrogressive. ``Education remains the catalyst for development and the recipe for true national advancement. ``Perhaps, the only hope for the Nigerian masses is their claim and access to public education,’’ he said. Raheem said that returning schools to their former owners would also widen the gap between the poor and the rich as more schools, particularly, in the rural areas would suffer setback. According to him, the national policy on education which says the first nine years should be
free, qualitative and compulsory will suffer a setback. ``Education is a social service which should be available to all and by choice. The availability of choice as stated above will also suffer a setback,’’ Raheem said. The unionist said that if schools were returned in Lagos State, Lagos Island, for instance, would have only one public school left and children would be left with no choice of schools. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chairman is reacting to the speculation that the government is considering returning public primary schools to their former owners.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
27 Education Times Uniuyo gets new V-C
L-R: Registrar, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Mrs. Folake Okor; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju; and Chairman National Universities Commission (NUC) Standing Committee on Private Universities, Prof. Akaneren Essien, at the Caleb University’s fifth convocation , in Lagos… recently.
Private varsities in Nigeria should rather emulate NTNU - Prof. Sert
Sert
Recently, Prof. Huseyin Sert, Vice Chancelor of Nigeria Turkish Nile University (NTNU) while hosting members of Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) highlighted steps undertaken by the university
and challenged other private universities in the country to emulate NTNU. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE identifies these steps. Professor Sert’s position that tertiary level of education forms the bedrock of
high level manpower development in any nation, could not be less interpreted by any well discerning patriot whose appetite for a developed nation certainly remains aglow . The statement also emphasises the need for qualitative education at the various levels backed by the requisite infrastructure, instructional materials and conducive learning environment. The dearth of instruction materials and infrastructure to nurture Nigeria’s ever increasing number of students and learners alike, though regrettable, has now made it imperative for private sector involvement in the areas of providing tertiary education for high qualitative learning by students migrating from basic colleges to the university. The decision to key into Nigeria’s Education Policy especially as it relates to increasing access to tertiary education, perhaps seems to have informed the establishment of Nigeria Turkish Nile University (NTNU) in 2009 whose sole aim to provide students with opportunities of quality university education and to prepare grandaunts to face the challenges of globalized world. According to the Vice chancellor: ‘’NTNU as an institution is poised to produce graduates that are sensitive, tolerant, in-
Prof. Enefiok Essien has been appointed the new Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo (Uniuyo), Akwa Ibom State, according to a statement issued by the university, signed by the Registrar, Mrs Edak Umondak. The statement, made available in Uyo on Monday, noted that the appointment would take effect in December. It stated that Essien is a professor of Commercial Law, a two-time Dean, Faculty of Law, and Chairman, Committee of Deans, Uniuyo. ``Prof. Essien is taking over from Prof. Comfort Ekpo, who is completing her five-year tenure as Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo at the end of November
2015,” the statement said. It added that the emergence of Essien followed a painstaking thorough and uncompromising transparent process and urged the university community to give him the support he required to succeed.
ventive, confident and enterprisingly ready to face the problems of Nigeria, Africa and the world’’. The university located along the Jabi-Airport road axis in Abuja, commenced academic programme in 2009 with two (2) faculties and seven departments which have all been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The university presently has four (4) faculties and thirteen (13) functional Departments. Also, the postgraduate school of university commenced in 2014 and now run eleven (11) MSc. and PGD programmes with the approval of the National University Commission (NUC). University Academics The NTNU boost of lecturers from various parts of the world including Turkey and other African countries. Nigeria and Turkish professors lecturing in internationally recognised universities located in countries such as USA, UK, and Switzerland, among others form part of the academic staff at NTNU. The NTNU is also said to be a member of the International Association of Universities. This association has twentynine (29) universities all around the world. Some of them are in Turkey (15) and the others are in Europe (for example Albania, Poland, Bosnia, etc), Asia, USA and Africa (NTNU). The NTNU is also a member of the Association of West Africa Universities (AWAU). Collaboration with other varsities and networking The fact that no university can go it alone especially in resource utilization and management, reinforces the call for tertiary institutions to pool resources together and maximize give opportunities. In the words of Prof. Sert:
’’For an enhanced research activities and improvement in international ranking, universities across board are encouraged to collaborate and share opportunity costs amongst themselves. ‘’The NTNU believes that to be ranked among the best in the world, Nigerian universities need to work together, share and exchange ideals, focus more on research and developments and also student-staff exchange programmers’’. He further alluded to the fact that NTNU presently shares in collaboration with some African universities including those in Nigeria, especially in the area of student and staff exchange programmes with the universities in the mentioned countries and regions and that some Engineering students did their industrial attachments in these universities. ‘’The NTNU encourages collaboration with other Nigerian universities. In fact, the NTNU has signed Memorandum of Understanding with some Nigerian universities. This is not limited to Nigerian universities alone. We recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with some universities in USA and Turkey. When the logistics are completed, our students and staff exchange programmes will be in full steam’’, he said. Perhaps private varsities in Nigeria should go the way of Nigeria Turkish Nile University in their bid to make an academic impact in Nigeria and provide strong qualitative tertiary education by establishing international ties and cooperation to meet international standard. By engaging in exchange programmes and infrastructure, areas of deficiencies in academic activities can easily be addressed.
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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Inside Campus Æ s Foundation honours winners of essay competition Ezekiel Efeobhokhan (UNIBEN) The Ibhawoh Foundation has announced the winners of its maiden essay competition titled, “Strategies for addressing the challenges of funding higher education in Nigeria”. Speaking at the event, the brain behind the foundation, Gerald Ibhawoh, stated that the initiative was brought about by the need to give back to the society. “We all know the stress involved in passing through any
higher institution in Nigeria, hence the foundation has seen it fit to encourage those who could differentiate themselves from the mass”. The award ceremony which was held at the Protea Hotel, Benin City, Edo State, had in attendance the judges, facilitators and well-wishers. The winners were in two categories- Joy Oboh, a 400 level History and International Studies emerging winner from the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma and Ezekiel Efeob-
hokhan, Pharmacy student from the University of Benin. Commenting on the award, the winner from AAU, Joy expressed delight, saying this award was a landmark to success and an encouragement to participate in productive essays like this. “I really appreciate this opportunity given to me by the foundation. My horizon has been broadened by extensive research carried out in the course of the competition. I encourage other students to fully participate in subsequent competitions”.
Addressing the awardees, a member of the foundation, Bonny Ibhawoh, encouraged them to keep up the good work and face their studies as this was the only criteria to sustain the level of excellence they just achieved. However, Gerald Ibhawoh congratulated the winners and emphasized that they were now ambassadors of the foundation and hence they should be known for good conduct so that the foundation could be seen in good light. “This competition is a yearly event and I want to encourage
Open Letter to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun I remain Habeeb Whyte and I am still obliged with the responsibility that life placed on me to suggest a path towards developmental attempt as regards the youth constituency in general. I am writing this to you as a concerned youth of Ogun State, and not as someone who wants to gain cheap attention from your Excellency. I write this as a pen pusher that is ready to change the course of his generation, using the pen and advocacy. I hail from Abeokuta where residents do not speak out of fear, but where they speak so that changes could be effected. My purpose comes with justificationyour administration cheated on my colleagues and I. Your Excellency, I want to say that your administration has in no doubt done a lot of good things in our beloved state. Beyond sentiments, my state is now enviable among states in Nigeria. The infrastructural developments are really worth the commendation, and they pass as adorable. I have no option than to say thank you for this. I guess this was part of the reasons why the good people of the state insisted that you are elected into power to continue the good work. I thank God you were elected again because if not, I would not be writing this letter to you. I would assume that writing you would be an effort in futility if you had not been elected again. I want to state for the records that I was part of the Nigerian Law School students’ for the 2013/2014 session from Ogun State. I want to say that it was really a good thing to have hailed from the state that produced students from various universities
in the country and still emerged victorious despite the fact that your administration gave no support to us. We are done from the Nigerian Law School and we are now lawyers. The struggles of our parents were never in vain. We were never supported by your administration in any way and dare say that any attempt by your administration to boast that the Law school students of the 2013/2014 session were aided with cash of any amount is nothing but a blatant lie and a grave attempt to deceive the populace. Your Excellency Sir, I concede that it is not only a moral shame, but also a grave distortion of fact that such a release emerged and your revered office stands to garner encomium for such omission. I need to bring to your notice, that Your Excellency had misled the Nigerian populace in your address that was made available on the Ogun State website. The piece is titled Address Delivered by the Governor Of Ogun State, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA, on the Second Anniversary of His Administration in Paragraph 8, Line 12 – 13 where your Excellency emphatically, but falsely said that, ‘we also invested N120 million on Bursary, Scholarship and grants to 10,770 students of Ogun State origin ranging from N100, 000 paid to students in the Law School to N10, 000 each to pupils with special needs in primary school’. Sir, my concern in this speech is the aspect where you said your administration gave N100, 000 to Law school students. This information that you have made available to Nigerians across the globe is false sir. Your administration did not give us money as a form
Gov. Amosun
of bursary throughout and after our stay in the Nigerian Law School. No doubt you raised our doubts in your campaign before emerging that you were going to increase the law school bursary from the conventional 50,000 to 100, 000. This we only benefitted on papers, not in reality. I remembered during our stay at the Nigerian Law School at the Bwari campus, we had a particular meeting with the liaison officer of Ogun State in Abuja and he told us categorically that bursary was never our right and that we should not expect anything form the government. He said if
the government has, we would be given and if not, we should forget about it. After several attempts from our executives back then, we did not get a penny. However, we know that the then Governor of Lagos State and his Kano counterpart did fulfill their own promises to students from their states. Sir, the statement made by you which is not true is very disheartening to us. It means that money were actually released from the state treasury but were not disbursed to us. Your speech, having proven to be false can be described as a gross demon-
you to put in your best in order not to be sidelined. It took rigorous process and scrutiny to select the two of you, hence I would encourage you to keep flying the flag of excellence,” he said.
From left ; Gerald Ibhawoh, Joy Oboh and Ezekiel Efeobhokhan
stration of lack of accountability, and this has been reputed to haunt down a million and one institutions. If it is about the Nigerian Law School set of 2013/2014 which you claim benefited from your administration, I make bold to say that your Excellency lied. I would urge you to please respect us as not only indigenes of Ogun State, but as youths that believed in your governance even after you had betrayed our electoral confidence and spirit of accountability. I would urge you to please in no time as you read this make an open apology to all Law school students of the 2013/2014 session for alleging that you paid us when you did not. Such act is unbecoming of any man, let alone a person in whom the populace reposed their collective confidence via votes. I must let you know that all of us are now lawyers and we are doing well. The non-payment of the bursary never stopped God’s glory in our lives. I would urge you to please set the records right for the sake of posterity. We can take all things, not lies that are made at our expense for the purpose of covering what is open to God. This is not an allegation on your Excellency but a fact devoid of falsity. I dare challenge anyone from your office or your Excellency to say boldly that we have been paid the money as stated in your speech. We take solace in the fact that we are where we are today by God’s grace, and for cheating on us, we forgive you. If others have not or cannot, I have forgiven you. I would urge you to please endeavour to pay the 2014/2015 Ogun Law school students the bursary because I gathered authoritatively that they have not been paid also. (Whyte Habeeb is a Lawyer, United Nations Award winner, and Africa International Arbitration Award winner)
Features Æ s Ripples from this year’s Global Hand Washing Day celebration is calculated to remain with thousands of children and teachers in rural areas of Southern Nigeria till the next edition, following the pomp and theatrical approach the hygienic event was executed. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR captured the shows with additional report from AKAM JAMES in Yenagoa. Over 200 million people worldwide came together Thursday October 15 to promote and celebrate this year’s edition of the World Hand Washing Day. The simple life-saving message – hand washing with soap saves lives - which cut across tribes and tongues in many states drew nursery and primary school teachers from grassroots areas across Local Government Areas with elders and royal fathers refusing to be outdone. Over 3,000 children and teachers from hundreds of schools in grassroots communities in Cross Rivers State were empowered as ‘Hygiene Heroes’ – hand washing promoters in their schools and communities thrilled the people with fun, songs and drama - all emphasising on the need to imbibe the culture of hand washing as a lifestyle. These schools from communities that have already resolved to improve their own hygiene and sanitation culture, competed to show that they have the ‘CareX Factor’. The talent competition enabled children to exercise their young imaginations in hand washing as they performed their own version of the campaign anthem, ‘Wash Your Hands O’ recorded by Nigerian music star
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
29
How UNICEF, others redefined World Hand Washing Day in Nigeria
Sunny Neji performing the wash your hands O song
Sunny Neji. Winners of each event as judged by a panel of local leaders performed with the artiste and his band at the Grand held in Calabar where exciting prizes were won. Daily Times gathered that Concern Universal embarked on the campaign as part of a wider five-year initiative, Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN), with the aim to empower two million people living in the country’s rural communities in the SouthEast to sustain and improve their sanitation and hygiene
culture and practices. The project is funded by the United Nation’s Global Sanitation Fund. Unlike most donor projects, the Nigerian Government is the driving force behind the initiative and has committed to matching the UN’s funds to reach twice as many people in other regions of the country. This initiative followed the success of the 2014 edition of the campaign which featured top Nigerian artistes like 2face Idibia and Sunny Neji and powered by brands like Carex Soap and Etisalat. In the just concluded edition,
Concern Universal was delighted that Sunny Neji remained their Camp a i g n Ambassador a n d Carex, t h e U K ’ s m o s t popular soap brand – i n c re a s e d its support, enabling them to reach thousands more school children in Nigeria, including hundreds of UK school children, and feature more special guests and opportunities for supporters around the world to join the all important health campaign. Meanwhile, Bayelsa state citizens also trooped out to mark the day with a resolve ensure that proper hand washing, which has been identified as a major preventive measure to deadly infections among children and the older folks is practiced as a lifestyle all year round. As part of the 8th annual commemoration of the global Hand Washing Day awareness campaign, the Brass Local Govern-
ment Area (WASH Unit), in collaboration with UNICEF and the LGA Council, held an awareness and sensitisation campaign in the LGA on proper hygiene practices. Over 70% of cholera infection was discovered to be preventable if hands are properly and regularly washed. The high infection rate in the country, especially in the grassroots community areas has been attributed to poor sanitation in homes, offices and other commercial places and the vulnerability of the people. Hygiene preventive measures are over looked and people in the interior grassroots communities become vulnerable to diseases transmitted by unwashed hands. Regular washing of hands with soap and water especially after defecation will help preCONTINUED ON PAGE 30
Features 30
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Raise a hand for hygiene – Save a Life
Keeping the hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid sicknesses and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean under running water — Chief Pulemote.
Hand washing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29
vent the spread of infection. Experts have also determined that washing of hands with hot water and soap for the time it takes to sing a verse of ‘twinkle, twinkle, little star’ should ensure any germs on the hands are destroyed. Carrying banners with the theme, “Raise A Hand For Hygiene”, the road walk was done by placards carrying pupils, students and teachers with hygiene inscriptions in over four schools in Twon Brass; four in Egwema community; two in Wagitia; four in Odioama; two in Beletiema and two in Egbabele among many others. The essence of the campaign was to create more awareness through the younger generation in order to send a lasting message to the older ones in the community. Hand washing is a win for everyone, except the germs. Coordinator of the WASH Brass unit, Chief Igbogi Jude Pulemote, stated that the most cause effective means of preventing diseases was to wash the hand regularly and properly, noting that personal hygiene is what everyone should practice. “Keeping the hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid sicknesses and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean under running water. “In 2008, the United Nations adopted October 15 for the Hand
Washing Day campaign, reiterating that poor sanitation or hygiene was one of the reason diseases are affecting a larger ratio of children in the country.” Pulemote further said proper washing of hands involves seven simple and effective steps (Wet, rub soap lather, scrub under the fingers nails, scrub each sides of the finger, scrub the rough angles of the finger, rinse and dry). “These can be used to reduce the spread of infections so as to remain healthier because there are so many diseases and bacteria that can’t be seen with the human eyes that can result in serious illness that could lead all the way to death.” In his contribution, the Paramount ruler of Sambo Ama community, Chief Ngeri Ikawarinmbo, noted that the purpose of washing the hands is to remove dirt, organic materials and transient micro-organisms. “About 75 percent of these killer diseases are preventable, but because of the ignorance among the rural dwellers or neglects to wash the hands properly, everybody becomes vulnerable.” He counseled the children that all the preventive measures that have been taught shouldn’t be left in the hall but in their memories at all times. “Health is the only access to wealthy living,” he told them. The coordinator of HIV/AIDS Brass LGA, Mr. Benjamin Ben Dikuro, urged those in attendance to seize the opportunity availed them to do all they have been taught. “There is no better option
than washing our hands after every activity. Ensure you pass this message to everyone around you wherever you go; whatever bathrooms or toilets you choose to use, there is need to keep one thing on your mind, and that is - washing your hands thoroughly,” Dikuro concluded. The day’s awareness activities had kicked off with workshops, public health address and demonstrations all over the communities.
Carex Soap in association with Concern Universal have been in the forefront of running the longest and largest campaign to in celebration of the biggest health day in history. An official at the event told Daily Times they have reached over a million people in Nigeria, thousands in the United Kingdom and millions more are targeted around the world with fun and creative activities to promote effective hand washing.”
JUST HUMAN
7.38 a.m. Two quick shots at the NNPC-AJAO Estate Canoe Link Road, Ilamoshe Estate, Lagos. Photo God’s Covenant Snr/091
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
31 Opinion
Place, Production, People
ÏÏÏActually,
it was Polly Alakija who invited me. Polly was joining two Nigerian artists, Adeola Balogun and Adewale Alimi, who recently benefited from Quintessence’s Artistin-residence programme in Sweden in giving a talk at Quintessence in Parkview. I hadn’t been to Quintessence for more than a year. Quite atypical! I was a regular at the shop when it was at Falomo Shopping Complex. I made it to the function two hours before the event started. I wanted to have the opportunity to speak with Chief, Moses and the other staff who often, with smiles, make us feel welcome whenever we enter the shop. I got in and recalled Quintessence of old, the days at Falomo. - I must ask Chief how life has been. The question took us to the very beginning. In sunny California in the early 70s, Olu, a Nigerian art student, met
Aino, another student from Sweden. In 1972, Olu returned home. Six months after, Aino, who was now married to him, followed. In 1975, Olu secured a shop in the newlybuilt shopping complex in Falomo in south-west Ikoyi. Falomo Shopping Complex was the first shopping complex in Lagos in the mid-70s. Lagos residents trooped there in droves. There was an ice-cream bar to which children were taken for after-school treats. It was owned by Mrs. Funso Animashaun who, alas, is now late. There was the Glendora Bookshop of Mrs. Gbemi Tejuoso. Also on that same line was La Boutique de Madame of Alhaja Muyinat Shasanya. At the angle of the line was the big Q of Quintessence that could not be missed by passers-by as they approached the shopping complex. It was the promises of the Civil Service Commission of a ‘new and
better Nigeria’ that encouraged Olu to return to Nigeria in 1972. He was bitterly disappointed with what he met on ground. True there was oil boom and money wasn’t a problem in the Lagos of early 70s but the city couldn’t boast of the ‘state of the art’ electronics. Olu noticed this and decided to import brands that would adorn the homes of the ‘nouveaux riches’ among the military and the civilians. He set up Quintessence Shop in 1976. In the shop were top of the range brands in electronics from Britain, Norway, Japan and USA. The central location of the shop and its proximity to Dodan Barracks, the seat of government at that time, made it enjoy patronage of high-brow military and civilian clientele. Other top quality items sold in the shop were leather furniture from Switzerland and designer leather handbags from Italy. Olu Oni-Okpaku was joined at the shop by Aino after her day job at the architects firm. Aino worked for two years as interior decorator in the office of the renowned architects, Godwin and Hopewood. She’s forever grateful to these architects who made life much easier for her during her early years in Nigeria. Aino trained as a textile artiste specialising in rugs, tapestry and appliqué. In 1977 Olu fell off a horse and died. That same year the government placed a ban on importation of furni-
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ture and electronics and mostly all the items sold at Quintessence. I looked at her and was going to ask why she didn’t sell the business and go back home after Olu died. Not only would that have been insensitive of me - it would also have been daft. For right before me were answers to my questions. Comfort Bruce who worked with her since the inception of the shop and who didn’t desert her when Olu died, suggested that they should look into the Nigerian market to see what was marketable. And Aino who ‘encourages innovative ideas from the employees and implements them for the benefit of the company’ shared Ms Bruce’s ideas. That was the beginning of selling made-in-Nigeria goods. For the past 38 years Quintessence changed from the sales of imported hi-fi and furniture to the sales of Nigerian arts and crafts, jewelries, furniture, books and other products with a gallery for exhibition. If the government had not then discouraged importation of foreign made goods would Quintessence be enjoying this reputation today? A lot of the Nigerian artistes whose names have become household names were mentored by Aino Oni-Okpaku e.g. Nike Ogundayo of Nike Arts Gallery, Kaine Dosekun (fashion), Soji Akinkugbe (Colours of Africa), Idowu Odunlami (furniture), Akin Alamu
(wood carver). With her long-standing driver, Boniface, Aino did a cross-country trip with Jan Kiesel. They got to have a first-hand contact with and information on pottery artistes in Nigeria. This trip spurred Aino to hold the 1st traditional pots of Nigeria exhibition sponsored by Quintessence. Quintessence is involved in ‘an exchange programme between Swedish textile designers and weavers in southwest Nigeria’. The gallery also organises international exhibitions of Nigerian arts and crafts in Sweden, England, Germany, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Burkina Faso. Aino has been involved in charitable organisations and undertakings for a while. Her involvement in Better Life for Rural Woman, that Maryam Babangida’s pet project, made the OgtunEkiti community give her the title ‘Afn’la’ title (s/he who leads the path to wealth) in 1990. Aino set up Eruobodo House in 1997 to provide accommodation for children with physical and mental disabilities and orphans in Ijebu-Ode. She’s one of the project owners of Ebunoluwa Foundation which believes that ‘each and every child in Nigeria has a right to a safe and happy environment in which s/he can develop to the best of her/his abilities and full potential’. The Central Bank of Nigeria wanting ‘to save the naira’ barred import-
ers of 40 ‘frivolous goods’ from sourcing foreign exchange. Justifying the measure, CBN governor said, ‘the country must start to imbibe the culture of producing for local consumption and export’. But businessmen and women have been scheming to make the CBN do a u-turn. ‘Why don’t they want to support made-in-Nigeria, made locally and made by real people? Don’t they know that every Naira is a plus for the country?’ Just cleared ministerial nominee, Mrs. Adeosun is reported to have advised that, ‘.....we must encourage local industries by patronising made in Nigeria goods. We must buy made in Nigeria, eat made in Nigeria and drink made in Nigeria products.’ SOS Our Father who art in Aso Rock, with humility and hope, we present our supplications before you. Nepa/Phcn now Discos still hold on to power. They supply substandard materials and service. They levy us heavily. When we manifest our displeasure, they say ‘apes obey’ and tax us more heavily. They hoard their pre-paid meters and bring estimated bills to us. Every month they hike their charges. They treat us with scorn. Music from these Discos makes us sad. So Baba we look up to you to deliver us from our oppressors.
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FIFA okays Feb 26 election date
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with Aaron Ramsey sending the follow-up across the face of goal. However, Bayern dominated the possession and also carried a threat, and in addition to seeing a penalty claim for an Alexis Sanchez handball overlooked, Douglas Costa had a shot deflected over the bar after a loose pass from Sanchez. The German champions were more dominant in the second half but struggled to carve out clear opportunities until Costa set up Robert Lewandowski for a clear sight of goal, but Petr Cech made the save.
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ARSENAL BEAT BAYERN MUNICH TO K E E P H O P E S OF UCL PROGRESS ALIVE n Vale
livier Giroud and Mesut Ozil gave Arsenal a much-needed victory over Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal went into the match without a single point from their two games against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos, but they held their own against the group leaders during an action-packed first half. Arsenal’s best chance came on 34 minutes, when Theo Walcott’s header from close range brought a stunning save from Manuel Neuer,
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Thomas Muller then sent a shot just wide of goal as Bayern started to turn the screw, but Arsenal then produced a goal out of nothing. Giroud -- who had recently come on for Walcott -- bundling the ball over the line on 77 minutes after Neuer failed to deal with a Santi Cazorla free kick. Arsenal were forced into some desperate defending in the final moments before snatching a second goal on the counter as Hector Bellerin set up Ozil, who managed to get the ball over the line despite the best efforts of Neuer.
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WITH AGENCY REPORT
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IFA’s executive committee has confirmed the presidential election will be held on February 26 as originally planned. The announcement was made as football’s world governing body held its first executive committee meeting since President Sepp Blatter was provisionally suspended two weeks ago. Blatter had already announced plans to resign before being banned for 90 days amid a FIFA ethics investigation over a 2011 payment to Michel Platini, who was also suspended. UEFA President Platini submitted his candidacy ahead of the October 26 deadline but he could be declared ineligible as he is being investigated over the £1.35m payment from FIFA for work he says was carried out at least nine years earlier. The Frenchman will not be able to stand in the election if he remains suspended by Monday’s deadline, although his candidacy could be reexamined if the ban, which is due to expire in the first week of January, is lifted before the election. Platini, who denies any wrongdoing, has challenged his suspension and is awaiting the verdict of the FIFA appeals committee, while UEFA is pushing for a swift decision. The FIFA crisis, which was sparked by the arrest of football officials in Zurich ahead of Blatter’s re-election in May, led to a reform process being instigated to overhaul how the organisation is run.
Potential changes include the imposition of a 12-year term limit and an age limit of 74 for the president. The 79-year-old Blatter had served as FIFA president for more than 17 years until he was suspended. Aside from Platini, former FIFA vicepresident Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan and former Trinidad and Tobago player David Nakhid have said they have submitted their five required federation nominations in order to stand in the presidential election. Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa has also written to his executive committee saying he has “recently been urged by a growing number of senior people within the game to stand”. At Tuesday’s meeting, FIFA’s executive committee also eased restrictions on the ethics committee, which has previously been prevented from making public details of its investigations and decisions, allowing for “more transparency for ethics proceedings”. Other recommendations made by the reform committee - to be voted on by FIFA Congress in February - were for the development committee to have at least three independent members and for the finance committee to have a majority of independent members and members who are financially competent. It has also been recommended that the salaries of the president, all FIFA Council members, the general secretary and all chairmen of independent standing and judicial committees be made public, while another proposal was for each confederation to have at least one voting FIFA Council seat for women.
Life&
TIMES Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Ezinne
Akudo
From beauty queen to law Chamber L2 P
Interview L2
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Being a beauty queen has made me more conscious… – Ezinne Akudo Mutiat Alli
Life &
T E A M
Beautiful Ezinne Akudo is the reigning Miss Nigeria queen who hails from Imo State. The Law graduate who despite being the queen came out in flying colours during her Law School examination, depicts the focus of Miss Nigeria which is beyond beauty but the brain which is key. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Ezinne speaks on her much talked about rape foundation, handling over to the next queen and her plans in the nearest future. Excerpts: How has life been generally? Life has been great and cool with me. Your tenure is almost over with the new queen about to take over; so, how has it been? My tenure has been okay. It’s been good as have learnt quite a lot and I have had several experiences that I think I handing over makes me a better person and a more responsible person and I’m so happy about that. What are some of those achievements and things you did during your reign as beauty queen? My greatest achievement is the official launch of my foundation because I wanted to use a platform to create another platform so that people can get help if they get sexually abused. I think the achievement of my entire reign is for people to use my foundation to seek help if they are sexually abused. Can enlighten more on what your foundation is all about? My foundation is called the Eight Foundation and it’s a non-governmental organisation and what we do is that we create awareness about sexual abuses in the society and we also render help to victims; we call them survivals. We render medical assistance, legal help, counseling and also rehabilitation as the case may be at a free cost. Why were you interested in that particular area of rape? I have always been passionate about victimization crime and as a course because it’s one of those things that people don’t always
talk about and it’s something that hits people so I figured, why don’t we talk about it, why can we just make it safe to talk about it without the fear of victimization; at least, let make people know that they can access help than living a whole life having to deal with the trauma of what they faced. Were there any experiences of people that inspired you to go launch a foundation? Yes there was. A very close
friend of mine when we were at the university then was raped, a day before our exam is supposed to start and it was a very horrible time for her and not only but also us around her because we couldn’t concentrate, we didn’t know what to do. But we just did basic test and medical checkup. We were not happy because the perpetrators were not caught and she had an idea of who they were but had not seen them before, she
Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani
Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli
said if she sees the person again she might recognize the person but it never got to that point of seeing that person again. What’s your take on women dress sense which sometimes exposes them to being raped? Well, when it comes to that issue, I have
been happy that people are becoming more enlightened and most people are educated more than before; so people are now standing against that impression. It’s just a few people that have not been exposed but I’m happy that some people are beginning to see that rape is rape. Some school of thought are of the view that the kind of music we listen to, the language and lyrics are part of the few things encouraging
Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye
rape; do you agree with that too? I think that is also a good point and I think someone has raised something like that. Sometime I asked celebrities to do campaign for us like those artistes that their lyrics promote those things that we are against. I think that will help that aspect in some particular extent if our lyrics are checked. Is there something that needs to be done in this tenure of yours that is yet to be done? No, I have done everything that is
needed to be done. What is next for you after handing over? I’m a lawyer now, so I want practice more of Law now. Talking about your dress sense, how do like to wear them? I love black, I like wearing black, but I am wore white on the day of this interview because I was asked to do so. I don’t know that I wear black a lot but I found out that after shopping for clothes and I go to pay, I find out that almost everything I picked is black and a few white. What won’t you be caught wearing?
Photography Quadri Olowolagba
Graphics Onyemali Kingsley
Short clothes! I have never been a fan of short clothes and I can never wear clothes that are above my knee. I just feel like it’s might not fit me. What has being a beauty queen changed about you? It has made me more conscious, and brighter so now I have to think about consequences before I embark on any action and I think that’s is what most people do. What word can you say about the organisers of the pageant? For the organisers of the pageant, the only thing I have to say is that, I just hope the next pageant and others to come are better than mine because I went to the competition, I didn’t know anybody, I didn’t have to do any funny thing to become the queen and that because I was given an opportunity to win and it’s was free and fair. I just pray and hope that moving forward, they will also stick to that free and fair policy so that girls can have more freedom in the pageantry. Apart from all you have been doing, do you have anything in mind you want to do in the nearest future? Yes, I always wanted to have a talk show, so hopefully I’m thinking of creating a programme were I will come and talk about issues that concerns sexual harassment and also to run for Senate as well. Is there anything that runs in the family like you been a lawyer and future Senate wish? Yes, politics. My mum is not a politician but she can discuss anything politics for you; she can argue about things that happened in the 1970’s. About Eight Foundation The Eight Foundation was founded in 2014 with the strong goal of supporting victims of sexual assault. The mission of the foundation is to provide help, hope and healing to those affected by sexual violence. The Eight Foundation provides free services in the areas of Crisis Response, Counseling and Support, Court Advocacy, Education and Outreach with the support of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, the Domestic and Sexual Violence response team and the Mirabel Center.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
L3 Global fashion and beauty news
c i t e m s o c MAC y f i l p m a V h t i w t ou
Vamp Leading cosmetic company, MAC, has unveiled yet another dramatic lip gloss tagged ‘MAC Vamplify’ infused with a new colour-boosting technology as the formula is loaded with highpowered pigments in 17 shades, including three online-exclusives. The glossy colour wears comfortably for hours, for a look that comes on strong and doesn’t let go. The Vamplify Collection comprises of Lipsticks and Lip Pencils and is expected to hits all stores before the end of the month. Toolz becomes Shape You ambassador Newly engaged OAP, Tolulope Oniru, widely known as Toolz, has
Toolz
been unveiled as the brand ambassador of Shape You Africa-a line for shape wears. Toolz is currently on a trip with Bryan Okwara to Italy for Martini revealed some promotional pictures as the brand ambassador. Technology meets Fashion with Damaris Solaris BagsDolapo Otunla’s statement in the fashion industry might seem conclusive with the three heeled and Aluminum heeled OYSBY Shoes; but, one must not underestimate the power of a fashionable, yet geeky, female Engineer who has taken a bold step into the future of the fashion world by designing the Damaris Solaris. A perfect fusion of Technology and Fashion, the Damaris Solaris bags offers the user a room to look professional and be in tune with fashion trend. The bag is built using only high
Dolapo
Vamp quality materials and is properly handcrafted using fine stitching and a solid construction which enables the bag to endure high levels of daily use while maintaining its good looks. The clipping mechanism which is made from a solid and durable metal enables the bag to withstand constant opening and closing. Every Solaris bag comes with a built in charger unit, which can be fully charged beforehand via a mains-socket in under 3hrs; hence, providing a full charge for up to two handheld devices. The charger unit can also be topped up by the integrated 13x12cm Solar Panel which can charge up to 2 phones (and a tablet) at once that allows the user to get the most out of their devices. Inspired by the
need to combine her skills as an Engineer with her flair for fashion, Dolapo designed the leather solar bags to provide added functionality in bags, initiating a lifestyle concept in which people make purchase decisions based on both style and function. South Africa model gives a sexy pose for Juicy Couture’s new campaign The South Africa top model, Victoria Secret’s Angel who was has been announced as the new face of Juicy Couture Fragrance pose for the advert campaign in a pink tulle mini bandeau dress showing off skin as she holds the bottle of the fragrance leaning against a light pink sofa sprinkle in shinning glitters. The twenty-six year old model wore a blonde hair that was complemented with a light make up, she hold the larger bottle of the ‘Viva La Juicy’ the fragrance was presented with a matching cap and pink bow with a pinned Gold
Viva la juice
Linda Evangelista Juicy Couture logo embellishment around the bottle neck close to her 50-year-old Linda Evangelista becomes the face new fragrance advert (Pics: Linda Evangelista) Amazing! Fifty-year-old supermodel, Linda Evangelista, a 1950’s housewife gives a killing hot pose for the new fragrance campaign. The Italian luxury brand chose the old supermodel for the campaign of their latest fragrance called fresh and she was transported into the ‘50s era with a short red wig and bold blue eye shadow with a cool orange lips the model looked extremely hot despite her age.
Dolapo collection
Fashion & Style L4
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
ik
Justin Bieber
Peter Okoye
Rita Dominic
Justin Bbieber
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
L5
Fashion & Style
Men’s Trend
k1 D utimate
Go stylish
Oritse Femi
in DJ exclusive
RED
The colour Red means different things to different people. Some take red as valentine colour, others take it as Christmas colour. Excluding this special occasions, men see red as a colour for women and so they don’t usually feel it’s right to combine red together with an outfit or to double the red. Although men are not usually the fashionable types, but when they put on red in a stylish manner, it fits them in an admirable way. When rocking red, understand it is a colour that has as season and if you don’t style it right, people would insult you and you have to understand that colours have an impact in our decision making process. Don’t also forget that you are being addressed by the way you dress, so don’t expect people to go flawless because you are putting on colour red. Always note that the effect of red brings
persuasiveness, so guys you have to be careful when putting on the colour. The colour red in men shows love, authority, power, aggressive, persuasive and romance. How to look stylish in red • Have the occasion in mind understand if it is a cocktail party, birthday ceremony or just a causal outing. Most times, you don’t have to over emphasize the red. It makes people get tired of looking at you. • Correct colour combination matter a lot. • Blend with nice shoes, black preferable. • A touch off accessories won’t look bad. • Give that striking pose on red carpet.
Global fashion and beauty news L6 Mutiat Alli
In vogue
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
The fatform trend Jump on one of the biggest shoe trends of the season: the flat form. From sporty silhouettes to strappy python-skin sandals, opt for something embellished or stick with a solid sandal. Shop the trend and check it off your spring shopping list now. These Cataclou flatform sandals (from Christian Louboutin) are the ultimate day-to-night style. They are made from a graphic mix of metallic-
gold leather and black suede, with a woven rope sole and signature pyramid stud hardware dialing up the glamour. Layered with shockabsorbent foam Flatform, these sandals from Ash effortlessly elevate without compromising comfort and style. The suede upper is finished with a cracked paint coating for a grungy attitude. • Black suede with cracked white paint coating • Decorative buckle front band • Adjustable ankle strap with silver-tone
buckle fastening • Curved moulded suede footbed, black foam Flatform midsole, and white ridge foam outsole • Designer shoe bag included Taking the popular Flatform trend across into its Resort 2015 collection, Marin renders the elevated heel with a sixties-meetssportswear vibe that screams dynamism. Colour blocked in stark expanses of slate grey and forest green, this criss-cross strapped pair is designed with paramount comfort in mind
Oluchi Igbokwa
Men’s Bracelet
Iyanya
Denrele Edun
to suit city trekkers day and night in heightened style. • Designer colour: Carbone/Calcare/Green • Black industrial fabric criss-cross band at vamp • Adjustable sling back with buckle fastening • Squared round toe • Moulded smooth leather footbed • Grey and green colourblocked rubber foam Flatform • Designer shoe bags included
Fashion is now taking another shape, because it gives way to creativity. Bracelet is now a unisex dressing accessory It is formally seen used by only female gender, back then only women were accepted to wear it, but if men were noticed on a bracelet they may be mistaken as a transgender or just an individual who has lost his fashion sense. But now people are increasingly becoming far more open-minded with different alterations inside the society, which involves
Koredebello
gender equality, men dressed on bracelets is now not a big deal or much more so a laughing idea. Celebrities home and aboard have now accepted the fashion style in dressing completely with a suitable bracelet that matches their dressing style. How to Rock Them • Allow bracelet colour to go with dress code • In other not spoil dress code wear a black bracelet • Don’t restrict yourself to only men’s bracelet • Wear a tiny bracelet
Wizkid
when wearing a wrist watch • Local bracelet, best rocked on polo or native attire.
Banky W
Uti-Nwachukwu.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
L7 Global fashion and beauty news
Babalola Oluwaseun
Join the
Colored braids
gang
Braided is hair that has been woven together in a way that pulls the hair away from the face. The style is usually worn by women in Western cultures, but became popular among men in the 1980s and 1990s This time around, not a whole lot has changed: Women are still wearing their braids in pretty much the same way. Gone are the days when braids are black in colour but now colored braids looks more unique and also fashionable, it makes ladies faces look more attractive.
How to rock your colored braids Braids don’t have to be very long – a shoulder-length style is just as lovely and oftentimes more practical. The thicker the colored braids, the more volume you’ll get as a final result. If you struggle with natural hair that tends to be quite stubborn, this is a style that lasts for some time and it’s relatively easy to maintain. The thicker the twists, the more of a statement you’ll make. Not sure if you are going to love the look of long,
thick twists The bright side is you can always undo the style and try something else so why not give it a go? Add in a few accent strands of colour for an even more creative look. Thick extra long twists will easily become a main attractant of your look, especially if you choose an interesting colour Dark purple is a good choice. It’s close to your natural hair colour but gives a cool tint. Sweeping your rope twists to one said, you already get a chic hairstyle.
Toyin Lawani
Yemi Alade
Denrele
Glorify your skin with
Black soap
African Black soap commonly refer to as Ose Dudu by the Yoruba has a unique, natural, healthful properties that could enriches the soap in so many ways the natural soap contains cocoa pod ash, plantain peel ash, palm oil, Shea butter, certified organic, extra virgin olive oil, spring water the natural product decreases aging of the skin . This ancient formula gives you firm blemish free skin that looks fresher and younger it also gives you a toned glowing skin. Black soap has been used to produced different kind of beauty
soap it has a long history from the Yoruba tribe down to the Ghanaian native the soap contains Vitamin A & E, and iron. Because the soap has the highest Shea butter content of any soap, it also offers UV protection. The soap is also good for sensitive skin, meaning it’s a good option for babies or the elderly ones. One unique advantage is that is very affordable and effective.
Benefit you derive from using black soap • Black soap is 100% natural it is not made with different chemi-
cal that would damage the beauty of the skin. • It can also as micro-dermabrasion benefits that’s it to remove the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal younger, healthier-looking skin with no side effect attach to it . • Black soap gives you an oily skin, clear blemishes, eczema, body odor and soothe skin • Neat and beautiful skin scarps can been achieved by using black soap to wash hair • Black soap as an ancient herbal formula that’s can work for any skin type
Evans Akere
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, October 21, 2015
L8 Television Showing on
Showing on
108 M-Net Movie Showcase
117 Universal Channel
22:25
01:10
Wed, 21 Oct | 16V
Wed, 21 Oct | PG
It’s non-stop tension as Brad Pitt battles a zombie apocalypse in this action horror about a deadly virus infecting humans. A thought-provoking film that brings your worst fears to life. Mireille Enos, Fana Mokoena, Brad Pitt. (2013) Marc Foster.
‘S6/E13 - Miracles’. Harm must defend a marine who says he was led to his wife’s body by the ghost of his Vietnam War unit’s chaplain, who is up for sainthood. Catherine Bell, David James Elliott, Patrick Labyorteaux. (2000) Mark Horowitz
101 M-Net West
118 Telemundo
120 BBC Entertainment
128 SONY MAX
00:04 Devil’s Knot 01:55 The Expendables 3 04:00 Britain’s Got Talent 04:41 Behind The Scenes: Lorde 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Goldbergs 06:30 Revenge 07:30 Madam Secretary 08:30 Monkey In The Middle 10:30 Mike & Molly 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 Britain’s Got Talent 13:00 Battle Creek 14:00 State Of Affairs 15:00 Chicago PD 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The McCarthys 17:30 Britain’s Got Talent 18:30 The Big Bang Theory 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Good Wife 20:30 Secrets & Lies 21:30 Battle Creek 22:30 Mr. Robot 22:30 American Crime
00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 Cruel Love 02:10 For Love And Justice 03:00 Part Of Me 03:50 Queen Of Hearts 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Husband For Hire 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 For Love And Justice 09:30 Cruel Love 10:20 Husband For Hire 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 For Love And Justice 13:40 Cruel Love 14:30 Husband For Hire 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 For Love And Justice 17:50 Cruel Love 18:40 Husband For Hire 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 For Love And Justice 22:00 Cruel Love 22:50 Husband For Hire
00:54 Luther
11:35 Hell’s Kitchen USA
01:46 Come Dine With Me
12:20 Top Gear
02:36 QI
13:45 QI
03:09 EastEnders
14:20 Hell’s Kitchen USA
03:39 Top Gear
15:05 The Weakest Link
05:00 Only Fools And Horses
16:00 EastEnders
05:30 QI
16:30 Deal Or No Deal
06:05 My Family
17:10 Pointless
06:35 EastEnders
18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
03:45 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol
07:10 Antiques Roadshow
19:00 Top Gear
04:35 Extreme Reality Clips
08:00 The Weakest Link
20:10 Top Gear
05:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos
08:45 Pointless
21:15 Hell’s Kitchen USA
05:50 World’s Wildest Police Videos
09:35 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
22:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA
06:40 Video Zonkers
10:20 Deal Or No Deal
22:55 QI
07:05 Whaddyado
11:00 My Family
00:00 Tinsel 00:30 Star Gist 01:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 02:00 Good Morning Africa 03:00 Good Morning Africa 03:35 Filler: Entertainment 04:00 Music Block 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Time Knocks 08:45 Coco Bill 09:00 Katemba Mu Kkooti 09:30 Kumwesu
01:20 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 01:50 Online Dating Rituals... 02:50 Bad Ink 03:20 Guy Code
07:30 Caught On Camera
155 AfricaMagic World
08:30 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:30 Extreme Reality Clips 10:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 11:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos
154 Africa Magic Family 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 12:00 Music Block 13:00 Tinsel 13:30 Star Gist 14:00 Jara 14:30 Rolling With Faith History 15:00 Lies That Bind 15:30 Lies That Bind 16:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 17:00 Kumwesu 17:25 Mashariki Mix 18:00 Katemba Mu Kkooti 18:30 Kakibe Ki 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 20:00 Karma 20:30 Rolling With Faith History 21:00 53 Extra 21:30 Time Knocks
00:20 Caught On Camera
12:00 Video Zonkers 12:30 Whaddyado 13:00 Caught On Camera 14:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 15:00 Extreme Reality Clips 15:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos 00:25 Jara 01:00 Good Morning Africa 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 04:00 Jacob’s Cross 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 Golden Moon 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 Prem 11:00 Jacob’s Cross 12:00 Jacob’s Cross
13:00 Music Block 14:00 Music Block 15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Star Gist 16:00 Star Gist 16:30 Star Gist 17:00 Jacob’s Cross 18:00 Jacob’s Cross 19:00 So Wrong So Wright 19:25 Secret Adventure 22:05 Music Block
16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Caught On Camera 18:00 Whaddyado 18:30 Extreme Reality Clips 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Bad Ink 20:30 Guy Code 21:00 Online Dating Rituals... 22:00 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos
LAGOS SWAN g X3
Ronaldo
CONGRATULATES
TINUBU
Blanc keen to isolate ´alien´
g X7
LEON BALOGUN
g X2
EMENIKE
g X3
RETIRES FROM Y T U D A I R E G I N Toure:
I´d always back MESSI for Ballon d´Or g X7
Leon Balogun (born June 28, 1988) is a Germanborn Nigerian professional football defender who plays for FSV Mainz 05. He made his Bundesliga debut on April 19, 2009 for Hannover 96 in a game against Hamburger SV. After his contract with Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf had been expired in summer 2014, he was without a club for three months until he joined fellow leaguer Darmstadt 98. He signed a contract until the end of the 2014–15 season. Born to a Nigerian father and German mother, Balogun was called up by Nigeria for a March 2014 friendly against Mexico as a replacement for Joseph Yobo. Balogun entered at the half, but was injured after 20 minutes in a collision with signage on the touchline. He fractured his foot and missed action for 2–3 months. On March 25, 2015, he played his second game for Nigeria in a 1–0 loss against Uganda. He played his third game for the country on the 13th of June, 2015 when he featured in a 2–0 win over Chad in the opening game of qualifying for the 2017 African Nations Cup.
Balogun
Leon
g X4,5
About LEON BALOGUN
Leon Balogun Leon-Aderemi Balogun June 28, 1988 (age 27) West Berlin, West Germany Height: 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Playing position: Defender Current team: FSV Mainz 05 Number: 3 Youth career: Hertha BSC Hertha Zehlendorf(2007) Senior career 2007–2008: Türkiyemspor Berlin 2008–2010: Hannover 96 II 2008–2010: Hannover 96 2010–2012: SV Werder Bremen II 2010–2012: SV Werder Bremen 2012–2014: Fortuna Düsseldorf 2014–2015: Darmstadt 98 2015– Till date: FSV Mainz 05 National team 2014–Till date: Nigeria
Name: Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth:
Poster! PERSONAL INFORMATION
X4 Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Success scores in Granada draw
X5
X2
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
NPFL:
Adah eyes win at 3SC
B
ereaved FC Taraba attacking midfielder Stephen Adah has asked his teammates to win for him in their upcoming clash against Shooting Stars Sports Club. The former Enugu Rangers star lost his cousin, Deleojo Stephen Adah, to the cold hand of death and will not be available for today’s top flight match day 34 showdown with the Oluyole Warriors at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Adah said his teammates have called several times to comfort him, but he has told them that the only acceptable consolation is for them to clinch the three points at 3SC. “I’m off duty for Wednesday’s NPFL match day 34 clash at 3SC in Ibadan due to my cousin’s death but will return to duty against Nasarawa United. “My teammates have called several times to comfort me on the death but I have told them that the best consolation for me is three points or at least a point at 3SC. “They have assured to go the extra mile in the clash to avoid defeat no matter the banter 3SC will throw at them. “Our situation has remained pitiable so we need all the points we can lay hands on to surviving relegation in the ongoing season. “Good results in the remaining five
matches on the season’s calendar could still do the magic for us,” said the former Akwa United playmaker. The Jalingo outfit are 19th on the 20team top flight on 33 points three points ahead of bottom-placed side Bayelsa United.
N
igerian striker Success Isaac scored on Monday for Granada in the 3-3 draw with Sporting Gijon in a frantic game in Spain’s Primera División. Isaac started the game on the right note with his direct style which created panic time and again in the Sporting defence. His endeavour earned Granada the opening goal of the night as he crossed perfectly from the left for Francisco Medina Luna “Piti” to finish coolly in the 21st minute. The former Flying Eagles man then got on the score sheet in the 41st minute to temporarily give Granada a 2-1 lead at a packed Estadio Municipal El Molinón. He was fed by Javi Márquez on the left channel and he produced an extraordinary bit of skill which two Sporting defenders tied in knots before firing a curling rightfooted beauty past the helpless Alberto García, in goal for the hosts. Isaac almost completed his brace in the 73rd minute but his
Success
SUCCESS
scores in Granada draw low strike was beaten out by García before Youssef El-Arabi pounced on the rebound to make score from outside the box via a deflected strike. The 20-year-old had not scored
prior to Monday’s game and was making his eighth league appearance of the season. He scored a solitary league goal for Granada in the 2014/15 season.
EX-SHARKS GOALKEEPER QUACOPOME DIES IN ACCRA
F
Ada
ormer Sharks goalkeeper Raymond Quacopome has died. The former shot-stopper died after a brief illness and will be remembered as one of the greatest stars, who donned the colours of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club Sharks. Former goalkeeper of Sharks
Iwarimie Diri, who spoke about the demise of Quacopome described the fallen hero as “a true legend”. “I am still in tears. He is a true legend and one of my biggest mentors. “He was briefly ill and died in his home in Accra, Ghana on Monday. We will miss him,” he said. Quacopome was among the
pioneers of Sharks alongside stellar names like Robinson Barber, Hamilton Green, Okechukwu Okabie, John Apollo, Dennis Fente, Jossy Dombraye, Owollo, and Mike Okotie. They were coached by former Eselemo Diamonds coach Ebiyon Dediare and later, former Super Eagles coach Monday Sinclair.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
X3
Lagos SWAN congratulates
TINUBU Andrew Ekejiuba
T
EMENIKE
RETIRES FROM NIGERIA DUTY N
igeria striker Emmanuel Emenike has announced his retirement from international football following a barren spell in front of goal. The 28-year-old revealed on Instagram that he was calling time on his five-year career for the African heavyweights, telling fans he was “no longer a Super Eagles player”. “It has always being my pleasure to play and win for the team,” he wrote. “I am always proud of my successful years in the team and I am pleased to call it off at this point in order to avoid insults.” Emenike, who plays his club football for Al Ain of Dubai, is the second player to announce his retirement from Nigeria’s senior squad this month. Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama - Nigeria’s mostcapped player - said he was calling it quits after a much publicised row with coach Sunday Oliseh.
Oliseh was reportedly considering leaving out Emenike for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Swaziland because he has not scored at international level for two years. The former Spartak Moscow player, at Al Ain on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce, has, however, featured in the first four matches since Oliseh took over from Stephen Keshi. Emenike made his international debut in a friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos in February 2011 and was top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations 2013, which Nigeria won. But he soon after hit a bad patch and his last goal for Nigeria was in October 2013, in a World Cup qualifying play-off against Ethiopia. In all, he made 37 appearances for the Super Eagles, scoring nine times.
IWOBI’S
BRACE FLATTENS BAYERN
A
lex Iwobi scored twice for Arsenal in their 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Uefa Youth League on Tuesday. The Nigerian striker scored his brace of goals in the last 20 minutes of a competitive contest to help Andries Jonker’s team keep their unbeaten run in the Uefa Youth League. Both teams, Arsenal and Bayern Munich, played out a scoreless first half but the Nigerian international, regarded as one of the experienced in the Gunners youth setup, made the difference with two sublime strikes. Iwobi’s first goal to break the deadlock was a stunner from outside of
the box after turning his marker before letting fly to see the ball creep just under the crossbar of Bayern and into the net in the 73rd minute. Five minutes later, the Nigerian international doubled Arsenal’s lead from Donyell Malen’s cross to put the game to bed with a composed finish at the back post. The 19-year-old recently penned a new long-term contract with Arsenal and also made his international debut for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in this month’s international friendly against DR Congo.
Iwobi
he Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos chapter, has congratulated Hon. Deji Tinubu, on his appointment as the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Sports. In a statement signed by SWAN Secretary, Emma Njoku, chairman of the association, Fred Edoreh, described Tinubu’s appointment as ‘a square peg in a square hole’, stressing that he would steer Lagos State back to greater heights in sports. Edore, who commended Governor Ambode for the choice of the ace sports journalist and former executive board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) , said that Tinubu’s appointment clearly demonstrates the positive vision the present administration has for sports and, in deed, the youths in the state. “On behalf of the executives and entire members of the Sports
Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos chapter, I wish to congratulate our colleague, Hon. Deji Tinubu, on his appointment as the Commissioner for Sports in Lagos State,” the statement began. “We at Lagos SWAN see the appointment as ‘a square peg in a square hole’ and strongly believe that sports would blossom in Lagos State under his watch giving his wealth of experience as a seasoned sports journalist and administrator,” Edoreh said. “We sincerely commend His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, for the appointment which clearly demonstrates his vision to take sports in Lagos State to greater heights during his administration. “We have no doubt that Tinubu will not only justify the confidence reposed in him by steering Lagos State back to the pinnacle of sports in the country, but also strengthen the long existing cordial relationship between Lagos SWAN and Lagos State government,” the statement concluded.
‘IROHA
NOT HEARTLAND SUPERVISOR’
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he Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Heartland, have explained that former Nigerian strongman Ben Iroha is not the side’s technical supervisor. A Nigerian sports tabloid reported on Monday that the former under-23 national team assistant coach has been engaged as supervisor by the Naze Millionaires for the remainder of the ongoing league season. However, an official of the Owerri outfit, Cajetan Nkwopara, distanced the side from the purported engagement of the former Nigerian star but stated that Iroha was merely granted permission to conduct a clinic with the coaches and players within the period of his holidays. “Iroha asked and was given the opportunity to conduct a clinic with the coaches and players on temporary basis during the period of his holidays. “There is nothing like
Iroha appointment as technical supervisor, director or anything in that vein. “There was no discussion on engagement or negotiation for employment so I do not know where his reported engagement as technical supervisor came up from,” said Nkwopara. Iroha was part of Heartland technical crew from 2007 to 2010 together with Kelechi Emeteole the period that saw the side play the final of 2009 CAF Champions League.
Leon Balogun (born June 28, 1988) is a Germanborn Nigerian professional football defender who plays for FSV Mainz 05. He made his Bundesliga debut on April 19, 2009 for Hannover 96 in a game against Hamburger SV. After his contract with Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf had been expired in summer 2014, he was without a club for three months until he joined fellow leaguer Darmstadt 98. He signed a contract until the end of the 2014–15 season. Born to a Nigerian father and German mother, Balogun was called up by Nigeria for a March 2014 friendly against Mexico as a replacement for Joseph Yobo. Balogun entered at the half, but was injured after 20 minutes in a collision with signage on the touchline. He fractured his foot and missed action for 2–3 months. On March 25, 2015, he played his second game for Nigeria in a 1–0 loss against Uganda. He played his third game for the country on the 13th of June, 2015 when he featured in a 2–0 win over Chad in the opening game of qualifying for the 2017 African Nations Cup.
About LEON BALOGUN
Leon Balogun Leon-Aderemi Balogun June 28, 1988 (age 27) West Berlin, West Germany Height: 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Playing position: Defender Current team: FSV Mainz 05 Number: 3 Youth career: Hertha BSC Hertha Zehlendorf(2007) Senior career 2007–2008: Türkiyemspor Berlin 2008–2010: Hannover 96 II 2008–2010: Hannover 96 2010–2012: SV Werder Bremen II 2010–2012: SV Werder Bremen 2012–2014: Fortuna Düsseldorf 2014–2015: Darmstadt 98 2015– Till date: FSV Mainz 05 National team 2014–Till date: Nigeria
Name: Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth:
PERSONAL INFORMATION
X4 Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
X5
Leon
Balogun
EXTRATIME
X6
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
INTERVIEW “I’m hoping to break into the first team. I have already trained with the first team and even got into the match day squad a number of times. It shows that I’m making progress. I know it’s not going to be easy but I will keep on working hard to make sure that I achieve it. I also want to win the Serie A title with Roma and play in the Champions League”
I WANT TO WIN SERIE A TITLE WITH ROMA
– SADIQ
Just like Obafemi Martins did a few years ago, bursting into the Serie A scene like a meteorite from outer space and taking the Italian Calcio by storm - a new hero on the rise. Sadiq Umar, 18, might be an unknown quantity in the youth circles in Nigerian football, but the Kaduna-born player will surely hit the limelight soon. Umar, alongside another Kaduna born player, Nura Abdullahi took the Italian Primavera division (youth league) by storm last season chalking up impressive displays week in, week out. Both starred for AC Spezia last season before getting a move to capital giants AS Roma. Umar is a tall striker who stands at 6’2, with an impressive technique for his height. Umar scored a whooping 27 goals in 32 games for AC Spezia which made Roma snap him up and he, alongside Umar have already trained with the first team and got into Roma’s match day squad in recent weeks. He has already started this season in the Italian Primavera like a house on fire scoring six goals in just two matches to cement his growing reputation as one of the brightest youngsters in the game. Supersport.com sat down with Umar and he had a lot to say about his move to AS Roma and what he hopes to achieve in the future. Excerpts:
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ast time you were with AC Spezia and now you’re at one of biggest clubs in Italy if not in the world. How do you feel? As you know it’s not always easy when you move from small club where you have been used to everyone around you to a new club and a huge one like AS Roma. It was a bit overwhelming at first but we (alongside Nura Abdullahi) are okay now. Coach Alberto De Rossi helped us a lot in making sure we settle in quickly and get going with the rest of the squad. It has been fun since then. You’ve taken to life in Rome like a duck to water and you are already scoring goals. What is the secret? There is no secret apart from working very hard to make sure I continue from where I stopped last season. I’m very grateful to Almighty Allah (God) for the way things are going for me at the
moment. It’s not easy because as a striker you are judged by the number of goals you score. After scoring a lot of goals at Spezia, a lot of people were watching to see how things will unfold this season. I’m glad it has started well and I’m confident it will get better.
Growing up in Africa I always watch the Champions League games and it remains one of my dreams to win it someday, hopefully with Roma. I believe I will achieve it.
How has the transition been from AC Spezia to AS Roma? Roma is a one of the biggest clubs in Italy and Europe so you expect the set up to be really different with Spezia. I’m thankful for the opportunity Spezia gave me to launch my career in Europe.
You made the Roma first team squad already this season and have been named in some match day squads. How did you feel when you got the call? It came so early to my surprise, but I’m very excited with the chance and it goes to show that the Roma technical team are really serious about our development.
What are you aspirations at AS Roma? I’m hoping to break into the first team. I have already trained with the first team and even got into the match day squad a number of times. It shows that I’m making progress. I know it’s not going to be easy but I will keep on working hard to make sure that I achieve it. I also want to win the Serie A title with Roma and play in the Champions League.
What are your future plans towards being an integral part of the AS Roma first team squad? Hard work, just hard work! I will keep working hard and wait for my chance. I’m very confident my time will come and I intend to grab it with both hands, but right now, I’m trying to enjoy any chance given to me with the first team because it’s a great learning path and experience. Ï ƑƋƋƆƗ ƇƏ ƌ ƑƍƆƏ ƍ ƏƐêƅ ƌ
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
X7
KOMPANY
fit to face Sevilla
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aris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc says the key to beating Real Madrid will lie in keeping “alien” Cristiano Ronaldo isolated. The Portugal star has scored five goals in just two Champions League games this season and has 11 in 10 appearances in all competitions. Rumours in France have emerged again linking Ronaldo with a potential future move to PSG, as the Ligue 1 champions seek a marquee signing to help them in their bid to become a dominant force on the continent. But as PSG prepare to face Ronaldo and Madrid at Parc des Princes today, Blanc says his focus is solely on stopping the 30-year-old in his tracks. “He’s one of the two aliens of planet football. He’s good in every area. We have to make sure he has few touches of the ball. We have to keep an eye on him,” Blanc said on Tuesday. “People know our style of play. We like to have the ball. Real are quite defensive but they are very effective. These are two different philosophies that will now meet. “If they want to give us the ball,
Ronaldo
Blanc keen to isolate ´alien´
Ronaldo
we’ll take it with pleasure. We meet a European giant today, but it won’t be a decisive match. The decisive matches will come later, I hope.
“PSG are not yet a European giant, but we have the quality and motivation to win.” Angel Di Maria has struggled to
will not be ready for the game. “Apart from David Luiz’s absence, we’ll have almost all the squad,” Blanc said on Tuesday. “We’ll have an almost complete squad for the game. We’ll get the players recovered.” Luiz’s fellow centre-back Thiago Silva is confident PSG are a better side than last season as they look to make it three wins from three in the group so far. “The first goal is to finish first
in the group,” he said. “If we win on Wednesday, we can go for the draw in Madrid. “It’ll be important to recover the ball as quickly as possible when we lose it. That will be decisive. “We’re stronger this year than last year. We’re playing better and we started the season better. “If we play as we usually do on the ball, we’ll have a great match.”
Luiz to miss Real showdown P
aris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz will miss the clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League today due to a knee injury. The Brazil international picked up the problem during his country’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers earlier this month and had been battling to be fit for the key Group A encounter. Head coach Laurent Blanc has now confirmed the 28-year-old
Toure:
Athletics
Messi
I´d always back Messi for Ballon d´Or
Y
Kompany
D
hit top form following his €63million switch from Manchester United and Blanc has challenged the Argentina international to improve.
Luiz
aya Toure says Lionel Messi would always get his vote for the Ballon d’Or ahead of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. Both Messi and current holder Ronaldo have been named on FIFA’s 23-man shortlist for the 2015 prize, along with Manchester City midfielder Toure. While he admits giving two awards every year would make the decision easier, Toure has explained why he thinks his former Barcelona team-mate deserves it every time. “While Cristiano Ronaldo has had another exceptional year, I’d always vote for Lionel Messi. Not only because there’s a great respect between us from my time at Barca, but also because I think Leo is above the rest,” he said. “In fact, ideally, with these two monsters there, they should give two Ballons d’Or every year!”
espite missing the weekend win over AFC Bournemouth, Vincent Kompany is fit enough to face Sevilla , Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed. Pellegrini was angry that Kompany played in Belgium’s final Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel despite struggling with a calf problem, and he opted to leave the centre-back on the bench for Saturday’s 5-1 victory. Pellegrini has confirmed that Kompany is ready to play in today’s Champions League clash, however, while Aleksandar Kolarov is also in the squad. “Vincent was fit for the last game. Aleks is fit so is in the squad list,” said the former Villarreal boss. “Gael Clichy, Fabian Delph, Sergio Aguero and David Silva are injured.” Pellegrini confirmed that Aguero, who damaged a hamstring while on Argentina duty, will definitely face a month on the sidelines - but there is better news concerning City’s other injured trio. “Aguero is out for a month. Maybe next week Clichy, Delph and Silva will be fit,” he said. Pellegrini has backed Wilfried Bony - who netted twice against Bournemouth - to continue his goalscoring form for City against a Sevilla side he expects to produce a stern test at the Etihad Stadium.
Toure has been handed his fifth Ballon d’Or nomination and his fourth in consecutive seasons, but the Ivory Coast international admits there are regrets over his final placing in the voting in the past. The 32-year-old believes he deserves to have challenged for a place in the top five, especially in 2009 - when Barcelona claimed six trophies in a calendar year - and in 2014, when City last lifted the Premier League title. “It’s a pleasure every time. It’s a great barometer of the level you’ve reached. To stay on this list, you have to work really, really hard. It’s impossible otherwise, it’s the same for Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi,” Toure said. “To be part of this elite is not only recognition of my consistency but also of my work. “I think I deserved better at times. I think I could have finished at least once in the top five but, unfortunately, I’ve been a long way off each time.
X8
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
EXTRATIME
EXTRATIME
Ancelotti backs
Red Devils to battle CSKA without duo
MOURINHO
stay
Carlo Ancelotti believes Jose Mourinho’s position at Chelsea is safe and says the Premier League champions’ poor start to the new season is down to a dip in motivation levels. The Blues lost just three times on their way to winning the title last season, but have endured a wretched start to the new campaign losing four of their opening nine fixtures to leave them in 12th spot, 10 points behind current leaders Manchester City. Despite overseeing Chelsea’s worst
start to a Premier League campaign, Mourinho has remained confident and insisted he would not be sacked by owner Roman Abramovich even if his side finished in mid-table. Ancelotti, who led Chelsea to a Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010 before being sacked a year later, feels Mourinho is the right man to revive the club’s current fortunes. “I don’t think Mourinho will be sacked, absolutely not,” he said. “He has changed little from last season and he’s at a club that he knows very well. Plus, the club knows Mourinho very well. “Jose is one of the top coaches of all time and if anyone can turn it around he is the person.
M
Mourinho
MANCHESTER UNITED A ´GIANT SIDE´, SAYS SLUTSKY
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SKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky insists Manchester United are a “giant side”. United returned to the Champions League this season after missing out on the previous edition following a dreadful 2013-14 under the management of David Moyes. Louis van Gaal steered the Premier League team back into European
football’s premier competition last term, and Slutsky is in no doubt that they remain one of the biggest clubs on the continent ahead of today’s Group B clash in Russia. “We have played a lot of games against big clubs - some have gone well, some a little worse - so we’re ready,” the CSKA boss said on Tuesday. “These back-to-back matches are
always crucial; we have to respect our opponents and be aware that we are up against a giant side, but we have the right to hope for a positive result. “We have a team with plenty of experience” Slutsky feels that whoever Van Gaal selects for this week’s game will make United a formidable opponent. “Manchester United made several
changes for their last Premier League game, but I don’t think that was anything to do with playing against us,” he added. “I think they will have a similar line-up to the one that faced Everton. United are a top club regardless, and whoever plays for them will be very strong.”
anchester United will have to make do without the services of Ashley Young and James Wilson in today’s Champions League encounter with CSKA Moscow. Young picked up a calf injury ahead of this weekend’s 3-0 win over Everton and has not recovered in time to make the squad for the trip to Russia. Wilson, meanwhile, is being plagued by illness and will not travel either, while long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair are also unavailable. “It’s the same amount of injuries so Luke Shaw, Paddy McNair and Ashley Young are not going with us,” Van Gaal told reporters. “Willo was a little bit ill – Wilson as he is named but, for us, it is Willo – so he shall not travel with us. “I’ll take 20 players with me. It’s a four-hour flight so, if a player gets ill, I have the other player in my environment.” Meanwhile, Sergio Romero and Antonio Valencia return to the squad after they were rested against Everton following their World Cup qualifying exertions in South America.
Tottenham winger
CHADLI
ruled out for six weeks T Chadli
ottenham winger Nacer Chadli has been ruled out for six weeks after picking up an ankle injury in the draw with Liverpool. The Belgium international was forced off during the 0-0 Premier League stalemate with Jurgen Klopp’s side on Saturday and has since undergone further medical tests. The club have now confirmed Chadli has suffered damage to his ankle ligaments and will be sidelined for a month and a half. “Our medical staff will continue to monitor his progress during his rehabilitation to determine when he will be ready to return to training,” the club’s statement added. Chadli has made 11 appearances in all competitions under Mauricio Pochettino so far this season, scoring once and providing two assists. The 26-year-old is set to miss key Premier League matches with London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea next month, as well as Europa League meetings with Anderlecht and Qarabag.
Sterling
‘Klopp would have been perfect for Sterling’
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anchester City attacker Raheem Sterling’s agent Aidy Ward - has suggested the England international might have stayed at Liverpool had he known Brendan Rodgers would have been replaced with Jurgen Klopp. The 20-year-old joined City ahead of the 2015-16 campaign for a transfer fee in the region of £49 million and Sterling’s representative has now revealed the presence of Rodgers was one of the main reasons behind his decision to move on. “The new Liverpool manager probably would have been a great fit for Raheem - passionate, disciplined in the right way, new ideas, not afraid of trying new things. He’ll do great at Liverpool,” Ward
said. “Would Raheem under Klopp have been a good scenario? Yes, 100 per cent, definitely, mainly because of the person Klopp is - the passion, the drive, the emotion, wanting to achieve. Raheem has all of this, but you won’t always see it outwardly. Working with Klopp - that could have been great. He’s going to get the best out of those players. It could have been a dream come true. “Raheem could’ve stayed, he should be at Liverpool. In December I spoke to Liverpool and said we’ll sign a contract if there is a buy-out clause - those clauses are now common practice. They said no to that. Then there was an underhandedness, there were sly remarks.