Dtn 23 11 15

Female suicide bomber kills 7 in IDPs Maiduguri camp A female suicide bomber killed herself and seven others in a transit camp on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Sunday morning.

Eight others were injured in the explosion at 10:40 a.m., the state’s police commissioner, Aderemi Opadokun, confirm to a news agency in a text message

“Since the internally displaced persons were coming voluntarily into the town, it was decided that they had to be screened to avoid the insurgents mingling with them,” the chairman

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

of Borno’s emergency agency, Ahmed Satomi, told the news agency separately by phone.

Continued on page 12

dailytimesng

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

N150

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 VOL. 1. NO. 236

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 20th November 2015.

SEPLAT

226

230

4%

ASHAKACEM

22.01

22.4

0.39%

FO

290

275.5

-14.5%

OKOMUOIL 28.9

27.48

-1.42%

BERGER

9.13

9.58

0.45%

ZENITHBANK

16.24

16.49

0.25%

NB

122.46

120.6

-1.86%

7UP

184

-0.99%

184.99

Kogi poll: APC’s Audu, in wide lead, drops dead Ï 9M& ƗƆƅƋ ƏƆ ƆƋƆƅƐƈ ƈ ƅ ƅƋƑ ƈƒƆ Ï zƆôƋƋ ƏƆ ƅƐ ƇƐƆƏ ƆƐƐƈ ƑƏ Ƈ ƅƐ è ƓƆôƏƆ ƐƈƋƋ ƅ ƌƍƈƋƈ ƆƒƈƗƆ ƅƆ –PDP ÎÎÎThe candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s governorship election

in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, is dead. He will be buried today in his home town.

Prince Audu died on Sunday from an unknown ailment after the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Governorship election between him and the candi-

date of the Peoples Democratic Continued on page 6

APC: The burden of victory g8

24hrs to deportation: UK group petitions g7 FG, High Commission

Oil marketers pledge solidarity with NNPC to end scarcity g17

CDQ

Next generation rapper gL1

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State (left) unveiling the theme for Carnival Calabar Festival 2015 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. With him is Leesi Peter-Vigboro, 39th Miss Nigeria, who represented Cross River at Miss Nigeria 2015

R Ƒ ƓƑ ƈè ǀơ Ɛ R ƈè Ɛ ƄƆ ƅƏ Ɠ ƆƗ Ɛ Ɨ ƕ

g12

2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Marking the World Toilet Day

L

ast week Thursday, November 19, the international community marked the World Toilet Day. The aim of the Day is to raise awareness about people in the world who do not have access to a toilet, despite the fact that it is a human right to have clean water and sanitation.

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Sanitation and Nutrition’.

Before the World Toilet Organisation (WTO) was founded in 2001, the subject of sanitation received little media attention on the global development agenda. Today, sanitation has become more of a priority, even as the current level of prioritisation is still far from what is needed, given the scale and impact of the sanitation crisis. We therefore join the international community in calling for concerted action to address this massive problem facing more than 40 percent of humanity.

For example, 1 in 3 people in the world still do not have access to a clean and safe toilet, while 1,000 children die each day due to poor sanitation. Moreover, 1 billion people still defecate in the open, even as poor sanitation increases the risk of disease and malnutrition, especially for women and children. Women and girls risk rape and abuse, because they have no toilet that offers privacy.

In Nigeria, statistics show that more than 34 million people use the open fields, forests, bushes, and bodies of water as convenience. This situation has been linked to the health challenges afflicting the nation today, many of them fatal, particularly to children. According to UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) the lack of toilets remains one of the

leading causes of illness and death among children in Nigeria.

Today, Nigeria has become one huge field, where people defecate openly and without putting into consideration the impact of their action on the health of others. In many rural communities, people still build houses without water closets or pit latrines, where waste can be emptied without others coming in contact with it. The situation is even more embarrassing in the urban areas, where many houses still lack such basic conveniences.

Even the country’s higher institutions are found wanting in this regard, given that many of their hostels lack adequate toilet facilities, thereby forcing the students to defecate in nearby bushes. Equally too, toilets generally remain inadequate for populations with special needs, such as the disabled and elderly, and also women and girls during menstrual period. Similarly, poor sanitation is said to cause skin problems, stunted growth, malnutrition and reduced school attendance.

As Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary General once declared, sanitation is “ a vital tool for improving the lives of millions of the poorest people.” It is a fact that potable water and improved sanitation services are verifiable measures for fighting poverty and diseases. There is no gainsaying the fact that lack of access to sanitation impacts on health, dignity, and safety.

We therefore call on governments, at every level, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to provide more public toilets in both rural areas and urban centres. But more importantly, create awareness on why people should use the toilet.

Before governors return Nigeria to the trenches Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎIt is baffling that whenever revenue accruing to the federation dwindles, political office holders in Nigeria, especially those in the executive, will advocate measures that will further emasculate the already impoverished masses.

This is exactly what governors of the 36 states in the country did on Thursday at the end of their meeting at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governors in a communique read by chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, said in the light

of the dwindling revenue accruing to them monthly from the federation account, they were no longer in a position to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage to workers.

The way out, the governors said, was a cut in the workforce in in their respective states in the event that they are ‘forced’ to still pay the nationally approved minimum wage.

On face value, the argument of the governors appear logical, however, when looked at holistically, it is nothing but an escapist route and helps to shield from public scrutiny the governors failure to efficiently manage resources available to their states.

Fact is that the N18, 000 minimum wage was arrived at after several

Words On Marble :

rounds of negotiations between the Federal Government, state governors and labour unions in the country five years ago, so to alter it, there must be a fresh round of negotiations between the three bodies.

The governors should realise that the present minimum wage is nothing to write home about in the light of present economic realities and cutting it should be out of view completely in view of the industrial unrest it will engender.

Fact is that the least that Nigeria requires now is a prolonged labour strike. So, it would serve the country better if the governors rather than wage or job cut, look for creative ways to shore up revenues of their states and there exist legion of such ways.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

Group News Editor Segun Adio Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide Business Editor Friday Atufe Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Group Head Accounts & Control Samson Abiodun

Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo 08033072614 Ag Head Operations Segun Bamigboye Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Konnie Agu 09033765031

More info: www.dailytimes.com.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Ayuba Wabba

“Nigerian workers will reject the move by the governors to slash the minimum wage instead of upward review of the minimum wage which was last done five years ago”.

Yakubu Dogara

True leaders raise leaders while godfathers busy themselves in raising sycophants”.

Mathew Kukah

“Honour is a scarce commodity in Nigeria”.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

...Luxury & Style

Li LINEA ITALIA FURNITURE

41 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria Tel 234-9-4136342, 0805 5103 177 www.lineaitalia-ng.com

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

5

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Kogi poll: APC’s Audu, in wide lead, drops dead Continued from page 1 Party (PDP), Captain Idris Wada, inconclusive.

INEC declared the election inconclusive following the cancellation of the results of the poll in 91 polling units from 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

According to the official results released by INEC, Audu was leading the PDP

candidate, who is also the incumbent governor, Idris Wada, by 41,353 votes.

Prince Audu’s death was confirmed in a tweet at 6:53pm by @APCNewsAlert which read “FLASH: APC Governorship candidate for Kogi state, late Abubakar Audu, will be buried tomorrow in his hometown.”

Surprisingly, the person biography page of Prince

Audu on Wikipedia was edited at 6:21pm to reflect that he was dead. Whoever edited the page to reflect this wrote “He reportedly died, on the 22nd November, 2015, while seeking reelection on the platform of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Announcing the decision to declare the election inconclusive on Sunday in

Lokoja, the state capital, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof.. Emmanuel Kucha, also announced the cancellation of 49,453 votes in 18 local government areas.

Kucha, consequently, declined to make a return for the election.

He said that the cancellations were due to insecurity, ballot boxes snatching witnessed in Adavi, Ofu,

xxx

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), being welcomed by the Iranian Deputy President Mr Shariat Madari (2nd left); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr, Ibe Kachikwu at the Mehrabad Airport Tehran ahead of the 3rd Summit of the Gas Exporting Country’s Forum, Iran… on Sunday.

Ajaokuta, Bassa, Ankpa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Okehi, Okene, Omala, Olamaboro, Yagba-West, Lokoja, Kogi, Kabba/Bunu, Igalamela-Odolu and Ijumu local government areas.

He said that a supplementary election to determine the winner between the APC candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Audu and PDP candidate, Gov. Idris Wada would be held in due course.

He said that since the number of cancelled votes were higher than the 41,353 votes one of the candidates was leading with, adding that he had no choice than to declare the election inconclusive in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act. Audu polled 240,867 in 16 local government areas while Wada scored 199, 514 votes in five council areas.

The inconclusive official results put the total number of votes cast in the election at 481, 334 out of which 459, 983 were declared valid and 21,351 returned invalid.

Only 511, 648 out of 1, 379,971 registered voters were accredited to vote in the election.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

on Sunday said it would react to Saturday’s Kogi gubernatorial election, declared inconclusive by INEC, after getting facts about the election.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, shortly after the election was declared inconclusive.

Metuh said that ``the party always wants to make informed reaction based on verifiable evidence on what went on during the election. ``We don’t rush to make reactions, we make only informed reactions. Our reaction will be based on what is on ground and verifiable evidence that we have. ``We are still compiling evidence, we are still making enquiries; we are still keeping in touch with our people on the ground in Kogi. ``It is only when we finish all these that we can take informed decision and we announce it to the public. ``We don’t just get up and react; No, it is too early to react.’’

Mixed reactions greet Kogi inconclusive Guber poll ÎÎÎThe Coalition of

Civil Society, politicians and voters in Kogi have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intensify efforts in educating the electorate on the need to abide by the Electoral Act. The respondents spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while reacting to INEC’s declaration of the Nov. 21 Governorship election in the state inconclusive.

Some of the respondents said that educating the electorate would check the unruly behaviours of voters which could lead to the cancellation of election results.

Mr Habu-Rajan Suleiman, the secretary of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups in the state, told NAN in an interview on

Sunday in Lokoja, that the education of voters on the provision of the Electoral Act was imperative in view of the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the results of the election in 91 polling units.

He, however, appealed for calm in the state, adding that the peaceful conduct of the election was the best way to achieve fair, credible and acceptable election in the country.

Also reacting to the development, the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Mr Abdul Miliki, blamed the unruly behaviours of some voters on INEC’s decision.

Miliki told NAN in separate interview that INEC acted in compliance with the Electoral Act, adding that the negative conduct of some of the electorate led to the snatching of bal-

Mr S e gun

lot Wada

boxes and other anomalies which resulted in the inconclusiveness of the election.

He, however, appealed to the parties and their supporters to maintain the peace.

Abayo-

The late Audu

mi, a civil servant, called on the electorates in the state to eschew money politics, adding that it was that kind of mindset that always brought about political crisis.

Abayomi also called on INEC to intensify effort

in its voter education programme, adding that doing so would help to guide the electorate in the choice of their leaders.

Evangelist Frank Kato, who is also the Chairman of Independent Democrats (ID), an NGO, called on

youths to moderate their actions and to avoid being used as ‘’stooges to the whims and caprices of selfish politicians’’.

He, however, called on security agencies to beef up their operations in the upcoming supplementary election to curb malpractices.

Meanwhile, Mr Tajuddeen Yusuf, a member of the House of Representatives (PDP-Kabba/Bunu), who also spoke with NAN, advised INEC to perfect the application of the card reader in future elections.

Also speaking in separate interview with NAN, Mr Tosin Adeyanju, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Kabba, headquarters of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state, said that APC would still emerge victorious in the supplementary election.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23 , 2015

7 News

N18, 000 minimum wage: NLC kicks against Gov’s position Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏThe

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it was shocked by the statement credited to the Chairman of the Governors Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, that the N18, 000 National Minimum Wage promulgated into law in 2011 was no longer sustainable because of the fall in the price of crude oil.

Yari, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues at the end of a meeting of the Forum, also claimed that the National Minimum Wage was “imposed”.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that this attempt to reverse the National Minimum Wage is a declaration of war against the working people of this country, and we would have no alternative than to mobilise to respond to this act of aggression by the political class on our welfare,” the NLC said.

According to him, the 2011 National Minimum Wage came into existence after almost two years of agitation and eventual negotiation by the tripartite of govern-

ment (represented by both the federal and state governments), the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association representing other employers (in the private sector) and organised Labour. This is in the best tradition of tripartite negotiation recognised and codified by the International Labour Organisation.

As an organised Labour, we submitted a request for N52, 000 and provided justification for it as the minimum wage, which a worker and his recognised legal dependents needed to live a healthy life of 30-31 days in a month. Out of our patriotic disposition and consideration, we reluctantly agreed to the N18, 000 wage, even as it was grossly inadequate as a living wage. Many of the state governments who submitted memoranda to the tripartite negotiating committee recommended figures that were far above the N18, 000 that was eventually agreed. The Governors cannot, therefore, want Nigerians to take them seriously by their present claim that the current national minimum wage was ‘imposed’ on them!

Police colleges can’t produce good officers, says AIG Mbu Chijoke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏThe institutions being used

to train Nigerian police officers are decayed and cannot produce the best police officers the country needs to get better.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Mr. Joseph Mbu, stated this in an interview with journalists in Jos at the graduation of senior Assistant Commissioners of Police from the Police Staff College at the weekend.

Mbu urged the Federal Government to set up a special committee to visit police formations in the country to see the high level of decay there.

“There is decay; there is neglect; what we have on ground is not conducive to the reform programme we all yearn for. Many projects in the training institutions have been abandoned,” he added Mbu stressed that the nation must invest more in the police force, so as to get the best service from it and effect the change crucial for a better Nigeria.

“Nigerians want an improved police force in line with the change mantra, but the institutions that train the personnel are in a state of utter decay,” he said.

Ambode declares zero tolerance on gender-based violence Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏThe

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has reaffirmed that his administration would not tolerate gender-based violence because it is a grievous criminal offence.

He made this known during a dinner that was organised to commemorate “The Domestic Violence Awareness Month”, in the state.

Ambode said his administra-

tion would use all resources at its disposal to fight the menace and bring it to an end in the state.

According to the governor, one of the goals of his administration was to tackle domestic violence with every potential of energy and resources the state possessed.

He maintained that the right laws were in place and the justice system would continue to improve at the rate at which offenders were convicted.

L-R: Senior Vice President, Babcock University (BU), Prof. Iheanyi Okoro; outgoing President/Vice Chancellor, and Prof. J. K. Makinde and incoming President/ Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo at the Annual Presidential Education Correspondents Luncheon held at the university campus, Remo, Ogun State… on Sunday. Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

UK group issues ultimatum to FG, HC over deportation of Nigerians Ngozi Okafor London

ÏÏÏFollowing the global uproar

generated by the planned deportation of Nigerians beginning from tomorrow, Tuesday, back home, a British political party, The Commonwealth Liberation Party (TCLP), has issued a warning to the Nigerian High Commission in that country to prevail on the Deputy Immigration Attache at the High Commission, to revoke earlier issued Travel Certificates to the affected Nigerians.

The TCLP, in a letter dated November 19, 2015, an electronic

copy of which was made available to the Daily Times and copied to some media houses in Nigeria, alleged that the DIA at the High Commission, one Mrs. Ngere, had worked in consonance with the UK border Agency to effect re deportation of the Nigerians.

Some Nigerians are said to be due for deportation from the United Kingdom tomorrow and would be ferried back into Nigeria via a chattered flight. The letter issued by Chairman of TCLP, Nigerian-born Prof. Alexia Thomas, it claimed failure to revoke the Travel Certificates from the affected Nigerians “would have willingly violated the Treaty of Article 9, 13, 15 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR 1948 and Law of Magna Carta.”

Prof. Thomas, who is also the President of Independent Diplomat Commission (IDC) in the UK in the letter wrote: “You are advised and automatically mandated to revoke all Travel Cer-

tificates you have issued to the United Kingdom Immigration by dutifully sending them an official letter to notify them.”

The TCLP claimed it had advised the Nigerian government to move in fast to prevent the deportation of these Nigerians who it claimed are innocent and living legitimately in the European country. Prof. Thomas also sought for appropriate punishment for the Immigration official and her collaborators, who she claimed, were putting the lives of Nigerians at great risk in the whole saga. “Your actions to visit Nigerians at the Detention Centers on November 5, 2015 is evidential that you are a traitor to the Nigerian people,” the letter read.

She maintained that the world was watching and Nigerians and Commonwealth members were also waiting to see Nigerian High Commission enforce the UDHR Treaty as stipulated in Article 9, 13, 15 of UDHR 1948 on the matter.

Thomas

Ondo begins verification exercise for pensioners ’Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏThe

Ondo State Government said on Sunday that the verification exercise for pensioners to complete the data update of the State Civil Service which started in August 2015, with the serving officers would commence today (Monday).

Mr. Akin Adaramola, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, who disclosed this to journal-

ists in Akure, the state capital, said government considered the age of the pensioners and had provided adequate measures to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free and less stressful.

He averred that the exercise was not to reduce the cost of governance, but to update the data of the state and described it as a part of the “I am alive” exercise of the pensioners in the state.

Adaramola, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Verifi-

cation Committee, explained that the exercise was the second leg meant for the pensioners on the payroll of the state government, who retired from the core civil service, Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The Commissioner added the second group were secondary school pensioners, both teaching and non-teaching staff, stressing that it would be the turn of those at the local government, as well as primary school teachers, very soon.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23 , 2015

Politics

Æs

APC: The Burden of Victory

Unease as Lagos lawmakers set to cruise in N18m cars Alade Tasma

Jonathan

Odigie-Oyegun

Secondus

Akinjide Akintola When the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate in the last general election and then President, Goodluck Jonathan willingly accepted defeat and handed over peacefully without a whimper, the now ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ought to have been a little bit suspicious and cautious about the condition of the country especially its financial situation.

It was obvious to a more careful observer that the finances of the country was in the brinks and that any new government coming in must have been adequately prepared with its own economic formula to put things in shape at the earliest possible time.

Since the era of the evil ge-

nius, then Military President Ibrahim Babangida, things have been so bad that he once confessed that he did not know why the economy of the country has not completely collapsed due to a lot of financial crisis it has undergone.

Nigeria has not fared better ever since as the finances appear to be getting worse with succeeding administrations despite the huge revenue that accrue to it daily from the sale of oil which at a stage peaked at almost N150 dollars per barrel for several years.

Now that oil is selling at less than N50 dollars per barrel, it is like the country has come to the end of its tethers with revenue from the oil and gas sectors dropping astronomically.

This definitely is supposed to

be part of the responsibility of the new government, for when you assume government, there would certainly be assets and liabilities.

Governance is not just enjoying the perks of office and travelling all over the world, it is about seeking ways to improve what you met on ground. But for the new APC governors, it appears that this is not the case.

A pointer to this is the threat last week by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that due to dwindling resources, it would no longer be possible for it to continue to pay the minimum wage of N18,000 for the workforce.

It must be noted that at the moment the NGF is peopled most by APC governors, some of whom assumed office in 2011.

At the moment, most of the

APCs governors are yet to start paying the minimum of N18,000 salary for their workers. Oyo and Ogun states are some of the worst culprits.

So, if the discredited PDP governors could at least take care of their workers by paying them the minimum salary, what moral right has the APC governors has to deny the workers their basic right barely six months in office.

This is moreso when the workers in most states are being owed salary arrears of up to four- six months in some states despite the huge bail out funds released to them by the federal government in form of soft loans.

This state of affairs is set to push the labour unions against the government especially so, CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Amidst the downturn in the economic fortunes in the country, there is a growing unease in Lagos over plans by the Lagos State House of Assembly to purchase multi-million naira cars for members of the state legislature.

This was because the State House of Assembly on Monday, 16th November, 2015 gave an express approval to the request of the Mınıstry of Economıc Plannıng and Budget to spend N352,973,986,03 on offıcıal cars for the 20 new members of the House.

The approval was sequence to the letter forwarded to the House seekıng ıts approval to spend CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Ambode

Agenda for Buhari and his 36 wise men

Amaechi

Nwaorgu Emmanuel The government has now come full circle with the inauguration of the cabinet.

Now that all hands have come aboard, the captain should have no excuses.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers were sworn in on November 11, almost six months since the Buhari administration assumed office. That much time has been wasted before the constitution of the cabinet is quite obvious. It is also

clear that they should make up for lost time, given the state of the economy and the expectations of the Nigeria citizens.

Nigerians expect the cabinet to work in oneness. The advantage of working in oneness is that it brings out the best in everyone. The team must realise that every sector is important. The team should also understand that failure in one sector may have adverse effect on other sectors and this may likely vitiate the success of the

administration.

The pressure on the new ministers to deliver democracy dividends will be tremendous in view of the promises made

by President Buhari during the electioneering campaigns.

There are also many sectors to fix as well. Most of our Federal road networks have collapsed. Our country is generating less of its electricity needs, and we have a deficit of 17 million housing units. Even more chilling statistics exist in other

Buhari

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

9 Politics

Agenda for Buhari and his 36 wise men

Onu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

sectors, and the ministers must realise that the nation has been waiting for these problems to be attended to.

We think the merger of the Ministries of Power, Works and Housing is fascinating and ambitious as well. Although Babatunde Fashola has reputation for hard work, but our fear is that he is going to be spread too thin trying to administer the three behemoths, even with two permanent secretaries and a minister of state. President Buhari had for a time stipulated on competence, this showed in his speech during the swearing

Fayemi in of the ministers: “Today we have reached another milestone in the evolution of our new government which Nigerians overwhelmingly voted into office in the March 28th, 2015 general elections. Today we witness the swearing-in of new ministers of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited. We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons,

Adewole and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world. And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realizing our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country.

“I have also been conscious of

the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities. Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.

“With the inauguration of ministers, our government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect of the economy and CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

SERAP asks Malami to prosecute indicted 31 ex-govs The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN requesting him to “urgently take steps to take over and prosecute all 31 former governors suspected of official corruption while in office.”

SERAP said this action “is necessary to send a strong signal that the President Muhammadu Buhari government will not tolerate high level official corruption no matter who is involved, and to secure public confidence and trust in the office of the Attorney General.”

The letter dated 20 November 2015 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni reads in part: “This request is brought to give practical effect to

the exercise of the powers of the Attorney-General under Section 174(1) (b) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The request is also entirely consistent with your widely publicised commitment to audit and pursue high level corruption cases and end the impunity of perpetrators in the country.”

“SERAP would like to draw your attention to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Report presented to the National Assembly in 2006 by the former Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Nuhu Ribadu. The Report, which was accepted and adopted by the National Assembly, documented the cases and indictments against 31 former governors.”

“SERAP urges you to seek and obtain a copy of the Report from the National Assembly, and to use this as a basis to pursue prosecu-

tion of the governors. Pursuing these cases would help to enhance public confidence and trust in the office of Attorney General, as previous occupiers of the office seemed to be disinterested in prosecuting or facilitating prosecution of high level cases of official corruption.”

“SERAP believes that there is already a strong prima-facie case and sufficient information for you to exercise your constitutional authority and ensure that suspected perpetrators of high level official corruption are brought to justice fairly and to recover and repatriate stolen public wealth.”

“Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution grants to the AttorneyGeneral the power to among others “(a) institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-mar-

tial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly; (b) to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person.” This section also requires the Attorney General to exercise his power having regard to “the public interest and the interest of justice.”

“SERAP believes that there is at the moment no greater public interest than an urgent and diligent prosecution of the cases of indicted 31 former governors. Because corruption is well entrenched in Nigeria, fighting it requires not only a minimum level of political will and an adequate and sensible strategy, but also involves being ready and able to confront powerful interest groups that clearly benefit from the status quo and will resist any such initiatives.”

Abubakar Audu: 3rd time in the saddle Saturday’s victory of Abubakar Audu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election in Kogi State is his third since 1991/92 when he started making moves to rule the state.

The first attempt was cut short after barely 21 months in the saddle when the military government of late Gen. Sani Abacha sacked all of them in 1993.

Again in 2003, after ruling the state from 1999, the PDP snatched the state from him when Ibrahim Idris came into power.

Since then, the PDP had held unto power until the coming of Audu for a record third time.

Now that he is coming back, his victory can only make any sense if he can actually deliver on the change mantra of his party. For at the moment, the party has all but disappointed the people.

The PDP in the past years has not been able to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people in terms of performance.

This is perhaps why it was ease to defeat an incumbent, Idris Wada, even though Audu himself is a strong candidate in the state with supporters all over who were all bent in ensuring his victory despite his obvious challenges.

Already, there are fears that CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Audu

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Agenda for Buhari and his 36 wise men CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

in other areas. While working hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of a sharp decline in the price for the commodity, we are determined to diversify the economy in agriculture to enhance employment and explore solid minerals as a major revenue earner.

“The primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items as well as solid minerals. We intend to pursue policies that will generate massive employment for millions of our youth.

“We shall also continue with greater determination and focus to pursue our goal of ensuring improved security for our country and its citizens, and without letting up on our fight

against corruption. Our commitment to defeat Boko Haram and all the threats it constitutes remains as strong as ever. So is our resolve to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigerians.

“While recognising the challenges we face and the need to surmount them, let us not fail to note the progress we have made in the short life of this government, as an indication of how much better we can do as a people driven by patriotism and a common resolve to do things right.

“On the moral sphere, trust is slowly but steadily being reestablished between the government and the people. Now, when the government speaks, the people listen; and when the people’s expectations are not met, CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Ogbeh

Fashola

APC: The Burden of Victory CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

when the labour recently called for an increase of the minimum wage from N18,000 to N50,000 per worker and asking for negotiations to begin shortly.

According to the labour leaders, in line with extant labour laws, the N18,000 minimum wage being paid at present ought to have been reviewed since a review comes up every four years. They claimed that by next year, a new minimum wage should be put in place to reflect the current economic realities in the country.

With this development and the position of the governors, it does appears that the stage is set for a face-off between the labour and the state governments and only God knows where this would end.

But one issue can comes into sharp focus is why the governors should have recourse to salary cuts and workers’ sack as the only resort to the economic meltdown in the country.

The other day, one of the governors was reported to have appointed almost 100 aides. In this era of serious financial constraints, the governors should take a holistic approach at the issue and not cutting salary of workers alone.

What about cutting their own bloated salaries and allowances?

Ajimobi What about the numerous aides in their employ? Why not think of downsizing personal and political staff for instance? Is it only the workers that are responsible for the state of affairs?

Indeed, why not look at other avenues of generating revenues like states such as Lagos are doing?

And most importantly, areas of waste and corruption. For most people, the change mantra which the APC used to sweep the PDP out of power is yet to be felt

Amosun as it still appears to be business as usual.

This is why six months after, things are getting worse rather than better. This is not actually laying the blame on the APC as the economic meltdown is not of their making, but proper planning and a sound economic formula ought to have been put in place to tackle the situation since it was not unexpected.

It is along this line that all the campaign promises of the APC readily comes to mind which are

yet to come into fruition. Two of them that have come into sharp contention are the onemeal-a-day and the payment of N5,000 allowance to unemployed youths.

The new APC government had tried to disown these promises also on account of the dwindling resources in the country.

But thank God for people like the wife of the President, Mrs. Aishat Buhari who has called on the ruling party to fulfill its campaign pledge especially in the area of allowances to unemployed youth.

Following her timely charge, the government has now come out to say that it would fulfill its campaign promises. Subsequently, it said calculations are being made for the actual costs of the programme.

What this suggests is that the government had no intention of fulfilling the promise in the first place. For, how could a serious government make that kind of promise without trying to calculate how much it would cost it? It was just another electoral gimmick to oust the PDP from power.

One only hopes that the APC is not so soon making the same mistakes the PDP made. This is taking the people for granted or taking them for fools who would take everything hook, line and

sinker.

At its heights, the PDP boasted that as the biggest party in Africa, it would rule Nigeria for the next 50 years. But Nigerians showed that they were not fools and they did this by keying to the change mantra of the APC on which it rode to power.

The APC must not think that the people do not have a choice otherwise, they might be pushed to the Devil’s alternative which might not be in the interest of anybody or the nation.

This is because the sigh of relieve that Nigerians seem to have after the ouster of the PDP appears to have turned into a nightmare for them.

One of the duties of a responsible government is to ensure the payment of a living wage to its workers whatever is the condition. Nigeria is not a poor country and Nigerians should not be treated shabbily. Even, the PDP at its worst level did not attempt trying to do this.

This is the agony of victory that the APC must try to live with and get out of it. Victory is not just about celebrations, its about thinking, responsibility and hard.

This is not the time for the APC to throw the country into a needless labour crisis. Let Justice and Commonsense prevail please.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

11 Politics

Agenda for Buhari and his 36 wise men CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

they appreciate that it is not for lack of commitment or trying on the part of government.

In effect, government business is now being conducted with transparency and cynicism is waning as a result.

“Our adoption of the Treasury Single Account has resulted in the blocking of financial leakages in the public sector, making more funds available for the business of governance and ensuring the welfare of our citizens. The Central Bank of Nigeria has also assisted more than 30 States of the federation.

“Finally, our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions.

“Over all our economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive growth. Regardless of the present challenges we are confronting, I believe all Nigerians will keep hope alive and sustain their optimism about the future of our economic wellbeing.

A clear picture of the economic team has not emerged. It is good that the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, is to co-ordinate the economic policy, but it is not clear if the Ministers of Finance and that of Budget and National Planning are the cen-

tral figures that will determine the macro- economic policies.

The Buhari administration inherited an economy that is in distress. It must entrust it to people with profound understanding of how the economy works. No doubt, the economy needs thinkers and doers.

There is much pressure to diversify the economy, to wean it of over- dependence on oil revenue. We can turn the solid minerals into the new goose that would lay the golden eggs.

There is great pressure to create jobs for millions of unemployed Nigerians and it is clear that the federal and state governments would not do it alone.

The Ministry of Labour should be empowered to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment. Also, the method of accessing small and mediumscale enterprises loans should be liberalised to enable many more Nigerians utilise their facilities and reduce unemployment.

Given the warm reception the Buhari administration has received from the international community since its inception, we believe that this is an opportunity to widen Nigeria’s horizon, build on our traditional Afro-centrism, and push for more foreign direct investments, security assistance and co-operation. The world appears ready to help us overcome the insurgency. Let us accept such help.

We need an Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who

Abubakar Audu: 3rd time in the saddle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

the victory may be shortlived on account of his case in the courts for which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting him over an alleged N11 billion fraud while in office.

But with a similar case in Governor Ayo Fayose in Ekiti State which was stalled until his inauguration when the PDP was in power last year, it is not likely that the victory might be upturned. Except if Wada chose to be a spoiler, unlike Kayode Fayemi who succumbed quietly for Fayose to mount the saddle.

Will Audu prove to be different when he gets to Lugard House this time around, his third? Only time and history will tell.

Buhari would act as the advocate and protector of the civil liberties of all Nigerians. The new AG must keep an eagle eye on human rights and prevent the penchant of government to disobey court orders and treat the rule of law with utter disdain.

We would remind the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, that a country without an efficient railway service has not secured a dependable, swift and long-lasting transportation system. So much has been said about the creation of an enabling environment for

Amaechi business and investments in Nigeria. Government should go beyond rhetoric. Nigeria is placed 169 out of 189 on the world’s scale of ease of doing business report. It shows that we are at the bottom.

Every minister can help push Nigeria up the scale by making the country to be more productive. The emphasis on productivity should top the agenda of the new cabinet. The change mantra would be an empty rhetoric except Nigerians experience real and not cosmetic change.

Wada

Unease as Lagos lawmakers to cruise in N18m cars CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

the money from the Specıal expendıtures votes of whıch the mınıstry which requıres the approval of the House to spend above N200 Million.

The letter, sıgned by the Commıssıoner, Mınıstry of Economıc Plannıng and Budget, Mr. Akınyemı Ashade was read at plenary last Monday by the clerk of the House, Mr. Ganıyu Abıru.

The House unanımously and expressly approved the request wıthout any debate.

However, the Speaker who had earlıer protested non ınclusıon of hıs car among the 20 later, dırected the Clerk of the House to communıcate the approval of the House to the mınıstry.

In a sımple tabulatıon of the money to be expended on the cars, the Assembly wıll be spendıng an average of N17.6M on a car for each of the 20 new

lawmakers ın the current Assembly. However, the set of 20 old members are also to receıve theır own cars, ın addıtıon to those that have earlıer received theirs, dependıng on how many tımes a lawmaker had served ın the House.

Already, many people spoken to have expressed reservations on the development, wondering why such a huge amount would be spent on cars for the legislators alone.

Obasa

Ambode

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Ogunwusi, 51st Ooni, to be crowned today Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÎÎÎOoni-elect, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will today (Monday) be installed the 51st Ooni few hours after leaving Ilofi, Iremo, late Sunday evening.

Recall that the Oonielect began traditional rites at Ilofi, a place of preparation for new Ooni on Friday, October 30, 2015 and was expected to have left on Thursday, Novem-

Ï GƆƇƐ 9Ƌ Ƈƈ ƅ Ƈƈ ƆƌƆ Ɛ dƑ Ɨ ƕ ber 19 when 21 days he was expected to spend ended.

However, sources told our correspondent that few more days were added to ensure all the rites were completed before the coronation would take place.

It was also learnt that the coronation of Ogunwusi will not be done in the open. A palace source explained to our correspondent that the new Ooni will be installed in

Ile Oodua, stressing that the new monarch will be entering the palace for the first time as an Oba today (Monday). “ In line with the demand of Ile Ife customs and traditions, his coronation will hold behind closed doors. Only the Isoros and Ife chiefs will be involved but I can confirm it will be done inside the palace,” the source added.

It was further learnt

that shortly after his crowning, Prince Ogunwusi, will appear in the premises of the palace for few minutes.

Speaking with newsmen, former Special Adviser on Youth and sports to Osun State governor, Mr. Biyi Odunlade, confirmed that the new Ooni will be crowned today (Monday) inside Ile Oodua but added the event will not be open to the public.

Ogunwusi He also explained that Ogunwusi will make a

public appearance after being crowned but stressed that his public presentation to will hold on Monday, December 7, 2015.

He said: “The Ooni will leave Ilofi later today, Sunday, and he will be crowned tomorrow (Monday). The Ooni does not receive the crown in the public.

“The traditional crowning will be done at the palace on Monday (today) but the inauguration would hold on December 7th.”

Yuletide: Police deploy bomb detection squad to airports – FAAN ÎÎÎThe

L-R: Head of Business Development, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Ms Olajumoke Okikiolu; Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Overall winner, Samsung Picture Your Dream competition, Ms. Ifeyinwa Obienu; Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim and Business Manager, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Hung-Bae Kim after presentation of plague to Obienu at the Samsung Head Office, Victoria Island, Lagos… recently. Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

S’East elders to review MASSOB/IPOB agitation Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÎÎÎSouth East elders are

to meet soon to review recent agitations by Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) across the country.

The meeting is at the instance of the South East Governors who at the end of their meeting at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend, in a communiqué read by the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, also resolved to set up a committee to immediately address the impasse on Ohaneze leadership.

The communique reads in part: “The elders after a compassionate review of recent MASSOB/IPOB agitations resolved that a committee be set up to dialogue with MASSOB/ IPOB as well as Federal Government with a view to finding a lasting solution to issues agitations in the country.

“The elders also among examined the poor state infrastructural facilities in the South East, marginalisation in Federal appointments and other socio-economic issues that impact on the economic development of the South East and resolved to support the decision of the South East Governors to

set up an Economic Council and urged them to interface with Federal Government on remedial measures”.

The meeting was attended by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Deputy Governor of Abia State, Oko Ndu- Chukwu, Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke and traditional rulers from the zone.

Meanwhile, the leadership of South East/South South Professionals met in Enugu with leaders of MASSOB and IPOB and decided that Ohanaeze should summon a meeting of Imeobi (Elders Coun-

cil) to discuss the current situation in Igboland.

President of South/ South Professionals, Emeka ugwuoju, who spoke on behalf of the group, however advised MASSOB and IPOB to maintain peace as they have done so far. “ Ohanaeze noted the immediate demand of MASSOB and IPOB which is the release of Nnamdi Kanu. The meeting condemned the rascaility of the chairman of the Anambra State Chapter of Ohanaexe in publishing a position pertaining to himself and purporting it to be Ohanaeze’s stand, since his position does qualify him to speak for Ohanaeze” he stated.

Nigerian Police Force has deployed its Bomb Detection Unit to help beef up security at various airports in the country ahead of the forthcoming Christmas celebration.

A statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by Mr Yakubu Dati, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said the deployment was part of the security and safety measures.

It said that the deployment of the police bomb detection unit to the airports was to complement the effort of FAAN’s security personnel at various security screening points to ensure a hitch-free celebration.

The statement quoted Dati as saying that necessary operational and security measures had been put in place at all the airports to ensure free flow of passengers and cargo during the

yuletide. ``Passenger facilitation at all our airports has also been enhanced by the installation of more modern and bigger conveyor belts and metal walk-through detectors. ``The expansion and modernisation of all the airport terminals now provide better ambience and more space for restaurants at the terminals, as well as newly opened duty free shops,’’ Dati added.

According to him, this will help passengers to relax comfortably while waiting for their flights.

He stated that ``the authority however advises air passengers to make early arrangements for their travels and to leave home early on their travel dates in order to complete their boarding facilities in good time. ``We wish all passengers safe and enjoyable yuletide celebrations.’’

Female suicide bomber kills 7

Continued from page 1

“Just when the screening was on, one woman with explosive devices strapped on her rammed into others,” Ahmed added.

Three officials of the Civilian Joint Task Force were also injured in the attack.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Boko Haram is largely suspected to be responsible.

The terrorist group has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past.

The attack came on a day that President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated his commitment to ending the activities of Boko Haram in the northern part of the country.

Boko Haram seeking to impose its version of Islamic law on Nigeria, has stepped up suicide attacks since President Buhari ordered the military to defeat the insurgents by the end of the year.

The group has killed tens of thousands of people since its campaign began in 2009.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Unions condemn Virgin Atlantic crew sack

L-R: Rev. Cannon, Dr. Ogbeneruemu Eruenah; celebrant, Chief Olabode George and his wife, Roli during George's 70th birthday Thanksgiving Service held at Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos… at the weekend.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe Air Transport Ser-

Communities urge Fashola to probe Zungeru dam project Pita Chikwem Minna

ÏÏÏCommunities

affected by the construction of the Zungeru hydroelectric dam project in Niger State have called on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to probe into the high level of fraud in the payment of compensation to people whose lands were acquired for the construction of the project or be dragged to court.

The communities under the aegis of Shabazhe Youth Movement Association, in a letter to Fashola, accused officials of the ministry, as well as consultants han-

dling matters of compensation to the land owners of outright refusal to pay the people despite huge sums of money released by government.

“Despite the huge sums of money released into the accounts of the two consulting firms, Mohammed & Co and George Nzei & Co, 95 percent of the claimants have not been paid, making us to be afraid that the money may have ended in private pockets of a few, but highly-placed individuals.

“We call on you to investigate this. We also enjoin you to find time to investigate bank accounts of the consulting firms at Skye Bank, for doing so will reveal that

the manner of lodgments into those accounts is contrary to civil service general order that stipulates that public fund can only be paid into a private account in the manner the lodgments were made only if the payee provided a bank guarantee or bond in the like sum which did not happen in this case.

“As at now, no payment has been made in respect of houses and structures.

Compensations for the land on which the people are to be settled have not been paid; ditto for the provision of social amenities, such as schools, roads etc. are yet to be provided at the so-called resettlement site.

“To us, nothing has been

done in the matter of resettling the people whose lands were acquired for the dam.”

In the letter signed by Zubairu Umar Jiko, Chairman, Umar Usman Maikakaki, Secretary and four others, the association called on the minister to ensure that fair and adequate compensation for the lands acquired be paid as ordered by the court through their attorneys.

“Resettle the land owners, compel the Ministry to obey court orders in respect of this project and ensure independent auditing of all payments made to the duo of Messrs. Mohammed & Co. and Messrs. George Nzei and Co.

Premium Pension leads industry in ISO Certification Mathew Dadiya

Abuja ÏÏÏPremium Pension Limited (PPL), one of the leading Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the country, has become the first company in the pension industry to get ISO Certification awarded by the British Standards Institute.

Its board chairman, Aliyu Dikko, said on the occasion of the presentation of the certificate in Abuja, that the acquisition of ISO 27001: 2013 (Information Security Management System) Certification was a part of the journey towards achieving our vision and mission.

Dikko said that, “Premium Pension Limited set out

13 News

in 2005 with a vision to be the leading PFA in Nigeria and a global player with a vision to achieve superior customer satisfaction in active and retirement life through best practice.”

ISO is a collection of quality management systems standards, designed to help organisations ensure that they met the needs of customers and other stakeholders while meeting statutory and other regulatory requirements related to a product.

Premium Pension Limited got the ISO27701:2013 Certification on information security management system.

He noted that “The

achievement of ISO 27001: 2013 certification is a visible proof of the company’s commitment to meet internationally-accepted data security standard.”

The Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, represented by the Commissioner, Inspectorate, Professor Mohammad Kaoje, felicitated with Premium Pension for the certification. She said that PenCom was proud of the noble achievements recorded by the company in the nation’s pension industry.

Anohu-Amazu said that since the advent of the contributory pension scheme in Nigeria, the pension fund had grown significantly.

She said that Nigeria had been able to move out of a deficit of pension fund to about N5.5 trillion of pension funds under the management of PenCom, adding that Premium Pension has been part of the success story in the industry.

According to her, under the scheme, pensioners have been getting their benefits on time, noting that regulators and operators in the scheme had not been found wanting in the discharge of their fiduciary responsibilities. She said that there had never been any case of any sharp practices since the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme in the country.

vices Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) have joined all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the action of Virgin Atlantic Airline management to layoff Nigerian cabin crew without any known procedure or reason to international labour practice or aviation professional practices and standards.

In a statement signed on behalf of ATSSSAN by Saint Omotaje and Olayinka Abioye on behalf of NUATE, it was said that, “We have studied the situation and have decided to call on the Federal Government,

through the relevant ministry of Transportation and Aviation Agencies to intervene in this act of racism before it gets out of hand.

“It is now obvious that Virgin Atlantic does not have a workable conditions of service for its employees. Even where they exist, they discriminate against the black race (Nigerians) aboard their airplane and yet they will not want to leave the Lagos-UK route for those that love us, Nigerians.”

The unions warned that aviation workers would mobilise through their various Unions, Associations and International affiliates in the coming days to seek a reversal of this racial impunity on Nigerian air crew.

3 dead, several injured as rival cult groups, gangs clash in Osun

ÏÏÏThree

people were feared dead, while some others sustained varying degrees of injuries, during clashes involving two rival cult groups in Osogbo, and two opposing gangs in Ile Ife, at the weekend.

Though the remote cause of the clashes in Osogbo could not be ascertained, security sources said two leading members of rival cult groups started a fight that later led to the death of one of their members at a popular pub located on Iwo/ Osogbo road onThursday.

An eyewitness said that a member of a cult group that was believed to be reigning in Osogbo at the moment at-

tacked a member of a rival cult group by beating him up, when he insisted on entering into a pub against the advice of those in the premises.

“After managing to escape, the man that was beaten went to two neighbouring higher institutions, names withheld, to recruit more hands to attack those who had beaten him.

Some residents of Sabo, Adenle, in Osogbo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the rival cult groups clashed in the area for several hours on Friday and forced many residents to remain indoor.

Sen. Aluko defects to APC Gbenga Sodeinde

Ado Ekiti ÏÏÏThe Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti state has again suffered serious a setback as it has lost a top politician – Senator Gbenga Aluko – to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aluko and scores of his supporters defected to the APC on an occasion, which was held at his Ode-Ekiti country home, and attended by party leaders.

Among the leaders present were the State Deputy Chairman, Kemi Olaleye, Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, State Secretary, Paul Omotoso; and

South Senatorial District Chairman, Kayode Babade, who received Aluko into the party.

Aluko, the only senatorelected in 1999 in the entire South West on the platform the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), cautioned against divisions and factionalisation within APC, even as he warned members against hostility towards the opposition party.

Aluko

News14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

APC moves to capture Qua’an in bye-election Chijioke Kingsley

Jos

ÏÏÏAs the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC), Plateau State Chapter, concludes arrangement to conduct a byeelection into the Qua'an Pan North Constituency in the House of Assembly, the All Progressive Congress (APC), has said it would defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The election which would be conducted on November 28, 2015, is as a result of the demise of Hon. Godfrey Dashe, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the April 2015 general election, but was called to glory, one month after being sworn

in.

However, having declared the seat vacant, INEC has set aside November 28th for the election which it says, should be conducted in strict compliance with the use of permanent voter card, and the use of card reader machine.

INEC said that in the context, only the PDP and APC had field in candidates for the election.

INEC Deputy Director and head of department Voters Education and Publicity, Osaratin Emahirebo, said the third party which had earlier contested the position, Mega Progressive Party, failed to provide a candidate for the election.

As a part of the APC strategy to win the race, Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly, Peter Azi, Transition Committee Chairmen in the 17 local governments have joined forces with the leadership of the APC, headed

by Governor Simon Lalong, and the Party Chairman, Lateb Daban, at a grand rally in Baap, in Qua'an Pan Local Government Area to canvas support for the party’s standard-bearer, Hon. Eric P. Dakogol, in the election.

During the rally, Lalong and other leaders of the APC, called on eligible voters to come out en mass and vote for the party’s candidate to effect a change in the area.

The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy Prof.

Sonni Tyoden, urged the people of Qua'an Pan North, to join the campaign for a change that was already on at the national and state levels. According to him, “the APC is a party that hinges its principle on justice and, therefore, should be supported by all for the development of the state”.

Dakogol said this would be the third time he was going into a similar contest, stressing that he was confident that he would win excel this time. He promised that if he succeeded, this time, he would work closely with the local and state governments for the transformation of his constituents.

Ganduje tasks police on child rapists Yakubu Salisu

ÏÏÏGovernor

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has implored the state command of the Nigeria Police Force to assist his government in ensuring that people who allegedly rape children did not evade legal penalty.

Exchanging views with the Chairperson of Police Officers Wives Association Kano State branch), Mrs. Saliha Muhammad Musa Katsina, who visited him, the governor, who decried increasing cases of child rape in the state, urged the police to handle such cases in a manner that would ensure that the suspects were brought to book.

“In Kano, the punishment for child rape is life imprisonment, so the police who write the charges should do so, in such a way that the suspects would find it hard to escape conviction”, the advised.

Lamenting that legal technicalities often form stumbling blocks to penalising child rapists, the governor said that his administration was working with the state judiciary to address the problem.

Mrs. Saliha Muhammad Musa Katsina urged the state government to assist the association in tackling social vices, especially drug abuse and sexual molestation of minors.

Ganduje

Muslim leader seeks support for Buhari Gbenga Sodeinde

Ado Ekiti The Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Olatunde Badmus, has charged the Muslims in Nigeria to continue to support the efforts being made by the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, to stabilise and secure the country.

Badmus spoke in Ado-Ekiti, on Saturday, during the turbanning of the Chief Imam of Ekiti State, Alhaji Kewulere, as the President –General of the League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, Edo and Delta States by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar.

The Islamic leader, who was represented by Senator Hamsat Salami, reminded Kewulere that his new office required him to be an ardent promoter of peace and unity, not only among Muslims, but with their Christians, as well.

Badmus added that the Muslim and Christian leaders had an onerous task of keeping the country as one indivisible entity, at this period

ÏÏÏ

Ede Poly honours NASS member Remi Oladoye Ibadan L-R: Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce; Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Cross Rivers State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; Murray-Bruce's mother, Mrs. Margret; Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Lagos State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Folarin Coker and wife of Kebbi State Governor, Hajia Aishat Bagudu cutting the cake to mark the 35rd anniversary of the Silverbird Group in Lagos… at the weekend

Aviation minister seeks seamless connectivity in Africa Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏPlayers and stakeholders in

the aviation sector in Africa have been urged to explore the benefits of the Yamoussoukro Decision for greater air transport connectivity.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who gave the charge in Accra, Ghana, at the 10th African Air Transport Safety and Security Summit, held at the Best Western Premier Hotels, at the weekend, noted that safe, secure and efficient customer-focused air transport system remained the benefit of sound aviation.

Sirika said that connectivity would play a critical role in the development of African economics, which could be achieved by implementing the ideas of the Abuja Declaration that set a target for African airlines to reach world class safety levels by 2015.

According to the minister, “Connectivity is vital for Africa’s growth and development, supporting about 6.9 million jobs and $80.5 billion in economic activity, and hoped that it will closely knit relationship with seamless connectivity between Nigeria and Ghana in the near future.

Senator Sirika, who was represented by the director of safety in the ministry, Captain Taba Alkali, traced the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria to over several decades which had led to the exchange of knowledge, and friendship through many bilateral partnerships in the area of personnel training, expertise and information-sharing.

He charged airlines to live up to their responsibility of ensuring travellers though the kin of service provided to the public.

While saying that socio-political

and cultural ties had been made possible and galvanised by a robust Bilateral Air services Agreement, Sirika explained that no less than three Nigerian airlines, with the fourth commencing operations, shortly, business connections, leisure travelers and students between bother countries would be strengthened.

He commended the Ghanaian Ministry of Transport and the professionalism of the highest standard exhibited by the Ghana Civil Avaition Authority in allowing the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision between Nigerian and Ghana.

He noted that significant progress had been made in the Abuja Declaration with airlines meeting deadlines, but stressed a need for synergy between government regulators and operators to ensure that goals were achieved.

ÏÏÏA member of

the National Assembly representing Surulere Ogo Oluwa Federal Constituency, Hon Segun Dokun Odebunmi, was, on Thursday, honoured by the Federal Polythecnic, Ede, in Osun State as the Most Outstanding Alumni of the institution.

Olusegun who is the chairman House Committee on National Orientation, Ethics and Value, was among the awardees that during the 9th convocation of the institution.

The Rector of the institution, Mr. Patrick Hussein recognizing Odebumi said that he was one of the alumini that the institution was proud of.

The presentation of the awards was done by Minister of Education Dr. Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Dr. Masadu Adamu Kazaure.

In his response Hon Odebunmi thanks the management and students of the institution for the honour and gave an assurance of his contribution to the development of the institution.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

15 Opinion

Nigerian politics, leadership and nation building (3)

N

RESTRUCTURING THE POLITICAL SYSTEM

Amb. George Obiozor

igerian politics needs restructuring and institutionalisation as a way to contain its adverse effects on efforts towards nation building, national integration and national development. It is possible that with appropriate political structures, the leadership and other national problems can be reasonably managed through the democratic process. In that regard, Nigeria needs a system of shared power, bearing in mind that political decency flourishes best in societies in which stable, peaceful and just political institutions make it difficult for reckless and lawless political adventurers to thrive.

Today we have two choices: first, to continue to follow our present political arrangements, which favour over-centralization of governance and resources. This road is where we are now and has in the past and present led us to all kinds of sorrow, including a civil war, the Niger Delta crises and Boko Haram, among others. It is a difficult, if not an impossible, road to follow for successful and sustainable nation building, national unity and integration or progress.

The second choice is to recognize our irrepressible pluralism and the necessity for voluntary integration.

Coercive integration – or integration by force or by intimidation – has failed all over the world including Africa. Events in Sudan, for example, are indicative of the reality that no matter how long you hold people by force against their will; eventually the people’s yearning for freedom and voluntary association would triumph.

A political system that makes it difficult for leaders to lead effectively and for followers to follow voluntarily is a recipe for either progressive anarchy or national catastrophe.

Our system of government must respect our respective cultural identities, interests and priorities.

We need a truly federal system as the United States, India, Canada, Switzerland or the present devolution process as in the United Kingdom. Federalism, in essence, is simply “a contractual non-centralization” involving structural dispersion of power among many centres whose legitimate authority is constitutionally guaranteed. Hence, entrenched diffusion of power or division of power among levels of government remains the principal characteristic and argument for federal democracy. It becomes therefore clear that when one speaks of federalism, one means, in short, “coordinate supremacy of the levels of government with regards to their respective functions”. Certainly, in this context, the “golden rule” of federalism as stipulated by scholars and political analysts, has been

constantly ignored or breached in Nigeria over the years. Nigeria has also ignored the important aspect of the equilibrium between the CENTRE and the REGIONS. Our present defective federal system needs to give way to true federalism, which will also enable leaders to deliver social justice and guarantee citizens’ rights, safety and security across the country. It has become clear worldwide that leaders who are unable to ensure justice at all times and to all citizens regardless of their ethnicity, region, creed or ‘state of origin’ have no right to demand peaceful behavior amongst the citizenry. As I have often observed and remarked, “Throughout history, those denied justice have had no interest in peace” The nature of political system conditions the expectations and behaviours of the operators, politicians, bureaucrats and citizens alike. A flawed system can hardly compel the obedience or loyalty of all citizens, nor can it promote good governance. Here we cannot avoid stating the obvious fact that operating a system with a strong, overarching centre and a unitary system in the guise of a federation – as we have had since 1967 – has been the root of the constant do – or – die struggles by our sectional political leaders for the control of the central government. This, according to Professor Elaigwu, has “turned the game of politics into the battle of politics” among the Nigerian elite OTHER TOPICAL ISSUES: FISCAL FEDERALISM It has been stated by many experts, “Nigeria cannot achieve its famed great potential by practicing a corrupt system; a system that rewards the indolent, and punishes the industrious; a society that places premium on ethnicity rather than merit. No society progresses without justice and ours is an unjust set-up that supports and facilitates corruption. This situation must thus be rectified if we are to survive and thrive as a modern nation”. (THISDAY, SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2015, P16). The above statements represent critical elements that have negatively affected Nigeria’s economic development.

Fiscal Federalism or Resource control is a problem that must be resolved before Nigeria and Nigerians would think of a peaceful or harmonious co-existence as one nation, united and indivisible. The Founding Fathers of Nigeria had it effectively solved and settled. However, the Military Coups, the Civil War and Military Regimes abandoned this important legacy of Nigeria’s Founding Fathers. In fact, the federalism including fiscal federalism, which they founded, was principally a CONTRACTUAL DECENTRALIZATION that respected and rec-

ognized the Autonomy, Legitimacy and Authority as well as the cultural identities of each Region. Because of the Civil War and prolonged military rule, the political restructuring of Nigeria drastically changed with its IMBALANCES, INCONGRUENCIES and MANIFEST injustice at various levels.

ECONOMIC/SOCIO/CULTURAL A nation’s economic resources level, development status, and diversity play major role in its capability assessment. For a long time, Nigeria’s power potentials were based on two positive factors – human resources and material resources (oil/petroleum). In addition, for a while these factors carried the country very far within the hierarchy of nations. It is obvious that the difficulties we have today stem from the management of the economy in general and the fall in oil price.

In the present circumstances, we must do our best to retain our customers even if they are buying less or none of our oil. How to do this will require political engineering and diplomatic ingenuity.

Afterwards, there are many ways to keep diplomatic relations open even in times of crisis or war. In fact, Nkrumah’s doctrine should re-echo in Nigeria diplomacy today – seek yee first the political kingdom and everything else will follow.

History has demonstrated that when the politics or diplomacy is right/good between countries, political “miracles” help solve other problems including the economic.

Nigeria should work hard on improving relations with our principal partners – United States, Britain and intensify relations with China, Russia, the Asian Tigers and India.

CONCLUSION LEADERSHIP, LEGITIMACY AND AUTHORITY IN NIGERIA In political science, legitimacy is the popular acceptance of a governing regime or laws as an authority.

In fact, where such acceptance is absent like in Nigeria immediately after virtually every presidential election from 1979 to 2011 the environment for effective governance becomes problematic.

Nigeria has had too many protracted crisis of philosophical and psychologically nature and history has shown that too many such crises destroy nations, through either partition or outright disappearance into oblivion. Which way for Nigeria?

This critical question should determine the kind of leadership Nigeria needs. The present reality in Nigeria is that in spite of all the denials, selfdeceptions and delusions, of all the problems facing Nigeria the greatest is the absence of a nationally acceptable leadership, with its concomitant elements of legitimacy and authority crises.

Buhari History has shown that the destiny of leadership is closely tied to the destiny of their respective nations. In fact, it is not easy to imagine India without Gandhi, Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, South Africa without Mandela, Ghana without Kwame Nkrumah, China without Mao Tse Tung, etc.

Nigeria needs a leadership and a constitution that focuses on nation building, national integration, and economic/social development. We must have the courage to admit that all our previous political arrangements have failed in producing an enduring stable political leadership or guaranteeing national integration. We should go back to the drawing board, look at our national priorities and design appropriate system that meets our goals and national aspirations.

Finally, there are no barbarians on our borders, we are our own barbarians. In addition, the country has just employed or (elected) its last centurion.

In 1999, the nation went back to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who had left public office 20 years earlier in 1979, and 2015, went back to Muhammadu Buhari, who left public office 30 years earlier 1985.

There is no explanation to this mystery than a country in search of its past, frightened by its present and uncertain of its future.

Alternatively, to put it more clearly, Nigeria is a country whose past is better than its present and its future is a subject of debates and speculations at the national and international levels. One can consult two books – Karl Meir; Nigeria: This House Has Fallen, and John Campbell; Nigeria: Dancing on the Brinks, out of many books on the issue.

Certainly, history has been kind to Nigeria, but nobody knows for how long. Nigeria must wake up.

In addition, if or when it disintegrates in spite of all our efforts, claims and clamours, nothing extra-ordinary will happen. The next day, the sun will rise .Look at the graveyard of history, it is full of nations great and small, empires and civilisations that failed to take timely decisions at their historic moments.

CONCLUDED

4 16

Daily Daily TimesTimes Nigeria Nigeria Friday,Monday, November 13, 201523, 2015 November

‘PEACE ADVANTAGE’ Frequent Flyer Program

Overview PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Air Peace “Peace Advantage” Frequent Flyer Program is a customer initiative by Air Peace to show appreciation to & continuously reward its frequent flyers for their patronage from inception of Air Peace flight operations. The Peace Advantage FFP offers distinctive value to frequent fliers by delivering ‘recognition’, ‘rewards’ and differentiated service levels with an integrated customer interaction strategy to allow for continuous customer expression & feedback via a unique smartphone app (Android/iOS/blackberry 10 versions) and a dedicated website.

The “Peace Advantage” FFP aims to clearly communicate to Air Peace customers the value Air Peace places on their patronage & Air Peace’s commitment to building long lasting mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. The basic principle being that – The More You Fly with Air Peace, The More You Get Back From Air Peace.

The “Peace Advantage” Program rewards program members with an exchangeable loyalty currency called “Peace Points” for all their qualifying International, Regional & Domestic flights on Air Peace. Earned ”Peace Points” can be exchanged by program members for Air Peace flights nationwide, and in Future Air Peace promotional offers, gift merchandise, vouchers & other lifestyle related items from a dedicated online rewards catalogue – The Air Peace Loyalty Shop. In addition, program members will also be entitled to additional benefits – discounts & status benefits – from a network of Air Peace partners nationwide.

EARNING “PEACE POINTS” Peace Points are awarded to program members for flights flown as follows

The “Peace Advantage” program has 4 Member levels - Peace Bronze, Peace Silver, Peace Gold & Peace Platinum with the following benefits – TIER BENEFITS & QUALIFICATION

**Based on Availability

All individuals / passengers above 16 years of age will be eligible to enrol in the Peace Advantage Program, whilst to cater for our numerous passengers with families, Family Memberships will be allowed for passengers / individuals below 16 years of age, who will be enrolled under a parent / adult utilizing the Family Membership option.

17

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Business Times Æ s FG woos investors to power sector

Kayode Lawal, Executive Director; Bukola Awosanya, Group Head, Agric Finance; Yemi Adeola, MD/CEO and Abdulhadi Yau, Business Executive, North West all of Sterling Bank Plc at the commissioning of the Labana Rice Processing mill financed by the Bank at Birnin Kebbi recently.

Augustine Okezie, Abuja Federal Government has assured investors into the power sector that there are immense opportunities to develop investments still remains untapped.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Engr. Louis Edozien, who was represented

by Engr. Abayomi Adebisi said at the 5th Nigeria International Power Expo and Conference, which held in Abuja, that this administration has shown singular leadership and initiatives in ensuring that Nigeria leap frogs in its quest to achieving its dream of becoming one of the best economies in the world by the year 2020.

He said ‘’this year’s Expo, with the theme “Private Sector Partnership in Achieving Sustainability of Power Supply in Nigeria”, is relevant, apt and deep as the sector moves to the next level in its post privatization exercise’’.

The Perm. Sec. further rolled out a list of recorded mile stone achievements and the defining future movements within the context of the new private sector led power sector, which included the establishment and implementation of a renewable energy and energy conservation policy, embedded with coal to power.

Recall that the on-going reform of the Ministry is designed to equip itself with the right competitiveness and capacity to handle policy issues as well as ensuring conducive and enabling environment for investment in power. In addition, Government’s agenda in the times ahead has already commenced with the divestment by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), holdings in the Power generating assets in the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).

Engineer Edozien also assured that Government will assist Transmission Company of Nigerian (TCN) in accessing long term expansion funding, including the proposed Transmission Development Fund, and other International Development Funds from Banks and Multilateral Agencies.

Abubakar Atiku, an engineer and the Deputy Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN) at the event, stated that, “we can deliver 6,000Mw without overloading the system”

Oil marketers pledge solidarity with NNPC to end scarcity Augustine Okezie, Abuja As the fuel scarcity continues to bite harder, oil marketers have pledged teir solidarity with the current effort by Federal Government to end the scourge and restore sanity to the fuel supply and distribution condition within days.

Addressing newsmen shortly after a strategic session convened by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to address the fuel situation, members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers

Association, DAPPMA and the Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria, JEPTFON, jointly pledged to end the fuel queues as soon as possible. Declaring the session open, Dr Kachikwu charged the marketers to pick up the gauntlet and activate all necessary machinery and mechanism to guarantee unimpeded distribution of petroleum products across the country.

While pledging to eliminate all bottlenecks to fast track the process, Dr. Kachikwu further urged the oil marketers to see the initiative as a national call to action. ``We have gotten DPR,

PEF and PPPRA to be a bit more flexible with the rules to allow for more movement of trucks and products massively,’’ He said.

Speaking on behalf of MOMAN, Femi Olawore, Secretary General of the Association was emphatic that the majors are willing and ready to work with the Petroleum Ministry and the NNPC to restore normalcy to the fuel situation. ``For us there is only one thing that we know how to do and that is to sell petroleum products in accordance with the law. For us it is just a matter of few days before we get to normalcy.’’ Olawore intoned. He noted that

MOMAN will never do anything that is against prevailing regulations on the supply and distribution of petroleum products.

Dapo Abiodun, leader of the DAPPMA delegation pledged the commitment of his members to work towards the achievement of Federal Government’s objective in ensuring free flow of petroleum products across the country. Chief Ifeanyi Uba, Chairman of JEPTFON while pledging the readiness of the petroleum tank farm owners to support the initiative, called for government assistance in clearing the perennial traffic carnage at the Apapa loading gantries.

NiTA confers awards on CPN, others

By Tony Nwakaegho The Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA) under the aegis of Technology AVENUE has held the 2015 edition in Lagos and conferred awards on entrepreneurs, innovators, Academicians and policy makers in Government.

In his opening remarks, the President of NiRA Reverend Sunday Afolayan commended the organisers of the event saying that technology is now a global game changer that has made it possible for a Google self driven car in world to

emerge, adding it reported last week that it was booked for driving too slow in America.

“I want to say that technology has come to stay and it is revolutionizing lives and enhancing development of the nation,” NiRA President added.

One of the recipients of the awards, Mr George Opara, Chief Operation Officer, Centre Point Network Limited whose company emerged the winner of IT service & Support Company of the year 2015, commented: “I am very elated about the award. I am very happy because it was the public that made the

vote and not by me. Like I said before it calls for more work and we will continue to dedicate ourselves to continue to give the best support to our consumers and to make sure that our consumers enjoy the best support which we have. It calls for more dedication to duty and we are ready for that.”

On his part, Mr Nseobong c.

Akpabio, Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Coordinating Officer, Zone 2 Rs2, Lagos who won ‘ Best Use Of Technology Government Agency’ Award stated that technology has enhanced their level of enlightenment, job

creation, and state of collaboration, investigation of crime being committed using vehicle in any part of the country. Technology has indeed enhanced our service delivery.

“We are encouraged by the recognitions of our effort that will lead to national development, and we urged the organisers to do more and assist also to educate the public on various services being rendered. For us to able to organise such event next year our stakeholders, partipant must be road safety conscious”

Insurance 18

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Shareholders decry excessive charges by NAICOM

L-R: immediate past National President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN), Alh. Kabir Mohamed; ICAN Chairman, Abuja District Society, Mrs. Ifeoma Okpo and immeidate past Chairman of the District, Otumba Adewale Gbakinro, during the investiture of the new chairman in Abuja… recently.

Nigeria comes behind Kenya in life cover Stories by Isaac Agber

Kenya’s life insurance business penetration has outperformed many of its peers in middle and low-income countries.

According to a just released insurance report, Kenya’s life insurance assets, which accounts for 8.8 per cent of the country’s Sh6.2 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is rated higher than that of Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Philippines and Nigeria.

The report by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) on life insurance markets in SubSaharan Africa shows that Kenya has a well-developed insurance market.

The report notes that, in 2010,

life insurance assets had reached 8.8 per cent of GDP compared to 3.5 per cent for an average lowermiddle-income country. Annual premiums reached 1.06 per cent of GDP compared to 0.26 per cent for an average lower-middle-income country.

“Kenya has done very well in terms of financial service development and life insurance development,” explained Judith E. Tyson, the author of the report.

She reckons that Kenya is also one of the candidates to emerge as a financial hub for Africa but much needs to be done to reach the levels of South Africa, Mauritius and Namibia, which enjoy Life Insurance penetration of between 11 and 4 per cent of their GDP. The CEO of UK-based Life Assurance firm, Prudential Africa,

Matt Lilley said that Kenya has a “broad life insurance industry” and was by far the best in SubSaharan Africa.

The company pledged to create over 4,000 high-quality jobs by 2020. The report also indicates the need to address some of the thorny issues in life insurance business, including low-penetration due to lack of a developed government bond markets and encourages risk sharing and through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

It notes that life insurance requires investment in low to moderate risk, with stable income flows. “This calls for greater pool of suitable investments in the region which can be addressed by the two policies.”

It notes that these are the policies needed to address require-

ments for life insurance—investment in low to moderate risk, with stable income.

However, figures from the Insurance Regulatory Authority shows that Kenya’s insurance industry continues to be non-life business driven, which accounted for 66.4 per cent of the total premiums by the end of June 2015.

A big chunk of the industry’s investment during this period, about 40 per cent, went to Government securities, 17 per cent were in property and 16 per cent in ordinary shares. However, Tyson noted that the industry’s position looks good compared to its economic position. The insurance industry invested about 15 per cent in deposits and three per cent in loans in the second quarter.

S h a r e h o l d e r s Association of Nigeria in the Insurance sector have decried excessive charges by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

Towards this end, the shareholders under Dynamic Shareholders Association Nigerian (DSAN) appealed to the federal government to review excessive charges by the body on insurance companies.

Thisday reported that the group at a press conference in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, said “As stakeholders in the economy, we feel we have a responsibility to call the attention of government to an observable anomaly which has all trappings of corporate corruption being perpetrated by NAICOM.” According to the group, the unwholesome charges on insurance companies

by NAICOM are not only killing the public quoted companies but adversely affecting the prospect of good investments in the industry in general.

11 years after, CPS yet to penetrate Nigeria’s 36 states …as 1368 retirees die waiting for gratuities each year With all its objectives and aims to alleviate the plight of retirees by keeping prompt tabs on their pensions and gratuities, the Contributory Pension Scheme has recorded a very slow momentum at penetrating Nigeria’s 36 states since it became operational in 2004.

Eleven years after, only 9 states have fully embraced the scheme, according to a recent report by the Director General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu. The

states are: Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Ogun, Osun and Anambra. According to her, 21 states had taken steps at different levels to adopt the scheme but only few had actually remitted funds into the Retirement Savings Accounts of their workers registered under the scheme.

Reports have indicated that some of the states have not subscribed to any Pension Fund Administrator after indicating

interest; some are failing to translate the CPS bill into state laws, while some have adamantly frustrated the scheme by not giving it the seriousness it deserves.

Whichever applicable to any state, the resultant effects on retirees are quite staggering and should ignite some level of concern, if not total. A recent report from the Chairman of Bauchi State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Alhaji Habu Gar, showed that over

190 pensioners had died waiting for the state government to offset some backlog of their gratuities, which amounted to over N14.6 billion from 2011 to date.

Given some discernment to the Bauchi situation, one cannot rule out abuse of regulatory benchmarks for pension administration across all the states. It is estimated that over 38 pensioners die in each state every year. Cumulatively, it is estimated that over 1368 pensioners die every year

without receiving full compensation of their gratuities.

Though the 2004 Act was enshrined into law as part of reformatory measures to prevail against irregularities and insulate pensioners from pains and frustration associated with release of pension and other entitlements by their employers, 11 years of its enactment into law hasn’t shown some significant achievement.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Images of the 49th Annual Bankers Dinner

L-R: Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Joseph Sanusi; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun; and Mr. Jude Monye, Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank Ltd. sponsors of the event during the 49th annual Bankers Dinner at Oriental Hotel in Lagos oat the weekend.

L-R: Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Sarah Alade; former Governor, CBN, Chief Joseph Sanusi; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun; and Mr. Jude Monye, Executive Director/ Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank Ltd. sponsors of the event during the 49th annual Bankers Dinner at Oriental Hotel in Lagos oat the weekend.

L-R: Consul General of Germany, Mr. Ingo Herbert; Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Sarah Alade; former Governor, CBN, Chief Joseph Sanusi; President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun; and Mr. Jude Monye, Executive Director/ Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank Ltd. sponsors of the event during the 49th annual Bankers Dinner at Oriental Hotel in Lagos oat the weekend.

L-R: Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Joseph Sanusi; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun; and Mr. Jude Monye, Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank Ltd. sponsors of the event during the 49th annual Bankers Dinner at Oriental Hotel in Lagos oat the weekend.

19 News

Why FG may write-off bailout to states - Amosun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun

T

here is a strong indication that the bailout fund extended to all the 36 state governments of the federation by federal government may be written-off going by the economic realities currently being experienced by some states.

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun said this weekend while speaking at the opening of the Treasury Board meeting for the year 2016 budget held at the Obas’ Complex in Oke - Mosan State Secretariat Complex, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Governor Amosun explained that the decision to write off the bailout fund from the debt list of the states that benefited from it was borne out of the federal government’s conviction that some states in the country are non-economically viable and as such, would not be able to cope with the conditions for its repayment.

The governor, who was apparently responding to the criticisms against his administration’s assessment of N19 billion of the fund, also lamented that Ogun shortchanged itself by not applying for a total sum of N40 billion in the opportunity provided by the bailout scheme.

The governor also hinted that the federal government was already considering writing off the bailout fund since more

states are already clamouring for more of the bailout system.

Amosun however, emphasised that his administration remain committed to improving the socio-economic fortunes of the state despite the current economic downturn in the country.

The governor also charged official at the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strive towards prudence and accountability in their focus for year 2016 Fiscal year.

Amosun also said that the state’s year 2016 budget proposal would largely be financed through aggressive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without inflicting unnecessary pressure on the citizens.

He directed both the political and career officers to ensure total blockage of loopholes, leakages, wastages and remit all monies to the appropriate government coffers.

Earlier the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms. Adenrele Adesina appreciated all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies for their commitment to the Ogun State Project.

She noted that the 5-cardinal programmes of the Amosunled Administration remain sacrosanct and priority of Government.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

FREE HEALTH CHECK Everything you need for a hassel free drive.

These services are also available to all Land Rover owners, at Coscharis Motors from 12th October - 13th November 2015*.

Free diagnostic report issue Free estimate to customers 10% Discount on estimate, if repairs are approved within 2 weeks BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. landrover-africa.com

COSCHARIS MOTORS LIMITED

Km 32 Lekki Epe Expressway, Awoyaya, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: Lekki - Awoyaya: 08088526433 | Abuja: 08052205546 | Port Harcourt: 0812 619 5203 customercare@coscharisgroup.net

*Terms and conditions apply.

Daily Daily Times Times Nigeria Nigeria Tuesday, August 18, Monday, November 23, 2015 2015

21 21

Daily Times Advert Rates Sizes

Rates

Vat

Sizes

F/PAGE

532,350.00

26,617.50

H/PAGE

303,439.50

Q/PAGE

Colour Rates

Vat

Sizes

Rates

10”X6

505,732.50

25,286.62

6”X3

114974.83

5,703.74

15,171.97

10”X5

324,252.34

13,780.72

6”X2

76,049.94

3,802.49

163,431.45

8,171.57

10”X4

421,528.04

21,076.40

5”X5

158,437.36

7,921.86

14”X5

516,379.50

25,818.97

10”X3

337,222.43

19,861.12

5”X4

131,839.81

6,591.99

14”X4

268,517.34

13,425.86

10”X2

131,839.81

6,591.99

5”X3

95,062.36

4,753.11

14”X2

296,551.80

10,327.59

9”X6

455,159.25

22,757.96

5”X2

63,374.94

3,168.74

FPS 6”X3

873,388.02

43,669.40

9”X5

379,375.23

18,968.76

4”X2

50,699.95

2,534.99

FPS 6”X2

582,257.81

29,112.89

9”X4

303,500.18

15,175.00

3”X3

43,874.94

1,864.68

BPS 6”X3

861,432.81

43,071.64

9”X3

21,0126.15

10,056.30

3”X2

29,249.98

1,243.12

BPS 6”X2

565,621.87

28,281.09

8”X6

404,666.92

20,233.34

2”X2

19,499.98

828.75

ROP2”X6

198,096.61

9,904.84

8”X5

337,222.43

16,861.12

1”X2

9,749.99

414.37

FPS 2”X6

582,257.82

29,131.09

8”X4

269,777.95

13,488.89

1”X1

4,875.00

207.19

BPS 2”X6

565,621.87

28,281.09

8”X3

186,801.63

9,340.08

BPS 2”X2

349,354.69

17,467.73

13”X5

479,495.25

23,974.76

8”X2

124,522.05

6,226.10

13”X2

164,774.84

8,238.74

7”X5

295,069.63

14,753.48

EARPIECE 2”X2

365,990.62

18,299.53

11”X5

463,680.84

23,184.04

7”X4

206,551.80

10,327.59

CENTRE SPREAD

1,497,234

74,861.71

11”X4

370,424.87

18,521.24

7”X2

88,724.91

4,406.24

DOUBLE SPREAD

1,330,875.00

66,543.75

11”X2

139,424.87

6,971.24

6”X4

186,801.62

9,340.08

DOUBLE SPREAD (1/2)

665,437.50

33,210.97

Black & White

Vat

Sizes

Rates

Vat

S/N

Sizes

Rates

Vat

16

10”X2

124,611.09

6,230.55

31

6”X2

44,240.63

1,880.23

11,473.80

17

9”X6

343,369.19

17,168.45

32

5”X5

119,813.65

6,990.68

6,244.75

18

9”X5

286,789.47

14,339.47

33

5”X4

94,554.69

3,133.71

390,511.26

19,525.63

19

9”X4

229,536.51

11,476.82

34

5”X3

55,300.74

2,350.28

312,409.60

15,620.48

20

9”X3

155,328.68

7,766.43

35

5”X2

36,867.18

1,566.86

14”X2

157,994.09

7,899.79

21

8”X6

306,019.70

15,300.98

36

4”X2

29,493.75

1,253.48

7

13”X5

362,617.60

18,130.88

22

8”X5

204,028.39

10,201.46

37

3”X3

33,180.45

1,410.17

8

13”X2

124,601.51

6,230.07

23

8”X4

204,032.45

10,201.62

38

3”X2

22,120.32

940.11

9

11”X5

350,647.44

17,532.37

24

8”X3

141,263.20

7,063.16

39

2”x6

48,173.99

2,047.39

10

11”X4

281,818.05

14,090.90

25

8”X2

76,631.55

3,831.57

40

2”X2

14,746.87

626.74

11

11”X2

105,440.15

5,272.00

26

7”X5

223,003.40

71,115.12

41

1”X2

7,373.44

313.37

12

10”X6

383,460.20

19,123.01

27

7”X4

157,994.09

7,699.67

42

1”X1

3,686.72

156.69

13

10”X5

320,067.93

16,003.39

28

7”X2

51,614.05

2,193.60

14

10”X4

255,041.86

12,752.09

29

6”X4

173,871.36

4,618.40

15

10”X3

191,666.80

9,583.34

30

6”X3

66,360.90

2,820.34

S/N

Sizes

Rates

Vat

1

F/PAGE

402,589.59

20,129.47

2

H/PAGE

229,476.11

3

Q/PAGE

124,895.04

4

14”X5

5

14”X4

6

S/N

Political

Colour Rates

Vat

Sizes

F/PAGE

532,350.00

22,624.88

H/PAGE

303,439.50

12,896.18

Q/PAGE

163,431.45

6,945.84

Sizes

PHOTO SPLASH 100,000.00

4,250

Pictures & Captions 1

F/PAGE

35,437.47

1,506.09

Classified Advert 1

Classified

3,675.00

1

Per 1000 copies

24,500.00

1,041.25

2

Handling charges for the 1st 50,000 copies

71,662.50

-

(LAGOS) IFEANYI - 08086296714 (ABUJA) FEMI - 08033550468

DOUBLE SPREAD

774,210.94

32,903.96

44

DOUBLE SPREAD (1/2)

387,105.47

16,451.98

Rate for Computer & IT/Educational Property/Vacancy/Home & Décor (Black & White)

Black & White

S/N

Sizes

Rates

Vat

Rates

Vat

1

F/P

341, 583.13

F/PAGE

402,589.69

17,110.06

2

H/P

206,155.46

10,307.77

H/PAGE

229,476.12

9,752.74

3

Q/PAGE

112,334.62

5,616.73

Q/PAGE

123,595.04

5,252.79

4

10”X2

55,476.05

2,357.73

5

8”X2

44,380.56

1,886.17

6

7”X2

38,832.99

1,650.40

7

6”X2

33,282.11

1,414.49

8

5”X2

27,736.42

1,178.80

9

4”X2

22,187.85

942.98

10

3”X2

16,640.27

707.21

33,283.03

471.54

Rate for Computer & IT/Educational Property/Vacancy/Home & Décor (Color)

S/N

Sizes

Rates

Vat

1

F/P

451,680.17

22,584.00

2

H/P

272,602.27

13,630.14

3

Q/PAGE

146,822.62

7,341.13

Colour

-

Loose Insert

43

PLEASE CONTACT

11

2”X6

17,079.15

(BOTTOM STRIP)

12

2”X2

11,094.96

471.54

13

1”X2

5,547.58

235.77

14

1”X1

2,773.79

117.89

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

Public Notice 22 OLIVE FOUNDATION FOR GIRLS PROTECTION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The trustees are: 1. MR. TAJUDEEN AHMED (CHAIRMAN) 2. MRS TEMITOPE OLOFE Aims And Objectives: 1. TO EMPOWER AFRICAN GIRLS THROUGH INNOVATIVE LITERACY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT programs.

2. Campaign against all forms of violence against girls including rape 3. To provide adequate support to victims of physical, psychological and social violence.

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: Barr. Fisayo Ogunyemi.

LEKKI VISTA ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION LAGOS This is to inform the General Public 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.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

FAITH REVIVAL MINISTRIES WORLD OUTREACH A.K.A VICTORY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the underlisted members of the above mentioned organization have been elected trustees of the organization to replace outgoing board.

The trustees are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Apostle Nkechi F. Anayo Rev. (Dr) Emiko Amotsuka Elder A.O. Assam Mr. David Olawale Deacon Sylvester Nwakuche Deacon Priscilla Jacks Deacon (Mrs) Chinyere Isiocha

TRUSTEE ARE; 1. EVANGELIST MOSES ENILOLOBO. 2.ALHAJI RASHEED EMIOLA. 3.CHIEF JUDE OSIGWE

Any objection to the registration of any of the above mentioned persons should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 24 days from the date of this publication.

Aims And Objectives: 1.To promote the interest and welfare of Members of the Association 2. To foster unity and promote love among members.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees.

GOD’S VINEYARD TREASURED MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 THE TRUSTEES: 1. GOODNEWS ALPHONSUS OZIOMA. 2 GOODNEWS STELLA ONOME 3. AARON IFEANYI CHUKWU. 4. IWUCHUKWU LINUS CHUKWUDI. 5. AGBONLAHOR ONOME GERTRUD. 6. IFEDIBA APPOLONIA IFEYIN. 7. IGBO JUSTINE NWACHINEMER. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1To propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. Alleviation of poverty for Christian Faithful.

3 .To Mobolize Christians for warfare prayer for the Nation Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED : EUNICE IBUKUN ADESINA. SOLICITOR.

NEW BREED PRIME ADVOCACY INITIATIVE

ELIGIBLE FRIENDS CLUB This is to inform the General Public that the above Named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

Aims & objectives: 1. To foster unity among members and advocate brotherly love towards one another and humanity 2. To promote the image, interest and integrity of the club and strengthen the general progress and welfare of the members and the general public 3. To cultivate brotherly love among the members of the club.

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

IRENE FIBROID FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 TRUSTEES: 1.

JOOJI TOR 2.

NWOKOAFOR INNOCENT OSONDU – (CHAIRMAN) 3.

PASTOR FABIN ALAKE 4.

BARR. CHINEDU NDUKA – (SECRETARY) 5.

GODWIN ETENG 6.

DR. MRS. OLUWAFUNMIKE PATRICIA ANI 7.

DR. MOSES ONYEBUCHI ANI 8.

DR. BIODUN ADEGOKE ABOLARINWA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.

TO CREATE AWARENESS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIGHT AGAINST FIBROID 2.

CREATING A RELIVE PLATFORM FOR WOMEN SUFFERING FROM DESTRUCTIVE DISEASES Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: RUTH A. OKEOWO

OSCAS GETHSEMANE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990

TRUSTEES 1.

OMO – OIKEH NWAMAKA CHRISTIANA 2.

PASTOR DON NNAMDI ODUNZE JR 3.

NWAFOR MARCEILUS CHINATU 4.

NNADI UMEADI SUNNY 5.

AFOLABI OLAWUMI ADERONKE 6.

OIKEH OMO ILOBEME 7.

OGWU KARL CHUKUWEIKE AIMS 1.

SOCIAL REFORMATION VALU INFUSION & MIND CHANGE 2.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR THE GIRL CHILD, MOTHERLESS/ ORPHANS 3.

NATION BUILDING RAISING LEADERS THAT TRANSFORM SOCIETY 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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. TOBIH JAMES ENAJERO - CHAIRMAN 2. BROTHER ODEWUMI GIDEON OYELOWO 3. BROTHER SOYODE OLALEKAN 4. BROTHER KEHINDE ADEBAYO GABRIEL 5. SISTER SALAMI YEMISI BOLAJI - TREASURER 6. BROTHER FALOLA ADEMOLA ADEGBOYEGA - SECRETARY

JAKANDE & GBARA CONCRETE CASTERS ASSOCIATION This is to inform the General Public 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. PASTOR CHUKWUEMEKA UDUNWA CHAIRMAN 2. MR. JAMES NJOKU VICE CHAIRMAN 3. MR. EDWARD AGBA 4. MR. LIVINUS OKONKWO 5. MR. SUNDAY OKORO 6. MR. LUCKY OGBAROFINANCIAL SECRETARY 7. MR. BENJAMIN AGADA 8. MR. CHIBUZOR NJOKU SECRETARY 9. MR. ADELEKE ORIOYE THE AIMS & OBJECTIVES ARE:1.To protect and promote the welfare of the skilled and non skilled workers specially involved in concrete casting, pilling and all structural and foundation works in the building and construction industry in the Jakande & Gbara Community and environs in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

2. To promote peace, unity, progress and togetherness among members.

3. To promote good working relationship between concrete casters and Estate/property owners and developers.

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

Signed By:- Barrister Oge Enyindah 08023223818

Signed: Secretary

YOKE BROKEN DELIVERANCE MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL This is to inform the General Public 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. Evangelist Ugbaja Lifted Anuli. -general overseer 2. Onyemekara Mary Ifeoma - Gen. Sec 3. Ugbaja David Obinna 4. Oluyole Samuel Olumuyiwa 5. Onochie Beverty Chinenye 6. Nwamaradi Nneka Aims: 1. To preach the gospel of Christ 2. To deliver the oppressed Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Signed: Anthony Okechukwu Esq Solicitor 08038778254.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

SIGNED SECERTARY

AIMS & OBJECTIVE .

TO PROMOTE THE UNITY AMONG 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: Management

The Trustees Are: 1. Okeke Ifeanyi Peter - Chairman 2. Nwafor Tochukwu - Secretary 3. Ezeani Okechukwu - Treasurer 4. Abone Chijioke Jude 5. Ezeogu Chiagozie Emmanuel 6. Nwosu Emmanuel Elochukwu

The Names Of The Trustees Are: 1. Abiodun-Wright Oladimeji 2. Ojo Ayodeji Babatayo 3. Ogu Chibuzor 4. Masade Benjamin 5. Familusi Folarin Ademola 6. Adewumi Babatunde Joseph

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

The trustees are:

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To foster unity among different Christian groups 2. To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through the sound word of God which is the bible 3. To seek the welfare of members in order to grow in faith Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

INFINITE MINDS CLUB

This is to inform the General public that the above named CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) OGUNLEYE OLAYEMI (PRESIDENT) (2) MARTINS FABOYE (3) AJITERU ADEKUNLE (4) AGBOLUAJE ADEDAMOLA ( 5) ADEDAPO BABATUNDE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) TO CARE FOR THE INTEREST OF MEMBERS. ( 2) ACHIEVEMENT OF UNITY AMONG MEMBERS OF THE CLUB WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA. (3) PROVISION OF A FORUM FOR INTELLECTUAL DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CLUB AND COUNTRY AT LARGE. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 Days from the date of this Publication.

SIGNED BY:- SECRETARY

END OF TEARS DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

The General public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) PROPHET DOMINIC CHINEDU DONATUS (2) DOMINIC FAVOUR ADAKU (3) NWOSU IKENNA COLLINS THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 Days from the date of this Publication.

SIGNED BY:-SECRETARY

SIGNED: ABIMO IDOWU FAITH

CARDINAL FITNESS CLUB

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

Names of Trustees: 1. Asusu Anthony 2. Ozougwu Johnpaul Ifeanyi 3. Ogbonna Anthony Uchenna 4. Osita Lee 5. Ugwu Ndubuisi Moses Aims & Objectives: 1. To promote healthy and fitness lifestyle of members through physical exercises, training and other sporting activities.

2. To promote social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities for the wellness and healthiness of members.

3. To promote quality of life activity programs and provide resource of wellness and fitness for its members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 Days from the date of this Publication.

Solicitor: Wenceslaus Ozougwu

EZIAKOR SUNDAY CALISTUS I, formerly known and addressed as EZE SUNDAY EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as EZIAKOR SUNDAY CALISTUS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWADIALOR WILLIAMS ERIC I, formerly known and addressed as OKWUCHUKWU WILLIAMS ERIC now wish to be known and addressed as NWADIALOR WILLIAMS ERIC. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AZODO EKENE CHRISTIAN I, formerly known and addressed as OKOYE STANLEY now wish to be known and addressed as AZODO EKENE CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GODFREY OCHONOGOR NNEOMA BLESSING

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OCHONOGOR NNEOMA BLESSING now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. GODFREY OCHONOGOR NNEOMA BLESSING. First Bank of Nigeria PLC and general public take note

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Probe Nigeria’s UK High Commission over deportees, CLO tells Buhari Segun Adio

ÏÏÏThe

National President of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Igho Akeregha, has urged President Mohammadu Buhari to probe, urgently, the activities of the country’s London embassy over a planned deportation of 500 Nigerians from the United Kingdom (UK) on November 24, 2015.

Akeregha told journalist, on Sunday, at Ikeja, Lagos, that his organisation had cause to believe that most of the Nigerians to be repatriated on Tuesday were victims of underhand dealings of a syndicate allegedly involving corrupt Nigerian immigration officers and foreign collaborators in the UK office of the Nigerian embassy.

“There is a need to draw the attention of President Buhari, the Comptroller-General (CG), Immigration, CG Customs and other relevant officers at the country’s entry point to the wicked and nox-

ious plan by authorities in the UK and corrupt officials at the Nigerian High Commission in the UK to unlawfully deport some Nigerians on Tuesday 24, 2015,” said the CLO president.

Though Akherega acknowledged the right of countries to repatriate illegal immigrants causing nuisance within their territory, he pointed out that where such actions were taken, due process and transparency should be followed.

The CLO said that it was particularly peeved at reports that a certain deputy immigration attaché to the Nigerian embassy, in London, was allegedly linked to corruption and fraud in the illegal deportation of Nigerians. It was alleged that the officer was believed to cream off the 3, 000 pounds paid on every deportee by the UK authority as means of ameliorating any sufferings of the deportee.

The CLO said that the theft of the

money was being done with active connivance of some UK authorities.

Apart from defrauding would-be deportees of their money, a certain woman called Ngere was also accused of luring unwary immigrant in the UK into a trap where they were arrested and deported to Nigeria, while she took the money allotted to the deported individual.

“There are instances where immigrants whose papers expired or with minor hitches in their documentation and waiting rectification at the appropriate agencies in the UK are made victims by Ngere,” Akherega said. It learnt that these activities had come under intense scrutiny of Alexia Thomas, Chairman, The Commonwealth Liberation Party (TCLP), in the UK. Through her activism, Virgin Atlantic, an international airline owned by Charles Branson, pulled out of the business of repatriating Nigerians from the UK.

Amosun presents 2016 budget Tuesday Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏOgun State Governor, Senator

Ibikunle Amosun will, on Tuesday, present the 2016 budget to the State House of Assembly.

The Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Muyiwa Adenopo, in a release he personally signed, said the budget presentation which was the first in the second term of the Amosun administration would take place at the Assembly Chambers,Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to Adenopo, the budget presentation which would be the fifth by the Governor since his assumption of office in 2011 remained one of the major respon-

Yola

ÏÏÏGovernor

Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa State has said that arrangement had reached an advanced stage for rice farmers in the state to benefit from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) -anchored borrowers’ programme to boost their production.

Speaking to newsmen through his Commissioner of Agriculture, in his office, in Yola, Mr. Marthins Dickson, Jibrilla said Adamawa was one of the 14 states to benefit from a N40 billion soft loan to boost rice production.

He said Adamawa was one of the leading states in rice production and that his administration would leave no stone unturned in

Don urges Ambode to rid Alaba market of fake products

Peter Fowoyo.

ÏÏÏA law professor, Mr. Bankole Sodipo, has called on Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to work, assiduously, with the police, with a view to ridding the Alaba Market of counterfeit products. Bankole, who made the call at the 7th inaugural lecture of the Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, titled: “The Oracle Intellectual Property and Allied Rights: The Knowledge Economy and The Development Agenda”, said intellectual property cannot thrive, if Alaba market, in its present form thrived.

He said if the oracle’s prophecies must be fulfilled, IP enforcement must be tackled, noting that the Federal High Court should increase the number of Judges and ensure that intellectual property was given speedy hearing.

The don lamented that foreign direct investments (FDIs) were jeopardised by the pace of commercial litigation in Nigeria and urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to give priority to intellectual and commercial cases via a Commercial Court of Appeal.

Bankole said that it would be politically wrong for anyone to chal-

lenge or criticise him if he decided to consult an oracle as an African, who was trying to tell the future.

He said his oracle, which is the Holy Scriptures, had made several postulations about the future and suggested that there would be a time known as the end times.

“One of the instructions of my oracle is that man should subdue the earth and replenish it. For the end times, my oracle gave two postulations that are apposite to our discourse: The first is that knowledge will increase. The second is that men will be lovers of themselves.

Amosun

sibilities of the executive in the preparation of the yearly appropriation bill to be approved by the legislature.

It would be recalled that the Ogun State House of Assembly had, within the last five years, passed the yearly appropriation bill by the end of December, preceding the fiscal year, to give the executive the opportunity to deliver the promised dividends of democracy to the people.

Adamawa farmers to benefit from CBN’s rice loans, says Gov Jibrilla Tom Garba

L-R: Immediate past National President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN), Alh. Kabir Mohamed; ICAN Chairman, Abuja District Society, Mrs. Ifeoma Okpo and immeidate past Chairman of the District, Otumba Adewale Gbakinro, during the investiture of the new chairman in Abuja… recently.

23 News

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Abuja District Society, at the weekend, installed its newly- elected Chairman, Mrs. Ifeoma Perpetua Okpo, as well as other officers to pilot its affairs for a two-year term.

The immediate, past National President of the Institute, Mr. Alhaji Kabir Mohammed, who administered the oath of office to Okpo, urged her to uphold and observe the ethics of the profession and should use her office to advance the tenets of the institute.

He charged members of the district to give her their unflinching support, to enable her to discharge her duties and responsibility to the progress and development of the institute in general, while declaring that he had no doubt in her ability to lead the Abuja chapter of the institute to a greater height.

helping the people, particularly those returning from areas recaptured from Boko Haram terrorists to make maximum use of the opportunity.

According to Jibrilla, his recent travels out of the state were official and in the interest of the state, adding that his recent trip to Abuja was not only to participate in the CBN programme, but, also, to participate in the Nigeria/Cameroon meeting on security involving seven states.

He also added that while in Abuja he visited the FCT minister who was an indigene of the state, where he assured him that as ambassador of the state, the government and people of Adamawa would accord him the needed support to succeed.

ICAN Abuja District elects new Chair According to the ICAN National president, the Institute acknowledged the pivotal role of the of the Abuja district being at the FCT adding that “it is one of the very effective and busy districts, by virtue of its closeness to the seat of power and, therefore, assists the mother institute to bridge the gap between the legislators and the executives.”

The event which took place at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Abuja, had in attendance representatives of the governors of Enugu and Abia states, minister of finance who was also duly represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts of the Ministry, Mr. Moses Okpo and Mr. Marshall Gundu, director of Press in the ministry.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23 2015

Group may drag Obi to EFCC over N65b Excess Crude revenue ÏÏÏA

pressure group, known as the Economic and Society Watch Coalition (ESWC), has said that it would drag the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explain how he expended the N65.9bn Excess Crude allocation that accrued to the state from 2011 to 2013.

Addressing a press conference in Awka, recently, the Coalition’s President, Dr. Kennedy Udoye, stated that

his group had compiled a documentary evidence of all the revenue that accrued to Anambra State from the Excess Crude allocation shared by the Federal Government to all the states of the federation during Obi’s last three years in office, which he was said to have placed in a fixed deposit accounts in Fidelity Bank, Access Bank and Diamond Bank for a period of three years.

According to Udoye, “We can categorically inform Anambra people that the

ÏÏÏA

Ogun abducted boy rescued in Enugu

four-year-old boy, Steve Kanu, kidnapped about three weeks ago, at Ogun State Workers Estate, Laderin Abeokuta, has been rescued from his abductors.

The kidnappers, who stormed the Laderin home of Dr. and Mrs. Mucipay Kanu, in Abeokuta, in a taxi cab without number plate and forcefully took away the boy who was busy playing with the family puppy in the compound was said to have been rescued in Enugu.

It was gathered that following the media report of the abduction, the kidnappers put a telephone call across to the parents, threatening to kill the boy and also demanded for a ransom.

Luck, however, ran against the kidnappers on Friday, as they were arrested by police operatives in a village in Enugu – about nine hours’ drive fom the scene of the crime.

The suspects have since been transferred to Ogun State Police Command in

ASUE SUNDAY EBELE I, formerly known and addressed as EBELE SUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed asASUE SUNDAY EBELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BASSEY JOSEPH BASSEY I, formerly known and addressed as JOSEPH BASSEY UBUO, now wish to be known and addressed as BASSEY JOSEPH BASSEY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Abeokuta for further investigation.

When contacted, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the story, saying the rescued boy is doing fine, while the suspects were in custody as at the time of filing in this report.

The father of the victim, Mucipal Kanu confirmed to our correspondent, on Sunday, that the boy had re-united with him and his mother, and thanked well-wishers, particularly the police and media, which gave maximum support during their travails.

He added that the boy has to undergo rehabilitation, saying that the trauma he passed through was still an open wound for him, stating that within the period of the captivity he had lost weight and became malnourished.

ADEWALE EUNICE OLUWABUKOLA OLANIYI

I, formerly known and addressed as FADAIRO VERONICA OLANIYI EUNICE OLUWABUKOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWALE EUNICE OLUWABUKOLA OLANIYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

N9 billion, which former governor Obi left behind in cash to his successor is the total sum of all the interests he mopped up from fixing the N65.9bn that accrued to Anambra State from the Excess Crude account in three years.”

Udoye, who is an economist- turned-activist, regretted the fact that until his group began to ask questions, the usually active human rights community in the state had gone silent on what he described as a grave

as there were more facts being uncovered.

“I find it curious to believe that Obi is claiming that he left N75 billion in the coffers of Anambra State when Awka, the state capital, remained a glorified village all through his eight years in office. Does that show him as a visionary leader?

By the way, does Obi’s claim not remind us of what Chukwuma Soludo said about his spreading poverty across Anambra State when he was governor?” he queried.

Niger gov warns new LG chairs against corruption Saka Bolaji Minna

ÏÏÏNiger

State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has warned the newly sworn in Chairmen Transition Implementation Committees (CTIC) to desist from corruption tendencies and abuse of office, and get adapted to

JOHN HUSSANAT I, formerly known and addressed as

AMODU KEHINDE ADEKUNBI EKO HUSSANAT,

now wish to be known and addressed as JOHN HUSSANAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBAYEMI ADERONKE ELIZABETH OLAYINKA now wish to be known and addressed as public take note

tious efforts to deflect attention from the alarm raised by one of the commissioners that served under his administration. But we shall not allow that to happen. We have concluded our petition to EFCC. Obi has a case to answer,” Udoye stated.

The activist also charged the people of the state to show more rigour in their analysis of some of the curious claims made by Obi’s aide in the heated war of words between him and his success

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), being welcomed by the Iranian Deputy President, Mr. Shariat Madari (2nd left); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema (3rd right); Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (2nd right) and Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu (right) at the Mehrabad Airport, Tehran on Sunday, ahead of the 3rd Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, in Iran

OYEKANMI ADERONKE ELIZABETH OLAYINKA

MRS. OYEKANMI ADERONKE ELIZABETH OLAYINKA. General

financial heist perpetrated by the Obi administration.

“Why is everyone silent?

Shouldn’t we all be asking Peter Obi questions about what has happened to the N65.9bn Excess Crude allocation? Where is our sense of outrage?” he demanded.

“The Economic and Society Watch Coalition can no longer stand with hands akimbo and watch Peter Obi and his well-oiled media machinery pull the wool over our eyes. In the past one week, they have made ambi-

Bello

the change era by carrying along every stakeholders in their respective local councils.

The governor, while inaugurating the 25 local government care-taker committees, at the weekend, in Minna, directed them that everybody must be carried along in the developmental stride of their councils, especially the key stakeholders, while taking their assignment very serious to ensure peace and stability for the socialeconomic and political process of the people were sustained.

He urged them to report to him anyone or groups who foment trouble or threaten security in their domain, so as to effect arrest and prosecution, to serve as a deterrent to others, since his government had concluded to deal severely with anyone threatening the peace of any community or council.

The governor said this on the heels of some aggrieved members of five local governments who, were not happy with their appointments.

He exonerated himself that he was not consulted but that it was the handwork of stakeholders in the affected areas urging them to take it in good faith.

Bello further said, “We must shun all acts of corruption, our zero tolerance for corruption remains in force.

We all should take probity, transparency and accountability as watchwords for our stewardship.”

He reiterated that his government would strive to alleviate the plight of the neglected majority of the people in the local governments by providing them with the basic necessities of life, even as he told them to serve the people with passion, humility and genuine fear of God as they will be account for

their actions to the people and their Creator.

Bello gave the assurance that his administration would deliver its mandate to the people in terms of rural roads, potable water, viable education, electricity and funds for the empowerment of youths and women groups in the state.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed dismay over the actions of Bello, who asked for an extension of the tenure of the existing leadership in the local government, which was approved by the state assembly, but was, instead, utilised to constitute a fresh care-taker committees to run the affairs of the councils. The action is seen by the party as a direct abuse of good gesture of the house of assembly, in order to avoid creating a vacuum in the local government administration in the state.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

25

Features 26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

The place of contributory pension scheme in the future of pensioners

Tales from Nigerian pensioners since the post-colonial days is one of misery and penury, hunger and homelessness.

An agency writer reviews the genesis of the Nigerian Pensions Fund.

Without doubt, the process of establishing a workable and sustainable pension scheme for retirees in Nigeria has been a task that could not be done.

Master schemes upon master schemes from successive colonial and post-colonial administrations to fashion out a sustainable pension system for both public and private sectors’ workers have all been pigeonholed for reasons not so farfetched.

According to records, the Pension Ordinance of 1951 which retroactively took effect from January 1, 1946 was the first public sector pension scheme in Nigeria.

The law allowed the GovernorGeneral to grant pensions and gratuities in accordance with the regulations, which were reviewed from time to time with the approval of the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs in the United Kingdom government.

Under the 1951 Pension Ordinance, public service workers were entitled to pension after 10 years of service.

However, although pensions and gratuities were provided for in the Ordinance, they were not a right as they could be reduced or withheld altogether, if it was established to the satisfaction of the Governor�General that the officer was found guilty of misconduct, negligence, irregularity, among others.

Here is a small chronicle of the pension scheme saga: The very first private sector pension scheme in Nigeria was set up in 1954 for employees of the Nigerian Breweries, which was followed three years later

by United African Company (UAC) in 1957.

Four years after that, the Na-

Lagos State pensioners match to Alausa tional Provident Fund (NPF) was established in 1961 to accommodate the interest of nonpensionable private sector employees, Under the NPF, both employees and employers contribute N4 on monthly basis to the scheme, which provided for a one-off lump sum benefits for retirees.

To address the challenges associated with the various pension schemes, the Pension Act No.102 was instituted in 1979, followed by the Armed Forces Pension Act No. 103.

In 1987, the Police and other Government Agencies Pension scheme were also established

Protesting pensioners

under Pension Act No.75 of 1987.

In 1987, the Local Government Staff Pension Board was established to take care of pension matters among local government employees.

Apparently dissatisfied with the operations of the various pension schemes, the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) was set up in 1993.

To further address the problems of delay usually experienced by pensioners in accessing their entitlements due to the non-contributory nature of previous pension schemes, the Federal Government came up with a new pension reform in 2004.

The reform facilitated the passage into law of the Pension Reform Act 2004 and the establishment of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which is a uniform pension system for both the public and private sectors.

Similarly, for the first time in the history of the country, a single authority, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) was established to regulate and supervise all pension matters in the country.

The scheme is being managed by licensed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), while the custody of the pension fund

assets are provided by licensed Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs).

10 years down the line however, economic analysts believe that the scheme has been successful as it has become a model for most African countries.

This, they note, informs the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

The pension industry recognised the creation of longlasting returns on pension assets and the recognition is dependent on transparent, predictable and well governed environmental and economic systems that were underpinned by clearly defined prudential regulatory guidelines

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

decision by the World Pension Summit Group to allow Nigeria to host the summit for two consecutive times.

Interestingly, the National Pension Commission (PenCom), which manages the scheme, says the fund has accumulated over N5 trillion in the last 10 years.

Addressing the second edition of the World Pension Summit, Africa Special held recently in Abuja, PenCom’s Director-General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said that the summit with the theme: ‘Building Sustainable Pension Systems in Africa,’ was designed to bring up practical and enduring strategies for pension fund regulation in the continent.

She said that sustainable pension systems in Africa were reflective of the emerging consensus of the continent on the need to institutionalise a robust pension system.

“The aim of the summit was to evolve measures to tackle the plethora of development challenges that plagued Africa in the 21st Century. The summit was also in line with the multilateral paradigm shift of promoting sustainable development goals within the institutional framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

“The summit is built to discuss the most appropriate strategies for leveraging pension funds in the continent to boost the execution of critical infrastructure projects because infrastructure development, undoubtedly, remains a key enabler of sustainable development in Africa.”

The D-G further said the current rapid increase in the size of pension funds in the Continent had provided a rare opportunity for multi-sectoral collaboration in bridging Africa’s infrastructure deficit and added further: “The summit would focus on the long-term sustainability of pension systems in Africa. This summit therefore shall facilitate the setting out of economic pre-conditions and initiatives that are needed for longer-term growth as well as to foster poverty eradication.

“It is important for regulators to consider issues of unemployment, diseases, poverty and climate change in designing their pension regulatory framework.”

Recognition Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu revealed that the pension industry recognised the creation of long-lasting return on pension assets and explained that the recognition was dependent

27 Features

Pension fund has risen to over N5 trillion in the last 10 years –PenCom With over N5 trillion, which is over 25 billion dollars, we have a whole lot of investment opportunity where we are doubly sure the pension fund can actually be invested and they can also realise the money because that is the essence of investment – Gov Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State

Pensioners protesting... recently on transparent, predictable and well governed environmental and economic systems that were underpinned by clearly defined prudential regulatory guidelines.

“Pension managers all over the globe are changing their mandates to reflect considerations of sustainable investment and growth.”

She further revealed that because the PenCom is committed to mainstreaming sustainability strategy and practice in the discharge of its statutory functions, the summit has initiated the Africa Pension Award (APA) for the 2015 edition.

“Among

other

things,

the

award would seek to identify excellence, highlight sustainable achievements and engender home-grown development of African pension industry.

“It would also create an opportunity for African countries to share experiences on best practices in the development of their respective pension industries, while fostering positive local and global perceptions.”

Sharing similar sentiments, the Chairman of World Pension Summit, Mr Erick Eggink, said that the pension summit was meant to inculcate relevant knowledge of pension administration in pension professionals in Africa.

Eggink said that the summit

became necessary as a result of introduction of new reforms in the Africa pension systems.

He said that the reforms were designed to improve Africa pension systems, noting that the idea was to share global best knowledge on how best to run the pension industry.

Acknowledging the success of the contributory pension scheme, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom says his administration is ready to invest in the pension industry to generate income for the state.

He said that the accumulation of N5 trillion pension funds in the country could create a lot of investment opportunities for interested investors.

“The main reason for this is with over N5 trillion, which is over 25 billion dollars, we have a whole lot of investment opportunity, where we are doubly sure the pension fund can actually be invested and they can also realise the money because that is the essence of investment.

“You don’t invest to lose your capital; you invest to actually get adequate return on your investment.

“Even in terms of road infrastructure, the economic viability of the roads in the SouthSouth zone is being linked up by Akwa Ibom.

“So, we can actually earmark some of these for the investors to come under the PPP (public private partnership) model. We as a state government will also be interested in taking up some equity,” he said.

The governor, however, advocated the setting up of an institution that would ensure proper and accurate remittance of pension contributions.

“Once you set up strong institutions, those things are mere administrative. We are after building those strong institutions so that processes and procedures can actually run normally.

“So, set up strong institutions and things will happen - policies, procedures and processes will actually run,’’ he said.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Ondo pensioners

Features 28

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Students warned against get-richsyndrome and desperate travel dreams A Women Rights activist recently awarded prices to pupils of a private school in Lagos for excelling in her maiden project on human trafficking and women rights Abuse. JUDITH UZOMA reports the event.

ÎÎÎFounder

of Media Initiative Against Human Trafficking and Women Rights Abuse (MIAHWRA), Tobore Ovuorie, on Wednesday advised Lagos State secondary school students to be wary of get-rich-syndrome and being desperate of jetting out of Nigeria as human traffickers are lurking everywhere, capitalising on such dream to enslave children and youths.

Tobore was speaking to students of Speedladder Private School, at Alagbado area of Lagos State.

MIAHWRA is a non-denominational and non-profit organization which seeks to contribute to the prevention and eradication of sexual exploitation, human trafficking and abuse of children and women. The organization’s intervention also includes changing the reality that perpetuates the exploitation of women; thus, works towards eradicating the global scourge.

‘I Am Not To Be Sold’ is MIAHWRA’s maiden project on human trafficking. The organization was founded August 2015.

Speaking to over 100 students of the school, Tobore said it is good to dream about going overseas to further your education and for other legitimate reasons, “But never get desperate lest you’re taken advantage of, particularly by traffickers.

“Human trafficking comes in various forms, but among the youths, the craze for shortcuts-tothe-top makes them vulnerable to traffickers’ whims and caprices.”

Disclosing that child traffick-

ing within and outside Nigeria is on the increase, Tobore taught the pupils some of the signs and symptoms of children who are already being lured by traffickers, as well as those who have been trafficked.

She also taught them how to prevent being trafficked and how to seek help for themselves or their friends in any uncomfortable situation.

Six students, three each from the junior and senior classes carted away prizes for their original poems and short stories with the theme: I Am Not To Be Sold!

Miss Oreoluwa Folarin, a JSS 1 student placed first in the junior category with her 13 lines poem.

Alice Kanu and Boluwatife Aliu placed second and third respectively with short stories in the same category.

Miss Sandra Oyedele, a final year senior secondary student placed first in the senior category, followed by Omobolaji Fatuga and Inheritance Ikekhua who respectively placed second and third. All three young ladies wrote short stories with the theme Modern Day Slavery.

As a result of all six winners being females, MIAHWRA promised returning to the school for a competition strictly for the male students.

In an after-lecture-interview, teachers and students of the school said they were very glad being part of the session.

“I now know much about human trafficking and would ensure I don’t fall victim to the lure. I will also tell my friends about human

L-R Fatuga, Boluwatife Folarin, Tobore, Alice, Sandra Oyedele and Inheritance trafficking and how they can stay safe,” Miss Folarin said.

An administrative staff of the school, Ms. Opeyemi Akintunde said “The facilitator came down to the level of the students, they were very attentive and I have learnt so much today. We need more of this for the society to get better.”

MIAHWRA which is presently not funded, plans to go around Nigeria creating awareness in every nook and cranny about the evil

of human trafficking as well as abuse of women.

Human trafficking remains a topic of concern with Nigeria as a source, destination and transit country. Mainly young women and girls are trafficked to Europe and other destinations, and there is growing evidence for the involvement of Nigerian criminal networks.

Sadly, reliable data on the trafficking and smuggling of migrants is hard to obtain, but traf-

ficking and smuggling conducted by criminal networks involving Nigerians and other West African nationals is of growing concern.

Sadly, 244 of the 2,340 victims of trafficking referred to United Kingdom authorities in 2014 were from Nigeria. According to the National Crime Agency in UK, this is a 31% increase on the previous year. The only country with a higher number of potential victims was Albania.

Tobore with the students in a group photograph

Regionally, Africa is globalising at a fast pace - Economist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

But critics of the Contributory Pension Scheme however have advised operators of the scheme to fully comply with the provisions of the Pension Act. They specifically insist on compliance which requires the payment of 50 per cent of a pensioner’s entitlement upon retirement, provided such a pensioner attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

Stakeholders in the scheme have shown their displeasure at the unnecessary delay in the payment of pension entitle-

ments to retirees.

“The action appears to be deliberate because the longer payment is delayed, the more money is accruing on the waiting fund, yet the poor pensioner is not considered to be a beneficiary of the interest,” said retiree activist, Mr. Segun Olu-Spencer.

The activist advised government to take a holistic look at the Pension Act, to enable pensioners to benefit from the interests accruing from pension fund investments.

It would be recalled that over 6.5 million people currently

are contributors from 180,586 employers that have registered with the scheme.

The Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki who revealed this in March this year had told a delegation led by the Ambassador of the European Union, EU, to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Mr. Michel Arrion in his office in Abuja that the pension reform was one of the bureau’s success stories.

A pensioner being revived after slumping

Our heritage Æ s In Lagos, one school takes youngsters back to cultural root Agozino Agozino

ÎÎÎFOR the future of

arts and cultural appreciation, there is the need to induct the younger generation on the nuances of creative talent. It is in line with this philosophy last week Wednesday that organisers of Nigerian Schools Cultural Festival (NISCUFEST), decided to hold a one day cultural festival for youngsters in Lagos.

The one-day cultural festival which falls on the laps of Christ the King international school, Atunrase estate, Gbagada, Lagos State, is the seventh edition in the series, and the project is gaining momentum, and large followerOlumo rock ship each season. Participating schools have come to embrace the project which is put together

by Global Royal Arts Centre to give young ones an avenue of appreciating Nigeria’s rich cultural Agozino Agozino heritage.

With different costumes the OGUN, theenthusiasts Gateway State young culture file came into existence in Febout to represent their school in ruarypresentations.

1976 following the different Kabma creation ofschool new states by thefirst late primary emerged General Murtala Ramat Mohamposition after all the thrills as a med. of beautiful performance result In terms of culture and tourwhen the young lads presented the Ogun Government, aism drama piece State which left no one through tourism in doubt ofitstheir actingpotential, prowess. has showed continuously guaranteed They that time spent in self-sufficiency tourist atrehearsals indeedMajor worth the pretractions in thealso Statewas arethe Olumo sentation; such Abrock, the Birikisu sungbotook shrine, dek private school which the Suna cultural the Ososa second position centre, of the event. home Hubert Ogunde and Otherofparticipants were Christ Yemoji centre and many the Kingtourist International primary more. Predominantly which emerged third inhabited position, by the Egbas, Egbados, Aworis, Eguns, Ijebus and the Ijebu-

while Diadem college took the fourth position.

There was also competition on general knowledge where the students shined like stars; The founder of the Nigerian Schools Cultural Festival, Mr. Ogunse Tosin said the idea of the school cultural programme is to instill the State, cultural valuehas in Rernos, Ogun which the minds ofatthe youngsters. its Capital Abeokuta, also“We atstarted this project in 2008; this is tracts many other Yorubas from the 7th edition states. of the programme. neighbouring Specifically, We do this to promote ourthe culturYoruba is spoken among preal heritagesub-ethnic from the grassroots.

It dominant groups but is a way is of widely catching themas young English spoken offifrom primaryThe and secondary cial language.

State, is noted schools in the country for its hospitality to .” expatriates Mr. within Tosin, who is also the Arfrom and outside Africa, tistic Director, Global Arts provides entrance for Royal thousands Centre lament theinto pain he goes of people coming Nigeria by through organise the land fromyearly SierratoLeone, Liberia, programme. that Ghana, Togo He andreveals Republic of the Bebeat has to goIdiroko, on in spite finannin through theoffamous cial constrain that has rocked the Nigeria-Benin Republic border programme. is by State. the grace town situated“It in Ogun of God that wewith are still the Enriched an doing uninhibproject; if l saymilieu someone put monited cultural which gives a boost to social relationship among the inhabitants, Ogun is

ey down to run the project l could be lying to you. We had written to schools, companies all fell in deaf ears, but that will not make us stop and say we will not continue.

We will keep doing it, l believe that we will get there someday.”

Mr. Tosin disclosed that the idea is to take the cultural festival to schools in the federation. blessed with a peaceful religious “Our aim which is to take the Nigeriatmosphere engenders the an Cultural School Festival all spirit of solidarity amongtothe schools in the state, and God’s citizenry . Adherents of by Christigrace we will achieve that mananity and Islam live together, but date. believe because manyl don’t of them stillthat participate there’s no moneyrites the project will in traditional depending stop, God religious will use background. someone to on family take project anotherweathlevel, Ogunthe enjoys thetotropical beyond imagination.” er with our the rainy season starting He March however that about and projected ending Novemsoonest the Nigerian School Culber, it also enjoys, throughout tural Festival willweather go places.

“I the year, a sunny in day hope seefairly the programme at intime to and cool weather in ternational festival inagriculturfew years the evenings.

Notable to andinclude then it will only al come, products Rice,not Maize, be for Nigerians, it will be a globBeans, Cassava, Yams, Plantain, al brand, competing other Bananas, Tomatoes, with Oranges, international festivals.”

Cocoa, Kolanuts, Rubber, Palm Oil, palm Kernels and Sugar Cane.

Climbing the Olumo rock

ART HERITAGE SERIES Obiora Udechukwu ARTS MASTERS SERIES

Ben Enwonwu ( 1917 1994)

Udechukwu is a Nigerian painter and poet. Born in OnitBen a Nigerian sha inEnwonwu, 1946 to parents from Agupainter and sculptor, a piolu in Anambra State,was he studied neer whose career opened the for one year at Ahmadu Bello way for the postcolonial prolifUniversity before serving in the eration increased visibilBiafranand War. He completed his itybachelor’s of modern African art.

Hisin degree in fine arts work has been exhibited aroundin 1972, receiving his master’s the1977; world. both were from the UniverBorn twin on Nsukka.

14 July 1917 sity ofa Nigeria, He is into the noble family of Umurecognised as a member of the eze-Aroli in Onitsha, Nigeria, Nsukka group of artists.

Udechukwu frequently incorporates uli into his work, and in his father, Omenka Odigwe the 1970s he began to incorporate Emeka Enwonwu, was a techninsibidi into his work as well. cian who worked with the Many of his paintings andRoyal prints Niger he washis also a depictCompany; ordinary people; warmember of the time service alsoOnitsha inspiredCounpieces cilwhich of Chiefs andthe a great traditional depicted suffersculptor of repute.

He was a ing that he saw. Udechukwu’s reputable traditional sculptor later works have gradually bewho created office stools andis come more abstract. Obiora decorated with religious the head ofdoors the Fine Arts Departimages. ment at St. Lawrence University.

Daily DailyTimes TimesNigeria Nigeria Monday, November 16, Monday,November 23,2015 2015

29

Our heritage 30

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Inside Azaiki Museum Tucked away in a quiet street within the heart of Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, is an engaging Museum of African Arts and the Azaiki Public Library. The two facilities are home to an extraordinary collection of African and global treasurers. Agozino Agozino writes

Where last clothes worn by Saro-Wiwa are exhibited

ÎÎÎThere are museums and in-

deed there are museums. How would you feel if you are confronted with the last cloths worn by the late Ogoni environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa?. To be sure, chances are that one will be taken aback. Or you would be gripped by a certain emotion. In fact, you would be seized.

There is museum in Bayelsa State, where for everyone that cares late Saro Wiwa image looms large. Though it began like a mere pursuance of an individual’s fantasy in a serene street in Yenagoa, capital of the oil rich Bayelsa State, it soon became an ambitious project, pursued with uncommon zeal.

Gradually, it has been nurtured into a world class venture.

In 1999, Bayelsa state’s pioneer Commissioner for Agriculture, the cerebral scholar, Prof.

Steve Azaiki, set out to build a private library and museum that will be accessible to the public in the state capital.

The facility, which according to him, was inspired by his desire to leave an enduring legacy in the form of an artistic monument now stands in its imposing splendor in the home of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Azaiki Library and museum now houses one of the country’s most resourceful privately funded library and private art collections.

Beyond its aesthetic dazzle, the facility is now distinguishable in several ways. In its conception, execution and functionality, the facility can stand its own among world-renowned libraries. It was set up in the mould of some of the world’s best of such globally renowned resource centres as the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston; Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta; Ronald Reagan Library in Los Angeles; Clinton Library in Little Rock, Arkansas; Library of Congress, all in the United States of America (USA); and the British Public Library in London among others.

As the facility’s keepers guide

Saro Wiwa

one through, first source of thrill is that it is equipped with a vast provision that make a world class public library, comprising an e-library, art galleries, coffee bar, lecture halls, conference halls, exhibition halls and more.

Beyond its richness in art, the facility is splendid in style. One feature of the library that rubs off on everything is in its sense of comprehensive documentation amid the thrills. Within the centre, there is the Niger Delta Museum on its third floor (also called the Museum of African Art).

The Museum tells the story of the Niger Delta region, particularly the feats of the Ijaw nation. Vivid illustrations in the forms of drawings, literature and quotations excerpted from publications are boldly displayed everywhere. Tales of the legends of Ijaw land and the people’s chronicles dot the walls like a historical sequence of epics. Apart from the people’s travails, because of the “curse”(as stated) imposed on them by the discovery of oil a half century ago, in the belly of their earth, narratives of how the exploration turned into exploitation of

the region since 1956 are also highlighted.

A striking feature of the museum is the section devoted to Ken Saro-Wiwa, the late Commonwealth prize winning writer, environmentalist and human rights activist who was killed through the instrumentality of a locally and globally flawed court judgment in November, 1995 by the dictatorial military rule of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. The history of that judicial murder, which shook the world to its foundation, is replicated in a beautiful illustration, which featured the gallows

where Saro-Wiwa was finally silenced. That section of the collection is replete with replicas of the last clothes worn by the late activist who was at one time the President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Other instruments of his gory execution were also replicated. But how did the collector, Azaiki, get to own such a museum which has one of these large collection of treasures?

Prof. Azaiki, who had initiated the project, more out of passion than of the assurance that he can foot the bill, disclosed that though his family was not particularly wealthy when he began it, the drive to have a place where his people can appreciate their roots and the culture of the Ijaw nation was the major motivating force. In an age when people would rather build hotels or other commercial centres in Lagos or Abuja for profit making, the surprise about the whole idea is that it is not a commercial venture but something to galvanise humanity to find a solace for those who thirst for learning.

Azaiki explains: “the idea was conceived in 1999 to provide opportunity for young and old Nigerians to have access to books and arts, to create a platform for people to visit, even if they were not interested in reading, and to serve as a resourceful tourists’ attraction. And rightly so, the place is fast becoming a Mecca not just for those sightseeing but for those in quest of e-learning.”

The philosophy of the museum and public library is stated thusly in the opening paragraph of its mission statement: “an enabling environment that will harness intellectual and material resources required for the generation of innovative ideas and the pursuit of life-long learning.”

The life of founder reminds one of the stories of a man who despite not having a silver spoon birth achieved it by a dint of hard work. This explains why he has devoted greater part of his life to impacting positively on humanity, especially, his people who he provides opportunities and empowerments.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

31 Opinion

You can’t kill Biafra! ÎÎÎThe

Yinka Odumakin

sustained protests in the South East for weeks now drumming support for a Sovereign State of Biafra have confirmed what social scientists have correctly argued over the years: you can’t kill ideas.

A sane state should by now known that what is required at this point is social reengineering that would make centrifugal feelings to be less popular when the nationality question is well addressed and we begin to focus on the things that bind us as different peoples united by a common vision.

It is rather unfortunate that what we continue to see is the usual irrationality that has made Nigeria a folly in the last 55 years.

Rather than seeing this as a moment to address issues of nationhood, our leaders continue the bulldozing strategy whereas what is required is reconstructive surgery.

One fellow from the Nigerian Army was threatening ROE (Rule of Engagement) against the protesters. Short of dropping atomic bombs on the entire South East and wipe out all the inhabitants, what ROE is he threatening that could be worse than over a million Igbo killed during the Biafran war from 1967-70 that would now kill the Biafra idea?

I have also read some jokers who styled themselves State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo clownishly declaring that Biafra died 40 years ago. If it is four decades dead, why are they addressing it and why is it hat the authentic Igbo voices we know are

Kanu

not the ones making such statement ? The silence of renowned Igbo leaders speak so eloquently than the jejune statements of these deluded fellows who can’t read the social thermometer correctly.

Anyone who has observed events carefully in that that part of the country for years now would not have missed out that the Biafran flags have been flying all over the place just as the currency has been circulating. The Nigerian security operatives have had running battles with Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

A state that has the capacity to maintain and extend its life span should have been devising creative ways of combat-

W E A T H E R ABUJA Low 21°C High 37°C

KADUNA Low 20°C High 37°C

ONITSHA 29 |23 °C 85 |74 °F

IBADAN Low 24°C High 37°C

LAGOS Low 25°C High 35°C

ILORIN Low 24°C High 39°C

ing such mood that is so strong by offering constitutional reforms. Canada has been dealing with Quebec question in referendum after referendum which has now become NEVERENDUM. United Kingdom in September 2014 had a referendum in Scotland to address similar question. Despite the inability of the separatists to win at the polls, the UK government in January 2015 published a new devolution deal.

The UK government published the draft legislation transferring new powers over tax and spending to Scotland, dismissing nationalist claims that it was “watering down” devolution promises made before the independence referendum.

The move marks an

important step towards rapid implementation of a cross-party deal brokered

by Lord Smith of Kelvin to make good on the pledges made by pro-Union leaders. UK officials said the draft legislation will give Scotland the third most powerful devolved parliament in the world after those of Canadian provinces and Swiss cantons.

The suicide-prone Nigeria state is hardly that creative in tackling issues that go into the very foundation of its nationhood.

Rather than engaging issues, it runs away from it usually engaging cheap subterfuges and muscleflexing. It behaves worse than a colonial state by issuing “warnings” to citizens whose grievances it should address.

If this bound to die state

understood self-preservation, it should have engaged the “original “ Boko Haram after the murder of Yussuf in 2009. That movement would probably not have metamorphosed into the brutal killing machine that we have today or provided the atmosphere for whatever is using its cover.

If Ken-Saro Wiwa had been engaged when he was mobilizing leavingwaving crowds in Ogoniland, a sick Yar’ Adua would not have had to drag himself into the creeks to negotiate with Tompolo and several billions of Naira being expended on Amnesty Programme.

I am amazed how any thinking person would not be able to see that Nigeria that spent three years to put Biafra in the cooler when it had something to offer cannot contain an encore at a stage it holds not much promise except to those who feel that they can only be prisoner within the “command and control” centre.

Methinks that it is Nigeria that is dead, and that the quest for self-determination is very much alive and no ROE can defeat a popular idea. The earlier we come to terms with that reality and begin to re-arrange Nigeria in an inclusive manner that allows the federating units to live their civilizations and be proud members of a Union of equal, the better for the life span of Nigeria.

If Nigeria remains stubborn as ever and continues to read “riot acts”, it may just be digging its own grave. And that would be “a story that touch”.

R E P O R T KANO Low 20°C High 37°C

BENIN CITY Low 11°C High 23°C

P/HARCOURT Low 23°C High 35°C

CALABAR Low 24°C High 37°C

ENUGU Low 25°C High 37°C

WARRI Low 24°C High 33°C

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

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

Published by folio communicationS ltd, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.

dailytimesng

ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. GROUP EDITOR: Biodun duRoJaiYE news Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. advert Hotlines: 08086296714

mondaY, noVEmBER 23, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.236

Price: n150

2018 World Cup:

Nigeria in race to improve in FIFA ranking

By Mike Otanwa

N

igeria will have about five months to improve their FIFA ranking ahead of the draw for the final round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in June.

Nigeria have featured at five World Cups including the last tournaments in 2010 and 2014, but they are 59th in the world and outside Africa’s top 10, which could mean they could draw very tough opponents in the final hurdle for qualification to Russia 2018.

On current ranking, Nigeria would be drawn in pot 3, which could see them draw tough teams like Ghana and Cameroon in the first two pots of the draw.

The Super Eagles have between now and June 24 to ensure they are better placed by the time of the draw so as to enjoy a more favourable draw.

Next year’s CHAN will be a big opportunity for Nigeria to enhance their FIFA ranking as the tournament is considered by FIFA as a full international competition.

An improvement on the team’s third place last year in South Africa will therefore go a long way in earning valuable points for the Super Eagles in the FIFA rankings.

Nigeria are drawn with Tunisia, Guinea and Niger in the group stage of the biennial competition, which kicks off on January 16.

Nigeria will also have two FIFA friendly windows before June 24 during which to improve their FIFA rankings.

The first such window will be between March 21 and 29, while the second

window is between May 30 and June 7.

These windows will cover 2017 AFCON qualifiers against Egypt (in March) and Tanzania and Chad (between May and June) and good results from these matches will go a long way to lift the country from their current disappointing 59th position.

The failure of the Eagles to qualify for this year’s AFCON in Equatorial Guinea is believed to have contributed to the country’s poor rating by FIFA, which was the complete opposite when Nigeria won a third AFCON in South Africa in 2013.

Life&

TIMES Monday, November 23, 2015

CDQ:

Next generation Rapper

L2

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Mutiat Alli

Just like his late revered mentor, Dagrin, Sodiq Abubakar Yusuf popularly known as CDQ, equally dishes his rap lines in Yoruba language. This has improved his popularity among fans, especially with his consistency and deep lyrics. Most people believe that he sounds very similar to that of another indigenous artist, 9ice. The young rapper was recently cornered at a movie premiere, where he spoke about his music career and sundry issues. Excerpts:

Despite fame, you cant take the street off me – CDQ

How and when did you discover your talent as a rapper?

From a really young age, I’ve always loved music. As I grew up, I found myself interested in music. I love rap. Sometimes when I am lonely, I rap and people think I have mental problem.

Life&

T E A M

Who and what inspired your love for music?

I really can’t tell, I guess I’m inspired by the good songs that I hear and that’s why I listen to a wide array of music. No matter the genre and most times, everything I’ve listened to, tends to be rearranged in my subconscious, giving birth to an entirely new tune. I went into music as far back as 2002. On May 7th, 2009, I organised my first concert while in school with the late Dagrin who was in attendance. Others who attended were M.I, Jesse Jagz, Dj Jimmy Jatt and Wizkid.

You have had cause to work with Skales, Olamide and Runtown. What was the experience like?

It was fun. Runtown gave me my hit song, Ogini; Olamide never jokes when he is in the studio. He is a hardworking person.

Skales also supported me.

You came into the music industry unannounced and your name, within a short space of time, was already all over the place. What would you say is your unique selling point?

My coming into the music industry was kick started when I met the late Dagrin. He encouraged me and adviced me to do music in my own local dialect and ever since then, I have been rapping in Yoruba and the response has been massive. I am a rap version of 9ice because I also

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli

play with words, adages and the rich culture of the Yoruba tribe.

What inspires your lyrics?

The environment. There was this day I was chilling at Oriental Hotel and while eating, I started beating the table using my spoon and I was like ‘Indomie oo’ and immediately I called my producer that I had gotten an idea for a song. He came and I dropped my entire lines at once.

Your verse on Jahbless’ song, 69 missed calls, was quite impressive. How did you manage to come up with those lines?

Getting my lines on the song was not as hard as people presumed it to be. Olamide put a call to me that Jahbless wanted me on his new single so I hooked up with him in his house in Magodo and we all put up the strings together and everybody liked both the audio and the video of songs. The

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

fact is, every artiste has something to say but just needs the right beat to voice your lyrics on.

How are you coping with fame?

I still live my normal life, I move on the street to get my local herbs and mingle with friends as well.

You can never take the street out of me.

How soon should we expect an album from you?

All things being equal, my album is expected to drop before the end of the year as much work is going on to make sure the album meets my own standard first before dishing it out to members of the public.

Which artiste will you be featuring in your soon-to-be released album?

Well, I have worked with so many known artistes already but for my forthcoming album, I intend

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

to have Olamide, Wizkid, Flavour, and Timaya and plans are still on for more collaborations.

What’s your relationship with Masterkraft?

He’s like a brother, father and friend to me. He inspires me.

What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?

When I was hosted by Akon in his house. I felt like a king.

How easy or tough is it rapping in Yoruba?

I wouldn’t say it’s tough because it is something that I have been doing for so long. Initially when I started out, the only challenge I had then was how I will get a break through seeing other rappers doing their thing in Yoruba language as well. But thank God it is going well and the acceptance has been massive.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

L3 Luxury

Adedeji Suliamon

Think you got swag?

9

Try some of the most expensive wrist watches

Have you ever wondered, what are the most expensive watches in world? Today in Life & Times Luxury page, we ex-rays the many intricate details in million dollar watches like expensive stones, diamonds and gems that are encrusted into them jacking up their price.

Do you know that these watches have complicated mechanisms inside that make time telling as accurate as it could be? Some are equipped with the tourbillion, an intricate mechanism that counters the effects of gravity. These complexities definitely increase the selling price of these expensive watches in the world.

10. Brequet Pocket Watch The 18-karat gold very stylish pocket watch. It is hand engraved and features a silver face of exquisite workmanship. A secure watch chain is called for after you have traded an old watch for this piece. It cost seven hundred and thirty-four thousand dollars.

9. Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication The Blancpain 1735 Grande Complication is a pretty cool watch to wear around. The case is made with platinum, and the watch strap is made out of crocodile skin. The engine parts are made of 740 pieces of handmade parts and components. Thats why its one of the most complex wristwatches ever made in the world.It cost eight hundred thousand dollars.

8. Louis Moinet Magistralis Magistralis is a majestic unique piece and Grande Complication.

This remarkably stylish man’s watch contains a genuine piece of meteorite that was found on the moon. After you have traded in your old watch for this you will have no excuse about what day of the year it is as it has a perpetual calendar mechanism.It costs eight hundred and sixty thousand dollars.

7. Hublot Black Caviar Bang Hublot’s Black caviar watch was a draw dropper when it came out in

2009. well, it has long since raised the bar. but this wristwatch, covered in 501 baguette-cut black diamonds and 18-carat white gold is a classic, surprisingly understated piece.It costs one million dollars.

6. Chopard Super Ice Cube This Swiss-made watch has 60-karats of diamonds cut into perfect cubes. This luxury watch and bracelet is water resistant to 100 feet and also resistant to scratches.

It cost one million and one hundred thousand dollars.

5. Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon The most complex wrist watch ever made by Patek Phillipe. It has the night sky on one side that has precision that is all of its own. The front is also complex with date and the moon phases. This is an amazing watch and a piece of modern art.It cost one million and one hundred thousand dollars.

4. Vacheron Constatin Tour de I’lle The Tour de I’lle is a complicated wrist watch manufactured by the Swiss manufacturer Vacheron Constantin. It was released in 2005 to commemorate the manufacturer’s 250th anniversary. This 18 karat gold watch has a blue sapphire non-reflective glass. It is a two sided watch that is definitely worth being traded for.It cost one million and five hundred thousand dollars.

3. Patek Philippe Platinum World Time The Platinum World Time created by Patek Philippe was sold at auction for over $4 million USD in 2002. It is believed that only one was created and, at the time, it was the most expensive wristwatch in the world. This watch winds itself and you find the time anywhere in the world. This watch has a variety of finishes to choose from, yellow, white and rose gold and platinum for the discerning buyer.

2. Patek Philippe Super Complication The 18-karat gold pocket watch made by Patek Philippe for banker

Blancpain

5 8

Patek Phillipe Sky moon

Louis

3

6

Patek

chopard super ice

1

Chopard

7

Hublot

Brequet

10 Patek Phillipe Henry Graves Jr. in 1933 required five years to design and build. It possessed 24 “complications,” or mechanical features beyond basic timekeeping, including a different chronological function for each hour of the day.It was the most compli-

2

cated watch ever created and the most expensive watch ever sold at auction.It cost eleven million dollars.

1. Chopard 210 karat This masterpiece is so expensive, that there is no listing price.

Vachero

4

With its 201 karats of coloured diamonds, the watch looks more like a bracelet. It is a spectacular piece of jewellery first and a timepiece second. This watch is beautiful and simple time piece that looks like it is surrounded by flowers.

Buzz Bytes L4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Olamide Mutiat Alli

drops 5th album today

Today Monday November 23, 2015, Nigerian start rapper, Olamide drops his 5th studio album titled ‘Eyan Mayweather’.

Entering the history book, Olamide is the first Nigerian rapper to drop five albums in five years.

In a rare move, Baddo’s 5th album featured no colleagues of his as it is a pure solo effort in collaboration with top producers that include ID Cabasa, Pheelz, B Banks, Young John.

Olamide dropped his debut album Rhapsody in 2011, his sophomore album, YBNL was released in 2012, while his third album, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth, followed in November 2013 and his 4th studio album ‘Street OT’ dropped in November 2014.

Saheed Osupa records 2-in-1 album

Top Fuji music act, Saheed Osupa, who at a point in time released a 4-in-1 album, a record-breaking feat in Fuji music industry, has again hit the studio to wax a new 2-in1 album for his teeming fans.

An insider has it that the album, which is being facilitated by Mustoy Film Productions, is likely to be released as a ‘December Special’ and it promises to be more explosive than his previous albums.

Olamide

New Single Alert

Cynthia Morgan drops new single

German Juice crooner, Cynthia Morgan is back with yet another hit song, this time around, she calls it ‘Asampo’. The song was produced by E-Kelly

Cynthia

Lizzy Anjorin Plans UK Album Launch

Lizzy

Delectable actress cum singer, Lizzy Anjorin has concluded plans to stage a listening session for her forthcoming debut album billed for release soon. The party, according to a close pal of the actress disclosed that all hands are currently on deck towards the successful launch of the album and listening party expected to hold in UK and later in Nigeria.

Since her venture into music, the light skinned actress has released both audio and video of Orombo featuring Yoruba rapper, Jhybo, Sabada and the current wave making hit single, ’Owo’, featuring Fuji star, Pasuma and Q-dot.

Naeto-C

Naeto-C drops 4th album artwork

Rapper Naeto C who has been in and out studio is fully set for the release of his 4th studio album.

With the album titled ‘Festival’, the album is expected to make waves just like his past works.

“Festival” comes passionately after his third studio LP “Day 1”, which was released in August 2015. It is expected to be a commercial album, a stark contrast to its predecessor which was a core Hip-hop conceptual work.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

ON

L5 On set /movie gist

Set

Movie Title:Ayanmma Produced by: Emem Isong Directed by: Chris Eneaji Cast: Moses Armstrong, Imeh Bishop Umoh, AdesuaEtomi, Wale Ojo, Majid Micheal, EkereNkanga DOP: David Piet Location:AkwaIbom

Movie title: Pathetic Produced by: Dayo Amusa Directed by: Production Outfit: Amzadol Production Cast: Wole Ojo, Funsho Adeolu, Taiwo Okunola, Dayo Amusa, Bimbo Akintola, Toyin Aimakhu, Toyin Alausa, Adewunmi Fatai.

Location: Lagos

MON

Ayan

PAT

Scenes from Monsura video shoot Artiste: Sound Sultan Ft. Olamide Song: Monsura Directed by: Clarence Peters Cameo Apperances: TY Mix, Koffi, Victoria Kimani, May D Location: Lagos

Peters recognised, Pomp, pageantry as AFRIFF ...Clarence as Cameroonian wins Best 2015 holds Globe awards Short Film laurel

Clarence Peters receiving his award and cheque at the ceremony AFRIFF Project Co-ordinator, AfieBraimoh flanked by AFRIFF’s ambassadors David Kau, South African actor and comedian and Nigerian actress Rita Dominic Following an eventful one week of film activities, the 2015 edition of the prestigious Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, ended penultimate Saturday with a starstudded awards ceremony held at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The award ceremony started with a presentation to notable Nigerian music video director, Clarence Peters, who won the Special jury prize for his first short film, Hex. But the Short film award was clinched

by Cameroonian filmmaker, Christa Eka Assam, for her latest work

entitled Alma.

Assam who said she has been attending the festival in the last three years was full of praises for the jury and organisers of the festival for providing a platform to prove herself.

Clarence too, felt good that the jury recognised his effort as a firsttime filmmaker to have earned the Special Recognition award. While thanking his cast and crew, he dedicated the award to his mum, Clarion Chukwura, saying: “I want to dedicate this other awards including Silent

Tears by Ishaya Bako (Audience Choice Awards), Legacy of Rubies

by Ebele Okoye (Best Animation), Joy by Solomon Onita Jr. (Best Student Short Film), E18h team

by Juan Rodriguez-Briso (Best Documentary), Reflections by Desmond Elliot, (Oronto Douglas Award for Best Nigerian Film) and The Price of Love (Best Screenplay).

In the individual categories, Raja Amari won Best Director, while South African actors; Charlie Vundla and FuluMakhovami won Best Actor and Best Actress for their roles in Cuckold Ayanda respectively.

The night was also spiced with music performances by Cobhams Asuquo and Timi Dakolo. While Cobhams performed ‘Cock Crow At Dawn’ originally sang by Bongos Ikwe, Timi Dakolo started off with Cry, in memory of the late patron of AFRIFF and Special Adviser on Research and Documentation to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Oronto Douglas, before performing Wish Me Well to the delight of the audience.

The weeklong festival was graced by many filmmakers and celebrities including Dakore Egbuson Akande, Genevieve Nnaji, Hilda Dokubo, Ini Edo, Kunle Afolayan, Tope Tedela,

Toke Makinwa, Toni Tones, Rita Dominic, Mildred Okwo, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Grace Oboba EdwinOkon, O. C. Ukeje, Ramsey Nuoah, and Kemi LalaAkin doju among others.

The first edition of AFRIFF, an initiative of Chioma Ude, took place in 2010, in Port Harcourt.

The second edition held in Lagos in 2012, while the last two editions held at Tinapa in Calabar, Cross River State. This year, AFRIFF got over 600 film submissions of which 180 were screened, a significant increase from last year when 90 films were screened out of the 250 submissions received.

Nutrition L6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Healing Judith Frank-Edet

S p i c e s

Ginger

Mixed onions

Tumeric Garlic-withparsleyleaves

Nutmeg

Curry Leaf

Humans have been using spices on their foods as far back as 50,000 B.C, and of course, it gives flavour to our meals. But beyond this, these dried seeds, fruits, root or bark can also add years to your life.

Spices are rich in phytonutrients and other active ingredients that protect against disease and promote healing. Worldwide studies have linked spices to the prevention and treatment of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, Type II diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, spices can be used long- term without concern for side effects. In short, spices are among the great gifts nature has bestowed upon us. They included: Nutmeg Nutmeg (Myristicafragrans), a nut-like pit or seed, gives a savory taste when added to meals.

Aids digestion;When used in small doses, nutmeg can reduce flatulence, aid digestion, improve the appetite and treat diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

Pain relief; nutmeg oil is an excellent sedative and anti-inflammatory. Massaging with the oil helps ease muscular and joint pain and sores. It’s very effective for reducing the painful swelling of joints in arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, etc.

High cholesterol: Animal studies have found that nutmeg reduces total and LDL (”bad”) cholesterol.

Anxiety: Nutmeg is a relaxant, used in folk medicine to relieve anxiety and depression.

Animal studies in India found that nutmeg had an effectiveness similar to common antianxiety drugs in alleviating symptoms. The spice also “significantly improved” learning and memory.

As mentioned, large amounts of nutmeg can be toxic. It is considered safe, however, when used for culinary purposes, even in generous amounts.

Turmeric Turmeric has been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for a thousand years; its active ingredient, curcumin, is a strong antioxidant that’s been shown in test tube and animal studies to fend off cancer growth, amyloid plaque development, and more.

Turmeric might also boost heart health -a 2012 study showed that adding turmeric and other high-antioxidant spices to high-fat meals could help regulate triglyceride and insulin levels and protect the cardiovascular system.

Turmeric may also help regulate the immune system -- a series of studies in 2010 and 2011 showed that curcumin might have positive effects on people with autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.

Like all herbs and spices, however, too much turmeric might not be a good thing -- it can inhibit blood clotting in large doses and may exacerbate gallbladder issues; so check with your doctor before using more than a typical culinary amount.

Onions The humble onion is found in every kitchen, but its curative powers make it an important medicinal plant too.

Onions were historically as a preventative medicine during epidemics of cholera and the plague. They were apparently eaten by Roman emperor Nero as a cure for colds, and its reputation has made onions a popular component in the diets of many countries.

Onion is so much more active in its raw state than when cooked, as it contains a variety of organic sulphur compounds, contained in a volatile oil, that provide the health benefits. These are partly destroyed by heat.

Onions as well as otherAllium vegetables

have been studied extensively in relation to cancer, especially stomach and colorectal cancers. Their beneficial and preventative effects are likely due in part to their rich organosulfur compounds. Although the exact mechanism by which these compounds inhibit cancer is unknown, possible hypothesis include the inhibition of tumor growth and mutagenesis and prevention of free radical formation.1 Onions are also a source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C that helps to combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer.

Also, Folate, found in onions, may help with depression by preventing an excess of homocysteine from forming in the body, which can prevent blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain.

When eaten raw, its juice can act as an irritant and some people find it difficult to digest.

Those who are not tempted by the idea of eating raw onions can follow simple cooking methods that may make them more palatable. For people with sensitive stomachs, this is a far suitable way to enjoy the healthy benefits of onions.

Thyme Thyme has a long history of use in natural medicine in connection with chest and respiratory problems including coughs, bronchitis, and chest congestion. Recently, researchers pinpointed some of the components in thyme that bring about its healing effects. The volatile oil components of thyme are now known to include carvacolo, borneol, geraniol, but most importantly, thymol.

In studies on aging in rats, thymol (found in thyme) has been found to protect and significantly increase the percentage of healthy fats found in cell membranes and other cell structures. In particular, the amount of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) in brain, kidney, and heart cell membranes was increased after dietary supplementation with thyme. In other studies looking more closely at changes in the brains cells themselves, researchers found that the maximum benefits of thyme occurred when the food was introduced very early in the lifecycle of the rats, but was less effective in offsetting the problems in brain cell aging when introduced late in the aging process.

Thyme also contains a variety of flavonoids, including apigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymonin. These flavonoids increase thyme’s antioxidant capacity, and combined with its status as a good source of manganese, give thyme a high standing on the list of anti-oxidant foods.

Ginger Traditionally used to relieve colds and stomach troubles, ginger is rich in inflammation-fighting compounds, such as gingerols, which some experts believe may hold promise in fighting some cancers and reducing arthritis pain. In a recent study, people who took ginger capsules daily for 11 days reported 25 percent less muscle pain when they performed exercises designed to strain their muscles (compared with a similar group taking placebo capsules). Another study found that ginger extract injections helped relieve osteoarthritis pain of the knee. And ginger’s reputation as a stomach soother seems deserved: studies show ginger extracts can help reduce nausea caused by morning sickness or following surgery or chemotherapy, though it’s less effective for motion sickness.

Garlic Garlic, a herb is best known as a flavoring for food. But over the years, garlic has been used as a medicine to prevent or treat a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

L7 Wellness

Meditation Judith Frank-Edet

Heals We live in a world marred by distraction. Our minds are always racing, and we constantly seek one thing or the other to meet our needs and desires. “How can I pay the children’s fees”? “Will my boss like the new proposal”? “How do I want to plan my Christmas”? - It’s an endless rant which doesn’t pipe down till you sleep.

With all the demands of work and home, we’re often required to stay one mental step ahead just to get through the day. The problem is, when we navigate through life led by our thoughts alone, we miss out on a world of information available to us through meditation.

When people hear about Meditation, they think yoga; sitting in the center of a room, legs crossed, hands on knees and humming some meaningless words. In fact according to experts, successful meditation is about clearing your mind, and how you achieve that is completely up to you.

The act of meditation has been practiced for 1000s of years; it is a mind and body practice that has a long history of use for increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being. It helps you become more focused and less confused. Contrary to popular belief, meditation is not restricted to yoga religion. Other religions including Christianity practice meditation.

Till a few years ago, there was never any kind of scientific

evidence to show that meditation contributes to your well-being.

Today however, there are fantastic scientific research which shows how meditation isn’t just a tool for personal development but has real health benefits. Research suggests that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression, insomnia, and severity of acute respiratory illnesses (such as influenza).

There are many types of meditation, but most have four elements in common: a quiet location with as few distractions as possible; a specific, comfortable posture (sitting, lying down, walking, or in other positions); a focus of attention (a specially chosen word or set of words, an object, or the sensations of the breath); and an open attitude (letting distractions come and go naturally without judging them).

The Many Health Benefits of Meditation

1.Meditation

Improves Brain Function – One of the most fascinating studies published on meditation is one several years ago on its effect on mental health and brain plasticity. The study, led

by Harvard researchers found that meditating for only eight weeks actually significantly changed the brain’s grey matter — a major part of the central nervous system that is associated with processing information, as well as providing

nutrients and energy to neurons.

This is why, the authors believe, that meditation has shown evidence in improving memory, empathy, sense of self, and stress relief.

2

.Meditation Can Protect the Brain - A 2015 study from the UCLA Brain Mapping Center proved how meditation can protect the ageing brain. According to the study, the brain starts to decline in your 20s and continues to decrease in both size and volume. Regular meditation can help keep away normal cognitive decline that occurs with ageing and is also an effective way to prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Dementia.

3.

actually help people deal with everyday stress and anxiety. One of the researches showed that when you’re stressed or anxious you tend to have unproductive worries that can often be nagging. Meditation teaches you to identify that thought as useless, as just a thought and not part of who you are.

4.

Meditation Helps You Fight Insomnia, Sleep Better - Meditation evokes a relaxational response in people. A 2015 study conducted at Harvard and published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) suggested that meditation worked really well on insomnia, fatigue, lack of sleep and depression.

Meditation Can Treat Depression - Researchers from Oxford University published a study which suggests meditation as a good way to treat mild to moderate depression. They also found it to work as a strong medication for people suffering from recurrent depression.

Meditation Helps Relieve, Stress & Anxiety - Everyday we find ourselves buried knee deep in work: Exhaustive to-do lists, being stuck to our computer screens, smartphones, traffic, etc. We feel over-worked, anxious and exhausted. Researchers at John Hopkins found that meditation works on so many levels and can

5.

How to Meditate Just like physical exercise meditation needs to become habitual. Something that you do out of necessity. Ò Choose a conducive environment; According to experts, the first thing to do is to choose a conducive environment. Find a nice, quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for 15 minutes or longer. Sit down, relax and rest your hands on your lap. You can sit on the floor cross-legged with the support of a meditation cushion, or on any chair with your feet resting on the ground.

It is not necessary to force yourself into a lotus position if you are not used to it. Regardless of how you sit, it is important to

maintain the natural curve of your back, no slouching. Ò Breath slowly and deeply. Close your eyes softly. Direct your soft, unfocused gaze downwards. Begin by taking a few slow and deep breaths — inhaling with your nose and exhaling from your mouth.

Don’t force your breathing; let it come naturally. The first few intakes of air are likely to be shallow, but as you allow more air to fill your lungs each time, your breaths will gradually become deeper and fuller. Take as long as you need to breathe slowly and deeply. Ò Be aware. When you are breathing

deeply, you will begin to feel calmer and more relaxed. That is a good sign. Now, focus your attention on your breathing.

Be aware of each breath that you take in through your nose. Be mindful of each breath that you exhale with your mouth.

Continue focusing on your breaths for as long as you like.If you find your attention straying away from your breaths, just gently bring it back. It may happen many times. Don’t be disheartened. What’s important is to realize that you have wandered and bring your attention back to where it should be. As you develop greater focus power, you will find it easier to con-

centrate. Ò Ending the session. When you are ready to end the session, open your eyes and stand up slowly and stretch yourself.

Whatever level you’re at, but especially when you’re just beginning, it’s important to practice every day even if its just two minutes a day. Although it might sound easy, meditation is in fact hard work and it takes a lot of practice to get better. But just like every other training, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. It is best to see it this way; in as little as two minutes, a happier and healthier outlook can be yours for the taking.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 23, 2015

Tinsel

Showing on

13:30

Mon, 23 Nov | PG13

Showing on 150 Africa Magic Showcase ‘S8/E1536 - 8/1536’. Tsav takes a huge risk to deliver a personal message to Amaka. The girls adjusts their travel plans as the Baale and Prince Ojo pay a very special visit. Bimpe confronts Nina and causes trouble for Soji.

101 M-Net

L8 Television 166 Channel

Married Again

08:00

Mon, 23 Nov | PG

‘S1/E94 - 1/94’. Yash’s father is accused of having another child outside his marriage. He agrees to take a DNA test to prove he is not the father. Aarti breaks into Radha’s house in search of ammunition and is shocked at her findings.

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:20 Would I Lie To You? 00:50 The Cube 01:40 Call The Midwife: Christmas...

03:00 EastEnders 03:30 EastEnders 11:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 12:00 The Voice 13:00 Royal Pains 14:00 Arrow 15:00 Resurrection 16:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 17:00 The Goldbergs 17:30 The Voice 18:30 Grey’s Anatomy 19:30 Mysteries Of Laura 20:30 Elementary 21:30 Carte Blanche 22:30 Hello Ladies: The Movie

154 AfricaMagic Family

00:55 Out Of The Ghetto 02:30 Jane And Abel 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Scarlet 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Redial 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:25 Mashariki Mix 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 14:00 Goge Africa 14:30 Nowhere To Be Found

04:00 EastEnders 04:30 EastEnders

03:50 The Impostor 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love

15:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:00 Prem 16:30 Tenant 17:30 Mary Slessor 18:00 Jane And Abel 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 19:55 Paul’s Puzzle 21:00 Nowhere To Be Found 21:30 Goge Africa 22:05 Living With Trisha

05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series

14:10 Total Wipeout UK

05:25 QI

16:00 EastEnders

06:00 The Thin Blue Line

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

06:30 EastEnders

00:30 Killer Karaoke

17:10 The Cube

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

01:30 Tattoo Nightmares

07:55 The Weakest Link

18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

02:00 Most Shocking

08:45 The Chase

19:00 Celebrity MasterChef

09:30 Total Wipeout UK

20:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

10:30 The Cube

21:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

11:20 New Tricks

21:50 The Graham Norton Show

12:20 Top Gear

22:40 Would I Lie To You?

13:15 Come Dine With Me

22:30 Would I Lie To You?

15:05 The Weakest Link

155 AfricaMagic World

03:00 Most Shocking 04:00 Exposed 04:30 Exposed 05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 05:25 Exposed 05:50 Exposed 06:15 Video Zonkers 06:40 Video Zonkers 07:05 World’s Wildest Police Videos 08:05 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:05 South Beach Tow 09:35 Most Shocking 10:35 Most Shocking 11:35 Video Zonkers 12:05 Video Zonkers 12:35 World’s Wildest Police Videos 13:35 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:35 South Beach Tow

00:05 Music Block 01:10 Good Morning Africa 02:10 Deal Or No Deal SA 03:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 04:00 The Dzigbordi Show 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 The Heart Of A Shepherd 07:50 Star Gist 08:25 Star Gist 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 The Dzigbordi Show 11:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA

13:00 Music Block 14:00 Star Gist 14:30 Star Gist 15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Lies That Bind 16:00 The Dzigbordi Show 17:00 So Wrong So Wright 17:30 So Wrong So Wright 18:00 The Dzigbordi Show 19:00 Kumwesu 19:30 Kumwesu 20:00 Revelation 21:20 Jara 21:55 Music Block

15:05 Most Shocking 16:05 1000 Ways To Die 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Video Zonkers 17:30 Caught On Camera 18:30 What Went Down 19:00 South Beach Tow 19:30 Hardcore Pawn: Chicago 20:00 Enemy Territory 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Sexy Car Wash 22:30 Most Shocking

Altintop:

Poster!

JULIUS YEGO

I hit it with my eyes g X7 closed

g X4,5

Monday, November 23, 2015

:

AMBROSe: My mother predicted my goal vs Swaziland Real Madrid fans boo Ronaldo g X6

Oghenekaro

hat-trick sinks Real Banjul g X2

g X3

g 32 g X8

I’m back in the top league, declares

Nadal

g X6

Mourinho rules out spending spree

X2

Monday, November 23, 2015

EXTRATIME

Oghenekaro hat-trick sinks Real Banjul

By Mike Otanwa

N

igeria U-23 coach, Samson Siasia has said he was unimpressed even though his team trounced Gambia top league side Real Banjul 3-0 with all three goals

by Etebo Oghenekaro.

Siasia said he was disappointed with the way the team played in the first half despite dominating the game, adding that they should not be missing chances to score goals after creating them.

Ohawuchi confirms Zamalek interest

“I’m not impressed with what my boys displayed, I expected them to let their dominance count in front of goal and if they can’t convert these chances then we will be in trouble in Senegal.

We will keep on working on them and hopefully they will get it right,” said the coach, whose team are getting set for the U23 AFCON in Senegal at the end of this month.

Warri Wolves star Oghenkaro opened scoring for the Nigeria U23s in the 25th minute from the penalty spot after skipper Sincere Seth was brought down

E

lated Nigeria striker, Stanley Ohawuchi has confirmed Egyptian double champions Zamalek plan to sign him in the next transfer window.

Zamalek top official Ahmed Mortada Mansour said that the club are considering signing another centre-forward in the winter break to bolster a strike force that only comprises Bassem Morsi and Ahmed Hassan Mekki.

inside the box.

Oghenekaro doubled the lead at the start of the second half, before he completed his treble minutes later after he was set up by Stanley Dimgba.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Dream Team VI will return today (Monday) to play their second test game against the Gambia U20 team.

The encounter billed to kick off by 4pm will be played at the Independence Stadium in Banjul.

“Stanley is on our list. We are going to contact Wadi Degla about his availability in the upcoming few days,” Mansour said.

The former Nigeria youth international Ohawuchi, who has been impressive with goals for Wadi Degla since he joined in the summer of 2014 from Sliema Wanderers of Malta, disclosed he is elated that a top team like Zamalek are interested in him.

“Zamalek have been

interested in me since last season, they have come again this season that they want me.

They have contacted my agent on this,” revealed Ohawuchi.

“All I can say now is to give thanks to God because it’s the Lord’s doing to attract such interest because I have been doing well.”

oghenekaro

Kayode keeps austria Wien top

F

Ohawuchi

ormer Nigeria youth international Olanrewaju Kayode was the hero for Austria Wien after he scored the goal that earned them a 1-1 draw with Admira Moedling to remain top of the Austrian top-flight league on Saturday.

Austria Wien now have 32 points from 16 games.

The former Maccabi Netanya striker opened the scoring in the 74th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead.

He has now scored seven goals in the league.

He has represented Nigeria at U17, U20 and U23 national team levels.

Monday, November 23 2015

EXTRATIME

X3

I ’ll be minister for all sports – Dalung

By Mike Otanwa

N

ew minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung says he will give equal attention to all sports, and not just one particular area.

In the past, sports minister have instead focusing on all sport, given attention to football, a development

Dalung

that have seen other sports suffer.

But Dalung on Friday said he will focus his attention equally on all areas as he seek to improve Nigeria and ensure there are successes at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I’ll make sure as I preside over this ministry, I do not remain a minister of a particular sport, whether of basketball, football, or boxing which I

belong, but I’ll ensure I be a minister of sport where everybody is given regular support and encouragement so that they can make this country proud.” He said at the 2015 Nigerian Sports Award held in Lagos.

“We need to come together and harness our potentials, and try to sanitize the industry by ensuring transparency so that investors can put in money, and I think that government alone cannot sustain viably the sport industry. I appeal to all investors that we are going to create the enabling environment so that investment will yield positive result.

“We shall concentrate on the development of grassroot sports so that we can provide the necessary environment to harness potentials where we can develop the sport industry.”

IGIEBOR

scores in Maccabi N Tel Aviv win

Ikeme

igeria midfielder Nosa Igiebor was among the goals for his Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in a 3-0 thrashing of hosts Hapoel Haifa on Saturday.

Maccabi Tel Aviv now have 25 points from 11 games.

Igiebor scored in the 69th minute to give his team a 2-0 lead. It was his first goal in the league this season.

The midfielder has played for Warri Wolves (Nigeria), Lillestrom (Norway), Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) and Real Betis (Spain).

The 24-year-old has represented Nigeria at U23 and full international levels.

He won AFCON 2013 with the Eagles.

Igiebor

MY MOTHER PREDICTED MY GOAL VS SWAZILAND - AMBROSE

Ikeme: A true pro says Wolves boss

W

olves manager Kenny Jackett has hailed Nigeria international Carl Ikeme as a real professional as he is set to return to the starting lineup for an English Championship clash on Saturday against Ipswich Town.

Arsenal loanee Emiliano Martinez has been ruled out of the game against Ipswich Town due to a thigh injury.

The injury forced Martinez off the field during the goalless draw with Burnley two weeks ago when Ikeme replaced him.

This is a chance for the 29-year-old Nigeria shot-stopper, who last started a Championship game for Wolves in August, to stake a claim for the goalkeeper’s jersey.

“He got a great reception when he came on against Burnley. He’s been very professional, done his work, trained very well.

By Mike Otanwa

N

igeria international Efe Ambrose has told AfricanFootball.com his mother predicted his goal against Swaziland.

The Celtic defender scored the second goal three minutes from time to seal a 2-0 win for Nigeria over Swaziland on Tuesday in a Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier to advance to group stage of the qualifiers.

It was a “striker’s” goal as he dashed into the box to coolly help on a free kick by Sylvester Igbonu as Nigeria searched for a goal to cushion the pressure from Swaziland.

The former FC Ashdod of Israel said her mother told him before the game that he will play well and cap a good game with a goal to help to Nigeria win.

“My mother, Alice Adievu Ambrose, predicted I am going to do well for Eagles against Swaziland and score a goal and it came to pass,” said an elated Ambrose.

“And so I dedicated the goal to her for her never-ending support and encouragement.”

Julius Yego

Julius Yego is a Kenyan track and field athlete who competes in the javelin throw. He is the African record and Commonwealth record holder for the event with a personal best of 92.72 metres.

He won the javelin title at the All-Africa Games in 2011 and at the African Championships in Athletics in 2012 and 2014; at the 2013 World Championships he placed fourth, losing a medal in the final round. In 2014, he became the first Kenyan to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in a field event. At the 2015 World Championships he won the gold medal with a throw of 92.72m, becoming the first Kenyan to win a World Championships gold medal in a field event.

Biography Yego was born in Cheptonon (Saba River) location in Tinderet, Nandi District. He attended high school at Kapsabet Boys High School.

Yego became interested in the javelin throw as a youth and he watched videos of athletes such as Jan Zelezny and Andreas Thorkildsen on YouTube to help with his technique. He competed in the high school regional championships in 2003. In 2006 he won the national junior title and broke the Kenyan junior record with a throw of 67 metres. More renowned for distance runners, Yego quickly ascended to the top of the Kenyan scene. He won his first national title in the javelin at the age of nineteen in 2008 and defended it in both 2009 and 2010.

He earned his first national call up in 2010 and threw a personal best of 74.51 m to take the bronze medal at the 2010 African Championships in Athletics, which was held in Nairobi. He improved his best to 75.44 m at the Kenyan Commonwealth trials. He travelled to New Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but performed less well and ended the competition in seventh place with a best throw of 69.60 m. In 2011 he still did not have a throwing coach, due to the lack of popularity of the event in Kenya.

Despite this, he won a fourth straight Kenyan title then went to the 2011 All-Africa Games and became Kenya’s first ever champion in the event, throwing a Kenyan national record mark of 78.34 m. This bettered Paul Lagat’s fourteenyear-old national record (78.20 m). In respect of this achievement the IAAF (the sport’s governing body) gave Yego a six-month scholarship to train alongside elite javelin coaches in Europe, with

ABOUT

X4

EXTRATIME

Monday, November 23 , 2015

2014 Marrakech Javelin throw 2012 Porto Novo Javelin throw

2011 Maputo Javelin throw

2014 Glasgow Javelin Throw

YEGO

Bronze medal – 3rd place 2010 Nairobi Javelin throw

Julius

Gold medal – 1st place

African Championships Gold medal – 1st place

All-Africa Games Gold medal – 1st place

Commonwealth Games Gold medal – 1st place

World Championships 2015 Gold medal – 1st place Beijng Javelin throw

Julius Yego Name: January 4, 1989 Born: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Height: 85 kg (187 lb) Weight: Kenya Country: Athletics Sport: Javelin Event(s): Coached by: Petteri Piironen[1] Medal record

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Seasonal bests by year 2009 - 74.00 2010 - 75.44 2011 - 78.34 2012 - 81.81 2013 - 85.40 2014 - 84.72 2015 - 92.72

the aim of preparing him for the 2012 London Olympics.

Monday, November 23 , 2015

EXTRATIME

X5

X6

Monday, November 23 , 2015

EXTRATIME

Suarez

Barcelona thrash B Madrid 4-0 in ‘El Clasico’

arcelona dealt a stinging blow to Real Madrid’s title hopes when Luis Suarez and Neymar continued their scintillating form to fire the champions to a stunning 4-0 victory in the La Liga “Clasico” on Saturday.

Suarez struck twice either side of goals from Neymar and captain Andres Iniesta as Barca humiliated their arch rivals with an imperious performance at the Bernabeu to surge

Bundesliga:

Wolfsburg smash six goals

W

olfsburg thrashed Werder Bremen 6-0 at the VolkswagenArena to close the gap on secondplaced Borussia Dortmund to five points.

An Alejandro Galvez own goal set the Wolves on their way to victory, with Max Kruse adding a second just before half-time.

Vieirinha, Josuha Guilavogui, Bas Dost and Kruse again completed the rout as Bremen put up little resistance with some

Kruse

awful defending.

The hosts, looking to capitalise on Dortmund’s slipup on Friday, took little time to put Felix Wiedwald in the Bremen goal under pressure, and they needed a little over 10 minutes before they found a way through and the result was never in doubt from there on in.

Borussia Monchengladbach marked Andre Schubert’s first game as their new full-time head coach with a 2-1 win over struggling Hannover at the Borussia Park Stadion, extending their recent unbeaten run to eight matches.

Ibrahima Traore gave the Foals the lead 10 minutes before the interval, sending his shot through Ron-Robert Zieler’s legs from excellent play by Mahmoud Dahoud.

Yann Sommer made a great save to deny Kenan Karaman just before half-time as Monchengladbach deservedly took a 1-0 lead into the break, but Artur Sobiech brought Hannover level midway through the second half.

six points clear at the top after 12 matches and ratchet up the pressure on under-fire Real coach Rafa Benitez.

Barca’s dominance, which prompted the angry Real fans to roundly whistle their own team and chant for president Florentino Perez to step down, was all the more remarkable considering coach Luis Enrique had started with a fit-again Lionel Messi on the bench.

The Argentina captain, who has been out for nearly two months with a knee injury, came on for Ivan Rakitic just before the hour and promptly sent Suarez clear to score a fourth for the European champions.

An utterly dominant Barca could easily have added to their tally in the closing stages and Real’s humiliation was complete when substitute Isco was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge at Neymar six minutes from time.

Real Madrid fans boo Ronaldo

R

eal Madrid fans have vented their anger at Cristiano Ronaldo after watching their side be defeated 4-0 by Barcelona on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo was powerless to prevent Luis Enrique’s side moving six points clear at the top of the Liga table thanks to a double from Luis Suarez and goals from Neymar and Andres Iniesta.

Ronaldo The white handkerchiefs were out in force at the final whistle with Rafa Benitez now under increasing pressure having been forced to deny rumours of a rift between himself and key players including Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez in the build-up to his first Clasico as Real Madrid coach.

Nasri ruled out for four to six months

M

anchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to compare ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers with his replacement Jurgen Klopp.

Samir Nasri has confirmed that he will be out of action for “four to six months” after having surgery on a tendon.

The France international used his Twitter account to say he could now miss most of the rest of the season.

He wrote: “Just had surgery, everything

Mourinho

Mourinho rules out spending spree

J

ose Mourinho insists he will not ask the Chelsea board to strengthen his squad when the transfer window reopens in January.

The manager is currently working to halt his side’s alarming decline this season just months after they were crowned champions in May. A woeful start to the season means Mourinho’s side face Norwich City this weekend in 16th place, with the prospects of recovering to challenge for a top four finish already slim just 12 games into the Premier League season.

Chelsea’s campaign has so far been marked by the loss of form of a number of key players and reports of dressing room unrest.

But Mourinho claims he is happy with the group and does not need to take action in January to restore unity at the club.

The manager said: “I will not ask for any changes.

I will not ask the board in January. I’m happy with the players. I trust the players.

“I don’t need to clean the dressing room, as I heard w a s

written somewhere.

And I don’t need to ask the club to spend money in January.

went really well, hopefully will be back in four to six months.”

Manchester City had hoped the former Arsenal midfielder would be fit to return against Liverpool on Saturday.

But last week Nasri posted a picture of himself on crutches and said he would be out until February.

“What doesn’t kill you make you stronger,” he posted on Instagram along with the picture.”

Monday, November 23 , 2015

EXTRATIME

X7

C

urrently sidelined with a knee injury, Turkey and Galatasaray midfielder Hamit Altintop hopes to be back in action soon, as he told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview, giving hope to his fans of seeing him score the kind of goal that brought him the FIFA Puskás Award back in 2010. That strike, which came against Kazakhstan in a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier, was a truly memorable one, a searing volley into the top corner, straight from a corner kick.

Capped 84 times by his country, the 32-year-old Altintop is as well qualified as anyone to run the rule over the contenders for the 2015 award, who have just been announced. As well as discussing his favourites for this year’s prize, he looked back on his 2010 wonder strike and spoke of what the Puskás Award means to him.

Altintop: I hit it with my eyes closed The shortlist for the FIFA Puskás Award has just been revealed. Who’s your favourite to win it?

I’ve seen the goals and they’re all fantastic. The chip by the English player David Ball is wonderful and Philippe Mexes’ goal is a lot like mine in 2010. Marcel Ndjeng’s goal for Paderborn is pretty exceptional too. I have to say, though, that my favourite goal is the chip. It was so effortless.

You won this award back in 2010 with a spectacular strike from the edge of the box in an international match with Turkey. Can you still remember it?

Yes. It was a qualifier and Guus Hiddink was our coach. We had a new-look team and he’d only just taken over. The Kazakhstan match was a very important for us and we got off to a good start and ended up winning 3-0.

I remember that I hit the ball with my eyes closed, just as I struck it.

When I opened them again the ball was in the back of the net, though I didn’t know how it went in. It was only when I watched it on it TV that I saw it went in at the top right-hand corner.

So you scored without even looking?

(Laughs) Yes. I had to jump up a little to hit it. After all, you close your eyes when you jump up for a header, though in this particular case I closed them so I could focus all my power on the shot and hit it as hard as I could.

When did you sit down and watch it for the first time? Was that when you realised just how good it was?

That dawned on me afterwards.

People were telling me it was a great goal there and then, but at that particular time all I cared about was the win. I was just happy that I played a part in it with my goal. Then, when I found out it had been nominated for the best goal of the year, I sat and

watched it again. I thought to myself: “It’s not bad, you know.”

And when it actually won the award, it took on this whole new dimension for me, especially when I collected the trophy and when people stop and talk to me about it. It was a great goal but the other contenders were fantastic too. I wouldn’t have minded if a different goal had won, but it goes without saying that I was pretty delighted.

Was it a training-ground move or did it just happen?

I think the best things are always down to the spur of the moment, when you improvise and take the initiative, which is what happened in this case. I like shooting from distance and I always hang around on the edge of the area, looking to get on the end of something.

Sometimes I end up scoring a special goal, like the one against Schalke in the Champions League. It’s something I really enjoy.

How important is the award to you? After all, you’re on a list of former winners that includes Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and James Rodriguez.

It’s a great honour for me. Most people don’t realise how much work footballers put in day in day out. They think we train a couple of hours a day and then play for 90 minutes and that’s it. There are lots of different things that come into play in our profession, though, like food, discipline, resting the body and all the work that goes into recovering from an injury and the rehabilitation period. That’s what makes awards like this so important. They really give you a lift and they’re very meaningful.

Does the fact that the fans play an active part in deciding who wins the Puskás Award make it even more special?

Collective success is what counts in football. The fans have a big part to play in making our sport

so interesting and popular, and it’s very important to make them happy. Over the last few years that link between the game and the fans has been weakened a little because results come first these days. It’s not so much about character now and more about success, but what really counts is being able to interact with the fans, which is why it’s so great that they have a say in who wins this award.

Do you keep the trophy in a special place?

I have to say that it’s still at my mother’s house in Gelsenkirchen.

When I left Munich, I moved back to Gelsenkirchen, and it’s still there, in my room. I want to bring it over to Istanbul soon though, because this is where I live now, where I met my wife, where I got married and where I feel very much at home.

What went through your mind when Andrei Sidelnikov, the goalkeeper you beat in scoring that goal, presented the trophy to you?

First of all, I was delighted to have won it. And I thought it was wonderful that he was there to present the award to me. Moments like that are special, and he didn’t have a problem at all in giving it to me. It’s great to have the drive and desire to win, but off the pitch we need to be good people first and foremost and to value the importance of sharing. It was a moment I’ll remember all my life, though unfortunately we hardly had any time for a chat.

Was it the best goal you’ve ever scored, the most important one?

It was a nice goal, but it wasn’t the most important one of my career.

The goal I scored for Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Champions League against Schalke meant a lot to me, as did the one I got for Schalke against AC Milan, also in the Champions League, when I made it 2-2 from 30 metres out. Those two were much more important.

Culled from FIFA.com

E X8

Monday, November 23 , 2015

EXTRATIME

ne

O Formular

Match-fixing report angers Pakistan Cricket

Webber wins world endurance title A

ustralia’s Mark Webber won the world endurance championship in Bahrain on Saturday alongside Porsche team mates Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard.

Webber, who left Formula One at the end of 2013 after Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel had won a fourth successive championship, took the title after his number 17 Porsche finished fifth in the Six Hours of Bahrain.

The Australian-New ZealandGerman trio, who had to make two unscheduled pitstops,

P

prevailed by five points to became Porsche’s first world sportscar champions since 1986.

The Bahrain season-ender was won by the number 18 Porsche of Switzerland’s Neel Jani, Germany’s Marc Lieb and Frenchman Romain Dumas - a victory that ensured the title for the sister car by denying rivals Audi.

“We had a lot of problems and it was very stressful. We got the car home and we had enough points and enough wins to be world champions,” said Webber.

Webber

akistan are upset over media reports that the team’s erratic performance in the third One Day International against England at Sharjah is being investigated by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti Corruption Unit.

A British newspaper on Friday carried a story that the ICC is investigating the third one dayer, which England won by six wickets, after Pakistan collapsed from 132 for two to 208 all out after three farcical run outs, then dropped several catches.

When asked about the news, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said: “I am not aware of that but I have been hearing about that here. I am very clear about Pakistan team and my boys that there was nothing wrong with the game.”

Waqar then went on to stress that he has no doubt about his

Younis boys doing anything wrong: “Yes we lost the game — it’s unfortunate and these things happen. You lose and win games, but I have no doubt in my boys, I am very satisfied with them.”

Russians banned from 2016 indoor titles ATHLETICS

TENNIS

T

here will no be Russian athletes at the 2016 IAAF world indoor championships in Portland, Oregon next March, a source with knowledge of the decision told Reuters on Thursday (Friday AEDT).

The championships will be the first global athletics meeting the Russians will miss since the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspended Moscow last week amid allegations of widespread and state-sponsored doping,

detailed in a World Anti-Doping Agency independent commission report.

That suspension will not be lifted before an IAAF inspection team has completed their investigation and verified that the Russian athletics federation meets the objectives of IAAF membership, the source said.

The indoor championships are scheduled for March 17-20, 10 days before the inspection team is scheduled to make its first report to an IAAF Council meeting in

I’m back in the top league, declares R Nadal

Nadal

afael Nadal’s season ended with a jolting loss to world number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday but after a worrying early-season rankings slide the Spaniard is happy to be back in the big league of men’s tennis.

The 29-year-old will end the year as world number five and with his tally of grand slam titles stuck on 14 after failing to land one

of the big four titles for the first time since 2004.

It is more than a decade since the Mallorcan left-hander ended a year ranked outside the top four but, having slumped to 10th in June after a demoralising loss to Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals, he is heading back in the right direction.

This week at the ATP World Tour Finals

Wales on March 27.

The source emphasised Russian athletes could not compete in any international events, including cross country and track and field, until the suspension is lifted.

Russia is a major player in world athletics, having finished second to the US in the last indoor championships in Poland in 2014 and in the athletics competition at the 2012 Olympics in London.

he comfortably beat world number four Stanislas Wawrinka and number two Andy Murray before outlasting compatriot David Ferrer to complete a 100 percent record in the round-robin stage.

Djokovic proved a step too far in Saturday’s semi-final, winning 6-3 6-3 with a sublime display of power and accuracy.

The Serbian, though, has been too good for just about everyone this year and Nadal was upbeat about his prospects for 2016.

“I was not able to think about Novak for the whole season,” Nadal said. “I have been playing in another league.

“Seems like the last month-and-a-half, two months, I was in this league, I am in this top league.

“So my motivation and my goal is try to keep being in that top league, that is the top five, top four of the world. That’s my goal, and we’ll see if I am able to keep doing this.”

A fully functioning body will help in his mission as he nears his 30th birthday.