NNPC failed to Military will go after Niger Delta Avengers – CDS remit $12.9b ÎÎÎThis is as he cautioned that the miliÏ zƆôƋƋ Ɛ ƈƆƋƗ ƕ ƌƈƋƈƐ Ɛè ƕ zƈƊƆ to Federation tary would not allow any person or group to destroy the nation’s critigo after the militant group, Niger Delta ÎÎÎ The Chief of Defence Staff, GenAccount gB1 eral Gabriel Olonisakin, declared on Avengers and stop the repeated attacks ofcalpersons infrastructure, pointing out that the Monday that the Nigerian military will on the country’s oil facilities. M&9j9 ƏƆƍ ƏƐ Continued on page 6
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TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 115
GAINERS
N150
LOSERS
NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 17th May, 2016.
CONOIL
23.00
1.99
9.47%
UNIONDICON
13.86
0.66
5.00%
VITAFOAM
4.43
-0.47
-9.59%
TRANSCORP
1.16
-0.12
-9.38%
NEIMETH
1.05
0.05
5.00%
CUTIX
1.65
0.07
4.43%
DIAMONDBNK
1.82
-0.19
-9.45%
FO
205.32
-19.68
-8.75%
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Benjamin Omoike
ÎÎÎMinister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe KachikContinued on page 6
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Why I support sack of Sheriff – Fayose g8
Chioma Toplis
With me, what you see is what you get gL1
Fayose bans cattle grazing in Ekiti, to send bill to Assembly g6
2
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Fidelity Vintage Account RC 103022
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Page Three Æ s
3
PHOTO TIMES
Editorial Alarming cancer increase in Nigeria
T
he increasing incidence of cancer in Nigeria is very alarming and therefore must be treated as a national health issue. Recently, a surgical oncologist, Prof. Emmanuel Ezeome expressed concern over the increasing number of cancer cases, especially in the South East and the country in general. At the 90th annual lecture of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, he lamented that the increasing cases of the life threatening disease should give everyone reason for concern. The medical expert was of the view that even when the incidence is increasing, it can still can be cured if sufferers take proactive measures. “One thing is needed for survival. Victims should not waste time to lodge complaint at the hospital”. While we share this concern, it is imperative for governments at all levels to see the increasing incidence of cancer among the general population as a national emergency in order to put in place adequate measures to combat it. Definitely, very many Nigerians are still ignorant of cancer and its causes. There is a tendency to see cancer as confined only to the affluent societies of America, Europe and Asia. Such ignorance is exacerbated by a seeming superstition that still pervades the country, especially among the illiterate population who believe it is an affliction from the gods. For the avoidance of doubt, cancer is a group of diseases characterised by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Most cancers are related to environmental, lifestyle, or behavioural exposures. Some of the common en-
vironmental factors that contribute to cancer death include tobacco, diet and obesity, radiation (both ionizing and non-ionizing), stress, lack of physical activity, and environmental pollutants. Increasingly, breast and cervix cancer are the most commonly diagnosed in women. Also, women who have no children or who have their first pregnancy after the age of 30 have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who become pregnant while they are much younger. Research also shows that childhood cancers account for one percent of all new diagnoses, while the common types in men include prostrate, lung and colon cancer. Furthermore, it is established that the risk of getting cancer increases with age as most cases occur in middle-aged adults or older persons. In the face of these fact, the authorities, including non-governmental agencies must embark on massive sensitisation programme among the general population in order to educate them on early detection of cancer and the causes. The problem is compounded more by the lack of medical facilities to treat cancer patients in the country. That is why there is exodus of sufferers to such countries as India and China for treatment. This medical tourism is responsible for draining the country’s lean resources. Besides, only the rich can afford such treatment. While the fact of urbanisation and increasing income could be linked to the increase of cancer in Nigeria, it is in the place of the government and people to change some negative lifestyles in order to curb the alarming cancer increase.
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Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo (left), receiving the Africa Telecom Regulator of the Year Award on behalf of the NCC from Director General, National Communications Authority, Mr. William Tevie at the West African Telecom Summit in Accra, Ghana… recently.
L-R: Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB Plc., Mr. Kufre Ekanem; Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, (Excise, FTZ & Industrial Incentives), Adeyemo Olabanke; Chairman, NB Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu; Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) and MD/CEO, NB Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde at a forum in Kaduna State… recently.
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L-R: Dan Majen Kano, District Head of Gwale Alh. Yahya Inuwa Abbas; President Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Dangote Flour Mills Plc, Ighodalo Asue and others during the commissioning of Dangote Flour Mills Plc in Kano… recently.
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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER
Chinua Achebe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nelson Mandela
“Nigeria is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be.”
“No matter how old an individual may be, no matter if he is young or old, if he thinks in accordance with the times he is immortal.”
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
4
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Believe in the Naira We dream of a Nigeria where the Naira will be a popular international currency of transaction, but it will continue to remain a dream when YOU choose to rely on foreign over Nigerian. Demand for foreign exchange weakens the Naira and weakens the economy. That is why when you fly Arik Air to London Heathrow, New York JFK or Johannesburg, you demonstrate your belief and confidence in the Naira and in Nigerian. You are contributing to stimulating domestic growth and building a country we can all be proud of. #ArikAdvantage • 10 years of Safe and Reliable flying. • 28 new, state-of-the-art aircraft. • Fleet maintenance by world renowned Lufthansa Technik, Iberia & SAMCO. • Only West and Central African airline with a triple IOSA certification. • Employ over 3,000 Nigerians. • Unbeatable value to a network of 19 domestic destinations, 10 West and Central Africa destinations and 3 international destinations.
Fly Arik Air. Demonstrate your faith in the Naira.
a r i k a i r. c o m West and Central Africa’s Leading Airline
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Shekau’s bodyguard shot Boko Haram chief bomb maker ÏÏÏThe
Nigeria Army says the chief bomb maker of Boko Haram sect has been killed by the bodyguard of Abubakar Shekau, the sect’s leader. Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. Col. Usman said that the bomb maker was killed while he was trying to run away from the camp of his colleagues. “In what will be described as a major breakthrough in the clearance and rescue operation by the Nigerian military and to also confirm that all is not well within the Boko Haram terrorists’ camp, as their chief bomb maker and a high ranking terrorist, was shot dead today,”
he said. “The chief bomb maker, apart from his high status in the command structure of the Boko Haram terrorists, he was one of their capable hands involved in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs), coming after their chief scientist, called Abu RPG (who has been killed long ago). “The chief bomb maker was killed by one of the body guard of the Boko Haram terrorists leader, Abubakar Shekau, as he was about to run away just like several others are doing because of the intensity of Operation Crackdown” Usman said. The statement added that Boko Haram also suffered a major setback after another member of the sect got “completely blind-
ed” when he was preparing an IED. “In a related development, one Julelebeeb who was appointed to take over is now completely blind because his two eyes were shattered by shrapnel, in the process of preparing an IED to consolidate his appointment. “There is no doubt that this development has dealt a devastating blow on the terrorist’s capacity on IED preparation, suicide bombing and their ability to sustain their criminal acts. “We would like to reassure the public that our troops are continuing with the clearance and rescue operations successfully in order to completely clear Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding” he added.
IATA tasks African leaders on Aviation sector Idu Jude Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on African governments to prioritise the development of aviation nationally and at a pan-Africa level to bolster economic growth and development. According to Hussain Dabbas, the Regional VicePresident Africa and Middle East International Air
Transport Association, Africa is set to be one of the fastest-growing aviation regions over the next 20 years, with annual expansion averaging nearly 5%. This opens up incredible economic opportunities for the continent’s 54 nations. By transporting some 70 million passengers annually, aviation already supports some 6.9 million jobs and $80 billion of economic activity on the African continent.
He said: “Aviation has the potential to be a much greater strategic catalyst for growth if governments would stop milking the industry for taxes and enable it with smarter regulations focused on safety and the development of connectivity. The commitments are already there with the Abuja Declaration and the Yamoussoukro Decision. It’s time to achieve them in partnership with industry.”
CARTOON
News Analysis
Kaduna APC: Is dissent now a crime? Sam Nzeh
ÏÏÏThe beauty of democ-
racy is that it guarantees free speech and affords citizens the right to disagree with government on policy issues. This freedom however appears to be under threat going by the way and manner people who have expressed dissenting voices over recent hike in pump price of petrol by the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration are being treated. Just last Thursday, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State threatened to expel Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central for his opposition to the fuel pump price increase. Salisu Wusono, the Kadu-
Seven persons trapped as 3-storey building collapses in Anambra
Freddie Adamgbe Makurdi
Nkiru Nwagbo Awka
ÏÏÏGovernor Samuel Or-
ÏÏÏFederal
Polytechnic Oko, in Anambra State, witnessed tragedy on Monday as three storey building under construction collapsed, while seven persons were feared trapped. The structure was erected at the permanent site of the institution. The incident occurred immediately after a heavy
down pour on Monday, around 3pm. One of the survivors, a student of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, who refused to give his name said that God saved them. Most of the rescue workers who stormed the arena were helpless as the excavator got spoilt. One of the community leaders in Oko, Mr. Ernest Nwosu, said the building was a private house but located at the permanent
site of the Federal Polytechnic Oko. He gave the name of the site location as Ndiagu village Oko, even as he added that the owner of the building was from Ndiowu, also in Orumba North local Government Area. While reacting, the Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, debunked the claim that the building was in the institution.
5 News
tom has threatened to deal decisively with killers of his Senior Special Assistant on Special Security, Mr. Denen Igbana, when apprehended. Governor Ortom who disclosed this to a group of his personal aides stated that the killers have dared him, saying he had already given marching orders to security agents to commence investigation into
na APC’s acting publicity secretary, made the threat at a press conference, saying Sani’s position is a sign of disregard for the party. Hear him: “Given his (Senator Sani’s) disregard for the party, the APC in Kaduna State has no option but to take further disciplinary measures that may lead to his expulsion from the party. “How can a politician with any sense of discipline or commitment to the public interest fail to see that the fuel subsidy regime is bankrupt and is no longer in the interest of our people. “In speech and conduct, he has shown himself incapable of loyalty to our party the APC and our great leader, President Muhammadu Buhari. “Having ridden on the back of our party and the popularity of Buhari to get to the Senate, Sen. Sani has
since abandoned any pretension to discipline or loyalty to any principle.” By this threat, the Kaduna APC has clearly shown that members have no right to disagree with policies of the Buhari-led Federal Government no matter how painful and unpopular they are. All must queue behind such policies willynilly. This, unfortunately, is the quickest route to a police state and all lovers of democracy must rise up against this criminalisation of dissent. It is good that members of a party speak with one voice on an issue but attempting to criminalise dissent as the Kaduna APC has done by the threatening to expel Senator Sani over his opposition to the fuel price hike is going too far. It is anti-democratic and will spell doom for the country’s democracy should it be emulated by others.
I’ll deal with killers of my security aide - Gov Ortom
the matter and maintained that God who made him governor would not allow the perpetrators of the heinous act to go unpunished. The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Terwase Orbunde, assured that he will not allow hoodlums to misbehave under his watch, recalling that when the incident took place last Friday, he immediately summoned a
Security Council meeting to look into the incident. Earlier, spokesman for the Forum of Aides to the Governor, Captain Joshua Imanche, condemned the assassination of their colleague, adding that they had extended their heartfelt condolence to members of Igbana’s family and urged the governor to take solace in the fact that his security aide did not die in vain.
News 6
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Fuel importation ends in 2019, says Kachikwu Continued from page 1 wu, on Monday said the Federal Government was targeting 2019 to end fuel importation in the country. Kachikwu disclosed this when he was speaking at an interactive session on removal of fuel subsidy organised by Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), in Lagos. “For the first time, I am putting so much strength in terms of what do we do with our refineries, because that ultimately is the
solution. “I must make the refineries work so that the staff can justify their work. “I am going around looking for investors to come in a joint venture basis to put in money into the refineries and make them work. “I can authoritatively say to you that given the constraints that we face, the plan is that by December 2018 we should have reduced our importation of petroleum product by 60 per cent. “This is because we
would have brought enough money to get our refineries working to the tune of about 90 per cent,” the minister said. According to him, for the first time in 10 years, the three refineries are working but at less than 40 per cent capacity. He said by the time the refineries were working at optimal capacity and the commencement of production by Dangote Refinery in 2019, Nigeria would be able to refine 1.4 million barrels per day.
Kachikwu said his desire was to increase the current production capacity from 2.2 million barrels per day to 2.6 million barrels within the next few years. He said the government’s decision to remove petrol subsidy, which led to an increase in the pump price of petrol from N86 to N145 per litre was a good decision. The minister said the subsidy regime was no longer sustainable because of the various fraudulent practices by oil marketers and other players in the
sector. He said between 2012 and 2015, Nigeria paid almost N8 trillion as subsidy, such monies could have been used to provide critical infrastructures for its citizens. Kachikwu said the liberalisation of the sector would encourage competition and bring the price of fuel down within the next few months. Kachikwu also revealed that country was subsidizing fuel for the whole of West Africa rather than Nigerians alone. He explained that subsidy had to be removed from petrol because the policy was no longer sustainable as the government is broke. He said even ministers of the government, they do not have accommodation. Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information who was also at the town hall meeting concurred with Ibe Kachikwu as he said “I’m squatting in Abuja”.
The minister said President Muhammadu Buhari cannot approve 20 million naira for ministers rent due to low government income. When asked why the fuel queues disappeared immediately the government pegged the pump price of petrol at N145 per litre, Kachikwu said “those who were in the petroleum business for hoarding sake left because there was no need to hoard.” The minister said if Nigerians want fuel at the cheapest rate, then citizens must not complain about roads, security and other infrastructure.
Current difficulties birth pangs, says Buhari Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the difficulContinued on page 12
Fayose bans cattle grazing in Ekiti, to send bill to Assembly Ï y Ɠ Ɛ ƏƏƆ Ɛ ƕ ƅ ƐƐƋƆ ƆƆ Ɛ Ɔ ƐƏƆƆƐ Gé`ë &Rè Lƈƅ Ɔ Ƌ z ƗƆ ƌƍ ƕè RƋ Ɠ ƋƆ RƋ Ɠ ƗƆì n ƈƐ 6Ɔ Ɨè M Ɛƈ Ƌ &ƋƆƅƐƏ ƈƅ G Ƅ ƑƏ &Ɣƅ Ɔè Lƈƌƈ ƗƆƉ Ɨ 1Ə Ƒƍ 6Ɔ Ɨè dƐƏ ƐƆ ƕè ƌ ƕ Mƈ ƆƏƈ GƐƗè 0Ə ƅƈ j Ə ƌ ƗƆ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ Ƌ Ƒ ƅ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ _ƑƆ Ɛƈ ÷ ƓƆƏ dƑƌƌƈƐ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ Ƈ G Č ƏƆƅƆ ƐƋƕê
Military will go after Niger Delta Avengers – CDS Continued from page 1 military was determined to tackle the situation frontally. Also, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, declared that nobody will be shielded from military operations against militants sabotaging the nation’s economy. Olonisakin spoke shortly after commissioning 12 refurbished gunboats and a 40-bedspace Brigade Gunboats Company at the Okrika Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday. He stated that bombing oil facilities was not the way to address their grievances, saying the militants were expected to put their complaints appropriately to government.
The Chief of Defence Staff explained that government was exploring various approaches to ensure that the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta was resolved. Olonisakin said: “An issue of this nature is multi-facetted and not just the military approach. The government is exploring all other approaches to ensure that these issues are resolved. “Military is looking at ways to resolve the issue of these bombings. “We, the military, have told them (Niger Delta Avengers) that this (attacks on oil installations) is not in the interest of the nation. When you bomb those facilities, those critical infrastructure, you are destroying our assets, our resources, as a nation.
“This is not the way to address your grievances. If you have any grievances, you put them appropriately to the government. Of course, we cannot allow people to sabotage and destroy critical infrastructure. “We will go after them and ensure that we deal with the situation appropriately,” Olonisakin said. He pointed out that the nation was challenged by multifacetted threats, including the battle with Boko Haram terrorists, oil thefts and attacks on oil installations. On the commissioning of the gunboats, Olonisakin expressed gratitude to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the assisting the military in putting the equipment in order.
“The repair of these gunboats will no doubt improve the capacity of the brigade to meet its responsibility in curtailing criminal acts in our inland waterways. “Let me at this juncture appreciate the support of the Niger Delta Development Commission in making these repairs realisable. We appreciate this strategic partnership and support,” he said. Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, described the dearth of serviceable platforms and related equipment as one of the greatest challenges facing the Armed Forces. Burutai also described the Niger Delta terrain as Continued on page 12
GBENGA SODEINDE, Ado Ekiti
ÎÎÎEkiti
State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has banned grazing and rearing of cattle in the state, saying those interested in cattle farming should get their own private cattle ranch and that a bill to make movement of cattle from one location to another criminal in the state will soon be sent to the State House of Assembly. Fayose, who declared that free movement of cattle in the state has become illegal, added that he will personally take a bill to the House of Assembly in the state on Tuesday (today) to formalise this, saying “henceforth, any cattle moving around grazing in Ekiti should be arrested”. Specifically, he said: “A bill to this effect will be sent to House of Assembly for passage into law to criminalise cattle owners whose cattle are found moving from one location the other in the state. Henceforth any
cattle arrested has become government property”. The governor reiterated that activities of the Fulani herdsmen was inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country, saying, “one wonders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it.” Fayose, who made this known when he visited Oke-Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of the state that was invaded last Friday by Fulani herdsmen that killed two residents of the town and injured others, warned that government will henceforth confiscate any cattle seen anywhere in the state apart from ranch created for them by their owners. He also donated a sum Continued on page 12
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Andrew Orolua Abuja
ÎÎÎThe
Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, reserved ruling till today on Olisa Metuh’s application seeking to travel abroad for medical treatment. Chief Olisa Metuh, who and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are facing trial for accepting N400m that formed part of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), former National Security Adviser (NSA)’s 2.1b dollars arms purchase scam, had applied to travel abroad. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang reserved the ruling after listening to the arguments by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Toch-
7 News
Court decides Metuh’s fate on medical treatment abroad today ukwu Onwugbefor (SAN), who represented the 1st and 2nd defendants, as well as the prosecution counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir’s objection. Justice Abang said that it was not possible to deliver a bench ruling as Metuh had filed further affidavit on Monday in court which he need to go through before the ruling. Arguing Metuh’s application, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) said that Metuh request was anchored on 12 grounds supported by 17 paragraphs affidavit and four exhibits.
He said that the defendant who intermittently asked permission from the judge to take his medication, had also prayed for the release of Metuh’s international passport to enable him travel to United Kingdom. According to the defence, the prosecution has not denied Metuh ill health but have suggested that he should seek treatment in the country. He said that the prosecution fear that Metuh would not return home if granted the permission was unfounded because Metuh has no intention to abscond or
Metuh jump bail. The prosecution vehemently opposed the application. Tahir urged the court to dismiss Metuh’s application seeking for permission
to travel abroad for medical treatment because it was not supported by valid documents. He contended that the medical reports presented by the defendant were certified true copies. The medical reports he further told the court are public documents purportedly issued by the National Hospital Abuja. Earlier, during the trial on Monday, Metuh had called his fourth and fifth defence witnesses, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, who told the court that Metuh is a family man who was committed to
building good image for the Peoples Democratic Party. Ihediwa, a journalist who had worked as Principal Assistant to Metuh since 2013 also stated that his boss is a man of integrity. Barrister Antony Okeke, the fourth defence witness in the ongoing trial of the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, also told the court that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s image was battered by the then opposition All Progressives Congress’ “smear campaign”.
Panic in Plateau over herdsmen’s attack
LASU churns out 17,695 graduates
Jos
17,695 graduating students of the Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions are graduating with First Class Divisions. The Vice Chancellor, Prof Lanre Fagbohun, disclosed this on Monday while addressing the press at the University’s Senate Chamber as part of activities lined up for the 20th convocation ceremony slated to take place from Tuesday 24th May to 26th May 2016 at the main campus, Ojo Lagos. According to him, the First Class among them would be offered automatic employment while there would also be consideration for some of the students who made Second Class Upper Division, adding that the graduating students are well baked in character and academics and can compete with the best anywhere in the world. He said for the Full Time programme, 6,421 students are graduating out of which seven made First Class, 1,040 made Second Class Upper Division, and 3,271 made Second Class Lower Division while 1,575 made Third Class and 206 made Pass.
Esther Taiwo
ÎÎÎOnly eight out of about
Chijioke Kingsley
ÎÎÎCaptain
Ikedichi Iweha, spokesperson for the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Plateau, code name Operation Safe Heaven (OPSH), has appealed to the residence of Plateau to dispel the report in one of the newspapers sighting a reprisal attack from the Fulani herdsmen over the killing of a herd’s boy and carting away of his cattle. Iweha stated that the fear of reprisal is coming on the heels of Sunday attack on a herd’s boy in Sagas Bato general area of Mangu, where a herd’s boy was killed and his 32 cattle and 22 sheep were carted away into farm district of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. He said that JTF was activated on getting the report which led to the recovery of 19 cattle and 22 sheep, saying that two cows had been slaughtered by the rustlers at the time of recovery. According to him, “we have recovered 19 cows and JTF is still on the move to recover the remaining cattle”, he said. The JTF spokesperson is also quoted saying that five persons have been arrested in connection with the matter and the suspects cooling off in their custody, warning that nobody should take the law into their hands as OPSH will deal with anyone who thinks he has monopoly of violence.
L-R: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar; Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas; Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike and Deputy Governor, Ipalibo Banigo and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai after a meeting with the Governor in Government House… on Monday.
Tongeji monarch seeks more govt presence Segun Adio
ÎÎÎThe traditional ruler of
Tongeji Island of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Monday, appealed to the Federal and State government to come to their aid in provision of modern hospitals. Oba ObabiOlorunkosi Okiki, Akoko of Toneji Island, made the appeal during the free medical rhapsody organised by the Nigerian Navy to the community. Over 500 residents, including other sister agencies like Nigerian Immigration Service and Nigerian Customs at-
Titilope Joseph
ÎÎÎThe
trial of Trustees of the Synagogue Church of all Nation (SCOAN) and the two engineers involved in the construction of the collapsed six-storey guesthouse, that left over 116 dead could not go on as scheduled
tended the medical rhapsody by the Navy. The Navy distributed over 1000 free mosquito nets to pregnant women, nursing mothers and men of the community. Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Ferguson Bobai, in his remarks said the occasion formed part of the series of activities lined up for the Navy anniversary. Adm. Bobai, who was represented by the Commander, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Surgeon Commodore Mercy Ekanem-Nesiama, said the free medical care was
among the activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the navy. ‘’The Naval Medical Rhapsody is part of the weeklong activities of the Nigerian Navy Diamond Jubilee. ‘’It has become our customary anywhere we find naval establishment, the medics among us will set up outfit where we give free medical services to our community,’’ she said. The monarch, alongside with the indigenes of the community, while making the appeal to the state and federal government added that they needed roads and modern
hospital with medical equipments. ‘’Though we know the government is trying to make life easy for Nigerians but we also want to appeal to the government to come to our aid in this community. ‘’We need good and medically equipped hospitals for our indigenes and residents in the community and we cannot do it alone without the assistance of the government,’’ he said While thanking the Nigerian Navy for the free medical care, he also congratulated the Navy on its ongoing 60th anniversary jubilee.
SCOAN: Court disallows prosecution witness on Monday, as the prosecution witness to testify in the matter was disallowed by the court. The SCOAN Trustees, the two engineers, Messrs Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun and their compa-
nies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Limited were last month arraigned on 111-count charge for their involvement in the September 12, 2014 collapse of a sixstorey guest house belonging
to the church, which led to the death of 116 persons. The 111 count charges preferred against the defendants by the Lagos State government borders on criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to ob-
tain building permit. At the resumed of the trial Monday, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) informed the court that one of the eight prosecution witnesses, Adebayo Musiliu Olayinka was in court and was ready to testify.
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Politics
Æs
Audu Ogbe: Atiku versed in politics, education, agric Tom Okpe, Abuja The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Audu Ogbe has said that Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is well versed in the politics and business environment in the country. Besides, he added that Atiku has shown a deep commitment through his investment on Agri-
Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja & by Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose on Monday gave reason for his support for the sacking of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Fayose said that he supported the action in order to save the party from disintegration. The Ekiti State Governor was one of those initially supporting Senator Sheriff to continue in office before making a U-turn. The Governor stressed further that his support for the sack of the former National Working Committee (NWC) was to forestall the disintegration of the party. According to him, “We cannot sacrifice the party for any individual”. Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka on Monday, said he supported Sheriff in good conscience. His words, “But when it became obvious that his continuous stay in office as the National Chairman will jeopardise the collective interest of the party, I had no option than to support his removal. “To me, the general interest of the party overrides that of any individual and there is no how I can stand in support of any plan to sacrifice the party for any individual. “Anyone whose ambition threatens the collective interest of the party should be removed to save the party and that’s exactly what we have done. “I therefore urge Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to accept the dissolution of the NWC and appointment of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee in good faith and cooperate with other well-meaning members of the party to reposition it so as to
culture. Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony last week of Rica Gado Nutrition Company, established by the Turaki Adamawa at Idu Industrial Layot in Abuja last week, the minister said; “When you talk to Nigerians about engagement in agriculture, many of them are reluctant to participate. When a man like Atiku Abubakar shows his face and
his commitment, his investment and energy in agriculture, there can be no better campaign of involvement in agriculture than the steps he has taken”. Ogbe said, “I know about his feed meal in Yola, I know of what quality that establishment is made. And now that he is investing in this, I feel personally elated because it helps me talk to people in other scenes of enterprises
to recognize with ease indeed a worthwhile area of investment. The Minister lamented some mistakes and failures of the past 40 years to Nigeria been a dumping ground for other countries products like rice, wheat, sugar, tomato paste, cottons, biscuits and even tooth pick which he described as arriving from other Economies to the detriment of CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Atiku
Why I support sack of Sheriff, others, by Fayose Fani-Kayode
Sack of Modu Sheriff is big relief - Fani-Kayode
Fayose
achieve the much needed electoral victory in 2019. “To Sheriff and other wellmeaning members of the party, what should be important is the party and not the individual and no sacrifice should be too much for anyone to make for the party at this time,” the governor said. Similarly, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Abduallahi Jalo said that the party’s National
Convention, which is the highest decision making organ of the party, has the right to sack the former NWC headed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. It will be recalled that the PDP National Convention on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, had sacked the NWC members and set up a seven-member caretaker committee headed by former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode The former aviation minister, Femi FaniKayode on Monday, May 23, said the sack of Ali Modu Sherrif, the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a relief. In a statement, he said although some of the people against Sherrif were maligned by some party members , his sack has justified their stand on the matter. He also said it had become clear to everyone that letting Sherrif into that position was a mistake from the beginning. “We knew that he railroaded himself into the chairmanship of the PDP under false pretenses and bogus claims, three months into his ill-fated tenure, it has become clear to everyone that SAS was a mistake the party should not have made in the first place.
“Now that he is gone, it is expected that the caretaker committee of patriots and dedicated party leaders put in charge to run the affairs of the party for the next 90 days would do well to embark on the urgent reconciliation of members with the purpose of making PDP that usual united and formidable party it has always been. “I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that the caretaker committee as led by its chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna State, who has also been my long time friend and political associate, will create the needed atmosphere of trust and comradeship among party members going into the next convention. “Let me appeal to all aggrieved party faithful to sheathe their CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
9 Politics
Despite crisis, PDP ‘ll bounce back in 2019 — Delta Deputy Speaker Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi, representing Ndokwa East Constituency is the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. Having served as the deputy Whip in the fifth Assembly, his colleagues find him worthy and elected him to be the Deputy Speaker of the sixth Assembly. In an interactive session with journalists in Asaba, he spoke on topical issues as it affects his constituency, the state and in the national level. NOSA OGIUGO was there. Experts:
Ogbe
Audu Ogbe: Atiku versed in politics, education, agric CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
the Nigerian market. “As a result, it has been difficult for us to make agricultural productivity an attractive enterprise because many of these countries that have been exporting things to us, which they subsidize, land in our markets. “Today we have a man who has invested in politics, in education, in maritime business and who has now decided to put his investment in agriculture. “Among all your investments apart from education, this is one in which you are practicing what I call, the democratization of capitalism. You are not going to be the only beneficiary, the maize farmer, the rice farmer, the beef farmer, the fulani herdsmen, the laborer, the marketer, the distributor, all of them are going to benefit from the investment you are now making. “Unless we take development to the rural areas, engage the humble and the poor in the villages, every effort we are making at improving and developing this country will come to nothing. “Let me assure you that if at any time you need certain adjustments in policy to make this enterprise work, all you have to do is to just send a word. “We will have to defend local industries and go against all the preaching of free trade and globalization. As I said a long time ago, Nigerian economy got to where it is today because we have by and large been practicing indigested economic theories. Free trade yes, globalization yes, a capacity to compete and we have never had that capacity to compete because
we have never taken the step which other countries took to be strong enough to compete”. Ogbe maintained that, “They said free trade but nobody mentioned fair trade. We proclaimed growth in our economy, 7% all on the back of oil and gas and when the oil and gas has dried up, we now realized that we were actually growing at 2% at a population growth of 3.5%, so were really not growing because we did not invest in the strategic sectors which has made other economies stronger. “Our people have to be busy in the villages, the rates of anger and alienation among the youths have to reduce and the prospects of feeding a population of nearly 200 million has shown that there is no way you can lose. Imagine feeding 200 million people at N2, 000 per day, which is N200 billion per day. Imagine feeding 200 people at N5, 000 per day that is N1tr per day in the food business. “Our population by 2050 will stand at 450 million, with the world population at 9 billion, Nigerian population will be 5%, we shall be the third most populated country on earth. Ask yourself, how do we feed this number if we do not make huge and valid investment such as we are witnessing today? “I will encourage all of you busy in the city to try something new. In the very least, start a plantation in your village if you are too busy for live stock or graze farm”. Rica Gado is a worldwide nutrition Factory with affiliation to Rica Gado Portugal with branches all over the World including, Nigeria.
You were accused of fueling the crisis in Ndokwa East Local Government Area that led to the suspension of the Council Chairman, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwura. We want to know your position on the matter? This issue has been boiling for so many months and it is good to enlighten the people who do not know how these things work. I am a Legislator representing Ndokwa East, the Chairman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government. She has Councilors and by the grace of God, there are 15 Councilors in the Local Government. For me, I legislate for the good governance of the state. As a house, we legislate and check and do our oversight functions. That is our duty. Ordinarily, I don’t have business with the affairs of the council as it; affects the chairman and the councilors. When you are leading and you are in position of power, people normally accuse you and call you all sorts of names and ability to defend what you now about it; that’s what makes you a man. The issue between the Executive and the Legislative Arms of the Council did not start today. When councilors get a total number of the votes and pass a vote of no confidence on a local government chairman, automatically, it shows that that council chairman is not doing well. And this is not the first time, I was thinking that you should have asked me’ how did I manage the crisis in that Local Government before today’. First, I believe that most of you people witnessed a shutdown protest carried by the same councilors from Ndokwa East to the State House of Assembly. They signed a petition asking the Local Government Chairman to leave. And whether, you like it or not, if we want to give, somebody, a fair hearing, you must call for a probe. And what did we do as a house? We didn’t just wake up
Gana
and suspend Mrs. Nkechi Chukwura. We are following the rules; 12 councilors called impeachment; the first thing they did was to call for income and expenditure of the council and as a house we ought to investigate. You cannot prosecute somebody when you have not gotten a clearer picture of what she has done. So, what is happening in the Local Government is all politics; I am thinking either the chairman is not being open to the councilors or she is not carrying them along even though there is no money. I think everybody that worked with her deserves a view of what is going on in the Local Government. First I need to let you know that I don’t have a hand in what is happening to the Local Government; there is a petition to the Delta State House of Assembly signed by 12 councilors that the council chairman should be impeached. We did not impeach the chairman, she is on suspension; the house is still investigating the matter and when the report is out,
the report must be made public. Recently President Muhammadu Buhari said he was going to treat pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta like Boko Haram. As a legislator from oil bearing community and one time National President Ndokwa Youth Association, what do you think should be the role of the communities in providing curatives to these pipelines? First, in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, there is nothing like blasting of oil pipelines or oil installations. First, we would not allow the President to treat us like Boko Haram, because we are not one. And it is good since we have heard from the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; it is all we here that will take the massage to our grassroots. Blasting of oil pipelines is not the best way to let the attention of government. We should not encourage oil sabotage because the blast at the Forecast terminal is adversely affecting the state revenue allocaCONTINUED ON PAGE 10
‘‘I don’t want to criticize the government at the Federal level but you are seeing it; everybody is seeing the difference between APC and PDP. People don’t want to say it out; but I know that the people are not happy. So, we will lead the team. But as a PDP, I believe in the government and I know we are putting everything together to take back our power come 2019.’’
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Despite crisis, PDP ‘ll bounce back in 2019 — Delta Deputy Speaker
Ekweremadu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
tion. As a person, I must keep telling our youths in Ndokwa nation and other parts of the state that anything that will bring a negative effect on the lives of our people should be ignored; we should not go into it. So I want to call on all youths to shun any vices and installation of oil pipelines in the state. It is our duty to protest what belongs to us. Let me use my community as an example. I know the more the company produces, the higher the benefit we will
get from them. So, it is our duty to protect oil installation in our communities. We must protect what belongs to us because the 13 percent we are benefitting today is basically our strength of production. The more our production increases, the more money we get as a state. From experience, we know that when a member is doing empowerment, he always limit his empowerment programme to his constituency but over time now, we noticed that you don’t limit it to Ndokwa east most time, but the entire
Ndokwa nation. There is this apprehension that you what to take over from the member representing Ndokwa nation in the national assembly? Is this true? I started by saying that power comes from God and he gives it to, whoever, He pleases. By the grace of God, they have elected me to represent the good people of Ndokwa East and I owned my good governance and I believe that this four years, we owe our people to make laws and bring development (stomach infrastructure) to the people that have elected us so that by the end of the day, we can boldly say, ‘I have done well, where will I go to’. That is one, two, there is difference between my Foundation: Friday Osanebi Foundation’ and politics. I started empowerment when I was a young boy; I keep saying it, either because of my upbringing or because of the church I worship and that I believe so much that when you give to the less privileged, you received back from God. It is a principle that the poor should learn how to do; if you don’t give when you have billions; if a man gets N1million and he cannot given out N100,000.00; even when he gets N100million, he cannot give it out. So, the principle of giving is in the receiving. So, when you give out to the poor; there are blessings that are attached to it. There is something that I know, that who God
has blessed, no man can curse. Whatever, thing I am giving out to the society today is to the glory of God put upon my life; and not necessarily being in politics. My Foundation is to empower the less privileged. There are lots of people that go to school today, either by the end of the day; they don’t have money to pay their school fees. There are school ‘drop out’, and I said, ‘how will I reach out to these people” and the only avenue that I can reach out to this people so that politicians will not see it that you are overstepping your boundary is via through Foundation. That was the major reason why I brought up this Friday Osanebi Foundation which by the grace of God it is growing. Yes, it is true that you said my House of Representatives member started running around to say that I was going for House of Reps. Today is not about discussing whether we are running for position. We were elected to do things and it is our duty to do things and to make sure that we do it and we do it well. And if you don’t know, there were news flying since few days back that I am going for Senate. Now, it is House of Reps; so, that is to tell you that people must always speak, but the most important thing is that, when you are in the right direction, don’t be distracted. What do you think is responsible for the loss of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) at the National level during the last general election? If I tell you the reasons why we lost, that means we are going to lose again. So, let it be our little secret. We have acknowledged that we were defeated and we are doing everything possible to make sure that we take that thing that belongs to us. I don’t want to criticize the government at the Federal level but you are seeing it; everybody is seeing the difference between APC and PDP. People don’t want to say it out; but I know that the people are not happy. So, we will lead the team. But as a PDP, I believe in the government and I know we are putting everything together to take back our power come 2019. Let us be patient to wait for this second phase. When this second phase comes, our campaign will be: “No stepping down light for Ndokwa nation, no second phase”. And our people said no. I am not trying to play politics into it. It is not everything you must play politics with. I want to assure my people that by the grace of God, all things being equal, Ndokwa will have light. Because, I know, we are putting everything together with the help of the governor so that Ndokwa will have light. I am very much convinced that very soon there would be step down light in Ndokwa nation.
I am committed to a secured Kogi — Bello Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has reiterated his unalloyed determination to ensure that every inhabitant of the state is well secured against the menaces of kidnapping, robbery and other social vices. The recent onslaught of social miscreants on the state is considered as a test of the will of the Governor to ensure a safe Kogi that will be home to all, assuring inhabitants of scaled up attempts by his administration to redress the worrisome situation. In a statement by his Press aide, Kingsley Fanwo , Governor Bello expressed shock at the rampant rate of kidnapping in the state, reiterating the readiness of his administration to wage war against those who are determined to give the state a bad name adding that he is prepared to wage war against social menace crusaders and ensure adequate security for the people of the state. His words: “The lives of our
Bello
people, those who do business here and thousands of passengers who ply our roads daily, are
precious to the people and Government of Kogi State. We will do everything within the pre-
cinct of law to protect lives and property within our territory. “There is a need to look into a number of probabilities. Political saboteurs might be stoking the fire of insecurity in the state to discredit the good job we are doing here. My government will take the fight to the criminals. We will take the fight to them because no defense is as effective as attack,” he said. The governor pledged his continued support to all security agencies in the state, hailing them for the gallantry in bursting crime havens in the state as well as ensuring victims of kidnaps are safely freed. He called on the people to help give intelligence to security agents in order to help the apprehension of criminals, saying his administration will heavily involve local communities in ensuring security. He promised an iron-cast political will against insecurity, saying he will provide logistics and incentives to enable securi-
ty agents succeed in their onerous task of ensuring security in the state. “Our security agents shall be adequately equipped to fight agents of insecurity. I have visited neighboring states to understudy how they were able to solve their security challenges as well as seek improved collaboration against crime”, he said and pledged improved orientation to enlighten the people on their role in enthroning a secured state. More importantly, he vowed to refocus the youth of the state to societal responsibility through job creation, sports and empowerment seminars and clinics, making them the bastion of hope for the future. Governor Bello urged residents of the state to go about their businesses, saying there is no cause for panic and unnecessary tension, as his administration is on top of the situation. He said with concerted efforts, the war on crime will surely be won.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
11 Politics
Gangsters, not herdsmen, responsible for Enugu mayhem — Arewa group In this interview, National President of Arewa United Consultative Forum, AUCF, Alhaji Ado Shuaibu Dansudu, claims that the Enugu mayhem that led to killings and vandalisation of properties, may not be by the Fulani herdsmen as alleged after all. According to him, circumstances surrounding the attack suggest that the insurgents could be brigands, opposed to the present administration. Excerpts:
Gboyega Adeoye What is your view on the present state of the nation? The country is currently on its way to redemption. This is indeed our trying period. We need to, at this time, cooperate with the government of the day so that the mission of government can be accomplished for the benefit of the generality of the populace. But people are complaining of hardship and government seems not to understand as they keep rolling out killer policies without requisite palliatives? The government is indeed trying. The problem is that Nigeria has been so much corrupted and bastardised in the past years to the extent that the nation, as we speak, is almost bleeding to death. We are in a situation whereby a few have cornered the commonwealth of the nation and have made the generality of the masses paupers in the land of plenty. You can imagine a situation where crude oil which now sells for less than 40 dollars per barrel was selling for 140 dollars during the last administration. It is so sad that a government which was making so much is now left with peanuts to cater for a myriad of problems. We really need to reason with the government and have fate in the leadership of General Muhammadu Buhari. Now what do you say to a situation whereby people from the tribe of Mr. President are fomenting problem across the country. I mean the menace of the Fulani herdsmen across the country? The tale about Fulani herdsmen insurgency is a knotty one. I am still left in the dark as to the root of the problem. I really want all of us to put on our thinking cap over this matter. How do you explain a situation where herdsmen would leave their herd of cows, enter a village in the South-East and sack it? Remember that these are cattle rearers who trade on these animals. They are illiterates and are easily identified. I quite agree that there are some cases
where there are frictions between herdsmen and the farmers. These are situations where their cattle intrude into some farm land and the farmers decide to retaliate, either by confronting the herdsmen or kill their cattle. So, what can you proffer as solution to all these? Farmers, most of the time, are being instigated by politicians. I will advise that these farmers don’t allow themselves to be used by politicians and looters of the economy to carry out their selfish ambitions. If a Fulani damages a farm, either intentionally or otherwise, what is right to do is to report them to relevant authorities and they should be made to pay for the damages done by their cattle. We will not be solving the problem by killing them and their cows which they inherited. This will not help. People should not take laws into their hands. And we should not be telling lies against one another. What do you mean by people telling lies against one another? I still ask: When it is not debatable that Fulani can be easily identified among the Igbo, then tell me how the so called herdsmen were able to penetrate Enugu State , carry out their operations and bolt without being arrested, neither their cattle, by any of the security apparatus? How did they enter and how did they get out? Where did they hide? Remember that they did not have any settlement in that place. Did they trek in, came with motor or used chopper? These are people that can be easily identified, as I have said earlier. So, let us know the person that identified them as Fulani herdsmen; I mean that person that understands their language. You should also remember that the arson took place in a village where people know themselves. To me, there is something hidden behind this. I think the security forces should dig deeper. What are you insinuating? Let me be frank with you; the Fulani are like deaf people. They are not educated. They cannot communicate in any other language other than their own.
Arase
These are people that cannot use the media to state their own position. And to me, people are capitalizing on this to heap all sort of blame on them. I think this is unfair. In all of these, no one is currently speaking for them, either to deny or state their position on the issue. Why I say the issue is knotty is also because the village that was attacked was not sharing border with the north.
So, if they are not herdsmen, who could they be? To me, these are gangsters. They are a gang of criminals wanting to crash this country. Their mission is to bring this administration into disrepute. They are those who are not happy with the achievements of the present government, so far. Don’t forget that these Fulani we speak about are traders. They work like slaves.
I think we should take their deficiencies into consideration before heaping all these blames on them. What are the ways forward? I think all Nigerians should be given the right of fair hearing on issues like this. The press should play their role very well in this regard. They should put in more investigation on issues like this and come up with objective facts. They should not rely on information passed across unto them by someone who may be biased in his judgment. We should thank God for people like President Buhari, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who saved us from the past administration which made so much money with nothing tangible to show for it. How do we salvage the dwindling economy, the naira is losing its value by the day? The major problem the country is facing is still left unattended to by the government. I think there is urgent need for government to focus on the pipeline vandals and deal with them ruthlessly. These people are killing people as well as killing the economy. This is one menace worse than kidnapping, Boko Haram and herdsmen insurgencies, put together. We need to efficiently mount surveillance on our pipelines. Let the government declare a state of emergency on the national economy. This present administration must be allowed to deliver. We should support the government and believe that all will be well at the end of it all.
Sack of Modu Sheriff is big relief - Fani-Kayode CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
sword at this time and come together as one people under one umbrella. Now that the sore point has been removed, we must not miss this opportunity to forge a united front for the sake of Nigeria,” the statement read in parts. However, Jude Ndukwe, his personal assistant said that the statement was not written based on any directive from anyone. He said Fani-Kayode expressed his opinion about Sherrif which has always been his stand on the matter from the beginning. “That statement was nothing but commending the action of the national convention. Having the boldness and resolutement as he said in the statement to sack Sherrif. “He has
always been the sore point and now that he is gone, i think every other aggrieved member of the party can now find a reason to come together for the purpose of the consignment in moving the party forward,” he said. Ali Modu Sheriff, the acting national chairman of PDP was sacked and the party has named a seven-man caretaker committee to manage the affairs of the party. The committee will be headed by former two-time governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi with Senator Ben Obi as secretary. The other members of the committee include; Senator Odion Ugbesia, Senator Abdul Ningi, Barr. Kevin Usman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Mrs.
Aisha Aliyu. Meanwhile Fani-Kayode was officially invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explain his role in the $115 million bribe election bribe reportedly dispensed by the immediate past minister of petroleum, Diezani AlisonMadueke. EFCC rated Fani-Kayode as “the chief beneficiary” of the disbursement of the slush funds as he allegedly received N840million, paid in three tranches into his Zenith Bank, Maitama branch account with No.1004735721. The former minister has been under EFCC’s custody since Monday, May 9 and was transferred to Lagos on Tuesday, May 19 for further investigations.
News 12
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Fayose bans cattle grazing in Ekiti, to send bill to Assembly Continued from page 6 of N2.5 million to the families of the deceased as well as gave N2.5 million and a pick-up van with all the security gadgets to the local hunters so they could protect their people. The governor described the Fulani herdsmen that attacked Oke-Ako and other communities in the country as “agents of the devil that must be fished out and punished accordingly.”
He said: “We will not leave our lands for Fulani herdsmen and in a system where the leadership of the country looks the other way while our people are being killed, we will have no option than to defend ourselves by whatever means.” “I have come here to commiserate with the people of Oke-Ako over the murder of two of our people by these evil Fulani herdsmen. I am also here to assure that
this will be the last time your community will be invaded by Fulani herdsmen under whatever guise. “I have directed that cattle rearing and grazing should stop in Ekiti State and those interested in cattle farming should henceforth do so in their own cattle ranch. “No more movement of cattle from one location to another in the state and any cattle seen anywhere in Ekiti State apart from
the ranch created for them by their owners will be confiscated by the government and their owners will be prosecuted. “If President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has refused to call the herdsmen to order, we in Ekiti will no longer harbour herdsmen who go about killing our people, destroying our farmlands and
raping our women. “If the same President Buhari that was so concerned about the killing of Fulani herdsmen in in Saki, Oke Ogun area of Oyo State such that he, as a private citizen led Arewa to Ibadan on October 13, 2000, to confront the then Gover-
Fuel importation ends in 2019, says Kachikwu Continued from page 6
L-R: Founder, BringBackOurGirls, Hadiza Bala Usman; CEO & Executive Chairman, Ebony Live TV & Ebony Life Films, Mo Abudu; Project Facilitator & Co-Founder, Lighthouse Network, Nkiru Olumide-Ojo; Life Coach, Ephraim Osunde and CEO, Make It Happen Productions, Kemi Akindoju; at the 3rd edition of the personal development conference organised by Lighthouse Network in Lagos… on Monday.
Military will go after Niger Delta Avengers – CDS Continued from page 6 peculiar, saying “In order to effectively discharge our constitutional responsibility, our troops require to operate in the riverine areas of the Niger Delta, thereby necessitating some boats and watercrafts. “The gunboats will no doubt boost that capacity of our troops to fight sea piracy, militancy, oil theft and growing insecurity in the Niger Delta. We will continue to ask for more. We know the challenges are quite enormous. “With continued support like this, procuring new equipment will further boost our operational capabilities. I am calling on other international oil corporations to toe the line of the NDDC to support the Nigerian Army and indeed the Armed Forces.” Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that nobody will be shielded from military operations against militants
sabotaging the nation’s economy. He stated that all Niger Delta governors oppose the use of violence to settle grievances, pointing out that the governors are billed to meet with the Vice President on June 7, 2016 to discuss and proffer solutions to the security situation in the region. Wike made the declaration on Monday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to the country’s Military High Command led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin. He said: “What is happening affects our state revenue. We shall help the military to fish out militants blowing up oil pipelines in the region”. The Chief of Defence Staff was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.
He said that the State Government is worried about the resurgence of militancy in the Niger-Delta as it negatively affects development in the area. “As a government, we cannot support economic sabotage. What is going on is economic sabotage. Production is being negatively affected, with the revenue of states dwindling. “There are ways to channel grievances and it is wrong to do what will negatively affect the people of the region,” Wike remarked. He assured the Military High Command that the Government and people of Rivers State will support efforts to secure the oil and gas rich area. While commending the military for the sacrifice they have made in providing security for most parts of the state, he urged them to work towards improving security in Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni
Local Government Areas of the state. Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin said the recent resurgence of militancy in the Niger-Delta is of serious concern to the military. “Recent activities of the militants have led to the sabotage of oil and gas infrastructure”, he said. He said economy of the nation is threatened by the resurgent militancy, hence the need to stop the insecurity in the region. Olonisakin urged the Rivers State Governor to reach out to his colleagues in the Niger Delta to resolve the conflicts in the area. He said that the Military High Command was in the region to interface with the leadership of the Operation Pulio Shield and other service commanders on how to put an end to criminality in the region and protect the nation’s economy from total collapse.
nor of Oyo State, late Alhaji Lam Adesina, is now keeping silent when the same herdsmen are killing our people, we must rise and defend ourselves.” “It is our duty to protect our people and we are going to do that without fear or favour.
ties Nigerians are going through as ``the birth pangs of a great future’’. Buhari, who gave the description at the official inauguration of some projects in Lagos on Monday, said that the Federal Government was fully aware of the difficulties Nigerians ``have had to go through’’. The President, who was represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, however assured Nigerians that the pains would eventually give way to prosperity and bring about the desired success of the country. ``I want to also say on behalf of Mr President that we are fully aware of all of the difficulties that Nigerians have had to go through, but these difficulties are birth pangs of the great future. ``This country is going high and it is going to be a great nation indeed. This country is going to be a nation where there will be abundance and there will be prosperity. ``But there are teething problems, there is a lot of repair to be done; there is a lot of re-adjustment to be done. ``There is a lot that we have to do to ensure that our country becomes the kind of country that it really should be. ``A lot has happened in the past that has done a lot of damage and we must repair that damage. ``It is that damage that is being repaired that you see today. A lot of it are the birth pangs and the birth pains that we are seeing. ``But Mr President has asked me to assure every single Lagosian and every Nigerian that we are on the
path of progress.`` Buhari commended the Nigerian Labour Congress for deciding to work with Federal Government not only to ensure the liberalization of the petroleum products market but to ``make fuel supply more efficient and profitable’’ as well. According to him, competition in the petroleum market will reduce the price of fuel in the country. The President said that 30 per cent of the 2016 budget would go to funding of infrastructure, especially rail and road projects. He also said that the Federal Government had set aside N500 billion for social investment that ensure that 500, 000 graduates were offered direct employment, while 370,000 non-graduates would be offered vocational training. He added micro-credit would be provided for one million market women across the country. He urged Nigerians to be patient as the current administration had a lot to offer them. Osinbajo inaugurated the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Rescue Unit and the Ago Palace Road Project on behalf of President Buhari. He also handed over Pick Up Vans and Power Bikes provided by the state to security agencies on behalf of the President. Earlier, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, commended the President and assured him of the state’s commitment to improving the operations and welfare of its security agencies. Ambode said the rescue unit was set up to reduce the response time to emergencies in the state.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
13
News 14 NOA seeks eradication of terminally-ill persons from Nigerian roads Gbarabe Kpokan Saturday
ÏÏÏ
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on corporate bodies and wellmeaning Nigerians to move against terminally-ill persons parading Nigerian roads, claiming to be care-givers seeking money from people. The Rivers State Director of the Agency, Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, who handed down the call in Port Harcourt during a one day seminar organised by the agency, in collaboration with the daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul and the catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, said that the position was necessary since the practice further exposes the ill persons to more health hazards, exploitations by their so called care giver and dehumanization. Commending the Daughters of Charity of the Catholic Church, who from the burden of their heart over the years have initiated the partnership process with the National Orientation Agency, as well as the relevant stakeholders, Wolugbom expressed the believe that if a formidable and desirable public and private partnership is built, our roads and streets will be free of the menace.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Armsgate: Fani-Kayode to remain in EFCC custody for 3 weeks Titilope Joseph
ÏÏÏA Lagos Magistrate court,
sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, granted an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to remand former spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in the 2015 general election, Mr. Femi Fani Kayode on alleged N1.4bn fraud. Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi granted the remand application after she had listened to the argument of counsel representing the anti-graft agency, Mr. A. N. Anana and Fani Kayode’s counsel, Wale Balogun. In its argument, the EFCC had stated that the remand application dated 10th of May,
2016, was pursuant to section 261 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJL, 2011, of Lagos State, was to remand Fani-Kayode, who appeared in court in a white Kaftan and slippers, pending when he will be properly be arraigned at the appropriate Court. “I urge your Lordship to remand the defendant because if he is not remanded, he may likely tamper with the investigation which is on-going” Anana said. Responding to EFCC’s remand application, counsel to Fanikayode, Balogun, argued that the anti-graft application’s move was to breach his constitutional rights, adding that the defendant had been granted an administrative bail by the EFCC but was never allow to leave
even after he had met the bail condition. He also informed the court the anti-graft agency had gotten the same order of remand before an Abuja Chief Magistrate court. He, therefore, urged the court to disregard the EFCC’s remand application against his client. However, Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi dismissed Kayode’s application holding to the fact that he failed to exhibit any document before the court to show that the former Minister of Aviation has been charged before any court for the alleged offence. She, therefore, ordered that Fani Kayode be remanded at the EFCC’s custody for 21 days pending when he will be arraigned at the appropriate court.
L-R: Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran; Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe kachikwu and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed at the interactive session on issues arising from recent increase in the pump price of petroleum in Lagos… on Monday.
FG requires $166bn for energy, transport infrastructure
Henry Omunu Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
Federal Government on Monday, said that the country would require a $166 billion financial outlay over the next five years if the country’s energy and transport infrastructure needs are to be met. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this while speaking at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Land and Transport, on two bills seeking to establish the Nigerian Railway Authority and the National Transport Commission. The minister said that based on the huge financial requirement, the Buhari administra-
tion had entered into an agreement with General Electric for the commercialisation of the Lagos-Kano railway project. “Besides privatisation, government also realised a monumental infrastructure deficit hitch as at 2015 stood at over $3.05 trillion in 30 years, or $166 billion in five years with energy and transport infrastructure taking more than 50 per cent of that need. “Transport infrastructure alone needs a whopping $50.9 billion in five years to cover the current gap in the sector, an average of $10.2 billion per year. Currently, the ratio of funding in the sector between the public and private is 9:1. This constituted a major disincentive to private sector participation in the
industry. “In addition, it is considered imperative to intimate this committee that full government ownership and management of these agencies had inherent restrictions for third party funding, undue government interferences, burdensome bureaucratic structures, and over bloated work force amongst others,” the minister said. Amaechi added that privatisation of the railway would conflict with public interest, stating that “governments all over the world have realised that it is not best suited in ownership and management of businesses and as such consider it imperative to shift from purely government to Public Private Partnership (PPP)”.
Declaring the public hearing open, Speaker Yakubu Dogara urged that the Nigerian Railway Authority bill which spells out the operations and regulatory framework for the railway sector should be thoroughly examined by all stakeholders. The Speaker said that an efficient rail system is a much safer and cheaper mode of transporting goods, services and persons across the length and breadth of Nigeria, adding that “it will reduce drastically the damage done to our roads and highways by heavy duty trucks. “Rail transportation also provides a strong foundation for industrial activities in any economy as the haulage of raw materials can be effectively undertaken though the railways.”
Arase, IG
We paid ransom for our release, says Kwara APC chair Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin
ÏÏÏThe
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Hon. Ishola Balogun Fulani, who was kidnapped by Fulani gunmen last Friday alongside the party’s Secretary, Chief Sunday Bode Adekanye, on Sunday, recounted their ordeal at the den of their abductors. Balogun-Fulani, while speaking with newsmen at the palace of Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, shortly after a visit of appreciation to the monarch, said they paid ransom before they were freed by the kidnappers. The APC chairman who was silent on amount paid, however, confirmed the gunmen demanded N40m and N30m from him and his secretary. He said that all the effort by security operatives sent by Commissioners of Police in Kogi and Niger States and even the deployment of helicopter by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, yielded no result while they were held in the bush.
Strike: Ekiti workers defy resumption order Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti
ÏÏÏMost civil servants in Ekiti
state, on Monday, failed to resume work despite directive by the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to that effect, even with indication that another round of strike action loom in Ekiti state over salary arrears and deduction. Our Correspondent who monitored the workers’ resumption observed that only a few workers reported for work as most offices remained desolate as at 10:00am. The low turnout of state workers may not be unconnected with last Tuesday’s ultimatum given to the state government by the leadership of the local chapter of the labour unions to pay workers’ salaries arrears and deductions. Ekiti state government is currently owing workers five months’ salary as well as December deductions payable to cooperatives.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
15 Opinion
Rescuing Abia schools through FASAI
M Okechukwu Ukegbu
gboko Amairi Community Secondary School was founded in 1982. The institution has produced prominent personalities in virtually all fields of human endeavour. This school that lay the proverbial” golden eggs” is a shadow of it old self: the staff rooms are leaking; the class room blocks are dilapidate; there are no seats for the students to seat. The school share similar ugly narratives with some public schools in Abia. But relief came its way last week when the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu donated 50 desks to the school, courtesy of Friends of Abia School Adoption Initiative (FASAI). In addition to that, Adindu also adopted 36 students on scholarship, out of which 16 come from Mgboko Amairi Community Secondary School. Adindu in his address noted out that he was moved by pity noticing some of the students of the school standing while taking their lessons in one of his visits to the school. “The story is pathetic. I was inspired to engage in this intervention the day I drove into this school and noticed that some students were standing
while taking their lessons. I know some compounds in this community where nobody has attended secondary school. In addition to what I have already done, I’m striving to make sure that those families would have at least one person who will attend secondary school,” Adindu said. The ceremony marked a turning point for the institution and a couple of months it would be singing a new song. The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgboji, through the intervention of his ministry promised to renovate one of the classroom blocks. Adindu also promised to renovate one of the blocks. There is serious commitment on the part of Abia State Government to rehabilitate the schools. Within the past six months, over 10 schools have been rehabilitated. Also boreholes have been sunk in some schools to forestall pupils being knocked down while in search of drinking water across the roads. The state is also collating data on the needs of the schools. To bridge the gap of infrastructural development in the public schools, Ikpeazu’s administration has established centres where blocks are moulded for schools renovation and desks are built for the pupils. It will be recalled that the infrastructural decay in the public schools
compelled the state government to put on hold its proposed “Free School Meal”. Plans are underway to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Australia to mount a Teachers’ Training Institution that can train and retrain Abia teachers. Adindu’s gesture is worthy of emulation by well- meaning Abians . Though Mgboko Amairi Community Secondary School is not his alma mater, he had the heart such a wonderful gesture to the school. There is a strong appeal to other well- meaning Abians to give back to the society that moulded them by keying into FASAI. The initiative is private- sector driven and is aimed at involving well- meaning individuals within and outside the state to give back to the communities, especially the schools that raised them. The initiative basically targets the worst schools in each of the local councils. After the identification of these schools, they will be given a facelift with the hope that when the worst of these schools are upgraded, the effect on the entire primary school system will be enormous. The project aims at both turning around the worst schools across the state and to give hope to pupils from poor schools. Like Prof. Mgboji argued that is nowhere in the world government funds
schools totally, in the work of E.D. Nakpodia” Techniques for improving private sector participation in the funding of educational institutions in Delta State, Nigeria”, It is posited that “private sector should act as catalyst in complementing the efforts of government in terms of funding to ensure a qualitative and quantitative education for all. The work further argued that government as the major source of fund for financing education has over the years failed to live up to its responsibility of sufficiently funding education, adding that the need has risen for the private sectors and philanthropic organisations that may be interested in education to assist in equipment, books and capital projects for the educational institutions. learnThere is no doubt, that the private sector could give the nation’s educational sector a face lift, by providing the right infrastructure and environment conducive enough for learning as governments cannot alone solve the seemingly intractable problem facing the education sector”. I appeal to Abians to reflect on the arguments raised in E.D. Nakpodia’s work and rescue Abia public schools by keying into Ikpeazu’s FASAI. Ukegbu is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Ikpeazu on media.
Buhari: It is time to hit the ground running
I Kehinde Akinpelu
t is exactly one, that President Muhammud Buhari assumed control of the most populous black nation on earth. Buhari, while crisscrossing the nation campaigning for the fourth time for the Nigerian Presidency in 2015, told Nigerians, he was the man with the Midas touch. Nigerians believed in him because of the tenacity and sincerity he seems to be pursuing the race coupled with the fact that, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a abysmal failure. Buhari got the peoples. At his inaugural speech, he drew world attention to Nigerians across ethnic and religious divide when he said “I belong to nobody but belong to all”. With this message, Nigerians, believed that the process that will kick start a national rebirth. However, our assumed man Friday, Buhari decided to do the otherwise by kick stating his administration with lopsided appointments mostly from the northern part of the country and more specifically from the North West that he came from. Buhari told Nigerians he inherited an empty treasury and told usto brace up for hard times which will only last for a while, but funny enough, for a president who met an empty treasure, what should be most
paramount in his mind is how to assemble an economic egg heads team to see how the country can come out of the wood, but unfortunately what he rather choose to do is to be junketing around the globe. In less than a year in office, he has travelled to dozens of countries at great cost to the nation’s treasury. He told Nigerians, that they have no business with infrastructural deficit, saying all infrastructural deficit will be handled with utmost precision, adding that epileptic power supply, comatose rail system, death trapped roads, ailing health and educational sectors will all be things of the past. However today, these decaying infrastructures remain the hallmark of this administration as the nation has not been able to cross the bridge of infrastructural improvement. He also told Nigerians, his administration will smoke out all the remaining pockets of insurgency in the country, because as a retired military head of state, he knows the Nigerian terrain by heart. Furthermore, he said the abducted Chibok Girls will be rescued. Today, in as much as we appreciate the continuous degrading of the Boko Haram sect which began from the Goodluck Administration, the Chibok girls are yet to be rescued. Buhari told Nigerians that has
one the largest producer of oil in the world; we have no business with petroleum products scarcity. Ironically, today Nigerians are gasping to survive under the harsh atmosphere created by petroleum products scarcity. He told Nigerians that he is ready to create million of jobs for the large army of unemployed youths and that in the interim; there will be a palliative measure of N5, 000 every month for unemployed youths. Today, that campaign promise as become a source of argument and counter arguments as Buhari denied ever making such a promise. Darkness remains one of the closest companions of Nigerians, due to epileptic power supply, by the day, the low level power megawatt inherited by the Buhari led administration has continued to nose dive. The ant i-graft war has continued to be fought on wobbling legs, wrapped in ethno religious garb. Never in the history of this nation have we heard of the budget padding, until the coming of the acclaimed anti graft czar. Right under his watch, over N668 billion worth of frivolous items were smuggled into that budget and at the end of the day when the National Assembly eventually passed the budget only N17 billion worth of those items
were removed. What is the rationale behind the fact that a government that is claiming to be fighting corruption, is finding it difficult to reconcile the stance with humongous amount allocated to the State House in the year’s budget? How on earth can a supposed austere government justify the purported increment of the capital budget of the presidency from N4.3bn in 2015 to N19bn in 2016? What defense has the presidency for voting a whopping N15bn for the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, N3.63bn for purchase of BMW saloon cars and N800m for website, to mention but a few? Why is the Buhari administration sustaining the profligate legacy of the past administration after surfing to power on the change mantra promise? The time has indeed come for Buhari to made to come to the reality of the magnitude of the challenges that goes with the p job of governing a nation like Nigeria. Rather than throw up his hands and jump to the same gravy train of blaming previous administration for failure to perform using the same set of impotent excuses, this government should look inward and admit to itself its own lack of preparations for the huge task that Nigerians handed over to it in 2015.
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
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g 20
Giwa appeal against league expulsion G
Gbenga Ogunbote
iwa FC have appealed against a decision they be expelled from the Nigeria league after they stayed away from three home games without acceptable reasons. The League Management Company (LMC) based its decision to expel Giwa after their failure to honour three matches cumulatively in one season, which is in violation
of Rule B13.28 of the NPFL Rules and Framework. But in a letter dated May 21, 2016, in response to the LMC Summary Jurisdiction Notice, Giwa FC secretary Samson Adamu wrote to acknowledge the decision, but also notified the LMC of the club’s decision to reject the ruling and appeal same.
In a letter addressed to the LMC Chief Operating Officer, Giwa FC stated, “The above subject matter refers. We are in receipt of your letter of 20th May, 2016 on the above subject matter. We hereby notify you that we do not accept any of the sanctions imposed on our club and further add that we elect to be dealt with by a
Page 18
commission.” By this notice of appeal, Giwa FC will now appear before the relevant authority in the coming days to hear their appeal. In the latest NPFL table released by the LMC, Giwa FC is placed on the 20th position while other clubs have had the results of their games with Giwa FC cancelled.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Omeruo says Turkey
loan has Milo Basketball action.
boosted his
self-belief
C
Nestle Milo Basketball:
Enugu, Ebonyi in flying start at
Atlantic Conference ANDREW EKEJIUBA
E
nugu and Ebonyi States made good starts at the Atlantic Conference of the 18th Nestlé Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship. The venue of the competition is the
Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium Indoor Sport Hall in Enugu where the qualifying states in that zone are slogging it out. The conference defending champions in the boys category, St Augustine Seminary Ezemagbo, Ebonyi State began their title defence with slim win against Belary Group
of School Yenegoa, Bayelsa by 22-20 points in a tension soaked match. In another encounter, boys from Igwebuke Grammar School Awka, Anambra had to wait till the last quarter of the match to over powered boys from Government Secondary School Barracks, Cross
River State by 20-19 points in a well balanced game. In the Girls cadre, Anambra State flagbearer, Emeka Agashili High School Nise, were a depleted side when they confronted St. Jude Girls High School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, in a one-sided affair game.
NFF to sensitise clubs, media to FIFA’s new rules T
he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said on Monday that it will soon begin to sensitise clubs and other stakeholders to football rules as reviewed by FIFA. Linus Mba, FIFA Referees Advisor and Consultant to the NFF on Refereeing, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the sensitisation would commence fully in September. Mba, however, said the reviewed laws were expected to take effect from June 1.
“The laws become effective from June 1 but FIFA provides that countries whose leagues are still in progress can defer implementation till the beginning of the new season. ``So the mid-season seminar we would have organised to sensitise people on these changes will be suspended because if we start teaching the changes now, there will be a lot of confusion. ``We need sufficient time to sensitise clubs, teams, players; we also need
time to sensitise referees who did not attend our course, so we need longer period than just these two weeks. ``But teams like Enyimba FC who are participating in the CAF Champions League will immediately begin to apply the new laws from June 1; so, we have started to sensitise the club on the changes’’, Mba said. He said that arrangements were being made to create time to sensitise Enyimba before their CAF group stage matches on
the reviewed laws. ``This is to ensure that they don’t get lost during the continental matches.’’ According to Mba, the sensitisation of Nigerian football stakeholders will focus mainly on foul and misconduct as well as the offside laws. Mba explained that the reviewed laws were the new interpretation to handball and offside, while the law, like the number of players, was seen to be reference material.
helsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has said his confidence has been boosted after an enjoyable time at Turkish club Kasimpasa, where he spent the past season on loan. The Nigeria international played 26 times for the Turkish club and would have posted more appearances but for the injuries he suffered during the course of the season. Omeruo spent the previous two seasons on loan at Middlesbrough – then playing in the English Championship – and he also admits that playing in the top league has been good for him and has given him more confidence. “I’ve enjoyed my football and I am more confident, playing in the first league felt good,” he said. He is not expected to extend his stay at Kasimpasa and has been linked with some clubs in the EPL including Crystal Palace. He will rejoin the deposed Premier League champions for pre-season, before a decision is made if he will stay at Stamford Bridge for the 2016/17 season or whether he will go out on loan again.
Omeruo
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
EXTRATIME
BRIEFS
Evra confirms
i s s e M t i d e r c s e v r e s e d for my Copa goal — Alba
J
ordi Alba did not want to take too much of the credit after his extra-time goal broke the deadlock in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final. Alba slid the ball across goal and into the back of the net at the far post after Lionel Messi produced a
magical pass to find the left-back surging into the area at Vicente Calderon on Sunday. The Spaniard’s goal opened the scoring after a goalless 90 minutes that was not short on drama, with Javier Mascherano sent off for Barcelona in the 36th minute before Ever Banega was given his
marching orders to even up the numbers heading into extra time. But Alba said Messi deserved most of the credit for the goal and was just happy to come away with the win against such a well-drilled opponent as Sevilla. “I was lucky to score since Leo, as always, picked me out to
two-year Juve deal P
Messi perfection,” Alba said. “Winning was very hard because we played down a man a long time, and against a team like Sevilla, which prepares well for matches against Barca. “The team played a very solid game, especially at the defensive end.”
Hummels completes Bayern move
M Hummels
ats Hummels has signed a five-year deal with Bayern Munich after passing his medical on Monday. Bayern announced earlier this month that Borussia Dortmund captain Hummels had agreed to swap Signal Iduna Park for the Allianz Arena, and the transfer has now been completed. Hummels commented: “Saying farewell to Dortmund has not been easy, just like it was not easy when I moved in the opposite direction in 2008. “I am now looking forward to everything that awaits me at
Bayern. I am very relaxed.” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: “We are very pleased to be able to welcome back Mats to Bayern. “We have not only added a world-class centreback to our squad with the capture of Mats, but also someone who does not shy away from taking his responsibility and who came through our youth academy.
Neuer:
Guardiola’s era sensational!
M
anuel Neuer dismissed any notion that Pep Guardiola’s time at Bayern Munich has been a failure and has labelled the Spaniard’s spell in charge of the Bavarians “sensational”. Guardiola led Bayern to three consecutive Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokal triumphs, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, but failed to deliver Champions League glory. Nevertheless, Neuer feels the 45-year-old has helped Bayern forward in all aspects. “The three years under Guardiola have been sensational,” Neuer told reporters.
“We should acknowledge that our coach did not fail in any area, including the Champions League, even if he did not win it with Bayern. Winning the double definitely was a happy ending to his time at Bayern. “Working with Pep was sensational. We played the best football out there both in the Champions League and in Germany, better than all other teams. Guardiola deserves credit for that. “Guardiola has moved Bayern forward in all aspects. I have learned a lot from him both as a footballer and as a human being.
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atrice Evra has confirmed he will sign a new twoyear contract with Juventus. The former Manchester United full-back has played a crucial role under Massimiliano Allegri since arriving on a free transfer in 2014, winning backto-back Serie A and Coppa Italia titles. The 35-year-old’s consistent form has seen him retain his place as firstchoice left-back for the majority of the campaign, despite the arrival last year of Alex Sandro from Porto for a reported €26million fee.
Evra
Delneri
exits Verona
following relegation L uigi Delneri will not stay on as Verona coach following their relegation from Serie A, the club have confirmed. After taking over from Andrea Mandorlini in December, Delneri was unable to stop Verona from slipping down to the second tier – relegated alongside Carpi and Frosinone. The club have now parted ways with the 65-year-old as they look to bounce back at the first attempt.
Emery
confirms Banega’s exit from Sevilla
S
Guardiola Robben
evilla boss Unai Emery has confirmed that Ever Banega played his last game for the club in the Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona. The Argentina international has long been linked with a move to Inter and vicepresident Javier Zanetti claimed this month that a deal was in place to bring the 27-year-old to San Siro. Banega was sent off for a professional foul on Neymar in Sunday’s match at the Vicente Calderon, which Barca went on to win 2-0 after extra-time.
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Tuesday, May 24, 2016
EXTRATIME
Son
Son unfazed by Tottenham exit rumours
T
ottenham forward Son Heungmin is aware of speculation that he could be sold after just one season in the Premier League, but the South Korean is not worried. Son’s future at White Hart Lane has been unclear following reports Coach Mauricio Pochettino is ready to cash in on the former Bayer Leverkusen star. The 23-year-old - £22million signing from the Bundesliga - scored four goals in 28 Premier League appearances as Tottenham faltered to finish third in the table. Asked about the exit rumours, Son - who is with the national team ahead of international friendlies against Spain and Czech Republic - told reporters: “I saw the articles but I’ve heard nothing about my transfer.
Gotze
perfect for Liverpool,says Hitzfeld F
ormer Bayern Munich boss Ottmar Hitzfeld believes it would be a “win-win” situation if Mario Gotze was reunited with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. The Germany international has struggled for form and fitness this season at Bayern, leading to speculation he may be offloaded with Liverpool one of the teams reportedly interested. And although Gotze has expressed his desire to fight for a place under new Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti, Hitzfeld would be happy to see him move to Merseyside and link up again with Klopp, under whom he played his best football when at Borussia Dortmund. “When I heard that Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp
opens stadium named in his honour
F
A
Reds legend,
Rush hails ‘fantastic’
Klopp L
iverpool legend Ian Rush has praised the ‘fantastic’ work of Jurgen Klopp following his first season at Anfield and still hopes the German coach can lure Mario Goetze to Merseyside. At the end of his first season in charge, Klopp steered Liverpool to the Europa League final last week, only to fall to a 3-1 defeat to Sevilla in Basel. It was Klopp’s fifth consecutive defeat in a final as a coach, and his second of the season after also losing the League Cup final against Manchester City.
Gotze
Wilkins backs Mourinho for Red Devils job
Wenger
rsene Wenger travelled to France over the weekend to officially open a stadium named in his honour. ‘Stade Arsene Wenger’, home of USL Dippinheim with a capacity of 500, are based near Strasbourg where Wenger was born. Wenger, while speaking to reporters, hopes the honour will encourage other local youngsters to follow their own dreams.
might be interested I thought that was a good idea, because Gotze is a very good player, who could help Liverpool. “They don’t have any similar, technically strong players for the offense. “Mario Gotze would fit in with Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, who knows Gotze. He would instantly have a relationship of trust, so it would be a win-winsituation,” Hitzfeld said. Earlier on Monday, Gotze insisted he was willing to stay at Bayern: “I look forward to the new season in Munich and will do everything possible to compete in top shape during my first training session under Carlo Ancelotti.”
Mourinho
ormer Manchester United midfielder Ray Wilkins is confident Jose Mourinho is the “right person” to succeed Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. Van Gaal’s uninspiring twoyear spell at United came to an end on Monday just two days after winning the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat of Crystal Palace at
Wembley. And Wilkins, who also played for Chelsea and worked as assistant boss under Gianluca Vialli, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge, says Mourinho is the ideal replacement should United firm up their reported interest in the Portuguese. “He’s the right person to carry them forward. “If they were to go for Jose it would be
Smalling admits
relief after
Lingard winner
C
a good choice. “He will bring winning days back to Manchester United, that’s a certainty,” Wilkins said. Mourinho’s reluctance to blood young players – something United are renown for – in his previous jobs has caused concern among some United fans but Wilkins is optimistic he will look beyond the transfer market for new talent.
hris Smalling was relieved to see Jesse Lingard’s extra-time FA Cup final winner burst the back of the net after the Manchester United defender was sent off during the 2-1 win. Smalling was booked twice, the second for a rugby tackle on Yannick Bolasie, in Saturday’s final and left United with 10 men for the second half of extra time, but they still prevailed s as Lingard rifled home the winner with a superb volley. The goal spared the England international’s blushes after his brain snap left United short in defence. “The feeling is one of relief,” said Smalling. “You just have to learn that you can’t always go and win that ball and there are certain moments to do it. “Luckily I wasn’t punished, because Jesse popped up with a great goal, but I thought it was a well-deserved win because we created a lot of chances.” Smalling - who has acted as stand-in captain for United throughout the season - was delighted to see the cup won off the back of a youngster’s effort, with the likes of Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford having played such key roles in the squad this term. “We’ve looked to a lot of the young players to turn up this season and quite often they have in those big games,” said Smalling. “I’m buzzing for Jesse because it was a great strike worthy of winning any game.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
21 News
N47.7b NIMASA fraud: EFCC opens case against Tompolo, Akpobolokemi, others Peter Fowoyo Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, heard how former Niger Delta militant, Government Oweize Ekpemupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo and others allegedly defrauded the country to the tune of N47, 683,464,822.billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, opened its case by calling first witness, Hammed Muhammed
Ghali, an Investigation Police Officer (IPO) in the charge and also an operative of the commission who gave a graphic detail of how the fraud was perpetrated in the agency (NIMASA). He told Justice Ibrahim Buba of how the commission carried out its investigation and obtained various documents which allegedly indicted the accused. Led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Ghali told the court that
in 2011, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd (GWVSL) proposed a strategic joint venture partnership with NIMASA, by providing: platforms for effective patrols, electronic surveillance and data, among others. On April 3, 2012, the agency and GWVSL entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement. The witness informed the court that Akpobolokemi allegedly used the partnership to defraud the agency, noting
that all the agreement were allegedly uttered by the accused in order to perpetrates the fraud. Tompolo and others were recently docked in absentia before the Federal High Court in Lagos, on a 22-count charge bordering on fraud, conversion of money and forgery. Also arraigned in absentia were siblings of the immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency
SODEINDE OLUWATOYIN ABOSEDE
MRS OLASEHINDE OLUWAKEMISOLA PRECIUS
ABODUNRIN ZACHARIAS OLABISI,
CORRECTION OF NAME
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
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ENEKA SAMUEL UDOH
ADEBUSUYI ATINUKE ADEKEMI
ABIODUN FATIMO ADEGBOYE
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EKENE OMA OKECHUKWU
KELANI IBRAHIM BABATUNDE
ÎÎÎA
I formerly known as OLUSANYA OLUWATOYIN ABOSEDE now wish to be known and addressed as SODEINDE OLUWATOYIN ABOSEDE. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
ALAMU OLUWADAMILARE ABIODUN I formerly known as ALAMU YUSUF ABIODUN now wish to be known and addressed as ALAMU OLUWADAMILARE ABIODUN. All former document remain valid, general public please take note. MRS. SCHOLARSTICA ADAMMA JUDITH OKORIE I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. SCHOLARSTICA ADAMMA ABOH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SCHOLARSTICA ADAMMA JUDITH OKORIE . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note
OKONKWO GRACE UKAMAKA
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AYIBAM AGANYI ATINKOR
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EMMANUEL BROWN
ANGELA JOHNLEO
I formerly known as Udegbunam Nonso Emmanuel now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL BROWN. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
I FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BILKISU EMMANUEL ANGELA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ANGELA JOHNLEO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE
VOICE OF REVIVAL AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRY THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UGOCHUKWU EUGENE INNOCENT 2. CHUKWUEKEZIE ONYEBUCHI 3. EZEIGBO CHRISTIAN CHUKWUEMEKA 4. EZEIGBO CLEMENTINA OBIANUJU. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. N. I. OKONKWO
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BOSE ELIZABETH KAFILAT BABAYEMI
MARIA OGADINMA NNADOZIE
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MARYANN NWAKAEGO EJIOGU
GRACE MBA JOHNSON
(NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziadeke Akpolobokemi, who was also arraigned before the court. The Akpolobokemi’s siblings were: Igo Akpolobokemi, Julius, Stephen, Victor, Norbert, Emmanuel Ebizimo, and Clement. While those arraigned alongside the former NIMASA Director-General were: Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa and seven limited liability companies which includes Mieka
I, formerly known as EKENE OKECHUKWU RICHY wish to be known and addressed as EKENE OMA OKECHUKWU. All former document remain valid, general public please take note. FRANCA PRINCE JOHN ADOKIYE
Tompolo Dive Training Institute LTD/ GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Limited, Wabod Global Resources Limited, Boloboere Properties Estate Limited, Gokaid Marine and Oil and Gas Limited, Muhaabix Global Service Limited and Watershed Associated Resources.
ADVERT SPACE FOR SALE
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CORRECTION OF NAME.
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I, formerly known and addressed as, FRANCA NDIDI NWACHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as, FRANCA PRINCE JOHN ADOKIYE. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.
This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written as PAULINE OZO MGBAKOGU, NOW to be corrected as PAULINA NWOZO MGBAKOGU . All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.
TAIWO MODINAT AYANNIKE
ATUANYA NNEKA ELIZABETH
IDUBOR EMMANUEL OSADEBAWMEN
MRS. OLUWATOSIN OLUWASEYI ADESINA
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EVE AND DAUGHTERS’ NETWORK INTERNATIONAL
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AL SALAM ISLAMIC SOCIETY.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The Trustees are : 1. Nnenna Elizabeth Paul-Ugochukwu (Chairman) 2. Ugomma Paul-Ugochukwu (Secretary) 3. Ikechukwu Paul-Ugochukwu 4. Nnamdi Paul-Ugochukwu
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ADIGUN MUSA 2. AHMED TESLEEM 3. SURAJUDEEN IBRAHIM 4. TEWOGBADE BASHIR 5. MOHAMMED TAOHEED
The Aim and Objective: To prevent Child Sexual Abuse by empowering adults through education and awareness campaigns
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO FOSTER PEACE AND HARMONY AMONG MEMBERS 2. TO RENDER MORAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY
Any objection to the registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.
Signed: Secretary
Signed: Secretary
News 22
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
El-Zakzaky’s N2b suit against FG stalled Andrew Orolua, Abuja
ÎÎÎThe
N2 billion fundamental rights legal suit filed by the leader of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky against the Federal Government over his detention could not go on Monday. This followed the absence of the respondents including the Department of State
Security Service (DSS), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Police in court. Zakzaky had filed the suit before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, through his counsel and right activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN). The plaintiff is specifically asking for the award of the sum of N2 billion as damages against the Federal
Government for his continuous detention without trial. When the case was called on Monday, the court registrar informed the court that the respondents, which were the Department of State Services (DSS) the Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation were absent. Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel kolawole, adjourned the case to June 18 to enable the respon-
dents appear in court. Femi Falana who represented El-zakzaky against the DSS, the AttorneyGeneral and the Police, also asked immediate release of El-Zakzaky and a court order restraining the respondents from further violating his right in any form. The Shite leader further asked the court to compel the respondents in the suit to jointly pay the sum of
N2 billion as general damages for the illegal violation of his fundamental human rights since his arrest on December 14, 2015 . El-Zakzaky and his disciples have been detained by the police after a clash with the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, in Zaria, Kaduna state on December 5, 2015 in which several life were lost.
El-Zakzaky
COSEG backs out of strike Gboyega Adeoye
ÎÎÎThe Coalition of Oodua
Cross section of security vehicles and motorbikes commissioned by representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Lagos… on Monday.
Nigeria on path to greatness, says Buhari ÎÎÎPresident
Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday urged Nigerians to patiently work with his administration assuring that Nigeria would surpass its present challenges. Buhari, who was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo spoke at the handing over of security equipment worth N1.85 billion provided by the Lagos State Government to security agencies in the state. “This country will be a great country; we are completely convinced that we are on the right path. “All that we urge is that Nigerians should patiently work with this government,” Buhari said. Buhari said his government was completely committed to seeing that the nation achieved its rightful place in the comity of great nations. “We are fully aware of all the difficulties that Nigerians have had to go through but these difficulties are birth pains of the great future . “This country is going high
and it is going to be a great nation indeed. “This country will be a nation where there will be abundance and prosperity but there is a lot of repairs and adjustment to be done. “There is a lot we have to do to ensure that our country becomes a kind of country that it should be. A lot has happened in the past that has done a lot of damage and we must repair that damage. “It is that damage that is been repaired that you see today. A lot of it are the birth pains that you are seeing,” Buhari said. “Recently, we explained to the nation that we had no choice but to look at a situation where we have to liberalise the fuel market. “Now we have been able to do so and we are glad that labour has also decided to work with us and see how the liberalisation can make fuel supply more efficient and more profitable. “Today, any Nigerian can
bring in fuel and supply so long as you are able to abide by the regulations of PPPRA and DPR. We expect that in future, petrol prices will go down because with competition, prices will go down as it was in the telecommunications sector, “ he said. Buhari commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his achievements, especially in the provision of infrastructure and ensuring safety of residents. He noted that the Federal
Government would continue to support the state being the economic nerve centre of Nigeria. Ambode said that the vehicles and equipment will be distributed among the 107 Police stations and 13 Police Area Commands in the state. “Other beneficiaries are the Nigeria Customs, Immigration Services, the Nigeria Army, Airforce, Navy, DSS, AIG Zone 2, Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety Corps, LASTMA, NDLEA, among others.
Oshiomhole drops Abdul Oroh as Commissioner ÎÎÎThe
Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has relieved Hon. Abdul Oroh of his appointment as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in the State, in the public interest. His removal is with immediate effect.
Also, the Governor has approved the appointment of Mr. Kerry Emokpare as Commissioner-designate in the State. Mr. Governor thanked Hon Abdul Oroh for his invaluable services to the state and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Self Determination Groups (COSEG), has called on its members to sheath their daggers and discontinue the ongoing nationwide strike embarked upon since Wednesday. The group said it decided to call its men off the streets “as a result of recent mediations by eminent Nigerians who intervened recently with a promise of a negotiation that was expected to midwife a conclusion that would assuage the lingering hardship pervading the country.” According to the Chairman of COSEG, Adedayo Ogunlana, the decision to
back out of the strike was taken with the hope that government would accede to the popular clamour for friendly policies that would alleviate poverty and ease the living condition of the citizenry. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, was the first to call off the strike following mediation by some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over the weekend. Ogunlana, who said his group was backing out not for cowardice, said the action was taken in line with the group’s believe in dialogue, rather than confrontation in solving issues that touched directly on the lives of the masses of the country.
Eze makes case for knowledge economy Anayo Igbokwe
ÎÎÎAs Nigeria continues to
reel from the shocks of falling oil prices in the international market, James Eze, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Anambra State on Media, has advised governments at all levels to reprioritise education with a view to helping the country make a swift transition to “knowledge economy.” Delivering a lecture titled “Education as a Panacea for Self and National Development” at the formal inauguration of the National Executive of the National Union of Anambra State Students (NUASS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, at the weekend, Eze, who is also a writer, argued that if Nigeria must survive the endless vagaries of the international oil markets, there must be a strategic transition from a mono-economy to a knowledge economy. Describing knowledge economy as an economy
which shifts focus from the exploitation of natural resources and the exertion of physical strength on the means of production to creating, warehousing, perfecting and selling of information or knowledge, Eze argued that countries in North America and Europe would continue to lead the world because they had since made the transition to knowledge economy. “The term knowledge economy was actually made popular by Peter Drukker who argued that there has been a paradigm shift from agricultural and labour-intensive economy to one that depends on knowledge and information. With the endless rise and fall in oil prices, Nigeria would do well to lay down the necessary foundations that will help her leapfrog to knowledge economy. This will de-emphasize our dependence on mineral resources and place our greatness in our own hands” he advised.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
23 News
Bayelsa tribunal: Gov. Dickson defends mandate today Andrew Orolua, Abuja
ÎÎÎBayelsa
State governor, Seriake Dickson, will today open his defence in response to the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Timipre Sylva, challenging his re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on January 9, 2016. This is after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday, closed its case before the State Governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja. The electoral body had told the tribunal that the election that produced Governor Seriake Dickson was free, fair and was held in a substantial compliance with the Electoral Act. INEC’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN),
called two witnesses, who testified to the credibility of the election. In the testimony of Justine Adie, a civil servant, who was the Electoral Officer in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the January 9, 2016 was free, fair and in conformity with the electoral law. He told the tribunal, under cross examination by counsel to Dickson, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), that no report of violence was recorded during the election. Adie further admitted that the agents of various political parties – including the APC signed the results of the election. That before the January 9 election, INEC met with the various political parties in the state and other stakeholders and agreed on the date.
However, under cross examination by counsel to the petitioners, Chief Sebastian Hon (SAN), the witness said he did not visit all the 198 polling units in the local government area. He also admitted that the entries and signatories in the results sheets were not done in his presence. Another witness, Alex Okorie, an Electoral Officer for
Sagbama Local Government Area, also testified to the credibility of the election. The APC and Sylva are challenging the election of Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 2015 and January 2016 governorship polls that were conducted on the ground of non-compliance and violence. The petitioners are challenging the validity of the
election over alleged widespread violence and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act. It is now the turn of Dickson, through his legal team anchored by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), to call his witnesses to defend his mandate. He is expected to call about 3,000 witnesses in the next seven days allotted by the tribunal.
Gov. Dickson
FUTA students mourn dead colleagues ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure
ÎÎÎThe students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), have declared a three-days of mourning in honour of four of their colleagues, who died in a motor accident at Ibule junction in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Sunday morning. The Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution disclosed this in a statement made available, on Monday, to journalists, in Akure, the State capital. The statement, signed by the Union’s President, Com-
rade Olusegun Oladele, described the death of the four students as painful to the entire staff, management and students of the institution, adding that the three days of mourning took effect from 12 midnight, on Sunday, and would end on Wednesday. He added that, “All staff of the Union (tenants) and, by extension, those traders on campus are to stay off work during this period of mourning”. According to him, the SUG flags within the institution had been lowered at half-mast as part of the activities lined up by the union to pay their respect for the departed students.
Edo commissioner clears air on ownership of state varsity Titus Akhigbe Benin
ÎÎÎThe Edo State Commis-
sioner for Education, Gideon Obhakhan, has disclaimed insinuations that the newlyestablished Edo University, Iyamho, in Etsako West Local Government Area, was owned by the state governor, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole. He asserted that there had never been any controversy about the ownership of the institution, stressing that it is owned by the state government. “Edo University, Iyamho, is the name of the school. So, why are people talking of ownership? What is their challenge?
“As the name implies it’s Edo University, not Adams Aliu Oshiomhole University. Why are they not asking who owns the University of Benin? It (Edo University) is a state university and it remains so,” he stated. He said that the fact that the institution was cited in the home town of the governor did not mean that it belonged to him. Obhakhan added that because the bill setting up the institution was adjusted on two or three occasions did not make it an invalid establishment. Obhakhan disclosed that students are already on the campus and in no distant time the institution would hold its first matriculation ceremony.
Wife of the Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hajia Amina Dhamina; wife of Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Hajia Fatima Gidado and Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajia Asabe Hamma during inauguration of skills acquisition training workshop for women in Bauchi… on Monday.
N630m fraud: Court assumes jurisdiction in EFCC, Beninese suit Peter Fowoyo
ÎÎÎAn application filed by
Gnanhoe Sourou Nazaire and Senou Modeste Finagnon, both citizens of Republic of Benin, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was, on, Monday, dismissed by a Lagos State High Court, in Igbosere. The duo are standing trial for allegedly defrauding one Rachidatou Abdou and her company to the tune of N630 million. Upon their arraignment on February 17, they pleaded not guilty to the charge and
subsequently filed an application through their lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), asking the court to quash the charge preferred against them on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. The defendants also alleged that the charge was incompetent and that the EFCC was prosecuting them without any valid petition. But, dismissing the application, Justice Taiwo held that the Lagos High Court had jurisdiction to hear the matter and that the charge did not fall under the Company and Allied Matters Act. “I believe the high court is endowed with jurisdiction
to entertain the matter”, Justice Taiwo held. On whether EFCC had the power to initiate the charge against the defendants, the court held that the EFCC received a valid petition from the complainant alleging conspiracy and stealing against the defendants. “The stealing of company fund falls within the jurisdiction of the EFCC. The combined effect of Sections 6 (b) and 46 of EFCC Act gives it power to entertain the petition written against the defendants”, Justice Taiwo said. On whether the charge was an abuse of court process, the court held that “the
fact that the defendants have been arraigned before a sister court does not make the present case abuse of court process. However, it would have been better and neater for the two cases to be before a single judge, instead of lawyers shuttling from one court to another”. Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned till June 27 for trial. EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had in an 11- paragraph counter affidavit, asked the court to assume jurisdiction and hear the matter. Oyedepo stated that most of the declarations contained in the first and second defendant’s application were false.
Kogi gov mourns late Kabba monarch Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
ÎÎÎKogi
State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has expressed shock over the demise of the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Michael Olobayo. He described the death of
the Chairman of the Okun Traditional Council as an irreparable loss to the people of Kabba, Kogi State and the nation at large. Bello, who described the departed royal father as an invaluable light of the government, said the shoes
he left behind would be too large for anyone to wear. He hailed the sterling contributions of the royal father to the socio-economic cum development of the state, especially his reign of peace and pragmatic leadership, which endeared him to the
people. The Governor, according to a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, called on the people of Kabba to remain calm and ensure that the peace the royal father died for was not eroded.
News 24
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Detained kidnap suspect defrauds lady from detention Moses Oyediran Enugu
ÎÎÎA
kidnap suspect, Mr. Martin Ugwuagbo, charged with kidnapping at Igboetiti Magistrate Court of Enugu State, and presently at Nsukka prisons, has reportedly defrauded one Uche Ugwuja of N180, 000 through the use of internet and telephone he gained access to in the prison. Ugwuagbo is accused of fraud and threat to life, through a petition written by Mr. Ekene Nwabah and addressed to the Nsukka Area Commander, Mr. Monday Kuryas. In the petition made available to the Daily Times, the petitioner alleged that Ug-
Embrace peace, Methodist primate charges youths
wuagbo connived with one Goodness Ugwoke to defraud his client, and appealed to the Area Commander to investigate the complaint, so that his client could recover her money from the suspect. “We urge that a detailed investigation be conducted on Ugwuagbo and Ugwuoke for fraud and threat to life of our client,” he said. Nwabah stated in the petition that Ugwuagbo, in 2015, while chatting on Facebook from the prison met and became a friend to his client and told her that he was based in Abuja and sold building materials. Ugwuagbo convinced his client that his father had a house in Nsukka town with many tenants, “that the father had died and he was now the landlord.”
“My client agreed everything Ugwuagbo told her on face book not knowing that Ugwuagbo is a kidnap suspect awaiting trial in Nsukka prisons,” he said. According to the Nwabah, “Ugwuagbo told my client that he had a problem with police because he came home and the next morning a corpse was discovered in his father’s compound, which the tenants reported at Nsukka urban police station. “The suspect said he was arrested by Nsukka urban police and charged to a magistrate court, and alleged that the magistrate demanded N400, 000 before he would be released on bail. “At this point, the suspect told my client to assist him and promised to refund the
money, as soon as he returned to Abuja, since he had a big building materials shop at Abuja. My client accepted, thinking that he was saying the truth. “My client sent him the first N100, 000 with the deposit slip number 6500461 on October 5, 2015, second payment N70, 000 with deposit slip number 0017593 on October 6, 2015 and the third payment N10, 000 with deposit slip number 0016193 on October 6, 2015 all in First Bank Plc through the bank account number 3096299211 of one Goodness Ugwuoke whom the suspect gave to my client,” he said. Nwambah stated that when his client discovered that the person she had been dealing with on Facebook was a kidnap suspect, she came down
to Nsukka and demanded a refund of her money but Ugwagbo replied that he had used it to settle his lawyers and warned her not to say anything about the money again or he would send his boys after her, if she insisted on her demand for refund. According to Nwabah, “It was at this point that our client reported the matter to us and mandated us to petition police on it.” In the petition, which was copied to the Commissioner of Enugu State, the Chief Judge of Enugu State and the Controller of Prisons, Nsukka among others, Nwamba attached photocopies of deposit slips used for the payment of the N180, 000 in three installments into Goodness Ugwuoke’s First Bank account.
Titus Akhigbe Benin
ÎÎÎThe primate, Methodist
church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Chukwuemeka Uche (JP), has charged Nigerian youths to embrace peace and be ambassadors of good governance to ensure that the development strides were attained. He gave the charge in Benin City on the occasion of the Inauguration of 14-classroom block built for John Wesley cathedral Nursery and Primary School Methodist Church of Nigeria Diocese, Edo-Delta branch. The visit of the primate was stimulated by the inauguration of the ultramodern structures that had facilities for pre-KG1-3 day care for kiddies, as he urged the wards to be good emissaries of their families and the society at large. “This is to the glory of God that we are opening this edifice today. We, therefore, urge you to embrace peace and be a good ambassador to the society, “he remarked. Similarly, the chief host and the Proprietor/Chairman of the school board, Very Rev. Dr. Prince Ukaegbu thanked God for using the primate, Dr. Uche, to open the school.
Okowa
Count me out of IPP scandals, Okowa tells Deltans Nosa Ogiugo Asaba
ÎÎÎDelta State governor, Dr.
Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday dispelled rumour that he was involved in the Independent Power Project (IPP) scandals, saying that he should be counted out of it. While he vowed to fulfil his electioneering promises to Deltans, Okowa told journalists in Asaba that the IPP project had challenges, especially in the absence of gas supply, adding that “We cannot continue to spend money on project that has not been properly put in place. Obviously there are challenges on the project. We are seeking for advice. It is a huge challenge and, so far, over N30 billion has been sunk into the project without gas supply”.
Husband prostrates in court, begs wife not to divorce him ÎÎÎA respondent in a divorce Newly elected councillors for Abuja Municipal Area Council taking oath of office during their inauguration in Abuja… on Monday.
Ondo guber candidates begin moves to oust PDP Gboyega Adeoye
ÎÎÎAs competition for who
comes in as the next governor of Ondo State, gets more engaging among politicians in the sunshine state, the Moyosola 2016 Campaign Organisation, (MCO), has appointed ace broadcaster and journalist, Chales Omodugba-Akomolehin, as its spokesman and head of media and publicity The MCO is a pressure group canvassing the electoral victory of Moyosola Niran Oladunni, (MNO),
one of the contestants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the election slated for October, 2016. Charles Omodugba-Akomolehin, who expressed optimism on the ouster of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the coming gubernatorial elections, was appointed to the imagemaking position at a recent breakfast meet organised by friends of MNO in Lagos. A graduate of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Charles Om-
odugba-Akomolehin, has a vast experience as a broadcast journalist, spanning over 35 years, and has been actively involved in the coverage of political events and elections in Nigeria since 1979. He was the NTA News Correspondent in Ondo State until 1996 after which he joined the services of Galaxy Television and was the Station Manager of the broadcasting house, in Akure, until 2014. In a brief chat with our correspondent, he promised
to bring his expertise to bear on that the best was delivered to the people of Ondo State in the coming election. According to him, the fact that MNO stood out among every other contestants, made his job an easy one, since his candidacy had all the attributes the people of the state desire for a change. “The people of Ondo State desire a change and the fact that MNO personality and programme represent what the people need for a change, I am confident that the victory is on our side,” he said.
petition, Mr. Taiwo Salami, 54, on Monday, prostrated in an Ikorodu Customary Court to implore his wife not to divorce him after 27 years of marriage. Salami, an electrician, said that his life would be meaningless if his wife pack out of his house. “I don’t want to be separated from my wife, because her presence in my life has brought much glory to me. “I beg this court and everybody here to appeal on my behalf to her that she will be quickening the exit of another life if she divorces me,’’ Salami said. Salami said that her wife’s tooth that was removed in a squabble they had was by mistake, saying it happened when I was trying to stop her from biting my male organ during a fight.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
25 Opinion
The Niger Delta Avengers
Reuben
Abati ÏÏÏ Niger Delta Avengers
is the name of a new group of militants in the Niger Delta who claim to be different from the former agitators and militants who operated between 2006 and 2009, largely under the umbrella of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). The title of this group may well serve as the thematic and definitive umbrella for the resurgence of low-level insurgency in the Niger Delta, for in the last month alone, more groups have joined the NDA to wage war against oil installations, the Buhari government, and the Nigerian state. More than any of the emergent groups, the Niger Delta Avengers have used their online resources to articulate the basis of this vengeance mission in such posts as “Operation Red Economy”, “We shall do whatever is necessary to protect the Niger Delta interest” and “Keep your threat to yourself, Mr. President”. Their statements are written in halting, extremely poor English, but their various strike teams, which they boast about, have proven to be deadly through recent attacks on oil infrastructure creating a global oil
supply crisis, and bringing down Nigeria’s daily oil production from 2.2 million barrels to just about 1.4 million. Shell has had to shut down its Forcados terminal. Chevron’s Escravos operation has been breached. ENI and Exxon Mobil have declared “force majeure”. Shell and Chevron are moving their staff out of the Niger Delta. The avengers claim they are not into kidnapping, or the killing of people and soldiers, but no one is sure yet about the depth and extent of this new phase of Niger Delta insurgency, and of course, the oil and gas multinationals have since learnt not to trust either the Nigerian government or the criminals who target oil infrastructure to make political and ethnic statements. But the question is: why vengeance? The reason this question is important explains the seeming indifference to the crisis, at least for now, within the larger Nigerian community and why the avengers have so far been dismissed, to their dismay, as “empty heads” and “criminals.” Not a few persons have asked: what else do Niger Delta militants want? Recall that in 2009, late President Umaru Yar’Adua introduced an amnesty programme to end Niger Delta insurgency. Two years earlier, the architects of Nigerian politics had also deemed it necessary to allocate the Vice Presidency to the Niger Delta, and by sheer providence, the occupier of that slot, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan soon became Acting President following the death of his boss, and later in 2011, he won the Presidential election and became President. For about seven years, under this programme, introduced by President
Yar’Adua and sustained by President Jonathan, Niger Delta militants were demobilized and disarmed. The top hierarchy soon became security consultants to the Federal Government, monitoring pipelines, and helping to check oil theft. The middle cadre was placed on a monthly stipend while those who could be trained were sent to technical colleges and universities in Southern Africa and Eastern Europe. The militants became rich and gentrified, and with their kinsman in office as President in Abuja, the people of the Niger Delta began to feel a sense of ownership and belongingness that no one in that region had felt since 1960. But what is now happening clearly shows the limits of the politics of appeasement that Nigeria has played since independence. No country can be successfully run on a short-term basis and through the assignment of tokens to aggrieved parties within the union. It was mere delusion to have ever imagined that the people of the Niger Delta could ever be successfully appeased with a pacifying short-term amnesty programme and a shot at the Presidency. Even under President Jonathan, there were protests about the distribution of amnesty largesse, and disagreements among the former militants, who practically relocated to Abuja to take advantage of their brother’s ascendancy. The quarrel was all about who got what and it was only a matter of time, before those who felt shortchanged would stage their own drama, which they have now started, in the hope that they may be luckier this time around and get their own share of appeasement. This is the sub-text of the deliberate distancing by the
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new boys from the old guard of militants. They seem to have been further provoked by the arrival in Abuja of “a new Pharaoh who does not seem to know Joseph.” President Muhammadu Buhari has approved funding and payments under the Niger Delta Amnesty programme, he has also appointed a Minister of Niger Delta and a Special Adviser on Niger Delta Amnesty, in addition to extending the amnesty initiative, beyond the initial December 2015 deadline to December 2017. The emergent militant groups also have other selfish reasons why they are angry not just with President Buhari but also with the Nigerian state, for in the end, after the 2009-2015 period, position, cash and contracts appeasement has not in any way resolved the core problems of existential and environmental crisis in the Niger Delta. Nigeria merely postponed the evil day and unless we deal more forthrightly with the vexatious issues of equity, federalism, justice and citizenship driving Niger Delta and Biafran nationalism, those who throw tokens at the problem can only do so in vain. The bad news is that President Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to address these fundamental issues. He probably has every reason to be angry, and he may even raise such questions as: what is wrong with these Niger Delta avengers? What exactly do they want to avenge – their kinsman losing election? Do they think they can blackmail government even when the amnesty programme has been “magnanimously” extended? These may sound emotional, but they are serious questions, signposting how access to power at the centre and
survival in that space has become a victim of deterministic ethnic rivalry. The emerging trend that whoever becomes President of Nigeria now has to worry about the possibility of being sabotaged by an aggrieved ethnic group or groups is dangerous for our democracy. Recall also that after the 2011 Presidential election, the people of the Niger Delta while certainly elated about one of their own emerging as President, were also painfully aware that in the course of the feverish politics of succession in 2010, leading up to the nominations for 2011, certain interests and voices from the North had threatened that should Dr. Jonathan become President, Nigeria would be made ungovernable for him. It is also similarly on record that before and during the 2015 elections, certain Niger Delta elements also threatened that should President Jonathan lose the election, Nigeria would be made ungovernable for President Buhari. And again as promised, the South East and the South South, President Jonathan’s main support centres, have thrown up major security threats since President Buhari won and assumed office. When governance and politics are thus reduced to a game of thrones, democracy and sovereignty are endangered. Already the Niger Delta Avengers have announced a plan to declare a sovereign state of Niger Delta in October 2016. Nigeria sits on a precarious balance. There is no justification however, for President Buhari, in dealing with these challenges, to also play the game of vengeance. Speaking in China, recently, he directed the military to
crush the new Niger Delta militants and indeed there has been a scaling up of military operations in the region. A military solution to a crisis such as this, as has been learnt with the Boko Haram, and much earlier in the Niger Delta, ultimately proves to be inadequate; instead there should be a return to the core issues of making Nigeria a country that works for everyone regardless of extraction – religious or ethnic. President Buhari is a livestock farmer; it should not be too difficult for him to understand how the chickens are now going home to roost in the Niger Delta. In the face of unemployment rate hitting 12.1%, youth unemployment, 42.24%, the GDP recording a negative growth of -0.36%, inflation standing at 13.7%, crude oil accounting for 90% of exports and 70% of national revenue, crude oil production dropping to low levels, and the country facing recession, a foreign exchange and power supply crisis, and financial insolvency, renewed restiveness in the Niger Delta, and threats by avengers who want to cut off Nigeria’s key source of revenue, can only further deepen the people’s agony, and place the country on danger list. President Buhari may deal with the impunity and criminality of the avengers, but Nigeria must address the more ideologically original parts of their protest, and how particularly, the politics of appeasement has made the country far more vulnerable than imaginable. Preventing the country from imploding so dangerously, on so many fronts, as is currently the case, should be considered a matter of urgent national importance.
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Law Æ s
National Judicial Council is unconstitutional -Uvieghara Egerton Uvieghara, a Professor of Law and former Commissioner, Nigerian Law Reform Commission turned 80 years old recently. In this interview with PETER FOWOYO, the octogenarian speaks on his retirement, the conferment of Senior Advocates of Nigeria on lecturers, the appointment and discipline of Judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and sundry other issues. You are 80 years -old, how has the journey been? That is a very difficult question to answer. Seriously, I am good. I don’t feel because I am 80 years I am dying tomorrow. I enjoy myself every day, I work hard every day I am living. As a professor of law, you taught in the university for a long period, has there been any time you felt like going back to the classroom? I started teaching in 1966. I introduced two new subjects into the syllabus, Labor law, Commercial Transactions and I have written two books, one on each subject. I became professor in 1979. The only job I’ve done in my life is really teaching. In 1993, I was appointed Commissioner for Law Reform in Nigerian Law Reform Commission. There are usually four commissioners. Justice P. K. Nwokedi formerly of the Supreme Court was the Chairman, myself and two others. One Dan Agada, is late now, then Nwachukwu from Abia State. The University of Lagos allows you a leave of absence for four years and my initial appointment was for five years, just before my appointment I was in the Council of the University representing the Senate so I wrote for an extension of one year, 1993-1998. In 1998 I retired from the university officially although I hadn’t been there since 1993. I retired so that vacancy will be created and new people will be appointed. Another five years from 1998 took me to 2003. After 10 years you are not reappointed. So, I did my 10 years as commissioner for Law Reform. At that time, I just felt I’d done enough for this country and maybe unlike most Nigerians I should rest. I have not done anything since 2003, I wake up in the morning, clean my compound, drink tea, drink beer, drink wine, I am happy. I don’t do any work, I
am in retirement, I don’t have the urge to go back and teach. I used to help the Federal Government draft bills but, I am not ready for all that any longer. I am happily retired. Did you ever practice law? Yes, for half a day. It was in the third three months course and it was meant to be the last three months course in 1963. I got enrolled in 1964 and I thought I will practice but, I went back to England to do my Masters’ degree and I got a job. I thought I would practice and my father took me to his friend’s chambers. My boss sent me to the Magistrate Court, I sat down there the whole day and frankly I am an impatient person so, I raised my hands up, first I said sir, I’ve been here since morning. I didn’t know you don’t say sir in the Magistrate Court, you say “Your Worship”. So he said young man sit down, when we are ready we will call you. Ever since that day, I didn’t go back again. I went to my principal, Mr. Davies, a West Indian and told him I didn’t like the job. So my practice was half a day practice in the Magistrate Court. All my life, I’ve been a teacher. Are you satisfied with the number of law lecturers awarded the title Senior Advocate of Nigeria on a yearly basis? My major experience in life is with the University of Lagos. Many things in that university has been bastardized. Emeritus professor, I am not there and I’ve written books. We used to give gold medals to people who have put in so many years or rewards but, all these have been bastardized so one is not surprised. I have a colleague, Professor Olawoyin who once said many people made SAN don’t even have the money to go and receive the award in Abuja. SAN is not a creation of Nigeria, it is the creation of the British. We
Uvieghara
call it Senior Advocate here but, there it is called Queens’ Counsel if there is a reigning monarch or Kings’ Counsel if there is a reigning patriach and the language is that you take silk. How do you take silk? Because you are very bright, because you are called upon to deal with more important legal issues, pressure on you work wise is heavy, you
can no longer cope because if they know you as a quality lawyer, this man will want you, that man will want you and you can no longer cope. So, you apply to take silk and when you apply to take silk then you take juniors and you don’t pay them below certain level. The idea is that you would have made money, you would have quality people in your chambers
and they are to maintain the same standard that you have set. That is not so in Nigeria. There are two divisions in Nigeria to become SAN, I could have applied because I’ve written many books and I always boast when I wrote those books that it is the best, if you want to do better CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
27 Law
‘National Judicial Council is unconstitutional’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
let me see what you write. When I wrote my first book, Felix Ibru, was the chief launcher. Dr. Stanley Makebu, a brilliant man spoke as lecturer. I haven’t launched any book since after then. Why should I be asking my friends to buy my books? I don’t think it’s fair. Even my 80th birthday some newspapers (not Daily Times) approached me with their package and I said I don’t do it, why should I put my friends in such difficult situation? Some may even be struggling. I don’t do it I don’t call upon my friends to use their resources to help me. You can help me by associating with me, I associate with them. Life is beautiful if your friends, relations are doing very well. I am not going to beg you for money. I want to work hard on my own. Tony Okoroji brought a massive band to my celebration at no cost to me because he knows what he and I have done in the areas of protecting artists. The “Rain Maker”, Majek Fashek performed at the party. It is true when we did those things then, it was analog and things have become digital. There were certain things we did that digital age cannot change them. I am not digital myself, I’m an old man but, there are some things we did that are sustaining us today. Before we did the copyright law, recording companies because they had the money, Phillips, Decka and the rest took advantage of their positions to undermine our artists, vested copyrights to themselves, pay peanuts to those who were singing and then in Nigeria, there was no division, no song writer, you’re an artist, you will compose your own song, you will arrange it, you will do everything and at the end, the recordings company will be enjoying the reward. We changed that and that is why artists are making more money today. The creation of Nigerian Copyrights Commission is fantastic. We had the interest of the nation at heart that is no longer so. A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, has explained why SAN should not
be appointed to the Supreme Court Bench as there is no way one can assess their level of integrity. Do you share his view? Justice Uwais was my class mate at the Nigerian Law School in 1963 and I knew him to be level headed. In Nigeria, the method of appointing Judges have been difficult. In the United Kingdom, you have to be a famous practitioner, the best brains are appointed Judges, there is no issue of which state you come from. Here, there is the issue of states because you cannot just mention state in isolation, how do you divide it? This state says this is my quota, if a state says this is my person, how do you assess him. These days, that you are a SAN doesn’t mean you are intelligent, it doesn’t mean you’re appointable as a Judge, you may have been sent by your state. There are many SAN’s who cannot be appointed not because of integrity, I don’t know about that one, they don’t have the wherewithal mentally to cope and apparently unless you are a SAN you are not likely to be appointed a Judge, it is not a guarantee that you are competent. Integrity is difficult to say. Is it integrity in law or corruption? I don’t know, I’ve never given a bribe to any judge because these are rumors but I know when Eso was appointed that the NJC was set up. Eso made report, some people were dismissed, one was a Judge somewhere in the North but he has connection in the presidency….I don’t know if that’s the integrity he’s talking about. I know the report was factual that many judges are corrupt and Eso was not the only one there, he was just chairman of the panel. They were asked to retire. If it’s integrity of taking money, Uwais was also accused of taking money but, I know him, he won’t take any money. Now Buhari comes in and condemned the judiciary and I agree with him but if I were the President, I would not do what he is doing, I won’t take Saraki to tribunal, tribunal jurisdiction is very narrow, it deals with the code of conduct. You run away from the regular court because he doesn’t trust them. What
“These days, that you are a SAN doesn’t mean you are intelligent, it doesn’t mean you’re appointable as a Judge, you may have been sent by your state. There are many SAN’s who cannot be appointed not because of integrity” I would have done is to send a bill to the National Assembly that I want to create special courts for corruption as part of my campaign slogan to tackle corruption head long. The National Assembly may dilly dally but the world will know he has done his own bit. He didn’t send a bill to create corruption court to deal expeditiously and appoint people whom he can trust. The judiciary has to have a change of heart. How would you assess the president’s fight against corruption? This is Buhari’s second coming. His first coming, there was a lot of fury but later, everybody got their properties back. As if they’ve opened the prison door, everybody went away. I don’t think things have changed much, he started this code of conduct thing but nobody takes it seriously. I know it was Babangida who started this code of conduct tribunal, before that it was in the constitution and the law too, it wasn’t established. Professor Oloyede was a Judge there, he has a small office in Abuja then. He is one of the earliest judges who wrote a book on administrative law. He had no work to do. If I say I am recovering money, as part of my agenda, I will publish the names of those returning
Uvieghara
money and how much they return, how much they claim they have, how much we think they have, that is part of fighting corruption. We still don’t know, all we hear is that people have returned money, how much is returned? We don’t know who returns what, we want to know. He owes us an obligation to let us know. Nigerians put you there, you owe them an obligation to explain to them. This man is a thief, it has not been said. He is a thief because he has returned money and we think he didn’t return all. This should be on a daily basis. Houses that have been seized should be published that is how to fight corruption. Nobody has gone to jail yet, I fear that everybody may be released by the court, you just wait and see, including Sambo Dasuki, maybe Saraki will lose his job but, I don’t think he will go to prison. The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria recently warned the federal government and its agencies to ensure that its anti-corruption battle is fought within the ambit of the rule of law devoid of abuses of fundamental rights of Nigerians. Do you think this warning is necessary? It is necessary.It is necessary for people to know that if you violate the law, you will go to jail that is not been emphasized now. Arbitrariness doesn’t help anybody. Why should Saraki be taken to tribunal? Why can’t he be taken to the regular court? I think that is a timely warning. I don’t know if there is a body of senior advocate but, the Attorney-General of the
Federation is a lawyer, he should be able to tell Buhari. What the body said may be true but, it need not come from them. The President has an Attorney-General that is his duty. Many of these SAN’s are corrupt, some were my students, some got the title through hard work, some did not. They also are corrupt, it is a question of kettle calling pot black. How do you see the suspension of two Judges by the National Judicial Council? Let me start again with NJC itself, it was as a result of Kayode Eso’s panel report that’s why NJC was created. Is it constitutional? In my own view, it is not. How can somebody be sitting in Abuja appointing people to deal with the conduct of somebody in Kogi state or Delta state? That is not constitutional. In appointment, NJC has to confirm Judges who are being appointed in Lagos, they have been given the power in the hope that that will bring some succor but, the NJC is very careful because the Chief Justice of Nigeria is the chairman. More judges should be removed, we keep saying the judiciary is corrupt and everybody is going on doing what they like, it is business as usual so, maybe this is a welcome development. One of the Judges suspended was because he lied about his age. Can a judge be prosecuted for perjury? Yes, a judge who tells lies, has he any moral right to sit in judgment? You tell a lie about your age and you are a Judge. That is not fair enough.
28
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Tech Times Æ s
‘Robots won’t just take jobs, they’ll create them’ By Mynul Khan Robots and artificial intelligence have come a long way since a Roomba entered your home to vacuum your floor and Siri gave you advice on the best Italian restaurants in your parents’ neighborhood. Cars drive themselves. Robots deliver pizza. A revolution is underway. According to a 2013 University of Oxford study, half of American jobs could be automated within the next two decades. The study identified transportation, logistics and administrative jobs as the most vulnerable to automation. Others assert it is only a matter of time before robots replace teachers, travel agents, interpreters and a host of other professions. With the prospect of such jobs disappearing, many futurists and economists are considering the possibility of a jobless future. Their predictions of what this would look like usually center around two scenarios: a dystopia where humans no longer have jobs or incomes, leading to increased income inequality and social upheaval, or a utopia where governments give incomes to their citizens, who will then be able to lead more productive, creative and entrepreneurial lives. I think it’s time to look at
Tony Nwakaegho Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications, said that the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) will require two additional satellites to revolutionize e-governance, especially by encouraging local hosting of government generated data. Shittu dropped the hint while fielding questions from Journalists in Lagos, adding that NigComSat will require the infrastructure before it can guarantee a reliable and secure database. He cited the Satellite possibilities which are endless to include customs and excise payments, to national database creation and management, to
this in a different way: Robots in the workforce present an opportunity to stimulate job growth and create new types of work. Robots will not merely take jobs, they’ll also create them. A History of technology While technology advances at an unprecedented rate, our era is not the first to undergo significant technological change. From the invention of the wheel to Gutenberg’s printing press, humans have innovated and adapted to new technologies throughout history. And for just as long, there have been concerns about how new technologies would affect labourers. In each case, these technologies led to new industries and jobs. The invention of the printing press in 1440 allowed the mass production of books, leading to jobs to manufacture books, transport them, market them and sell them. Print shops sprung up. The fall in printing costs led to newspapers. Yes, the printing press put scribes out of business, but new jobs were soon developed to take their place. For more recent examples, consider agriculture and textiles. In the 1800s, 80 percent of American jobs were on farms. Today, only 2 percent are. Yet as we know, the mechanization of agriculture didn’t ruin the economy. In fact, it continues today, as robots make farming
Khan
easier and greener. Around the same time, the textile industry underwent significant technological changes. With the Industrial Revolution came power looms and other mechanical equipment that reduced the need for labour in producing textiles. Not everyone will need to be an engineer to find jobs created by robots. Afraid of losing their jobs, Luddites, a group of textile workers and self-employed weavers, protested the use of such machines in England, even destroying them and inciting a rebellion that required military force to suppress. The fact that calling someone a Luddite today is an insult shows how unfounded their concerns were. We need only look to our past for clues to our future. Yes,
robots will do much of the work humans do today, impacting the human workforce and the type of work humans do. But as history shows us, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any work left for humans. The American labour force has weathered dramatic changes in the past two hundred years. It is resilient and adaptable. Jobs of the future We can get a sense of what jobs of the future will look like by looking at robots’ weaknesses and humans’ strengths. Robots do not yet have the ability to perform complex tasks like negotiation or persuading, and they are not as proficient in generating new ideas as they are at solving problems. This means jobs requiring creativity, emotional intelligence and social skills are unlikely to be filled by robots any time soon. It’s likely our managers, nurses, artists and entrepreneurs will remain human. We all know how great it is when technology works — and how frustrating it is when it doesn’t. Even sophisticated technology companies haven’t eliminated their human customer support teams, because when something goes wrong, it is often a human who needs to fix it. There will always be a need for on-site, human labour and expertise when we deal with CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
NigComSat requires two additional satellites to revolutionize e-governance
Shittu
e-passports. He said however that the Federal Government cannot enforce local hosting of data without backups to the data hosted by NigComSat, adding that the nation stands risk
of losing the data, should it crash. Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd is a company and agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology (FMCT), whose mission is to be the leading satellite operator and service provider in Africa. In May 2007, the Company launched its first geostationary satellite, NigComSat-1 into orbit. During its service life, it hosted a number of customers from the broadcasting industry, internet service providers, telecommunication operators and tele-presence solutions and also provided customer support to its end users.
Shittu, however could not confirm when the project will be pursued or the budgetary implications. “We have a local content policy which seeks to encourage local participation and consumption of ICT products and services. We will continue in this direction,” he said. “Now, NigComSat is one of the government agencies, with a satellite in the orbit. The potentials are there. But, these services are not been fully utilized. Some of the excuses were the fact that it is just one and if it collapses the data gathered over time (without a backup) will be lost.
NCC adduces reasons for still holding Telecoms Consumer Parliament Tony Nwakaegho The Nigerian C o m m u n i c at i o n s Commission (NCC) has adduced reasons why it has continued to hold the Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) it started since the liberalization and issuing of GSM licenses in 2001. Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta said, while declaring open the 77th Edition of the TCP gathering of all ICT stakeholders in Nigeria said the Telecoms Consumer Parliament is an avenue to bring together industry stakeholders to discuss and address key issues affecting consumers, suggest possible means of resolving them and ensuring that they ultimately obtain a good service experience. “The Telecoms Consumer Parliament is one of the initiatives of the NCC that brings together industry stakeholders to discuss and address key issues affecting consumers and suggest possible means of resolving them and ensuring that they ultimately obtain a good service experience,” Prof. Danbatta said. The 77th Edition of the TCP was held at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, under the theme: ‘Hearing the voice of Telecom Consumers.’ It brings together Mobile Network Providers, Consumers and Advocacy Groups in and around the federal capital territory. Speaking further, the Commission said it has recently issued a direction to all mobile network operators mandating them to dedicate a short code 2442 on their networks for use by subscribers to opt-in to “Do not disturb’ database to register their numbers against unsolicited messages. NCC added that the effective date for the compliance to the short code “2442” for all mobile network operators is 30th June 2016.
Danbatta
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
29 Tech Times
NITDA has huge plans for GITEX, startups — Olatunji The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Vincent Olatunji had an interaction with the media last week in Lagos. He spoke on many issues, including how the government agency that has the responsibility of promoting IT innovations in Nigeria is creating jobs by supporting startups. Tony Nwakaegho was there for Daily Times. Excerpts:
What is the focus of this year’s Gitex with respect to promoting startups? In the last few years, Nigeria’s participation at Gitex has been gainful in terms of investment it has brought to the country and exposure it has given our startups. It may interest you to know that two of our startups that showcased their innovation at last year’s edition of Gitex have been engaged by a Malaysian company. We intend to continue in that regard because there is a need to take our startups to global platforms, so that they can be exposed to how things are done globally. This year, about USD 1 million is up for grab for the winning startup. We plan to promote a minimum of 10 startups that will compete with over 400 startups from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. More than 2,000 entrepreneurs, investors and mentors will be available to monitor them. We believe that our youths have the wherewithal to excel anywhere in the world, what is needed is to build capacity in them and also give them exposure. Once that happens, Nigeria will begin to see more jobs being created. What are the selection procedures for the 10 startups NITDA wants to encourage to Gitex for the Startup Movement? It’s online already; we have the criteria that will be used to select them. We expect startups to apply and we will go through their application and select the best ten that have solutions in different areas that we
Tony Nwakaegho Mr. Olusola Teniola, new president, Association of Telecommunication Companies of (ATCON) has unveiled his agenda to steer the leadership of the Association for two years. The ATCON President has assured to work “tirelessly to take ATCON as an institution to an enviable position through execution of programmes that would aid telecoms industry growth. For me, the Association has once again proved to the whole industry that it believes in corporate governance”.
Olatunji can take to the international community. We want to use this to showcase the potentials of Nigerians to the international community. Why is the Agency interested in promoting startups? We have always promoted startups, both in Nigeria and abroad, but this year’s Gitex Week is unique in the sense that it is featuring an innovation hub that is centred around the Gitex Startup Movement, which is deliberately designed to house competing startups. The Gitex Startup Movement is one of the biggest global startup gatherings, with over 30 countries represented. Nigeria and indeed NITDA cannot be left out because one of our mandates is to build capacity, especially among our youths. We believe that our youths have the wherewithal to excel anywhere in the world, what is needed is to build capacity in them and also give them exposure. Once that happens, Nigeria will begin to see more jobs being created. NITDA has just launched training for 100 interns. What do the participants stand to gain from this training? The 100 interns will be trained for three months and will be engaged for nine months, making it one year; after that we are expecting that they will be able to set up their own businesses. We will also see how some of them who may not be able to set up their own businesses can be engaged by ICT companies in Nigeria. This is just the beginning; we believe that by the time they spend one year with us, they will be able to get the prerequisite knowledge and skills expected to excel and compete with their peers globally.
The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics reported that 14 million Nigerian youths are unemployed, how can this programme help solve this unemployment challenge? Yes! It’s true and it’s a daunting challenge. But like I said, we are starting this programme with employment creation on our mind. We are encouraging other partners from the private and public sector to work with us, so that we can be able to achieve our goal. How will the interns be taken care of in terms of transportation and feeding? We will be paying them stipend per month for one year. After one year, the organization that will employ them will definitely be paying them. And some of them will be encouraged to set up their business. There is a need to take our startups to global platforms, so that they can be exposed to how things are done globally. Is there any provision of startup fund for those that will be encouraged to set up their own businesses? Yes! We have an office in charge of innovation and entrepreneurship development, where they will be mentored. We will support any one of them with a viable business idea that’s sellable. What is the impact of the Rural Information Technological Centers presently? The Rural Information Technological Centers have been able to give access to those in the rural area, where over 65 percent of the Nigerians live. The major challenge people who live in the rural area have is access to the Internet and ICT tools. What we have done is to get the access to them. Now, they can go to local government headquarters and other centres where we have the facility to check their JAMB result and do some other things like online businesses. They can also check the price of Agricultural products. We are also extending this to the schools, where students can get hands-on practical experience of what they are being taught in class. What is the situation with the NITDA’s fund that ought to be used to develop IT and the contribution from the private sector which is said not to be encouraging? I will say we are not there yet because the numbers of companies that are supposed to be contributing are not doing so. But what we are trying to do this year is to engage some people who will go after them to check their records to know who are paying and those who are not paying. For those who are not paying, we will bring litigation against them to ensure that they all comply because investment in this sector is really huge. And if you don’t have enough money to implement your mandate, you will just be scratching the surface. Apart from the one percent that we are supposed to be collecting, there are other initiatives that we are trying to put in place to make sure that we have more money to implement our mandate.
Auction process for 2.6GHz Spectrum produced one qualified bidder —NCC Tony Nwakaegho The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), has disclosed that the auction process for the 2.6GHz Spectrum produced one qualified bidder. The Commission made this known in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo and made available to Daily Times. The statement reads thus: “In line with Information Memorandum (IM) on the auction of 70 MHz in the 2.6 GHz Spectrum Band published on February 25, 2016 the Nigerian Communications Commission, on behalf on the Federal Government of Nigeria, wishes to announce that the auction process, which closed for submission of applications on April 29, 2016, produced one Qualified Bidder. “The Qualified Bidder expressed an interest to bid for Six (6) Lots out of the Fourteen (14) Lots on offer and paid the bid deposit as specified by the Information Memorandum on the Auction. “Therefore, the need for an auction event no longer arose as the IM, stated that “If the aggregate demand from Approved Bidders is less than, or equal to the number of lots on offer, the Commission will provisionally award the license to the party/ parties at the reserve price”. “Consequently, the Commission is currently undertaking a due diligence with a view to issuing a letter of award of license for the cumulative 30MHz in the 2.6GHz Frequency. “Upon approval, the Qualified Bidder will be required to pay a total US$96,000,000 (Ninety Six Million US Dollars) for the license. The Commission wishes to express its profound gratitude to all telecom stakeholders for the interests shown in the auction process for the 2.6GHz Spectrum Band”.
ATCON new president, Teniola, unveils 6-point agenda He said that the current NEC will be more proactive in that a form will be sent on monthly basis to all telecom companies that are not registered with ATCON to find out some of the areas that the Association needs to intervene before the matter get out of hand among members or the relevant government regulatory commissions. “This administration shall not be reactionary but more proactive, pragmatic and involving. We want to further promotion and encourage harmonious relationship which would impact positively on the general wellbeing of our
members as well as Nigerians. All pending issues in the industry we shall plan to resolve them so that more investors can come to our sector,” he assured. Teniola disclosed that after a thorough consultation, he developed the following six goals for the Association: Strategic and purposeful engagements with all tiers of government as the conceptualization of the Association of Telecommunication Company was to support and give direction to the policy formulation and CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
Ojobo, Director of Public Affairs NCC
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Most foreign software deployed in Nigeria have failed —Uwaje Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Chris Uwaje, the former president, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has expressed his discontent at government and corporate bodies’ affection for foreign software. Uwaje who is currently the co-chair for Publicity and Communications for Africa, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer -World Forum on Internet of Things (IEEE)-WFIoT, said although ISPON is not calling for outright ban on foreign software, however it is high time the government saved the nation from forex elusion and capital flight by engaging local firms with penchant for solutions to challenges peculiar to the country. Most foreign software deployed by multinationals in Nigeria, according to him has failed and could be likened to ‘rat poison’ due to the damages to the economy. Commenting on the place of local content and software as preventive tools for telcos to avoid regulator’s wrath, he said, “Local content has a significant role to play in the telecoms sector efficiency. Talking about ICT in general, services constitute about 2/3 of the market size; it is very labour intensive and there are policies for sustainability that should be adopted as models. One of the models with regards to telecoms which needs
Uwaje
intensive support suggests that if you have 500,000 subscribers you build a call centre of about 180 attendants. If you have a magnitude of 20 to 40 million subscriber-bases, you need to create call centres in support zones. That is why outsourcing centres are growing. “India is servicing the world, because they meet the needs of the telcos. But the understanding is this: if the regulatory bodies have come together to ponder on critical mass of what needs to be
done, before licensing, they should have laid down the ground rules. They should have anticipated the need for mobile phone assembly plants, knowing that at a time, 50 million mobile phones will be used in the country. “So, the telcos, considering the factors of the licenses, will now sought for partners to help them fulfil the regulatory body’s requirements. So, these things ought to be aggregated in such manner that within the assembly plants sphere
millions of people would have been engaged solving (professionally) the cases been solved today in such areas as Alaba, Computer village (Otigba), Aba, Enugu; these people ought to be in the factories. “So, that architecture should be in place for us to have sustainability in our ICT ecosystem. Every player should be made to adhere strictly to such guidelines/ standards. For instance, what does benefit a country to create a computer science department that the graduates will not have any job.” He highlighted that domestication of the country’s licensing guidelines should be skewed to create the integral part of ensuring a linkage for skilled indigenous experts to have job. “There are a lot of foreign software that have come here and failed. This is in public domain: they failed in banks, government, aviation, the Police force and several other sectors. So, we must make sure that local developers are given the opportunity in a way of laboratories where they can work after graduation,” Uwaje said. Speaking on the quest for a review of existing laws for better negotiations, he said, “Absolutely, even, we do not have laws on software. None! I challenge anybody who will say there is a law guiding software in this country.
Whereas, software is treated even in some circumstances as food and drugs, because when you are carrying out surgical operations you need software that controls the oxygen and the blood. If that software fails, the patient dies. “Just as NAFDAC regulates food and drugs, with reported cases of fake drugs, killing peoples, even as capsules, they put rat poison and people die. Likewise, software in medical environment and other critical sectors must be seen as food and drugs requiring certification before they are imported into the country. If not, software will come and kill our people”. He noted that ISPON has been apt with regards to maintaining professionalism among the members. The software ecosystem in the country, he said however should be backed by law to ensure that ISPON will be empowered to help Nigeria look at the efficacy of software that are deployed in the country, whether foreign or local. “There should be a synergy with which to harness the standard for software testing in Nigeria. That is where you can have software that you can prime for the conditional challenges that mitigate Nigeria; that is when you can scale up so that those software can be exported to other African countries and rest of the world,” he added.
NiRA registers 2,436 .ng domain names in April Mr Sunday Folayan, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has said that 2,436 dotng (.ng) domain names were registered in the month of April. Folayan who made this known in a statement in Lagos, revealed that there was a decrease of 60 .ng registered domain names in April, when compared to the 2,496 registered in March. The statement said that 1,785 domain names were renewed in April,
Folayan
representing an increase of 152 renewals, when compared to the 1,633 renewed in the month of March. According to the statement, the association transferred 134 domain names, showing a decrease of 417, compared to the 551 transferred in March. “`The domain name registration in April was a bit low compared to the registrations in the past three months of this year. “The renewal rate also showed a constant increase in the past three months. “The total number of
domain names registration from January to April 2016 is 9,511 registrations and 6,062 renewals. “It is interesting and refreshing to witness such growth. The renewal rate is encouraging as well,” the statement said. It said that .ng (like our currency, the Naira and the +234 for country code) was the official Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), approved country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) for Nigeria. The statement added that
the availability of names was better on the .ng ccTLD than on the generic top-level domain (gTLD) like “.com” or “.org”. It said that with the .ng, the country’s primary DNS servers were secured and locally managed with multiple cast servers located around the world. The statement added that hosting businesses on the .ng would help to support the Nigerian economy and provide jobs for local Information Technology (IT) professionals.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
31 Tech Times
Etisalat boosts local manpower with ETEPP Stories by Tony Nwakaegho In furtherance of its aim to develop indigenous manpower in the Nigerian telecommunication industry, fastest growing telecommunication company, Etisalat Nigeria, has rolled out another set of postgraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as part of its 2015/16 Etisalat Telecommunication Engineering Postgraduate Programme (ETEPP). The course intakes were unveiled during the closing ceremony of the 2016 edition of the internship programme held in Abuja recently. The internship is part of the Etisalat Telecommunication Engineering Postgraduate Programme (ETEPP), a Master’s Degree course in Telecommunication Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria which is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Etisalat. This program provides students with the opportunity to gain practical knowledge through a month-long internship stint with various departments of the technical division of Etisalat Nigeria. Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko explained that the internship programme which commenced in 2013 is a flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Etisalat Nigeria designed for students to gain practical experience in the field of telecommunication by undergoing a month-long work experience in various departments of the engineering section of Etisalat, to augment and buttress their course work in school. “The objective of this program is to drive and improve the quality of local manpower in the telecommunication industry by adding practical knowledge to the theory students have learnt in the school. Through this initiative, Etisalat is grooming local telecommunication engineers that would take the industry to the next level in the next 10 to 15 years,” he said. On his part, Stephane Beuvelet,
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machines. Robots will have glitches, need updates and require new parts. As we rely more and more on mechanized systems and automation, we will require more people with technical skills to maintain, replace, update and fix these systems and hardware. We see this starting already. IT departments have sprung into existence because of digital technologies. Network administrator, field service technician and web developer are job titles that didn’t exist 30 years ago. Technology has not only created
L-R: Chief Technical Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Stephane Beuvelet; Intern, Etisalat Telecommunication Engineering Postgraduate Programme (ETEPP), Unachukwu Josephine ; Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria,Ibrahim Dikko at the closing ceremony of the Etisalat Telecommunication Engineering Postgraduate Programme (ETEPP) Internship for postgraduate students of ABU, held in Abuja recently.
Etisalat Nigeria Chief Technical Officer, said Etisalat is proud to be involved in the telecommunication industry skill development initiatives. “ETEPP and this internship are very important initiatives, designed by Etisalat to ensure that these students become assets to Etisalat and the telecommunication industry in future. This internship is a major step towards the development of rounded engineers that would excel in both theoretical and field work”, he added. Beuvelet further explained that Etisalat took the challenge of raising and improving local manpower in the telecommunication industry in Nigeria after observing a gap in Nigerian universities offering courses in telecommunication engineering in the country. “We are working in partnership with Plymouth University UK, the Etisalat Academy, UAE and the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” he said. “In addition to the Students Masters’ programme, lecturers of the Ahmadu Bello University are also sponsored for their Ph.Ds in Plymouth University UK,
while three best students of ETEPP will be at the Etisalat Academy in the UAE,” he added. Commending Etisalat for the good gesture, Head, Department of Computer Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Dr. Yusuf Jibril said “this CSR initiative of Etisalat has impacted much on our department and our students in many ways. Under this initiative Etisalat and Huawei Technologies donated state of the art equipment to the department, exposed our students to the most recent practices in the telecommunications industry and also sponsored some of our lecturers for their PhD in Plymouth University UK. We really appreciate this good gesture and hope other telecommunication companies can emulate this.” One of the interns of the Etisalat Telecommunication Postgraduate Programme (ETEPP), Kelechi Okogwu, an M.Sc. student of Telecommunication Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria expressed his appreciation to Etisalat. According to him, the initiative presents a wonderful opportunity to anyone interested in developing a career in telecoms engineering, with the course content well thought-out between the faculty and Etisalat.
ATCON new president, Teniola, unveils 6-point agenda CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29
implementation in Nigeria. “This NEC shall concern itself with the federal, state and local government in respect of developing the telecommunication sector in a manner that everyone wins. The telecommunications business is on the exclusive list of federal government but what is playing out or obtainable in our country right now is that all tiers of government level taxes on all our member companies and it is affecting the growth of the telecommunication sector in Nigeria. “ATCON as an institution would work closely with all agencies setup by various tiers of government to develop a model that would be mutually beneficial to everyone in the value chain. “Collaboration with NCC, NITDA and other related MDAs: The growth of information communication technology shall occupy our focus in the next two years. The Association shall come up with a time table for quarterly meetings with NCC, NITDA and other related agencies to monitor, review and proffer timely solutions to some of the bottlenecks militating against the implementation of short and long term policies of those agencies. ATCON would organise both indoor and outdoor meetings to upgrade the knowledge of the commission and agencies that regulate the ICT sector for the betterment of the country. “Protection of telecom investment in Nigeria: ATCON would continue to protect the existing investment in the Nigerian telecoms sector through advocating for an enabling environment in Nigeria. ATCON would also as a matter of fact of its objective to encourage further investment in the sector through trade mission to other countries of the world. “Expand the scope of Communication Business Information Technology Exhibition and Conference (ComBIT Expo): ATCON would reactivate the organization of its popular conference and exhibition which is known as Communication Business Information Technology Exhibition and Conference (ComBIT Expo). As a matter of fact the date for the 2016 edition of ComBIT Expo and Conference shall be announced in the month of June 2016. “Redefine ATCONNews ThisWEEK: The impact of ATCON News in the Nigerian telecommunication industry has been impressive in terms of timely information dissemination to all stakeholders in the sector. This NEC shall also produce the hard copy of ATCONNews on quarterly basis. “To strengthen the Secretariat through partnership: ATCON would be open for strategic partnership from members and international communities”. He added that the leadership shall continue with existing programmes that the Association has developed.
‘Robots won’t just take jobs, they’ll create them’ departments and jobs within companies, but created the need for entirely new companies and businesses. The demand for technical skills will only increase with an increase in automation: Someone needs to fix the robot when a part is faulty. Driverless cars will still require mechanics. New jobs will be created in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields like nanotechnology and robotics. A 2011 study found that one million industrial robots directly created
PCI SSC, GM Orfei
nearly three million jobs. Of the six countries examined in the study, five saw their unemployment rates go down as the number of robots used went up. This study showed job creation will extend beyond the STEM fields. The authors identified six industries where employment was likely to increase directly because of robots: automotive, electronics, renewable energy, skilled systems, robotics and food and beverage. Not everyone will need to be an engineer to find jobs created
by robots. We do not need to become modern Luddites, afraid of losing our work and place in society to robots. Rather, we can welcome them, knowing they will make our lives easier, as technology always does, and knowing that by their very existence, they will create new jobs. I am looking forward to a future where robots stimulate job growth and create exciting work we can’t even imagine today.
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CSKA Moscow confirm English
interests in Musa R
ussian champions CSKA Moscow have confirmed interests from England for Nigeria international A h m e d Musa,
Musa
but insist nothing has been signed yet. Musa has been the subject of interest from English champions Leicester City, with a host of other clubs also mentioned to be interested in his services. CSKA chief Roman Babayev has confirmed the interests in the 23-yearold, but said no deal has been agreed yet. “I cannot say yes or no. It is no secret that
Musa was and remains in very serious demand, particularly from the English teams,” Babayev said. “Until documents are signed, the transfer is not complete and I will not speak about it.” Musa is believed to be on his way out of Russia with surprise EPL champions Leicester City his most likely destination.
SHOCKER!
Despite FA Cup
glory, Man Utd
fire Van Gaal L
ouis van Gaal has been left ‘stunned’ by his dismissal as Manchester United manager on Monday. The 20-time English champions parted company with the Dutchman two days after his side had clinched a first FA Cup win in 12 years, bringing to an end months of speculation regarding the former Bayern Munich boss’ future. Van Gaal earlier revealed to members of his inner circle that the developments have come as a huge shock to him, and the usually stoic leader was said to have been left crestfallen by his sacking despite having earlier presented a brave face around the Carrington training complex. The 64-year-old also claimed that the lack of warning from the board had led him to believe he would be allowed to continue as manager into the third and final year of the contract he signed in 2014. Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea boss who was Van Gaal’s assistant coach at Barcelona during the Dutchman’s first spell in Catalunya, is expected to be confirmed as United’s new manager today after spending five months out of the game. During that time, his name has been regularly linked with the Old Trafford
Van Gaal
hot-seat. However, Van Gaal has regularly insisted that he sought no assurances regarding his future from the club’s board and that they had made no indication that they were unhappy with his work. As recently as Saturday, Van Gaal and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward were seen congratulating each other after the FA Cup final victory over Crystal Palace, with the manager still seemingly in the dark over the club’s plans to replace him. Van Gaal was eventually told he was to
be sacked on Monday morning after he had arrived at the Carrington training ground for work as usual, but Woodward’s confirmation of his exit has come as a huge personal blow to the Dutchman, one year shy of his intended retirement date. And on Monday afternoon, a black people carrier arrived to whisk Van Gaal away from United’s premises for the final time, with an official statement on the sacking expected to arrive from the club in the coming hours.
Business Times Daily Times Nigeria
NLC will continue to negotiate with FG over fuel price hike Page B2 – Wabba
Deposit Money Banks record N1tr NPL in 2 years Page B3
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Dangote and transformation of African investment Page B8 climate
Proceeds from Afreximbank bonds hits $750 million Ï ƊƆƕ ƍƄ ƄƑƄƕ Ɔ Ɖ Ƃ Ɖ Ɔ ƐƄ ƎƊƄ Ǝ ƋƋƄƎƆƎƄ
Olisa Egbunike, Lusaka Some African capital market stakeholders say the international investing public’s high
appetite for African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) development bonds remains as another bold statement in the continent’s reemergence as a global destina-
tion for investment. Afreximbank says the international investing public’s insatiable demand for African debt investing instrument forced it to
close a 750 million dollars bond after achieving an order book of 3.4 billion dollars from 290 investors. The African export-import bank said in a statement that their all time bond proceeds was the toast in the international debt capital market.
Opeoluwani Akintayo
CONTINUED ON PAGE B2
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Union Bank unveils ‘new look’ branches in Delta
FG unable to pay Cash Call because of subsidy – Kachikwu The Federal Government has said that the challenges it faces in funding Joint Ventures (JV) agreements with its partners are as a result of the huge subsidy payments. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, stated this in Lagos on Monday during an interactive session with Coalition of Civil Society Groups. According to him, “in the past five years, we have been funding the JV agreements by about an average of 30 per cent of what was required of us by our JV partners. We have been using the money meant for cash call obligations to subsidize the downstream sector over the years. “When I assumed office in August (2015), marketers were being owed N600billion and we paid them. We discovered that about N10trillion was used to pay subsidy in last eight years and we said this cannot con-
Daily Times also reports that the bond, which closed in London on May 17, 2016, is a five-year registered only bond note due in May 2021 with a coupon rate of four percent.
L – R: Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Market The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Dr. Oladimeji Alo, Chairman, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc and Mr. Abi Allison Ayida, Non-Executive Director, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc at Berger Paints Nigeria Plc Facts Behind the Figures presentation at the Exchange … on Monday.
NNPC failed to remit $12.9b to federation account - NEITI report A whopping sum of $12.9 billion dividends of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) was not remitted to the Federation Account between 2005 and 2013 by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. This was made known by Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, on Monday in Abuja. Fayemi is also the chairman of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) board. Fayemi’s declaration came from an audit report of the NEITI.
According to the report, the unremitted funds were the sum of dividends, interest and loan repayment from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG). “The audit revealed that NLNG paid the sum of $1.289 billion as dividend, interest and loan repayment for 2013. NNPC acknowledged receipt of this amount, but did not remit it to either the federal government or the federation. However, it is important to also note that the 2013 figure brings to $12.9 billion the total NLNG payments received by the
NNPC between 2005 and 2013, but not remitted by the NNPC to the federal government or the federation,” the report presented by the minister read. The report also revealed that Nigeria lost $518 million to offshore processing arrangement and crude for product swap arrangement in 2013. NEITI recommended that “the NNPC and its sub units refund outstanding payments to the federation.” CONTINUED ON PAGE B2
As part of its drive to continually provide simpler and smarter banking solutions to its customers and prospects across Nigeria, Union Bank has unveiled three of its newly upgraded branches in Delta State. The three upgraded branches of the bank unveiled are located at Sapele road, Effurun, Sapele/ Patani road Ughelli, and at Otite Junction, by Ajogodo Road in Sapele, Delta State. In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive of the bank, Emeka Emuwa, said: “We are here to formerly unveil our newly upgraded branches. What we are doing is in line with our transformation journey that started a few years ago. We want to let our customers know we have setup innovative platforms, products and services so they can bank at ease”. The new innovations, he said, came as a response to customers’ feedback and the bank’s commitment to serve its customers better. Speaking to newsmen, Union Bank’s Transformation Director, Joe Mbulu called on customers to partner with the bank in utilizing the innovative platforms, saying that customers can now do banking transactions from the comfort of their homes using the UnionMobile and UnionOnline applications with mobile devices and computers.
BEDC, USAID sign MOU to boost electricity access, improved customer service Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) will today take a bold step towards boosting access to electricity and improved services to customers in its franchise as it signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to sources close to the Benin DisCo, the event will enable USAID through the Power Africa Project to officially commence its support for the development of
Nigeria’s power sector through credit enhancement, grants, technical assistance and investment promotion efforts. President Barrack Obama of United States had launched the Power Africa Initiative to bring together technical
and legal experts, the privates sector and governments from around the world to work in partnership to increase the number of people with access to power in Africa including Nigeria. BEDC management is expected
to sign the MOU with USAID agents, Tetratech Inc. one of the contractual vehicles funded by the agency under the Power Africa Transactions and Reforms Program, (PATRP); a five year CONTINUED ON PAGE B2
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
BEDC, USAID sign MOU to boost electricity access, improved customer service
FG unable to pay Cash Call because of subsidy – Kachikwu
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 L-R: General Manager, Southern Operations, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Obinna Nweje; Nominator, Mr. Woke Chi-Ogbonna, and Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Reginald Okeya at the MTN Foundation Appreciation Party for nominators in the What Can We Do Together campaign held in Port Harcourt…recently.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
tinue. “Overtime, we lost control of subsidy and it continued to skyrocket. We couldn’t fund our JV obligations which stood at about $6billion” He then blamed the fuel scarcity on marketers who were smuggling the products into neighbouring countries and inter-land where the products are more expensive. “Prior to now, the product was being sold at an average of N400 per litre. Consider the fact they loaded petrol at ex-depot price of N77.66 per liter. Arbitrageurs were taking advantage of the gap and making extra profit for themselves. “Effective Jan. 1, 2016, government has stopped subsidy payment on petrol. Jan-March, there was ‘over-recovery’ where consumers are paying more and we were saving the excess. In April, subsidy returns and we used the savings from over-recovery to off-set it. “In the long run, investors will come and invest in the refineries on a JV basis and by 2018, we would be self-sufficient in crude refining,” he said.
Proceeds from Afreximbank bonds hits $750 million CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
The bond was issued under Afreximbank’s existing Euro Medium Term Note Programme with a priced spread of MS+300bps and will be deployed to the bank’s trade finance in Africa and for other strategic activities. “The level of subscription and diversification of investors in this transaction attests to the continued strong investor confidence in Afreximbank,” said Bank President, Dr. Benedict Oramah. Oramah, who welcomed the fact that the deal achieved negligible new issue premium, noted the solid geographic spread of the final allocation with 36 percent going to Asia; four percent to the Middle East; 48 percent to the United Kingdom/Europe; and 12 percent to the United States (offshore accounts).
USAID technical assistance project implemented by Tetra Tech designed to bring more electricity to sub-Saharan Africa by utilizing a transaction-centered approach. Tetra Tech, as directed by USAID is offering to provide commercialization assistance to BEDC for over a period of about two years focusing on management support to address losses, strengthen management controls and help with the required performance turnaround in its operations. It has engaged a team of professionals already on ground to man some strategic business units in BEDC for the implementation of the technical assistance.
NLC will continue to negotiate with AFDB pledges leadership in FG over fuel price hike – Wabba continental youths’ skill development President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has said the NLC will continue to negotiate with the Federal Government over its opposition to the hike in the pump price of petrol. Speaking on Channels TV on Monday, Mr Wabba noted that the tradition of the NLC is to continue to dialogue on issues that it is passionate about, especially the increase in electricity tariff and pump price of petrol. The labour union, had on Sunday evening suspended an industrial action it called on Wednesday, May 18 to resist the new price of petrol. This was after an emergency meeting of its organs – the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee, where talks were focused on the strike and the way forward. There were reports that the suspension of the strike was one of the conditions the Federal Government had given for it to resume negotiations with the
NLC but Mr Wabba reiterated that the strike was suspended due to the intervention of wellmeaning Nigerians including the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly. He did not give an assurance that all matters would be resolved, but promised that the union would indeed resume negotiations with the government, adding that they would remain consistent in their demands. “We will go there with open mind to discuss those issues. In the discussion process, we will try to advance a lot of reasons why we think that it should not be only this issue of importation; we can also look at other policy options which we are going to come to the table with,” he said. Mr. Wabba also explained the rationale behind the decision of the labour union to embark on the strike and which they would continue to press for.
Olisa Egbunike Lusaka
The African Development Bank (AFDB) Group has pledged to provide leadership in the moderation and transformation of the continent’s youths’ development challenges over a 10 years period. AFDB said that the leadership would be channeled into making African youths’ skillful drivers of sustainable African economic growth. Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, AFDB President said that the bank’s strategic partnership with youths’ in the continental development, stemmed from the simple reasoning that they are Africa’s biggest assets. Adesina said on Monday in Lusaka, Zambia, that the bank’s agenda for African youths skillful transformation was part of an economic policy aimed at creating 25 million new jobs for youths, as well as equipping additional 50 million youths in the next decade.
According to him, the bank’s strategy for youths’ employments between 2016 and 2025 and approved by the AFDB boards recently, critically showcased the continental apex financial institution’s high-5 priorities. The bank’s new focus of Africans living condition and expansion of the employment frontiers for the youths, he said, was a conscious plan to hinge the continent’s inclusive growth on them. “Jobs for youths in Africa is a bank-wide strategy which will create 25 million jobs and positively impact 50 million youths over the next decade. To accomplish this goal, the jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy 2016-2025 aims to increase inclusive employment and entrepreneurship, strengthen human capital, and create durable labour market linkages by making use of three strategic intervention areas. The bank’s president also identified integration, innovation, and investment, as part of the policy thrust recently presented to the board.
NNPC failed to remit $12.9b to federation account – NEITI report CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
“Government should investigate the status of NLNG dividends; NNPC should discontinue alternative importation arrangements and limit itself to export of crude and import of refined products; NNPC should abide by the federal government financial regulations, and always comply with the 90-day credit period,” it
added. Responding to a question on whether the NNPC had returned some of the unremitted funds, Fayemi said: “It is possible that certain refunds have been made, but that will not detract from the veracity of the report.” In 2013 alone, NNPC did not remit up to $5bn to the federation account in 2013, the audit alleged. NEITI said the outstanding
revenue for the year stood at $3.79 billion and N358.27 billion ($1.81 billion at current CBN rate). Of significance is the allegation that the sum of $1.29bn dividend from the NLNG due the federation account was not remitted by the corporation in 2013. Giving the breakdown, NEITI said the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the exploration arm of NNPC, did not
remit outstanding payments of $1.7 billion on the eight oil mining licenses (OMLs) from the NNPC/ SPDC joint venture. NPDC also withheld $414,000 and N249.2 million refunds on OML 26 in the NNPC/SPDC divested asset, the audit report said, adding that there was an outstanding N2.17 billion cash call refund on OML 42 from the same asset.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
B3 Money Market
Deposit Money Banks record N1tr NPL in 2 years
Stories by Motolani Oseni
Following dwindling global oil prices, Nigerian banks’ non-performing loans (NPL) have significantly risen to N1 trillion, the financial stability report (FSR) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed.
The FSR breakdown shows that in 2015, the NPL of the banking industry rose by 78.8 percent to N649.63 billion as against N363.31 billion recorded in 2014. The report attributed NPL increase to the continued fall in oil prices during the review period as Bonny Light fell by about 60 per
cent to $38.22 last year, leading to government austerity measures and stringent policy by CBN. The FSR stated that: “Non-performing loans, in the period under review, rose by 3.36 per cent to N649.63 billion at end-December 2015, from N628.54 billion at endJune 2015.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (m); Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio (2nd right); and members of the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) on NEITI, Alhaji Lawan Hantewa (2nd left); Mr Kola Banwo (1st left) and Mr. Gbenga Onayiga, at the public presentation of 2013 Oil and Gas Industry Audit reports in Abuja … on Monday.
“This reflected a 78.8 per cent increase from the N363.31 billion recorded at end-December 2014. The NPL ratio rose to 4.86 per cent from 4.65 per cent. Although the NPL ratio remained within the prudential ceiling of five per cent, it trended closer to the upper limit. “A few banks had NPL ratio above the regulatory maximum limit of five per cent; however this posed no significant risks to the industry.” The report added that, “The increase in the NPL ratio was attributed largely to the continued fall in oil prices during the review period. For instance, the price of Nigeria’s reference crude, Bonny Light, fell by about 60 per cent to $38.22 at end-December 2015fromUS$62.01at end-June 2015, and this reduced Government revenue and strained fiscal positions. “Also, at end-December 2015, loans to the oil and gas sector constituted 25 per cent of the gross loan portfolio of the banking system while credit to the sector rose marginally by 2.8 per cent to N3,307.87 billion at end-December 2015 compared to the position at end-June 2015. “Loans to state governments rose by 33.9 per cent to N1,053.97 billion from N 696.87 billion at
end-June 2015.The CBN disbursed N338 billion to 27 states under a special intervention scheme to refinance states’ debts,” the report added. However, the NPLs of 12 banks between 2014 and 2015 had showed that majority of the banks’ NPLs fall below the CBN maximum regulatory threshold of five per cent while four crossed five per cent. Among the Tier 1 banks whose NPLs were investigated include, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa, Access Bank Plc and Ecobank Transnational Incorporation (ETI). In the Tier 2 category, are Sterling Bank Plc, Wema Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Diamond bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc. Four banks’ NPL exceeded CBN requirement in 2015. These banks are FBN Holdings which recorded 18.1 per cent in 2015 as against 2.9 per cent recorded in 2014. Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc NPL moved from 5.03 per cent in 2014 to 6.67 per cent in 2015. ETI recorded 8.2 per cent in 2015 as against 4.4 in 2014; while Diamond bank recorded 6.9 per cent in 2015 as against 5.1 per cent in 2014.
GTBank cashes in on $500m Eurobond note In February 2016, GTBank successfully issued a cash tender offer to repurchase any and all the outstanding $500 million 7.5 percent Eurobond notes as part of its effective liability management strategy. The tender was the first of its kind involving a Nigerian corporate in any capacity in the international capital markets and was well received by analysts and investors. The securities were issued by GTB Finance B.V.- a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the bank, on the back of an unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee of the bank. At the expiration of the Tender Offer, an aggregate principal
DTN Exchange Rate Monitor Currency
Official Rate
Parallel Market
USD
197
346
EUR
225
390
GBP
285
490
amount of $126.58 million of the securities were successfully and validly tendered. But upon final maturity of the Eurobond now, the outstanding principal portion of $373,414,000 as well as the coupon value of about $14 million was redeemed using the bank’s available cash reserves. Launched in May 2011, the $500 million Eurobond represented the first Sub-Saharan Africa financial sector benchmark Eurobond without a sovereign guarantee or credit enhancement from any international financial institution. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said: “Despite a difficult operating environment that characterised most part of the year, especially when viewed against the backdrop of short dollar supply, the bank continued the implementation of its effective liability management strategy with the successful completion of its any
and all cash tender offer in February 2016 and subsequently, the redemption of the outstanding portion of the $500,000,000.00 Eurobond Notes.” He noted that over the years, the bank has continued to leverage its deep understanding of complex business scenarios to undertake large ticket transactions in financial advisory, structured and project finance, balance sheet restructuring, debt and equity transactions. A few of the transactions successfully executed by the bank include $350 million Eurobond offering in January 2007, issuance of the bank’s $824 million Global Depository Receipts in an unprecedented concurrent global offering in the domestic and international capital markets. This culminated in the listing of the lender on the London Stock Exchange and the first Nigerian company and first Sub-Saharan African bank to be so listed.
External Reserves Date
Gross
Liquid
Blocked
5/19/16
26,587,601,426
25,935,482,018
652,119,409
26,625,969,381
25,973,759,792
652,209,589
26,656,283,753
26,004,023,441
652,260,311
26,031,843,075
652,297,168
26,110,470,704
652,386,212
2.45% 5/18/16 2.45% 5/17/16 2.45% 5/16/16 2.44% 5/13/16
2.44%
26,762,856,916
%
Labour B4 Some members of the elite class had advised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to call off its recent nation¬wide strike embarked upon to protest hike in the pump price of petroleum products to save itself from further embarrassment. Eminent Nigerians who expressed their opinions on the strike action said the organized labour had lost its relevance with its militancy approach rather than adopting the option of dialogue to resolve the issue, adding that the strike would worsen the already bad situation of the economy. Their reaction followed the large scale apathy that greeted the ongoing nationwide strike called by the NLC to press for the reversal of the pump price of PMS from N145 to N86.50. The presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, who spoke on the issue, de¬scribed the failure of the NLC to rally the support of the masses for the industrial action as embarrassing and a demonstration of ig¬norance about the dynamics of the economy. His words: “Right now, the NLC is in a very embarrassing situation. What they can do is to quickly call off the strike and go back to the drawing board. Trying to put up a bold face will even put them in a bigger mess. There is nothing they can achieve with what they are doing. The masses they think they are defend¬ing have actually
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
L – R: Member, House Committee on Industries, Mr. Emmanuel Akpan; chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abubakar Moriki; Managing Director, Hortigraph Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Murtala Abubakar, and acting Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya, During an Inspection Tour of National Meteorology Institute in Enugu … on Monday.
Strike: Spare yourself total disgrace – Elite tell NLC seen that they are defending themselves. “NLC should limit its activities to collec¬tive bargaining with regards to the welfare of the workers. On the issue of the economy, I think NLC is not well grounded enough to understand the various dynamics playing out in our present situa-
1,800 new jobs await NDE graduates – Labour Minister The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has announced the availability of jobs for 1, 800 National Directorate of Employment (NDE) graduates trained in rural areas. The Minister disclosed this in Sokoto state at the distribution of starter packs and soft loans to 150 youths trained by the NDE in the state. “I have directed the NDE to ensure that every single person that graduates from the scheme is resettled with the requisite equipment for immediate establishment of small scale businesses,” he said. Ngige who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mr Ada Shuaibu, said the new jobs would be created under the Community-Based Training Scheme (CBTS) of the NDE. Acting Director-General of the NDE, Mr Kunle Obayan,
tion. They don’t know what people are really going through in the rural areas. Those of us who are not resi¬dent in Abuja or Lagos have been buy¬ing fuel for N200 per litre for several months. And I can tell you that when the price came down to N145, any filling station you walk into, you just buy and go,
explained that resettlement of the trainees was part of efforts to check poverty and unemployment in Nigeria. Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal lauded NDE’s effort towards addressing unemployment and poverty.
“The timing of the strike was wrong. It is a matter of trust. Jonathan could not stop Buhari in 2015 because his government was cor¬rupt. We trust President Buhari because he is principled, he has character, he has attitude, he is disciplined and he lives a life of example,” he said.
Unemployment spikes to 12.1% in Q1 2016 – NBS Stories by Joy Ekeke
Ngige
many people feel very relieved,” he said. Speaking in the same vein, Joe Ig¬bokwe, the Public Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State chapter, said NLC was living in the past, adding that the union failed to change with the current realities.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has released first quarter (Q1) 2016 data showing that unemployment rose to 12.1% in Q1 2016 from 10.4% in Q4 2015. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has previously forecast a global unemployment rate of 5.9% this year and next, compared with 5.5% before the global financial crisis in 2007, implying that Nigeria’s Q1 2016 unemployment rate of 12.1% (not including an additional 19.1% underemployment) is higher than the global average. According to the NBS report “the number of unemployed in the labour force, increased by 1,449,18 persons between Q4 2015 and Q1 2016 resulting in an increase in the unemployment rate to 12.1% in Q1 2016 from 10.4% in Q4 2015, 9.9% in Q3 2015 and 8.2% in Q2 2015.” Nigeria was unable to create the 1.5million jobs required between Q4 2015 and Q1 2016 to keep the unemployment rate constant at 10.4% in Q4 2015.
With an economically active or working age population of 106.0million and labour force population of 78.4million in Q1 2016, 27.5milllion persons within the economically active or working age population decided not to work for various reasons in Q1 2016 compared to 28.06million in Q4 2015 and consequently are not part of the labour force and cannot be technically considered unemployed or underemployed, even though they were not working. Accordingly, there were a total of 24.50million persons between the ages of 15-64 that were willing and able to work and actively seeking work (i.e in the labour force) that were either unemployed or underemployed compared to 22.45million in Q4 2015, and 20.73 million in Q3 2015. The report also shows that the economically active population or working age population (persons within ages 15- 64) increased from 105.02 million in Q4 2015 to 106.0 million in Q1 2016. In Q1 2016, the labour force population increased to 78.4 mil-
lion from 76.9million in Q4 2015, representing in an increase in the labour force by 1.99%. Further analysis shows that the drop in full time employment between Q4 2015 and Q1 2016 was predominantly those within the ages 15- 24 years accounting for a decline of 0.56million people followed by ages 55-64 years (decline of 0.09million), ages 45-54 years (decline of 0.06mn) and ages 35-44 years (decline of 0.02mn). On the other hand, the number of those in full time employment between Q4 2015 and Q1 2016, within ages 25-34 increased by 0.22million. The data also shows that there are other dimensions to the unemployment problem. Unemployment and underemployment continued to be higher for women than men in Q1 2016. While 14% of women in the labour force were unemployed in Q1 2016, another 22.2% of women in the labour force were underemployed in Q1 2016. On the other hand, 10.3% of males were unemployed in Q3 2015, while another 16.2% of males in the labour force were underemployed.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
B5 Energy
ExxonMobil’s reduced production impacts national oil output Stories by Opeoluwani Akintayo An accident on a pipeline belonging to ExxonMobil, has worsened the oil production output in Nigeria. Things took a turn for the worse when a pipeline belonging to ExxonMobil was damaged due to a rig contracted to drill for Conoil on the Anim Field, of the Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 290. According to report, the rig accidentally fell on the pipeline, causing damage which resulted in a spill and production cut. Information has it that the jack up Monarch, operated by Nigerian service company Depthwize, affected the pipeline of hydrocarbon fluids from Oso condensate and Usari oil fields to the ExxonMobil terminal at Qua Iboe. The damage on the pipeline. Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), ExxonMobil’s operating shallow water subsidiary in Nigeria, confirmed that on Sunday, May 8, 2016, the Monarch drilling rig, owned by Depthwize Nigeria Limited and drilling on behalf of Conoil Producing Limited, damaged MPN pipelines when
the rig intentionally grounded itself in the JV operating area after experiencing mechanical difficulties”, OgeUdeagha, MPN’s Manager, according to the Media Communications department of the company. The world’s largest privately owned E&P Company declared a force majeure on the Qua Iboe BFO-QUA, Nigeria’s largest export grade on Friday May 13, 2016. Udeagha says that “plans for recovery are being finalized.” The company, he adds, is “working with our JV partner (the state hydrocarbon company NNPC) to manage potential supply impacts, and with Depthwize to remove the rig and in order to complete the damage assessment”. Udeagha advises that “inquiries about the incident and clean-up plans should be directed to Depthwize and/or Conoil”. Responding to inquires, Ote Enaibe, Depthwize’s Director of Sales and Marketing simply said, “the subject matter is under investigation and we will get back to you as soon as it is concluded”. He implores the media “to bear with us”.
The outage caused by the accident adds to production challenges that have assailed Nigeria since militants attacked Forcados , and caused oil production of of over 220,000BOPD in the
Western Niger Delta in mid February 2016. Several other attacks have been effected on oil installations since then. Around the same time that the ExxonMo-
bil/Dethwize/Conoil incident happened, vandals attacked the Aiteo operated Nembe Creek Trunk Line(NCTL)in the east of the country, effectively shutting down over 250,000BOPD.
Winners of the 14th edition of the NNPC/SNEPCo music competition; L-R: Music Co-ordinator, Murtala Mohammed Airport Secondary School, Mr. Okedeji James; Head, Business Relations, Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Mr. Alan Udi; Supervisor, Community Development, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mrs Bunmi Lawson; a student of Murtala Mohammed Airport Secondary School , Leonard Idowu-Dawodu; representative of the wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Jumoke Adeyemi; Pianist, Olufemi Adebayo; another student of Murtala Mohammed Airport Emmanuella Kyllians and the Co-ordinator, Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Sir Emeka Nwokedi.
Oil production won’t meet demand in 5 years – Fmr. Shell CEO While energy companies have put the brakes on capital spending due to low crude prices, a former Shell Oil CEO John, Hofmeister, has predicted that in a few short years, there would not even be enough oil to meet demand,. “We cannot ever produce enough oil, in my opinion, to satisfy global demand five or 10 years out. We have to start using natural gas and more biofuels as a source of transportation fuel,”
he said in an interview with CNBC. On Thursday, the American Petroleum Institute reported petroleum deliveries rose by 3.6 percent from a year ago to 19.7 million barrels a day, making it the highest April deliveries in eight years. Oil prices have been slowly climbing back up since they hit 12-year lows in the first quarter, thanks to falling U.S. production and unexpected supply con-
straints hitting Libya and the Americas. Those oil lows came about because of oversupply issues and led big names to slash capital spending by tens of billions of dollars. Exxon Mobile, for example, said in March it would cut capex to $23 billion, down 25 percent from the previous year. Capex estimates for global bigwigs Shell, ExxonMobile, Chevron, Total BP, Statoil and Eni totaled $144.8 billion for 2016, down
Total Nigeria empowers Ibafon, Kirikiri, Apapa residents Total Nigeria Plc’s Awango Resellers SME Program (ARSmeP), has organized a capacity building training for beneficiaries in the Apapa, Ibafon and Kirikiri areas of Lagos state. The entrepreneurship training was organized at the company’s Blending Plant in Kirikiri Town, Lagos by the Murtala Mohammed Foundation (MMF) in conjunction with Total Nigeria Plc. Awango Resellers SME Program has also been implemented in Delta and Kaduna states. ARSmeP is an economic empowerment program borne out of Total Nigeria’s corporate social investment initiatives tailored towards identified needs of its host communities. The program is expected to create employment and
business opportunities for the participants within their immediate environment which should in turn impact the lives of the citizenry as well as provide clean energy. While giving the opening address, Mr. Albert Mabuyaku the Corporate Affairs Manager of Total Nigeria Plc, emphasized the need for beneficiaries to take the program very seriously as the company has invested in them with a view of positively impacting their communities. He urged them to be worthy ambassadors of their communities to pave the way for the sustainability of the initiative for future beneficiaries. The entrepreneurial aspect of the training was managed by the National Program Coordinator of MMF.
Mr. Niyi Onabanjo, while the technical aspect focused on building product knowledge and expertise was managed by the Solar Services Manager of Total Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Tobechukwu Eleogu. Also the administrative processes of the program which includes stock replenishment, sales records and book keeping was explained to the beneficiaries by the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Total Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Chinwe Ifechigha. After the training, certificates of participation were presented to the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries also received their starter packs which include Awango by Total solar lamps, tables, chairs and shades for the display of their products.
from $211.5 billion in 2013, according to data collected by Reuters. Hofmeister, now CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy, believes those cutbacks will primarily affect the industry for the next two to three years and may ex-
tend further if oil prices stay low. “In reality, three to five years from now we should be seeing the industry coming back at a higher capital spending rate because, I believe, the oil price will sustain it,” he said.
Nigeria’s weekly energy watch # *
Energy Generated (MWh)
*
Energy Sent Out (MWh) Peak (MW) Off-Peak (MW) Spinning Reserve (MW) Constrained (MW) Units (Available) Units (On Bars)
* * * * * *
Last Week (Avg) 72764
This Week (Avg)
71227
57696
3424 2774 15
2908 1516 0
4257
4612
81 40
81 31
58850
OPEC
daily basket price
OPEC daily basket price stood at $43.84 a barrel Thursday, 19 May 2016
Capital Market B6
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
CSCS bemoans low revenue stream, plans diversification Onyema
The Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) has made known plans to go beyond clearing for the Nigerian bourse, as it develops plans
to diversify its business operations into other areas of the economy. Chairman of the company, Mr Oscar Onyema, during the 22nd Annual General Meeting held in Lagos recently, explained that due to challenges facing the company’s traditional source of revenue, CSCS will move into other lines of business in order to mitigate economic challenges. Onyema explained that a lot
of money is going into investments and if there are left over, they can pay to shareholders as requested, while noting that the board are aware of the situation in the economy and wants to build a company for the future with sustained growth. For the 2015 financial year ended December 31, CSCS recorded a total operating income of N7.60 billion which is below N8.24 billion that was reported for the same period of 2014.
Profit before tax dropped by 14.79 percent to N5.01 billion in 2015, when compared to N5.76 billion posted in 2014. Profit after tax for the period also decreased by 3.63 percent from N4.62 billion in 2014 to N4.46 billion in 2015. However, despite the drop in bottom line, the board of directors were able to proposed 26 kobo dividend, this is in line with the company dividend policy which provides that payout of this nature
should be 30 per cent of profit after tax recorded in a year when dividend is declared. The chairman assured shareholders that in 2016, “Our aim shall be to strengthen our management team to keep it competitive and focused on executing business strategy as it relates to our core businesses, whilst implementing new business initiatives that will guarantee our sustainability as a profitable enterprise”.
NSE opens week in red as ASI drops 0.37 percent Stories by Afolabi Adesola
L – r: Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alhaji Munir Gwarzo; representative of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mahmud Isa-Dutse; Chairman, Susman Associates, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman and Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, at the Inauguration of the study team on voice and voting power in the Nigerian Capital Market, in Abuja … on Monday.
The Nigerian equities market started the week on a negative note as NSE All Share Index (ASI) dropped 0.37 percent to close at 27,015.97 basis points. Bearish sentiments were witnessed across board as all sectoral indices closed in the red, driving market capitalisation N31 billion lower to close at N9.278 trillion. The day’s trading activities recorded 14 Gainers against 28 Losers. The day’s losers were led by PZ which declined by 4.97 percent or N1.14 to close at N21.81 per share, followed by Union Dicon which dropped 4.94 percent or 65 kobo to close at N12.52 per share. Zenith Bank also fell by
4.89 percent or 78 kobo to close at N15.17 per share. Similarly, Portland Paints and Ikeja Hotel lost 10 kobo each to close at N1.96 and N2.01 per share respectively. On the other hand Stanbic topped the day’s advancers with a gain of 10.19 percent or N1.53 to close at N15.54 per share, DN Meyer added 8.22 percent or 6 kobo to close at 79 kobo per share while Fidson Health grew 5 percent or 10 kobo to close at N2.10 per share. Continental Reinsurance and Dangote Sugar likewise added 5 and 30 kobo each to close at N1.8 and N6.60 per share. In all, investors on the exchange traded a total of 316.7 million shares valued at N1.9 billion in 3,924 deals.
Nestle celebrates 150 years anniversary, pays N29 as dividends to shareholders Nestlé Nigeria Plc, held its 47th Annual General Meeting in Lagos on Monday May 23rd, which coincides with the company’s 150th anniversary and 55 years of operating in Nigeria. At this meeting a proposal of N19 dividend was submitted to shareholders, which they unanimously approved. Earlier in the year, the company had declared an interim dividend of N10 per every 50 kobo share was paid, bringing the total dividend paid for the 2015 financial year to to N29 a 4 percent increase from N27.50 paid in 2014. In his welcome address at the meeting, Mr. David Ifezulike, Chairman of Nestle stated that “ The 150th Anniversary of our company is not only an opportunity to chart and celebrate its history, but a basis on which to build the future. We are pleased that our operations are not only measur-
able in length of time, but more importantly, by the positive impact it brings to the communities where we operate. Speaking on behalf of the shareholders, Chief Timothy, Coordinator for Solidarity Shareholder Association of Nigeria, commended the board of the company for a 6 percent increase in revenue from N143 billion in 2014 to N151 billion for the full year (FY) ended December 2015. He said the company grew profit before tax by 20 percent from N24 billion posted in 2014 to N29 billion in 2015 despite cost pressures, and profit after tax by 7 percent from N22 billion in FY 2014 to N24 billion in the same period of 2015. On his Part, Boniface Okezie, National Coordinator for Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) showed appreciation for a declared dividend of
N29 per every 50 kobo share held. He stated that the dividend which is the highest paid by any firm currently quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange gives cause for applause. Meanwhile, recently released unaudited 2016 first quarter results showed that Nestle’s revenue rose by 31.1 percent to N36.1 billion, while Profit Before Tax and Profit After Tax of the consumer goods company doubled to N8.7 billion and N6.7 billion respectively. The strong Q1 growth reflects a weak base in 2015 when NESTLE was hit by supply chain issues and naira devaluation. In 2015, consumer goods companies were faced with higher raw materials for those with sizable import input requirements and rising interest expense for those with dollar loans. However, Nestlé’s gross margin
expansion bucked the industry trend, reflecting the firm’s high percentage of locally sourced raw materials in total input mix of 66 per cent in 2015. Moreover, slower cost growth at 19.4 per cent relative to that revenue pushed gross profit to its highest level, 45.9 per cent. Furthermore, earnings was boosted by 86.1 per cent YoY shrinkage in Q1 2016 net finance expenses to N300 million. On outlook for the 2016 financial year. Mr. Ifezulike noted that Nes-
tle’s hope in the resilience of the local economy is brightened by the large and varied opportunities in different sectors of the economy. “We are confident that a more stable economic environment and increase in Government infrastructural spending will aid significant growth in 2016. The ambitious reform agenda and policy direction of the new administration are expected to play a huge role in restoring confidence to the economy.
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
B7 Capital Market
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Features B8
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Charles Okonji The Africa’s richest man and the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; was once quoted as saying that he is not in business solely to make money, but to develop Africa and humanity. Hence, his philanthropic works through his foundation speaks a lot about his love for the continent. It is important to state that telling the modern day African story without mentioning Alhaji Aliko Dangote would be an aberration; having recalled the infamous scramble for Africa that brought with it, a balkanisation of people and areas by the then European colonial powers consequent upon the Berlin conference. However, the scramble for resources of Africa appears not to be an entirely colonial issue; but also a post-colonial one. This is attributed to the fact that most African leaders are as guilty as the former colonial masters, as they have been exploiting their fellow African citizens, thereby re-colonising the continent. This undoubtedly is the largest contributor to the problem of underdevelopment in Africa. It is no longer news that African countries are still being classified as underdeveloped, long after their independence. It is sad that many African leaders are still seeking remedies to their ailing economies from developed countries that give aid with tough conditions and ulterior motives, forgetting that solutions to their problems are within the continent. Cooperation between member countries is very critical to developing the continent that has abundant human and natural resources. The African transformer Without mincing words, the Nigerian business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, seems to have the solution to the common and persistent African problems.’ Through his company, Dangote Industries Limited, which has made multi-billion dollar investments on the African continent especially in the area of cement manufacturing, is promoting the ‘African dream.’ Currently, the company has investments in over 14 African countries and has created millions of jobs across the continent through these companies. With these massive investments across the continent, Dangote becomes outstanding in championing the course of regional integration and transformation. Dangote, who has been vocal in calling for a more united Africa, promoting trade
Dangote Cement factory
Dangote and transformation of African investment climate
Dangote
across borders, and providing tremendous growth opportunities for African economies has been shouldering this course without relenting for over a decade. He has also passionately advocated a self-sufficient Africa, which he demonstrated with the CEMENT REVOLUTION in the continent and has created ample employment opportunities for millions of jobless youths, through the utilisation of Africa’s natural resources for Africans by Africans. The Lion of Africa’s transfor-
mation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has also helped project Africa as an emerging global economic powerhouse, through sponsorship of the FaceTime segment on Market Place Africa on CNN. The programme, which showcases African success stories, has gone a long way in changing the perception of Africa in the international community. It is important to note that the Dangote Group did not only revolutionise the cement industry, but also took the lead in transforming the agricultural
sector. The Group’s presence is however felt in every sector of the economy. In the words of the conglomerate’s President; “But let me tell you what we are doing at Dangote Group: today we are building the single largest refinery in the world. The refinery has the capacity to refine about 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), which is very crucial for Nigeria. “First of all, there will be consistent supply of the product when that is built, as there will be no shutdown. Nigeria only consumes about 450,000bpd, which means we will have an extra 200,000bpd to export. “We also have a petrochemical plant which is for polypropylene production of about 1.3mmt, which means Nigeria will be the highest exporter of petrochemical products which will improve our capacity. “We are also doing 3 million tonnes of urea and ammonia which are used for fertiliser. Most sub-Saharan African countries import their fertiliser needs but we plan to change that with what we are doing. “Again, we have two gas pipelines of about 250 kilometres each from the Niger Delta. Each would transport 1.5 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day (bscf/d). Both will give us
3bscf/d and that will generate 12,000MW of power and it will also be connected to the West African Gas Pipeline project. So we are doing a lot which is not being reported.” Moreover, it is worthy of note that this business titan has a human face to his operation. He set up the Dangote Foundation, one of the largest charities on the continent in 1993, as a vehicle to further his philanthropic pursuits. The Foundation, which keys into the mission of the Dangote Group: “touch the lives of people by providing their basic needs,” has intervened both within and outside the continent, at crucial moments. This shows that Africa can indeed give. In recognition of his industry and philanthropy, Dangote has won numerous accolades, the most recent being ‘The 2015 Guardian Man of the Year Award.’ It was at this event that Dangote gave an insight into his persona when he said that the awards he receives for service to humanity mean more to him than those that have to do with how much he is worth. Those words mirror those of the great Pan-Africanist, Thomas Sankara, who said: “I want someone to remember me as someone whose life has been helpful to humanity.”
Life&
Times Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Chioma
Toplis
The charming, likable red carpet stunner PL2
Interview L2
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 24, 2016
With me, what you see is what you get -Chioma Celebrated screen goddess, Chioma Toplis, better known as Chioma Orji by her childhood friends, needs little or no introduction. Toplis is a super model and international businesswoman. She has interest in fashion, cosmetics and interior designs with over 50 credits in Nollywood. Not much have been heard about her of late when it comes to what she is better known for-acting. The adorable mother of three, who is married to renown UK engineer, Andrew Toplis, has had her fair share of fame, controversies and of course unforgettable moments since she delved into acting in 2004. In this interview with AJIBADE ALABI, the charming and likable red carpet stunner opened up on her career, why she has been on and off the movie industry and her many controversies. She also spoke glowingly about her loving husband and family among others. Excerpts:
Life&
T E A M
You seem to be more visible in social functions than in the movies these days. What is responsible for that? Me a lot in social functions? No! That is not true. I am more like a seasonal actress because I am not permanently based in Nigeria coupled with the fact that I run other businesses as well; therefore I am not expected to be in every movie or in 20 movies a month. I take movie jobs if it comes especially when I am in Nigeria and when it is convenient for me. I also take jobs in UK and US but it all depends on my location at the particular time. I programme myself like that to enable me accommodate my other roles at home and businesses and fortunately for me it has been working out well. Can you do something sexy in a movie? Yes I can. I do play sexy roles in movies but with limitations. I cannot do complete nude if that is what you are asking. I would
have considered that when I was a younger actress if the right price had been offered, but now? No way! What motivates you when you are on set? What motivates me when I am on a set of a movie are mostly working with positive people. People who encourage each other not the “I too know” (ITK) types. What’s your selling point as an actress? My selling point is just that my hidden unique talent. That is the first impression I leave on the memory of anyone who works with me; be it the movie or any other thing. Can you recall when you had your breakthrough in the movie industry? I don’t know about breakthrough, but I know when I became a household name. It was my very first movie in Nollywood entitled the “Stolen Bible” in the year 2004. How do you get into character when you get scripts? I get into character naturally depending on the story. I am always myself hence I do not need to take alcoholic drinks to get high before I can give my best. How did your parents take your decision to become an actress? I was already married before I joined the movie industry, so they were not in the position to give me permission to act or not to. But all the same, they were happy when the news was broke to them, and they are proud of me till date. How about your husband? Is he in
Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli
Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo
Toplis support of you being an actress? Yes of course. If he isn’t I would have left the industry a long time ago. He is 100 per cent solidly behind me. How do you combine acting and business and at the same time make out time to play your role as a wife and mother? Women are naturally multi-tasking. Although it was not easy at the initial time; but as time went by it became a routine and by God’s grace a lot easier. More so, my children have grown up and a lot more independent now. What has stardom robbed you of? A lot, especially my privacy. I don’t complain anymore these days because I am used to it even though I never knew it will be so bad like this especially here in Nigeria where majority of people do not commend well done jobs or even encourage you to do better but rather prefer to look for unnecessary flaws in order to bring you down. Even where there are no loopholes, they will still find a way of looking for one and make an unnecessary issue out of it. It’s unfair because it is discouraging. I think it is rather pure hatred and sheer envy. Sometimes, I ask why people are so full of so much hatred and bitterness. But God is forever faithful. Who is really Chioma Toplis? Chioma Toplis is an actress and entrepreneur. She was born in Amaogwugwu, Ohuhu, Umuahia, Abia State to Mr. and Mrs. Orji. Chioma lives in London and partly Nigeria. She is a down to earth person, easy going and fun to be with. That was how my God created me and nothing can ever change me. I am caring and carry peoples’ burden on my head which explains why I have deep interest in Charity and passionately involved in the project, Home for the Elderly. With me what you see is what you get. I am simple and real and as such I hate fake people. What is the craziest thing you have done as an actress? I don’t think there is anything abnormal that I have done since I started acting. Whatever I am today or however I behave in the real world has always been me. Those who are close to me know that there is no atom of fake in me. Like I said earlier on, what you see is what you get. I have never been a shy person and I am very bold and out spoken person who can
Photography Quadri Olowolagba
Graphics Daniel Ekiye
never be intimidated by anybody. Do you party a lot? I used to party before but not a lot. Not that I have become anti-social but because I have grown up a lot. I have no tolerance for drama and fake people. In other words, I choose where I want to be, who I want to be with and I do not let people choose me. How do you cope with rumours? It hurts. It is natural that you will feel sad especially when it is coming from your fans. I used to get really angry and depressed about it in the past but with time I became matured and overcame it. Because I am used to it so I know how to handle it as well as control my feelings. But I listen to the advice of my teeming fans who find better medium to relate with me as well as, advice and criticise me constructively. There is no perfect being on earth and I am not an exception. We are all human so we learn every day. Nobody is perfect except God Almighty. You are married to a Briton, how much does he love Nigerian food? Ironically my husband does the cooking at home so the question on whether he likes Nigerian dishes should be ruled. What has been the most challenging role you have had to play as an actress and what made it memorable? What I find most challenging in a movie role is kissing. It may sound funny but that is the simple truth because I don’t like kissing in real life. So when I get kissing roles, I find it difficult to do. Nevertheless, I have no choice but to do it. This is because acting is all about make believe. I am most challenged when I had to kiss, some people may say it is easy but for me, it is a tough assignment. On my most challenging movie, I will pick “Irak & Iran directed by Theodore Anyanji. This is because there were a lot of kissing and you must act according to the script, no twisting. I acted as a live-in lover to a gigolo which was played by Ken Eric. As a matter of fact, every role I have played has been memorable and challenging. What are your dreams as an actress? My dream is to get to that height where God has destined me to be and I am still on the journey.
Daily Times Nigeria
10
IVAJU SHERIFF-DEEN
Tuesday May 24, 2016
L3 Teens World
problems teenagers face
We live in a very competitive world today. We have so many challenges to face. This piece will help you to understand the lives and the concerns of teenagers. This will also give you a chance to understand the problems of your teenage children better and be more sensitive to their needs and problems. Parenting today has become a huge challenge. Most parents of the teenage children will tell you that they do not understand their teens. So, in this write up, we will be enlightening the public and parents on ten most important problems which teenage children are facing. Here are some of the top 10 problems teenagers face i. Drugs: This is a common problem that most of teens face today. They could be addicted to drugs due to a number of reasons. Mostly it is due to peer pressure. If the parents don’t have time for these kids then the problem only becomes more serious. So do not blame your child if you catch him or her taking drugs. Give them the help and the support they need. It is also equally important that you explain them how drugs can be dangerous and must be avoided. ii. Study pressure: Teenagers today are under a lot of study pressure from both their teachers and parents. They have to get good grades so that they get into a good college. You must talk to the child and see the problems that they are facing. Many teenagers under pressure tend to cheat and if caught they have to face very bad consequences. This can make the kids rebellious and also less disciplined. The parents must understand that not all children can get the best grades. They must be more understanding to the kids and their ability. You must allow the child to bring out the best in him/ her and not get pressurized to perform. iii. Pressure in a relationship: Many teenagers today are in relationships. This may also include physical involvement with a person. When teenagers are involved in unsafe sex it can lead to pregnancy and also other sexually transmitted diseases. You must be very strong as a parent when you need to deal with a situation like this. You must never blame the child or hit him or her. You must explain to them the pros and cons of a relationship and how they must deal with it. As a parent it may be more difficult if you do not share a very friendly relationship with the child. Some teenagers who are heart broken in love can get really depressed and even try to commit suicide. These cases are on the rise and we must advise the parents to be very careful to deal with a situation like this. iv. Constant need to look good: Many teenagers today suffer from body image problem. They spend a huge sum of money on clothes and the way they are looking but at the end of it they are never satisfied. Not all the teenagers can look gorgeous as a result the others who do not have a great figure and looks start to feel depressed and become introverts. They don’t make friends and like to stay at home as they are too fat and not attractive enough to get a date. Some also blame their parents for the dark skin or for not taking care of their diet as children. You may feel really upset to see this form of your child and also feel very dejected. However, you must understand that the child is
frustrated and needs your help. If the child is very upset never leave him/her alone. Just listen to all that he/she has to say till he/she calms down. Leaving them alone can be a big mistake. v. Constant pressure to excel in all aspects of life: As a teenager, everyone wants to be the best in all the activities so that the other kids in school admire them and look up to them. However, there are a lot of problems that come with this will to be the best. Many children stress themselves much more they can or they should. They spend hours studying or working too hard. As a result they may become restless and also
fall sick. The parents must take good care of the child and see what exactly the child is doing. Parents must tell the kids to relax along with all the hard work that they are putting in. This is one reason why many students get stress attacks and also may suffer from high pressure at times. It has become common to find stress related health problems in the teenagers. The parents are also equally responsible for this plight of the students as they put undue pressure on the children to perform which is not good for them. vi. Uncertainty about the future: Most teenagers are not sure as to what life holds for them. Which college they will get in and what will be the career that they will be making is uncertain as a result students often feel depressed and are found lost or day dreaming. Some of them are very confused on what they should do and what career they should make. As a parent and teacher, you must give advice to students and
show them the way. If the child needs career counseling then you must provide that. One more reason for teenagers being stressed is that they want to pursue a profession but their parents may have a different dream for them. This conflict in vision and desires can also make the life of students difficult. vii. Drinking and smoking: A common concern that all teenagers face is drinking and smoking. If teenagers are found drinking and smoking they must be dealt with sensitively. As a parent you must be aware that your child will drink and smoke as this is normal. However, if they are into too much of these then you must take action and deal with the problem. You can also send them to a rehabilitation centre. Teenagers may feel the need to smoke and drink due to the pressure that they are in from their friends and peers. viii. Depression: All the points that we have mentioned above can lead to depression in teenagers. If you go by the statistics you will be surprised to see the number of teenagers who suffer from depression. The number is only increasing. The depression in teenagers is not a good sign as it can ruin the future if the teenagers. The worst part is that the teenager may not know how exactly he or she is going to deal with the depression. This only increases the magnitude of the problem more. The cause of depression can be personal as well as academic. As a teenager mood swings are common and natural. However, if the depression continues for too long then it can be quite dangerous and painful for the child as well as for the parents. You must take the child to psychiatrists because teenagers trying to commit suicide are very common across the world. ix. Addiction to the social network: Social networking has become the necessity in the life of the teenagers. If you check the internet you will see how teenagers are addicted to the net. They also invite unnecessary trouble because of this and also get followed by stalkers. This can lead to a lot of crimes against the teenagers. They are so addicted at times that they spend whole night updating their details on the sites. They do not sleep well and cannot even concentrate on their studies as a result they suffer a lot in all the aspects of life. This has become one of the most common problems that the teenagers face today and cannot even get rid of. x. Eating disorders: This is a problem that is more common with the teenage girls. They fear that they will become fat as a result they do not eat at all. Due to this they suffer from anemia and anorexia. They become too thin and weak as a result they develop a lot of health related complexities. This is a common problem that teenagers all across the world are facing. Teenage boys on the other hand have the habit of eating lot of junk. They do not have any discipline and either they skip a meal or overeat at times. As a parent, you can force your kids to eat healthy but when it becomes difficult to make them eat things that are healthy for them, they may suffer seriously.
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 24, 2016
Daily Times Nigeria
Tuesday May 24, 2016
L5
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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 24, 2016
Daily Times Nigeria
Tuesday May 24, 2016
L7
Eyola
eyola@aol.com
1ne
Don’t store perfume in the bathroom because the changing temperature and humidity can break down and weaken the fragrance.
2wo
Rubbing your wrists together after spraying perfume will only encourage the scent to fade faster and could crush the fragrance molecules, resulting in a weakened or distorted scent. Shaking a perfume bottle will also have the same negative effect on the scent.
3hree
Mix the last drops of your perfume into an unscented body lotion, so that it doesn’t go to waste.
4our
After each use, keep perfume in its original box to protect the bottle and content from sunlight, which can degrade the perfume oil and break down the fragrance.
5ive
Store perfume at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and extreme heat, to preserve the scent and to ensure that your
Long Live The Scent perfume lives to its maximum shelf life (between 3 to 5 years).
6ix
Spraying perfume on your clothes or close to your head and hair area is not recommended. Try spraying sheets of wrapping paper or wallpaper with perfume and then lining your cupboards, drawers and shelves with the scented paper. This will keep your clothes smelling fresh and fragrant and provide protection against stains.
7even
Scent clings best to moist skin. So, for longer lasting fragrance, apply perfume soon after your bath or shower. For better results, apply after you’ve moisturised your body. Apply your chosen scent to pulse points and warm areas of the body: inner wrists, back of the knees, inside elbows, behind the ears. For even longer lasting scent, rub Vaseline to pulse points before applying perfume.
8ight
There are different perfume types which determines the fragrance potency, and sometimes the price. Perfumes containing more perfume oil and less alcohol have a stronger, longer lasting scent. Fragrance concentrations are divided into several categories: Body Splash, Eau De Cologne, Eau De Toilette, Eau De Parfum and Extrait De Parfum.
L8 TV guide
Daily Times Nigeria
Tuesday May 24, 2016
Showing on
Showing on
Movies ACTION+ Channel 106
Movies Comedy Channel 104
11:20
18:00
Tue, 24 May |PG
Tue, 24 May | PG 13
Gru, the world’s most lovable villian, and his minions are back in this Oscar-nominated adventure. This time Gru is recruited to help bring down a bad guy. Benjamin Bratt, Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand, Steve Carell. (2013) Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud.
Andrew Garfield returns for a second round of web-slinging action. Dangerous new enemies and family secrets weigh heavily on young Peter Parker as he struggles with his destiny. Jamie Foxx, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone.(2014) Marc Webb
101 M-Net West
23:30 Chicago PD 00:30 The Real Housewives Of Atlanta 01:30 The Longest Week 03:00 Other Plans 04:25 Away And Back 06:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 07:00 MasterChef Australia 08:00 The Big Bang Theory 08:30 The Last Ship 09:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:30 Begin Again 12:30 The Middle 13:00 MasterChef Australia 14:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:00 Code Black 16:00 Blue Bloods 17:00 Made In Hollywood 18:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 Mom 19:30 MasterChef Australia 20:30 Chicago Med 21:30 Chicago Fire 22:30 Chicago PD
23:40 The Face Of Destiny 00:30 Elena's Ghost 01:20 Broken Angel 02:10 Broken Angel 03:00 The Face Of Destiny 03:50 Fearless Heart 05:20 Elena's Ghost 06:10 Husband For Hire 07:00 The Face Of Destiny 07:50 Fearless Heart 08:40 For Love And Justice 09:30 Cruel Love 10:20 Husband For Hire 11:10 The Face Of Destiny 12:00 Fearless Heart 12:50 For Love And Justice 13:40 Cruel Love 14:30 Husband For Hire 15:20 The Face Of Destiny 16:10 Fearless Heart 17:00 Broken Angel 17:50 Broken Angel 18:40 Husband For Hire 19:30 The Face Of Destiny 20:20 Fearless Heart 21:10 Broken Angel 22:00 Broken Angel 22:50 Husband For Hire
152 AfricaMagic Epic
23:17 Mary And Martha 01:01 Behind The Scenes: The Place
01:10 Royal Guard 03:13 Forest King 05:10 Twins Of The Rainforest 05:38 Behind The Scenes: Secret Room 06:03 Secret Adventure 08:43 Behind The Scenes: October 1st
09:11 Behind The Scenes: The Place
120 BBC Brit Entertainment
118 Telemundo
09:20 Igbotic Love 11:19 Igbotic Love 13:13 Healthy Snacking 13:25 Implication 15:29 Above Implication 17:50 Behind The Scenes: Next Dean 18:00 Africa Rising: Behind The Scenes 19:00 The King Is Coming 21:21 The King Is Coming
23:22 Moone Boy
11:10 Would I Lie To You?
23:47 Moone Boy
11:45 QI
00:12 An Idiot Abroad
12:15 The Cube
00:58 The Cube
13:05 Top Gear
01:46 Police Interceptors
14:15 Police Interceptors
02:33 Ben And James Versus The Arabian...
15:05 Undercover Boss USA
03:25 Undercover Boss USA
16:30 QI
04:12 Pointless
17:05 Pointless
05:00 The Cube
18:00 Top Gear
05:45 Would I Lie To You?
19:00 Youngers
06:20 QI
19:30 QI
06:55 Police Interceptors 07:40 Top Gear
20:00 Travel ManThe Graham Norton Show
08:45 Pointless
21:05 Top Gear
09:35 Undercover Boss USA
22:05 Very British Problems
15:55 Would I Lie To You?
10:25 Ducks Quacks Don't Echo
155 AfricaMagicWorld 23:15 Music On Africa Magic 00:15 Behind The Scenes: The Place 01:15 Good Morning Africa 02:15 53 Extra 02:45 Star Gist 03:15 Star Gist 03:45 Jara 04:20 Jara 05:00 Goodmorning Africa 06:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 07:00 53 Extra 07:30 Star Gist 08:00 Jara 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 Lies That Bind
10:28 Lies That Bind 10:53 Lies That Bind
11:20 Lies That Bind 11:41 Behind The Scenes: Broken 12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 13:00 Music On Africa Magic 14:05 Music On Africa Magic 15:00 Music On Africa Magic 16:00 Star Gist 16:35 Deal Or No Deal Sa 17:25 53 Extra 18:00 Jara 18:30 Tinsel 19:00 Lies That Bind 19:30 Lies That Bind 20:00 Princess Tyra 18:00 Star Gist
128 SONY MAX
23:00 Most Shocking 23:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 00:35 World's Wildest Police Videos 01:25 Enemy Territory 02:55 Sexy Car Wash 03:20 Sexy Car Wash 03:45 Video Zonkers 04:10 South Beach Tow 04:35 South Beach Tow 05:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 05:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 06:35 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 07:25 Video Zonkers 07:50 South Beach Tow 08:15 South Beach Tow 08:40 Most Shocking 09:35 World's Wildest Police Videos 10:30 World's Wildest Police Videos 11:30 Baywatch 12:30 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 13:30 South Beach Tow 14:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 15:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 16:00 Most Shocking 17:00 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 18:00 South Beach Tow 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Baywatch 20:00 Extreme Reality Clips 20:30 Rude Tube 21:00 Rude Tube 21:30 Freakshow 22:00 Sexy Car Wash 22:30 Sexy Car Wash