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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 120

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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Nkiru Nwagbo, ƓƊ , Moses Oyediran, & Ƒ Ƒ, Val Okara, RƓƆƏƏƈ & Sunday Nwakanma, nƌƑ ƈ

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1, 000 snipers: Al-Mustapha challenges g22 Obasanjo to open debate

Be ready g21 to defend yourselves – Gani Adams to Yoruba

You can’t stop me from travelling abroad, Fayose dares Buhari

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commemoration of 49th anniversary of declaration of Biafra Republic by Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu turned bloody on Monday in states of the South East geo-political zone as no fewer than 30 people were allegedly killed in Anambra state when the police clamped down on members of Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra Continued on page 6

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

RC 103022

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Page Three Æ s

3

PHOTO TIMES

Editorial Bailout for textile industry

R

ecently, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that the apex bank was planning a fresh bailout for the textile industry in order to revive it as a major employer of labour. He revealed that the intervention fund would come in a single-digit interest rate and long-tenured loans to investors in the sector, particularly those in the cotton and garment segments.

According to him, the CBN is desirous to revive the textile industry and place it on the path of sustainable growth. Mr. Emefiele lamented a situation whereby a sub-sector known in the past to have employed more than one million Nigerians is not only comatose but has been overrun by cheap imports from Asia and other developing countries of the world.

Like the CBN boss, we are also pained at this sad development and welcome in all totality any moves by the authorities to change the fortunes of the industry for good. Our agony is exacerbated by the fact that while those charged with protecting our industry are looking the other way, smugglers are busy swamping the country with all manner of inferior textiles from all over the world. This situation is responsible for the closure of hundreds of textile mills in the country with attendant job losses and mass unemployment. Time was when cities such as Kaduna, Onitsha, Aba, Kano, Asaba, Funtua, Gusau, Lagos and a host of others were known mostly for their textile mills that employed hundreds of thousands of workers. Today, those mills are not only abandoned, they stand as sad monuments to their once glorious past. In the golden era of Nigeria’s textile industry between 1985 and 1991, the sector recorded an annual growth of 67 per cent as at 1991 and employed 25 per cent workers in the nation’s manufacturing sector.

In that period there were about 190 textile companies, employing more than a million people and accounted for over 60 per cent of the textile industry capacity in West Africa. However, their fortunes took a turn for the worst in the early 1990’s. From the highpoint of 190 thriving textile companies, the number reduced to almost zero, with giants such as United Nigeria going under due to harsh operating environment. Following this, the Federal Government set up the N100 billion intervention fund for the sub-sector in 2009 to be disbursed by the Bank of Industry (BOI). Unfortunately, the fund is yet to revive the fortunes of the textile industry. According to the Coalition of Closed Unpaid Textiles Workers in Kaduna, an estimated 700, 000 of their colleagues are still jobless. Investigations reveal that Nigeria imports more than N400bn worth of textiles into the country.

Sadly, most of these textiles and garments are imported without paying the required duties and taxes, thereby making the country to incur annual losses of N80 billion. Investigations also revealed that some of those behind the smuggling of textile products are employees and operators of the textile firms that have closed shop.

There is no gainsaying the fact that revival of the textile industry would revive cotton production and attendant jobs that go with it. For now, local demand of cotton has declined to 40,000 tons, while local production at present outstrips demand, forcing most farmers to export their produce to countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam.

We therefore urge the Federal Government to adopt a protectionist policy for the textile sector so as to encourage the revival. It is fact that problems of the industry go beyond funding but more to do with the hostile operating environment that must be rectified for the sector to turnaround.

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L-R: Comedian, Alli Baba; organiser, Steve Onu; Mrs. Dame Abimbola Fashola; Managing Director, Heritage Bank, Mary Renew and another comedian, Okey Bakassi during the 8th edition of comedy show titled ‘Shalanga’ in Lagos… at the weekend.

PHOTO: QUADRI OLOWOLAGBA.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (left), receiving a book from CEO of GEMSTONE Group, Fela Durotoye, during the Strategic Retreat for the exco members of the state in Awka... recently.

Words On Marble :

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Group General Manager Olisa Egbunike 08034004224

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Iyaloja-General, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo and Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho during the 19th City People Awards for Excellence in Lagos… at the weekend.

PHOTO: QUADRI OLOWOLAGBA.

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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Arthur Nwankwo

Aminu Kano

Julius Nyerere

“The meat of real and visionary leaders always is to steer the economy back on track.

Such leaders are pathfinders not fault-finders.”

“The road to freedom is full of thorns and fire, yet happy is he who follows it!

“Independence cannot be real if a nation depends upon gifts.”

4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

5

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

30 killed as police clamp down on Biafra groups Continued from page 1 (MASSOB).

Several other people were also injured during the clamp down in Anambra, while over 50 members of the Biafran groups were arrested by the military and taken to their302 cantonment in Onitsha.

Following the mayhem, the commercial city of Onitsha especially Nkpor axis, was locked down on Monday with the security operatives taking over the roads.

Commercial activities were paralyzed as a result, with vehicular movements stopped with burn fires all over the roads.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of IPOB, Emma Powerful, alleged that security operatives had killed over 30 members of the group, with over 50 others arrested and taken to an unknown destination.

Also, he alleged that many others were seriously injured in the mayhem, adding that the security operatives started arresting their members from 1.30 am when they began their peaceful demonstration.

According to him, “they were moving around in their hilux vehicle with a native doctor, when we are celebrating Biafra without any form of

weapons. Does it mean that we have no fundamental rights?”

When the Police Public Relation’s Officer (PPRO), in the state Ali Okechukwu was contacted on Monday at about 11.55am, he said there was no room to discuss causality figures, adding that they were still busy trying to clear the roads for easy movement.

However, an eye witness who spoke with our reporter and a MASSOB member said about 32 persons were killed by the navy and military personnel.

The injured, according to him, were taken to one of the hospitals at Nkpor but they were rejected, while those

killed were driven to the army barracks.

The leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, told reporters on Monday that federal government should look into the mayhem with a view to arresting the situation, adding that his group was not involved.

However, he warned that if Ndigbo were pushed to the wall by security personnel that they would have no other option than to take to arms, which according to him would make Nigeria be in flames.

Madu, further said that the federal government was negotiating with Boko Haram and Niger Delta militants while the

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), in handshake Alhaji Ladan Abubakar (Nigeria’s oldest photojournalist) and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed during a meeting with the State House Press Corps at the Presidential Villa, Abuja… on Monday.

Why I still respect Jonathan, by Buhari Egena Egena Abuja

ÎÎÎAmid

calls from some quarters for the prosecution of his predecessor in office over linkages to some corruption cases in the courts, President Muhammadu Buhari onMonday said he still had tremendous respect for former President Goodluck Jonathan on account of his quick acceptance of defeat in the 2015 presidential election.

Buhari who spoke at a Presidential Lunch for State House correspondents at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, as part of activities marking the 17th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria and his one year in office, said he was taken

aback that a man who had been in government at different levels for 16 consecutive years could so easily surrender.

He said he was humbled by the phone call to him by the former President congratulating him even when collation of votes was still in progress.

The President also hinted on the resolve of his administration to talk less on corruption in the country so as not to hamper the recovery of the stolen funds.

Recounting his experience as the helmsman at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Buhari said: “it was a tumultuous year for everyone in the villa. I will talk about my experience here in Aso Villa.

“I underrated the influence of the PDP for 16 years watching from outside at four consecutive governments.

“The experience of the staff, their commitment and zeal is different from what it is now. 16 years of development in the life of a developing nation is a long time.

“This is where I pay my respect to former President Goodluck Jonathan. This is actually a privileged information for you.

“He called me at a quarter past five in the evening. He said good evening Your Excellency Sir and I said good evening.

“He said, I have called to congratulate you that I have conceded deceit. Of course

there was dead silence on my end, because I did not expect it. I was shocked. I did not expect it because after 16 years, the man was a deputy governor, governor, Vice President and was President for six years. For him to have conceded defeat even before the result was announced by INEC, I think it was a great generosity, a great patriotism.

“Abdulsalam Abubakar recognized the generosity of Jonathan to concede defeat and said we should go and thank him immediately and that was the first time I came here.”

The President also explained why he had to cut Continued on page 12

security continued to fight the people without arms and they were keeping quite.

He said he ordered his men to mark Ojukwu’s day by staying indoors and not march on the streets, adding that those in the streets were not MASSOB members, rather of IPOB. Daily Times also gathered from one of the eye witnesses at Nkpor that the anger of the military was that one of its men was killed during the crisis.

In a swift reaction, the Anambra State government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta said “The attention of the Government of Anambra State has been drawn to attempts by some hoodlums to hijack a peaceful demonstration by some youths in Nkpor, Idemili Local Government Area, to mark the Democracy Day earlier this morning.

“These elements infiltrated the demonstration and unleashed a wave of violent attacks on the police, burning down a patrol van and sowed panic among the populace.

This untoward tendency runs against the culture of security and peaceful co-existence of all citizens that we have established in our beloved state in the past two years.

“The Government of Anambra State shall not allow some unscrupulous elements to undermine our collective achievement as the most peaceful state in Nigeria and slow down our steady march to progress and prosperity. “We therefore warn people who are planning to foment trouble or hide under the guise of peaceful demonstration to disturb the peace to desist from such acts with immediate effect as that will not be tolerated.

“Consequently, the law enforcement agents have been directed to maintain the peace in a manner that is expected of a professional police force in a democracy without the application of excessive force that might lead to avoidable casualties.”

In Ebonyi, no fewer than 320 MASSOB members were arrested along with some clergymen who were conducting an inter-denominational service for them.

It was gathered that policemen numbering over 200 stormed the Nkaliki Primary School, field, Abakaliki, venue for the 2016 Biafran Day cel-

ebration of the group, midway into the service and arrested the clergymen as well as the members.

The Zonal Leader of MASSOB in charge of Ebonyi North, John Nwifuru, flanked by a member of the Elders-InCouncil in charge of Ebonyi anniversary, Moses Eze, confirmed this at a briefing in Abakaliki.

According to him “over 320 members of the MASSOB were also arrested by the Command during the Biafra Day celebration”. It was also gathered that the command also teargassed the protesters ceaselessly during the operation.

“Some of those arrested were just clergymen who we invited to conduct inter-denominational church service as part of activities marking the celebration”. These policemen don’t seem to have respect for God, why would they arrest his anointed men?”

He accused the police of carting away valuables belonging to members of the movement which he said included vehicles, over 93 motorcycles and other items for offertory.

He said: “We were at Nkaliki primary school field observing interdenominational church service when policemen numbering over 200 operating in over 40 hilux vans stormed the area shooting sporadically in the air before they threw tear gas canister on us before arresting our clergymen who were conducting church service.

They carried plantains, bananas, and other consumables which members brought as their offering during the church service.”

He called for the unconditional release of those arrested in the state and other parts of the country during the peaceful celebration which he said was in commemoration of the declaration of the state of Biafra by late warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, over 49 years ago.

The commissioner of police in the state, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah, when contacted, said she would brief the media on the matter at the appropriate time.

In Enugu, MASSOB on Monday has raised alarm that about 40 of its members were arrested by men of the Nigerian Police in Nsukka.

The zonal leader of Enugu Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Navy arrests five suspected pipeline vandals in Lagos Segun Adio

ÏÏÏ

The Nigerian Navy, on Monday, arrested five suspected pipeline vandals alongside a wooden boat with over 200 jerrycans of 25 litres loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Abraham Adaji, while speaking with journalists said the suspects were arrested on May 25 along Badagry Creeks in Tongeji Island.

According to him, the suspects were arrested by the naval personnel serving in Forward Operating Base (FOB), Badagry, while on patrol. ‘’The suspects were intercepted in a wooden boat conveying 25 litres rubber

containers filled with petroleum products suspected to be PMS. ‘’The product is believed to have been gotten from a vandalised pipeline,’’ he said.

Adaji said during interrogation, the suspects claimed they were fishermen based in Port Novo, Benin Republic.

While speaking on Tongeji Island, Adaji said the navy patrolled the area to ensure that it is safe from pipeline vandals.

He added that the navy at all times ensured that the maritime environment was safe.

The suspects are; Agbotou Firmin, Sohe Soule, Gbenou Daniel, Dosspu Vigor and Sodohe Oliver.

The suspects were handed

over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) by the navy for further investigation.

One Yamaha 40HP outboard engine, one wooden boat and unconfirmed number of 25 litres rubber containers, filled with suspected petroleum products were also handed over to NSCDC. Receiving the suspects, the Lagos State Commander, NSCDC, Tanjudeen Balogun said he was elated by the confidence which the Navy reposed on them by deeming them worthy to judiciously investigate and prosecute the suspects.

He disclosed that other suspects handed over to them by the navy were at different stages of investigation and prosecution in court.

Police rescue abducted Osun Iyaloja 10 days after

Arase

Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏTen

days after being abducted by unknown gunmen, a prominent business woman and Iyaloja (Head of Market Wom-

en) of Kajola-Ijesa market in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State, Alhaja Adunni Adegbokun, has been rescued.

Daily Times gathered authoritatively that she was rescued by men of

Osun State Police Command along Ikire expressway by the police patrol team from Ikire Divisional Police Headquarters.

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Olanipekun Oyeleye confirmed this through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Osun State Police Command, ASP Egbedele Ajibade.

According to him, the policemen trailed the abductors of the woman to get her rescued.

He said, “The victim was taken to Oluyoro Private Hospital in Ikire for first aid treatment immediately she was rescued and later moved to the Police Clinic in Osogbo for comprehensive medical attention.”

The police boss said that the business woman was subsequently handed over to the Iyaloja General of Osun State, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade.

“She has reunited with her family members in stable condition,” the police boss added.

It would be recalled that the Kajola-Ijesa market has been closed down since Alhaja Adegbokun was abducted at her residence at Araromi Street on 19th of May.

7 News

CARTOON

News Analysis

One year after: How APC ‘changed’ Nigeria Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏThat

Nigeria has ‘changed’ in the last one year the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is not in doubt anymore. Everywhere you turn, you see the ‘change’ in people’s faces and actions.

Just take a sampler: In the past one year of the APC administration, Nigerians had to contend with several bouts of petrol scarcity. Having tried all measures to end the scarcity to no avail, the APC-led Federal Government two weeks ago hiked the pump price of petrol from N87.00 to N145, That action ‘changed’ the prices of goods and services across the country and it has not funny at all.

To show how Nigeria has changed in the past one year of APC’s administration, Nigerians have grudgingly accepted the new fuel pump price. The organised

Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏThe rescheduled Ad-

amawa People’s Democratic Party (PDP) state congress has been concluded with Alhaji Abdulrahman Bobboi emerging as the new Chairman while Chief Lazarus emerged as Deputy Chairman.

Bobboi and 27 other State Executive Committee members emerged through voice vote where

Labour which condemned the hike and threatened strike, had their rank broken, as some groups pulled out of the strike, leaving only the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and a few other allies to go on with the strike. In the end, the strike failed to make the APC-led Federal Government to shift grounds. The NLC eventually called of the strike without achieving anything, no thanks to the fact that Nigeria has ‘changed’.

Many who hitherto made criticizing government under the immediate the past administration a past time have suddenly gone quiet in this era of change. They are no longer on television, radio or in newspapers, deriding government. Rather than take the APC administration to task on its many failings, they look the other way or at best call for understanding from Nigerians.

The civil society organisations, labour unions,

lawyers and human right activists among others, who were busy organising all manner of protests over perceived failings of the erstwhile administration have all gone under to ‘save’ their heads and businesses. Suddenly because Nigeria has ‘changed’, they are no longer holding the country hostage through their protests despite many untoward happenings in the polity.

Because Nigeria has changed, we have all been told to be patient with the current administration.

If you doubt that Nigeria has indeed changed in the one year that the APC has been in power, then look at what has happened to the Naira in relation to the US dollar. Again, if you are in doubt that Nigeria has ‘changed’ under the Change party, ask housewives or better still visit the market. The feedback you will get will confirm to you that Nigeria has indeed ‘changed’.

Adamawa PDP gets new chairman delegates affirmed their nomination.

Secretary of the panel that conducted the congress, Mallam Sani Kutigi, called the names of nominees who were affirmed by the delegates through voice votes, while the nominee for the position of Women Leader, Mrs. Alberta Gangkero was rejected by the women delegates.

Speaking on behalf of the new executive after tak-

ing oath of office, the new Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Bobboi, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed on them and promised that they would not disappoint the party.

Bobboi said his new executive would carry everyone along, adding that their emergence would strengthen the party and set the pace for the emergence of PDP government in the state in 2019.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Politics

Æs

One year anniversary: Buhari saved Nigeria from bankruptcy-Ologunde Iniobong Iwok

Ologunde

The assumption of office of President Muhammedu Buhari,his policies and measures have saved the country from bankruptcy and retrogression which it was heading to under the last PDP administration.

This was disclosed by the southwest vice chairman of the ruling All Progressives

Congress (APC), Chief Funsho Ologunde In an interview with Daily times on the one year anniversary of the current administration, noting that the country was thrown into deplorable state by the last administration.

He lamented that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) plundered the resources of the country in its 16 years in power, adding that life would have been

more harder for Nigerians, and the country may not have survived as an entity if the APC had not assumed power last year.

He said: “When you look at what level we met the national economy vis- a -viz were we should have been, If you look back at the last 16 years of PDP, the country moved from a situation of well- to do, to a terrible state. I believe if the APC did not

come to government, we may not have existed as an entity”.

“We would have gone to a situation of bankruptcy, where the state may not be able to pay salaries. And that would have been catastrophic for the country If Buhari government had not been to do what he is doing, may be a bag of rice would be sold at N100,000”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

One Year after, APC thanks Nigerians

Kekemeke

Leadership tussle: Ondo APC Chairman, Minister, trade blames ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

Oyegun

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has praised Nigerians for their resilience and support for the Buhari administration in the last one year.

In a statement on behalf of the Party, National chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun conveyed the “immea-

surable gratitude to our fellow compatriots for their unprecedented confidence and trust in President Muhammadu Buhari and the Party”.

He assured all Nigerians that the Party and the President hold as very sacred this collective trust, which the President has so creditably discharged this

past one year.

His words: “President Buhari has, in the last year, worked hard to repair Nigeria’s previously tarnished image in the international community; restored the territorial integrity of our country by ensuring the containment of the erstwhile ramCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Isaacs Kekemeke, said there was nothing in the alleged face-off that occurred between him and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Claudius Daramola at the residence of Senator Tayo Alasoadura during the weekend.

The Daily Times gathered that there was an altercation between Kekemeke and the Minister at the weekend during the latter’s condolence visit to the residence of a senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Chief Alasoadura over the weekend following the death of his wife.

Our correspondent learnt from sources at the verbal altercation which led to a face-

off between the APC Chairman and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs that: “I noticed that trouble started when the APC Chairman, Kekemeke, started shouttng ‘Baba! Baba!’ upon sighting the minister, Prof.

Claudus, who had just finished granting an interview with some journalists.

“Two of them stood to face each other and immediately I heard argument over supremacy of position and something that started as a joke led into serious argument about who is the leader of the party in the state.

“I overheard Kekemeke telling the minister that he is still the APC Chairman In the state irrespective of Prof. Claudus position at the Federal level, and he is the number one party man in the state” One of the source said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

9 Politics

One Year after, APC thanks Nigerians CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Ologunde

One year anniversary: Buhari saved Nigeria from bankruptcy-Ologunde ‘‘If Buhari government had not been to do what he is doing, may be a bag of rice would be sold at N100,000”.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Speaking further, Ologunde disagreed with agitation for the implementation of Jonathan 2014 constitution conference report, stressing that the APC would never implement the report because most of the participants were hand picked by the president adding that the conference was set up to serve the interest of the ruling government and the PDP. According to him: “We don’t believe in the report of that constitutional conference the government hand-picked most of the participants, they were representatives of Jonathan, they outnumbered the ones nominated by the governors.

“It was an exercise in futility and not sincere. It was diversionary tactic to deceive Nigerians, those advocating for the implementation of the report are wasting their time, they should stop clamouring for it”, he added.

On the renewed call for return to regional government, the APC chieftain, stressed that the present federal structure was the best for the country and called for patience amongst Ni-

gerians, adding that the country was best suited for a federal system of government.

“Our problem is impatient, whatever we don’t have that is working elsewhere Ngerians would cry for it. which is better; a northern, southern and western region government or state structure with each developing at its pace?

“We should allow things to mature, we had the parliamentary system, they advocated for federal system and now, there is nothing wrong with the system it suit us better”, he said.

On allegation of witch-hunt by the PDP on the anti corruption war of the president, he challenged the PDP to produce names of APC members who took part in the looting of the nation resources, adding that the such cry was a blackmail.

“Let the people that are complaining bring the names of APC members that follow them to loot the treasury, it is just blackmail, am not surprised, it is a way of fighting back, the next time let them produce names, let Wike take Amaechi to court if he has the facts”, he added.

paging Boko Haram insurgency and has waged an unrelenting and vigorous war against corruption as he promised in his electioneering campaign.

“The President, being fully aware of the tough economic challenges facing Nigerians, has directed his focus on the salvaging of our battered and prostrate economy”, he said.

According to him, “The very parlous state of the economy inherited by this administration, which has been further battered by the collapse of the price of crude oil and the massive corruption by the past administration, does not need any further restating. However, the government has courageously faced these challenges by taking tough decisions necessary to bring our economy back to buoyancy and self-sustaining growth.

“One of such tough but inevitable decisions is the liberalization of the petroleum downstream sector and the consequent hike in petrol price which led to a call out of workers on an indefinite strike by Organised Labour.

While thanking Nigerians for their understanding of the situation and also Organised Labour for resuming negotiation with government, he assured that the APC administration of President Buhari holds their trust to be sacred and will do all that is humanly possible to ensure that

Oyegun

these tough times do not last.

The 2016 budget which includes N500 billion dedicated to social intervention will begin to have positive impact very soon.

“I call on all our compatriots to put aside any differences and join with President Muhammadu Buhari to design and lay a strong foundation for a new economy that assures self-

sustaining growth and shared prosperity for our people. In the words of our dear President Buhari, ‘this generation of Nigerians and indeed all Nigerians have no other country to call our own, we must work together to salvage it”, he said and congratulated all our compatriots for another successful year of democracy in Nigeria.

Leadership tussle: Ondo APC Chairman, Minister, trade blames CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Another source said that the argument turned messy when the special assistant to the Minister, Nathaniel Adojutelegan intervened and asked that the chairman should let go of the wrist of the Minister adding that some thugs almost took over the scene of the argument.

Reacting to this, Kekemeke said he was constrained to personally react to the story making the round that he (the APC Chairman) had altercation or disagreement with Prof Claudius Daramola, the Honourable Minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs.

In a statement in Akure, he said , “The incident, which I’m made to understand is now a subject of Nollywood drama, was simply a friendly discussion

between the minister and I. “I had gone to Senator Tayo Alasoadura’s residence on his (Alasoadura) invitation, where I met the Honourable Minister addressing a group of journalists.

I waited for him to finish and greeted him in the traditional Ikale way thus: ‘Baba le o’.

“The Minister then threw a joke at me, and I responded, as he then concluded that as an elder, he could throw brickbats at me. I was walking him to the gate of the house when the Hon. Minister’s special Assistant, Nathaniel Adojutelegan, intercepted us and began to howl insults at me.

“I was forced to ask him if he was a proper party man and whether he wanted to beat me?

His (Nathaniel Adojutelegan) answered to both questions was a categorical ‘yes’.

“He then made lots of gesticulation and reached out to his hand bag and pulled out a ring and came after me. I got angry but restrained myself and my aides had to prevent him (Nathaniel Adojutelegan) from reaching me.

“I want to say that I have since moved on because I see the incident as one of the many challenges that I had faced, will continue to face in the enormous task of building a solid foundation for this great party of ours.

“I remain focused and refused to be distracted from my singular goal of leading the party, APC, to victory in the November 26, 2016 Governorship election”, the Ondo APC Chairman said.

Also explaining what transpired between the duo, the aide CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Buhari’s one year in office, a national rebirth —Sen. Jajere “Already, the subsidy removal has improved supply of petrol, removed hoarding and diversion; It has also created competition among marketers.”

Jajere

Sen. Alkali Jajere on Monday said Nigeria had recorded a national rebirth with President Muhammadu Buhari’s courageous fight against corruption and the handling of other contentious issues hitherto avoided by previous administrations.

Jajere, who represented Yobe

South Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015, said in interview in Damaturu that only a leader that had the enormous trust of his people could delved into those issues and come out unscathed.

“In the last one year, President Buhari courageously ventured into critical and daring areas, with an unprecedented fight

against corruption ever seen in the history of this country, recovering mindboggling amount of stolen public funds,” he said.

The former legislator said the implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA), Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) had

contributed to the successful fight against corruption.

Jajere said the removal of subsidy on petrol would save more resources for government to create jobs, and develop infrastructures in all sectors of the economy.

“Already, the subsidy removal has improved supply of petrol, removed hoarding and diversion; It has also created competition among marketers,” he said.

The former legislator commended government for the renewed fight against insurgency in the North East thereby restoring peace and security in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“Many communities that were taken over by the insurgents have been fully liberated and the people are relocating back to these communities, with the reestablishment of civil authorities also going on in the affected areas,” he added.

He lauded President Buhari for launching N500 billion Social Intervention Fund, saying it would boost employment, as well as support artisans, vulnerable groups, market women and farmers.

Sen. Jajere appeal to the Niger Delta militants to tow the path of dialogue in fighting for their cause instead of confrontation and violence.

Gov.Almakura calls for complete restructuring of LG system Gov Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State on Sunday called for the complete restructuring of the Local Government system to make it serve people at the grassroots.

Fielding questions from newsmen on Sunday in Lafia, the governor lamented that corruption at the third tier level did not allow people to reap the advantages envisaged in the arrangement.

He noted that over-staffing arising from the employment of ‘friends, family members and associates of those at the helm of affairs in local government councils,were responsible for some of the challenges in local government administration.

“You will discover that people, who had the opportunity of piloting the affairs of the local governments at one point or the other, turned it to a family affair.

“They do this by bringing in their families and friends as employees and when they leave office, these cronies remain in the system, thereby causing more problems to it,” he observed.

“As I speak to you now, last month’s (May, 2016) allocation to Local Governments Councils in the state is nothing to write home about.

Ondo: APC chairman, Minister trade blames CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

to the Minister, Adojutelegan alleged the APC Chairman was rude to his boss during their separate condolence visit to the Alasoadura’s family.

He said “the honourable minister of state, Prof. Claudius Omoleye Daramola came from Abuja yesterday morning to pay a condolence visit to Senator Tayo Alasoadura.

“After commiserating with Senator Alasoadura, the honourable minister stopped outside the building to grant a short interview to some journalists from both the electronics and print medium.

“Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, the Chairman, and some thugs charged into the compound as the honourable minister was concluding the interview.

“He saw me and I greeted him warmly. He then saw the minister and greeted him by shouting “Baba! Baba!!” loudly.

“Mr. Kekemeke was quite rude and condescending in the man-

Kekemeke

ner he called “Baba! Baba” repeatedly while the minister tried to play down the embarrassment but Mr. Kekemeke responded by holding the minister’s wrist, apparently playing to the gallery, and saying “I am the number one person in the state!”, “I am your leader”.

“He made these statements repeatedly to the minster. The minister disregarded the insults and jokingly told the Chairman that he would be fined.

Adojutelegan added that the APC Chairman continued to hold the minister’s wrist throughout this period.

“While holding the minister’s wrist, he responded to the joke by rudely saying repeatedly aloud “mewa ministers o to be!

“At this stage, I stepped in as the insults were getting out of hand and told the Chairman that he was rude to the honourable minister.

“The Chairman responded to me by saying “you’re a great Party man, you should know

that “I am number one.” That statement led to an argument between us.

“The Chairman attempted to push me in the chest, and his thugs reacted by attempting to assault me physically. I wondered whether the Chairman has trained his thugs on when to react or whether they spoke in signs.

“The situation was calm until the Chairman made the disgraceful movement to hit me, which brought about the reaction of his thugs.

“I have never hit another person in my life, but I have always been capable of defending myself. I reasonably believe that those who know me and Mr. Kekemeke very well will know the one whose version of events represents the whole truth”, Hon Adojutelegan said In a post on the social media.

The Daily TIMES gathered from the APC office that some party stalwarts at the National level have waded into the issue.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

11 Politics

Why I am needed back by Edo People -Osunbor Tom Okpe, Abuja Former Edo State Governor under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Oserheimen Osunbor has given reasons why the people of Edo State want him back as Governor of the state.

Osunbor who was at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat to pick his nomination form to contest for the APC Governorship ticket said: “during that very period of less than one year and half, I recorded great deal of achievements in various spheres of development in Edo State”.

He said his short stint in Edo government house as governor;

Osunbor

he left his footprint in the area of infrastructure, Civil Service reforms, healthcare sector, education sector, particularly the accreditation of about 30 degree awarding courses of the Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma within six month of his administration.

The law professor who was sacked in his early stage as governor of the state by the Court added that “because of the impact I made in the lives of Edo people during that brief period, there has been clamor by the good people of the State for me to come back. They yearned for me to return and I have decided to make myself available to serve the people and to continue with the qualitative governance

that i had given to them during the brief period I was governor”.

Osunbor who said he is the most qualified candidate to govern Edo State among all other aspirants, stressed that his eight years stint in the National Assembly as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during which period he headed some committees had helped him a lot.

Talking about zoning and agitation for power shift in the state, Osunbor, explained that the APC constitution did not recognize zoning and for those talking about power shift in Edo, the Central Senatorial district should produce the next governor of the state.

Buhari has laid solid foundation for development - Respondents Some residents of Oyo State on Monday gave the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari a pass mark in his first year in office.

The Buhari administration was sworn in on May 29, 2015 and marked one year on Sunday.

Alalade Ismail, a civil servant in Oyo West Local Government Area, said the administration had laid solid foundation for the future.

“So much challenges when the government assumed office, but it has been able to stabilize and lay solid foundation on many fronts.

“I have no doubt that things will get better with time especially with this solid ground that has been laid by the government“, he said.

Seun Olokode, a business centre operator from Saki East, said ``past administrations had done so much injustice to this country and it will take time to heal.”

Mrs Kahdijat Mikail, a retired civil servant, urged Nigerians to be patient with the new administration, adding that “it will take time to re-build what was destroyed for 16 years.

“I have taken my time to study the present situation of things and compared with past governments, you will see that this is the best in recent years.

“Looted funds are been recovered and things are being done in a very transparent way and man-

ner, that is what we expect from a listening-government. ``I‘m convinced that the administration started well“, she said.

(NAN) In Bwari, Abuja, Dr Dickson Akoh, National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, urged Nigerians to be patient with their expectations from Buhari’s change agenda.

Akoh gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bwari.

He observed that there were diverse opinions about the success or failure of the Buhari-led administration as it marked its first anniversary on Sunday.

Akoh, therefore, advised that for a meaningful and desirable change in the country, Nigerians must be patient and considerate in their expectations. ``As far as I am concerned, one year is both short and long. ``It can be short for people that have high expectation that by now the president should have delivered on his change mandate. ``The long aspect of it is an administration that met challenges on ground; the daily security revelations alone should tell Nigerians that the situation demands thorough planning to move on. ``As far as I am concerned, the administration has now proceeded on laying a solid foundation in order to place Nigeria on the rightful pedestal.

``We must be patient because it is the first time an opposition party would be taking the mantle of leadership after 16 years; such requires time to plan to move the nation forward”, he said.

He appealed to those thinking that the administration should have delivered on its promises within one year to be objective in their criticism of the government. ``If a person has four years tenure, you do not expect him to discharge and achieve his mandate at once. ``Give him the remaining three years to justify and deliver his promise; the challenges in leadership are enormous; to overcome them, you need strategic planning to achieve target”, he added.

NAN reports that Peace Corps of Nigeria is a non-governmental organisation with the aim of promoting national creativity, peace and youth development.

Buhari

Lawan

LG Election: 6 women scale Adamawa APC primaries Six women have emerged as candidates for the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the just concluded party primaries for the June 25 Local Government Election.

Speaking to newsmen on Sunday in Yola, the party’s State Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Lawan, said one woman won the chairmanship ticket while five others won councillorship tickets.

“Mrs Wale Fwa won the chairmanship ticket for Demsa Local Government while we have two women who won councillorship ticket in Mayo-Belwa Local Government and one woman each

that won councillorship ticket in Yola North, Mubi North and Jada Local Governments.” Lawan said.

Lawan, who did not give the number of women that participated in the primaries, said that the primaries for the 21 chairmanship and 226 councilllorship candidates were conducted peacefully.

“We only have one complain regarding the chairmanship election from Guyuk Local Government that will be looked into by the Appeal Committee.”

Lawan commended party members for orderly conduct, adding that the party was confident of sweeping the polls.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

You can’t stop me from travelling abroad, Fayose dares Buhari ÎÎÎGovernor Ayodele Fay-

ose of Ekiti State has dared the Federal Government to carry out the alleged plot of preventing him from travelling out of the country, saying “under the federal system of government, State governors are not appendages of the President and as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria, he cannot be cowed

by President Muhammadu Buhari and his agents.”

The governor, who reacted to reports that two governors, one from the South West and another from the South South have been placed on travel restric-

tion on President Buhari’s order, in a press conference addressed by his special assistant on public communications and new media, Lere Olayinka, said whenever he wished to travel out Nigeria, he will do so in the full glare of the public.

He said: “I am not surprised or disappointed by this latest plot of the Buhari’s government because President Buhari that we know is a man without any atom of respect for the rights of Nigerians as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and this he demonstrated as a military dictator and now demonstrating as a democratically elected president.”

Fayose said he was however amazed that “this dangerous dimension of compelling a sitting governor that enjoys Constitutional Immunity like the President to obtain clearance from the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) before travelling out of Nigeria can ever be contemplated.”

He said President Buhari and his agents should

be mindful of the fact that under a federal system of government, the states and national government both enjoy some autonomy, with sovereign power formally divided between the national government and the States such that each State retains some degree of control over its internal affairs.

Olayinka, who was flanked by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi said: “Few days ago, when Governor Ayodele Fayose was reliably informed that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that he should be banned from trav-

eling outside Nigeria, he simply took the information as mere rumour, concluding that disrespect for the constitution of Nigeria and Buhari’s dictatorship would not be extended to the most ridiculous level of preventing a governor elected just as the president from traveling out of the country.

“The thinking of Governor Fayose was that even

30 killed as police clamp down on Biafra groups Continued from page 6

L-R: Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu; Minister of the Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Hajiya Rabi Jimeta, at the opening ceremony of Niger Basin Authority extraordinary session in Abuja… on Monday.

though the Buhari’s presidency was capable of even attempting to prevent those opposed to the President from breathing the air, it must still be sane enough to be conscious of the consequences of placing any Nigerian under travel ban without an order of the court, not to talk of a sitting governor that enjoys constitutional immunity like the President.

North, Chief James Omeke told Daily Times that the members were arrested at the Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church premises where they were holding a thanksgiving mass in commemoration of 49th anniversary of the declaration of the State of Biafra by Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu.

“Such arrest and intimidation of our members will not deter us but will spur us in our struggle to freedom; what Nigerian government is doing to us is very unfair.

However, the police in Enugu on Monday said they arrested no fewer than 13 suspected

persons believed to be members of MASSOB and BIM. The Police Public Relations Officer, Ebee Amaraizu said the people were nabbed at Edinburgh axis of Ogui, Enugu based on intelligence and information gathered on them.

According to Amariazu, “The suspects had converged with their Toyota hiace bus with registration number XG 265 UWN, flags and T-shirts with different inscriptions portraying MASSOB/BIM at Edinburgh axis of Ogui to commence protest march before the security operatives acting on intelligence/information closed them up and arresting them.

Why I still respect Jonathan, by Buhari Continued from page 6 down the size of ministries from 42 to 24, even as he lamented the initial noncooperation of civil servants in the new way government wanted to conduct its business.

According to him, the Permanent Secretaries were so used to their old way of doing things to the extent that they regarded the campaign promises of the All Progressives Party (APC) as “rubbish.”

He said: “We found out that government could not continue with 42 ministers and the paraphernalia of office so we cut it down to 24.

We had to cut down half the

number of permanent secretaries and then do some cross postings. The permanent secretaries that were there for the past five to seven years the only thing that they know is how things were done in the previous years.

“Whatever we did in the campaign, in fact, were saying rubbish and that made it very difficult for us.

“Things were even more difficult during the budget which you all know about.

For somebody like me, for the first time I heard what is called padding.

“I think we will recover by the fourth quarter of the year. What padding means especially for ministers who

had to implement what padding contains. There were very serious developments which I never knew about.

“So really it was a nasty experience for us. It was also a nasty experience for some of the ministers who were never in government, for them to sit down day and night to work. I saw them, some of them literarily lost weight because they were sleeping less and eating less.

Working on every kobo to be spent.”

He said that because Nigeria became a mono-economy based on oil, the past governments relied on oil and forgot about solid minerals, agriculture, and other resources.

The President added: “We recently just found out that we are poor because we don’t have anything to fall back to. This is the condition we found ourselves and this change mantra had to go through hell up till yesterday.

“And for you to talk to whoever came to visit us throughout that year I wonder how each of your diaries would be, because people were expecting this change mantra in their own way.

“How do you define change? Luckily our party identified three major items, security, economy and corruption.

“One of the men I pity is Lai Mohammed. Everyday he is on TV explaining our

performance or lack of it.”

On the ongoing anticorruption fight, President Buhari lamented why a group of people would just sit down and share over two billion dollars meant for the purchase of military hardware to fight insurgency in the country.

He stated, however, that the Federal Government would henceforth make less noise on the anti-corruption fight in order not to jeopardise the recovery of looted funds stashed abroad.

“People were trusted and the most recent one which we haven’t recovered from is the $2.1billion dollars, was given by the government then, to the military

to buy hardware to fight the insurgency which had taken over part of the country and they just sat where you are sitting now and shared the money into their own account.

“They didn’t even bother.

So we are still trying to get the cooperation of the international community and so on and we have to do it with a lot of respect to the judiciary. We can’t go out and talk too much we have to allow the judiciary to do their work. We give them the facts, the name, country, bank account. If you talk too much, technicalities will come in, then we will realize less than what we want to realize,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

13

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Ilorin Emir distances self from ‘unmerited’ titles

Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin Gov. Umahi

Ebonyi PDP suspends youths leader over unruly behaviour Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi state chapter has finally suspended its youth leader, Mark Onu for public disorder and attempt to disrupt the 2016 democracy day celebration in the state.

Briefing newsmen, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Okulegu Bethran said the suspension was in line with the party’s constitution, stressing that the action of the youth leader was shameful and the state working committee didn’t support it. ‘’Based on our constitution, section 57 sub section 1 and 3, we have suspended the state PDP youth leader because of the democracy day incident. His action is shameful and we the state working committee did not support that act; it’s a barbaric act and we join our governor, a lover of peace to condemn this shameful attitude displayed

by Mark Onu at the Abakaliki Township stadium during the democracy day. ‘’For now, Mark Onu, who is the youth leader for the PDP in the state has been suspended. We have set up seven-man committee to look into his offence and the outcome of the committee will be submitted to the state working committee. From there, we will take further action on the matter and we will work strictly on what the committee recommends.

ÏÏÏTraditional rulers in Kwara

State have been warned to desist from acts of impersonation and illegal emulation of the hailing title of the Emir of Ilorin.

Speaking on behalf of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim SuluGambari, the National Secretary of the Shehu Alimi Foundation for Peace and Development, Mallamn Abdulazeez Arowona, stressed that the Emir of Ilorin is a revered monarch who has been clearly distinguished by historical accounts.

According to statement, “The Emir has on several occasions publicly rejected being called and addressed as Kabiyesi, His Royal Majesty, His Eminence or His Imperial Majesty. He has rather expressed contentious on His Royal Highness, a title which was unanimously agree upon by all the Northern Emirs.

“While the title of “His Eminence” belongs to the Sultan of Sokoto, His Royal Highness

is for the Emir of Ilorin. It is also on record that the Shehu of Borno, the Sultan of Sokoto and the Emir of Ilorin are the three historically recognised Shehus in the North East, North-West and North Central respectively.

It is therefore an abominable act for any monarch or person under any guise to illegally claim to be called and addressed as Shehu in Kwara State.”

According to him, “the title “Emir” means AmirulMuhmeneen (leader of the faithful) and this symbolises the significant roles played by the forbearer of the Emir in person of Shehu Alimi in the propagation of Islamic jurisprudence in the different parts of the country.

Therefore, the name “Shehu” is not by any means a mere title or hereditary and it is not a common name that can be come-by by any person or group of persons except for the intention of mockery of the Emir of Ilorin or the entire Ilorin Emirate Council.

“The entire public should see the title of Shehu as the personal belonging of the family

ÏÏÏFour

years after two National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials were gruesomely murdered in Adamawa State by some drug peddlers, a Federal High Court, sitting in Yola, has sentenced

Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏTragedy struck at the late

hour of Democracy Day on Sunday in Osogbo, when an allegedly drunk driver hit the daughter of a trader selling provision.

Daily Times gathered that the victim, a teenager, was hit by the driver in the presence of her mother near Capital Hotel, in Osogbo.

According to eye witnesses, the victim died on the spot by the road side where she was hit with a black SUV car.

It was learnt that the driver had just left the hotel with his two kids when the incident happened at the spot directly opposite the hotel.

An eye witness, who identifies himself as Mallam Nasir, said he narrowly escaped death too.

Nasir blamed the recklessness of the driver for the accident, saying that the driver had only realised killing someone after the teenage had died.

He narrated, “I was standing close to the deceased when I went to purchase a voucher. No sooner that I moved my feet, the reckless driver rammed into the deceased.

Kano earmarks five grazing forests to address herdsmen, farmers’ clashes Yakubu Salisu Kano

ÏÏÏGovernor of Kano State, Dr.

FCT fire fighters putting out fire from a vehicle on Lokoja-Abuja Road… on Monday.

8 jailed 40-yrs each for killing NDLEA officials in Adamawa Tom Garba Yola

of the Emir of Ilorin and must not be contested, copied, or impersonated by anybody under any guise. It is should understand that calling the Emir of Ilorin His Eminence, a title exclusively reserved for the Sultan of Sokoto is not only condemnable, but it is also an abomination. Every other traditional ruler especially in the Kwara South should not ascribe to themselves what they do not have.

“Flouting this reaction is abominable and tantamount to readiness to face the consequential repercussions which are yet to be seen. While Baagandozhi is being used for the entire traditional rulers in the Nupe Kingdom, Shehu is for the Emir Ilorin. At his early years of coronation, the Emir of Ilorin was asked to take over as the President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs as well as that of the Jamma’atu Nasrul Islam, he publicly rejected it and directed the honour to the eligible monarch who is also the Sultan of Sokoto.”

Democracy Day: Drunk driver kills teenager in Osun

eight persons to prison terms of 40 years.

The presiding judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu, in her ruling, sentenced each convict to 40 years on two count charges after their confessional statement that they were responsible for the death of the NDLEA personnels.

She explained that each of

them will serve 20 years imprisonment for each offense ranging from obstruction of NDLEA men on duty and conspiracy in killing two NDLEA officers while performing their constitutional obligation.

According to her, the judgement will serve as deterrent to other hooligans in the state who

engaged wholesome activities Speaking to reporters shortly after the court verdict, the state commander of NDLEA, Mr. Yakubu Kibo and head of its legal team, Barrister Buhari Abdulahi, commended the judgment, saying that it will serve as a moral booster to the organisation.

Kibo added that four years after his men were gruesomely murdered, the perpetrators of the act were finally brought to book, noting that they would not be deterred in their battle to rid the state of drugs.

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has disclosed that his administration has earmarked five grazing forests provided with mechanised boreholes to address clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers which in recent times has led to loss of lives and property.

The governor stressed that it is no longer fashionable for Fulani herdsmen to traverse the length and breadth of the country searching for pastures for their cattle as new methods have emerged for cattle rearing.

Ganduje also revealed that over 60 Fulani children have so far been sponsored and trained in Turkey for animal insemination and are now working at two centres provided by the state government.

The governor said that he is optimistic that the measure will end the Fulani herdsmen/farmers crisis particularly the Southern farmers.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

15 Opinion

President Buhari’s forgotten promise

N Ayokunle Awolowo

igerians are in a frenzy. It is one year since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office and everyone is focused on the big picture. His promises to Nigerians are many and people are focusing on the big ones – security, economy, anticorruption and the whole long list. One promise is being overlooked because the seemingly big promises take national attention.

Buhari had promised to bring those behind Boko Haram to book. This should have been one promise kept within the first six months. Not one year. But these characters are still free people. They still walk the street as saints since no one has been unmasked them.

There is free counsel to Buhari on what can be done. First: classify the different forms of being behind Boko Haram. There are those that offer monetary and logistic support to the group.

Nigeria now has BVN. Tracing funding and financing should not be difficult.

Unmasking Boko Haram financiers is therefore possible.

Those that offer logistics and intelligence to terrorists cannot continue to fleet like wraiths among us. They

must of necessity communicate.

SIM cards are now fully registered.

Phone numbers of captured or killed terrorists are starting points. There is a treasure trove of intelligence there.

Who have the terrorists been talking to in military , government circles, religious bodies, business world? We should know.

Captured terrorists must have spilled the beans more than once. Who did they name? Who has benefitted from or is still benefitting from their atrocities? Who stands to gain if the attacks continue? Amirs – commanders of the terror group have been captured in several instances, what stops the authorities from investigating those that have been named.

Who is the new Dasukigate leader?

Before President Buhari there was a gang that stole the country blind in the name of buying weapons to combat terror. They allowed terrorism to fester so they can keep harvesting their loots.

Who are the people that have stepped into those shoes? Are they too keeping terrorism alive for pecuniary gains?

How much of this is tied to 2019 General elections. Contenders have started campaigns even before Buhari’s term in office properly begun. Are they trying to give PMB the GEJ moment?

They reportedly infiltrated the former

government. Have they infiltrated the government in just under one year? What hold do they have over the federal government that politicians in the axis are not having the searchlight beamed on them for whatever their roles may be in the endless carnage of the northeast?

Mr President must know that discerning Nigerians have not forgotten his promiseto bring those behind Boko Haram to book. On this promise, he must not and cannot fail. Other promises are hinged on it. The sponsors are like the brainbox or the heartbeat of the terror group. Arresting and prosecuting them will deal deathly blow to Boko Haram. Stamping out Boko Haram will free resources to commit to other sectors.

Unmasking these sponsors would be hard. They possibly have clouts. They can hide behind their positions and public office. Mr President must look out for those that can be temporarily kept away from their positons to allow investigators have free hands. They need unfettered access.

The President must also look inward. Ineptitude in executing mandates could be a cover to create conducive atmosphere for Boko Haram. Appointees connected with security must be assessed for meeting

key job performance indicators. Those that have performed below expectations must not only be shown the way out but must also prove their incompetence is not deliberate sabotage.

In the meantime, one year is enough to know those to weed out. If Mr President is in doubt of who to sack, the National Security Adviser (NSA) would be a good start. The office, its occupant or both appear overwhelmed. The Defence Minister, Alhaji Mansur Dan Ali is no less overwhelmed. They have been invisible in the whole anti-terror efforts. Their prolonged stay in office would be damaging to progress made on other fronts. Any other official that has performed below par qualifies for exit followed by investigation.

President Buhari should keep this promise. In this his word is his bond.

If Nigerians can exercise patience for another one year without Boko Haram sponsors being busted, the country’s security situation cannot. The military are needed elsewhere. Fighting a Boko Haram that is mutating because of highly placed sponsors would bog our fighting forces down, unfortunately not in some marshland but in the Sahel and desert.

Awolowo wrote this piece from 26 Sadatu Street, Oregun, Lagos.

AFRIKA: The other side of the coin

S Udo W. Froese

outh Africa’s owners of the economy, academia, media and heads of civil society circulated before the ruling ANC’s National Executive Committee meeting on May 27, 2016, that its president and head-of-state, Jacob G. Zuma, would be asked to step down immediately.

This will however, not happen.

President Zuma will finish his term of office when the next elective ANC Conference in December 2017 takes place.

Zuma being recalled, or pushed out of his position and the ANC, is not likely to be part of the ANC NEC agenda.

The above-mentioned have gone out of their ways to force Zuma’s early retirement from office, building their attempts of character assassination him up to the ANC NEC’s gathering.

Meanwhile, the forthcoming local government elections are under threat of being hijacked. This could lead to a split of the ANC. All political parties campaign for as many votes, as they can muster, be it local government, presidential or national elections.

A leading member of the ruling ANC in the local government explained, “The Gauteng Province’s ANC MEC for Human Settlement, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Paul Mashathile, plans to have his face copied on to the ballot papers in stead of that of Zuma,even though Zuma is the president of the

ANC and head-of-state of South Africa.

“It would mean that Mashathile attempts to split the ANC into two, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) thus capturing some of the metros in the Gauteng province. Would the ANC NEC have the courage to fire Mashathile? Mashathile clearly works outside the ANC’s framework.”

They observe that State Security Minister, David Mahlabo seems to be doing a good job. Particularly his analysis of the threats South Africa is currently debated. There are about 453 foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) andadditional foreign foundations operating in South Africa.

Some 68 NGOs are being registered daily in this country.

At the same time there are “service delivery unrests”, students’ protests and unemployment. A restless youth has been infiltrated and has become the catchment area for opportunistic political anarchists and anti-democrats. They instigate destabilisation and threaten civil war.

It is important to repeat what State Security Minister, David Mahlobo observed regarding political and other destabilisation efforts that require “a deep understanding of the actors and tactics involved”: “Stateand non-state actors are hard at work in certain parts of the globe, using various role-players to promote their agendas while undermining the national security of various countries.

These actors are in the mass media,

non-governmental and community based organisations, foreign multinational companies, funders of opposition, religious and student organisations, prominent and influential persons running covert intelligence networks to destabilise other countries, who do not share a similar view as them.”

The role of highly skilled intelligence officers has been raised, as former Mbokodo operatives express their fears: “If covert forces can bring down a president, ANC operatives in South Africa would be compromised.

They would be vigorously pursued.

Those covert forces would stop at nothing, using every possible means to hunt them down.”

“Those enemy agents have infiltrated many levels of government, the ruling party, judiciary, armed forces and the police services, as well as environmental affairs and other departments. They recruited young people and infiltrated them into environmental affairs to destroy the development of the country.At the moment some of those criminals are dormant. Even the US’s Donald Trump attacked America’s environmental affairs for allowing those criminals for hampering development”, senior Mbokodo operatives pointed out.

Corporatists tried in their arrogant, heavy-handed way to dictate who should be South Africa’s minister of finance and who shouldn’t.

The Minister in the President’s

Office, Minister Jeff Radebe re-confirmed what Pinky Khoabane documented and Johan Rupert denied.

According to the minister’s confirmation , Radebe and ANC Treasurer General Dr. Zweli Mkhize met with Neil Coleman of Goldman Sachs, Martin Kingston of Rothschilds, Maria Ramos of Barclays Bank and Bobby Godsell of ‘Leadership South Africa’ to discuss Jacob Zuma’s appointment of David van Rooyen as the new minister of finance. The group then strongly recommended that Pravin Gordhan, should occupy the position.

The South African Revenue Services (SARS) however, seemed to be a thorn in Gordhan’s flesh, as a “rogue unit” had been created under his watch. It has been repeatedly asked, what was the reason for the creation of a “rogue unit”. “It is an unlawful unit, an act of crime, as it is an assault on civil liberties”, former deputy finance minister Jabu Moleketi explained.

Senior ANC NEC members and observers in the financial industry are quite sure, that Gordhan will not survive the above-mentioned criminal scandal.

Finally, the ANC will see to it that Zuma serves out his second term as President of South Africa.

Udo W. Froese, non-institutionalised, independent political and socio-economic analyst based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

17

g 20

Fans laud Guinness football promo,as‘EMMOB’ends in style ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he 2015/2016 BPL season has been full of non-stop excitement with 1,200 goals Area Sales Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Mr. Seriki Taiwo; being scored, 379 games and 172 penalties being N100,000 Winners, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Olushola and Terri- played and 1 legendary winner truly made of tory Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Ms. Alero Fawole during the cheque presentation in the just concluded Guinness black.

As Leicester City sealed their victory to clinch “Every Minute Made of Black” Football Promo in Lagos.

their first ever Premier League title win with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, football fans followed the game excitedly on multiple television screens while enjoying their chilled bottles of Guinness as Guinness hosted fans and winners in the football promo at the Old Skool Bar, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The drama didn’t stop off the pitch this season

Page 18

as Nigerians were captivated by the biggest ever BPL promotion run by Guinness with ‘Every Minute Made of Black’.

Dubbed the biggest football promotion in recent times, the nine months Barclays Premiership League campaign gave fans all over Nigeria the chance to win loads of instant free airtime and cash rewards just for participating.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Barca

revert to tradition

with

Eagles battle Luxembourg in friendly Super Eagles players in training.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

N

igeria’s Super Eagles look forward to another victory when they take on the Red Lions of Luxembourg at the Stade Josy Barthel this evening.

A young and vibrant side prevailed over one of Africa’s strongest teams, Mali, at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on Friday, with England –based Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the only goal 13 minutes from time.

The team spent longer than the

40 minutes that was earmarked for Sunday’s first training session, shaking off travel fatigue and generally enjoying the atmosphere under a light rain shower.

On Monday morning, defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi arrived the team’s Alvisse Parc Hotel camp in Luxembourg City, bringing the number of players in camp to 21. Midfielder Babatunde Michael, who flew to Morocco after the clash with Mali to be on duty for his club, Raja Casablanca, was being expected in Luxembourg City last night.

Former U-17 and U-20 star Ndidi, who helped his Belgian club, KRC Genk to qualify for the UEFA Europa League following a 5-1 defeat of Charleroi on Sunday, could start in midfield alongside stand –captain Ogenyi Onazi and Shehu Abdullahi.

Coach Salisu Yusuf and assistants are also likely to start Turkey –based defender Kenneth Omeruo in central defence, and South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi may start in place of Carl Ikeme as the coaches intend to take a look at all the players in camp.

Ikeme, Musa Mohammed, Kingsley Madu, Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Onazi Ogenyi, Etebo Oghenekaro, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi started the game against Mali, with Gbenga Arokoyo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Raheem Lawal, Aminu Umar and Brown Ideye coming on in the second half.

Luxembourg have scored only four goals in their last 10 matches, whilst conceding 20. But Coach Yusuf said his boys would not under –rate the Europeans at the Stade Josy Barthel.

new kit B

arcelona have hinted at a return to old club traditions after revealing their kit for the 2016-17 season.

Lionel Messi and his teammates played in red and blue hooped shirts last season as they secured a La Liga and Copa del Rey double, but the club’s usual striped pattern will be adopted once more next term.

Barcelona revealed the new design on Monday, with the lack of a sponsor on the front of the shirt also notable.

The Catalan club shunned sponsorship until striking a deal with the Qatar Foundation in 2012.

Qatar Airways have adorned Barca’s shirts since 2013, but have not renewed their deal for next season, which is thought to be the main factor behind the club’s lack of sponsor on the new shirt for the unveiling.

But reports have suggested that Barca do expect to have a main shirt sponsor in place in time for the start of next season.

Union Bank craves for more sporting glory ANDREW EKEJIUBA

A

fter a successful campaign at the just concluded Nigeria Table Tennis Federation organized U-16 Super League where her player, Augustine Emmanuel, surpassed all oppositions to beat Michael Abayomi also from Lagos State 4-1 to emerge as champion, Union Bank Table Tennis Club players are craving for more action, even as they almost claimed another victory at the just concluded International Table Tennis World Tour, tagged ‘Nigeria Open 2016’.

Some of them got to the last 16, before succumbing to the superior fire works of world class players that came for the tournament.

They include Bello Ahmed who was beaten by Nigerian-born Portugal-based Bode Abiodun.

The most interesting being the narrow defeat suffered by Rilwan Akanbi in the hands of the eventual winner of the 2016 ITTF World Tour/ Nigeria Open 2016, Benath Olah, from Finland in the round of 32.

Parading over fifteen players at the Nigeria Open, head coach of Union Bank Table Tennis Club, Samson Ajayi reasoned that the standard of the World Tour was above his players, but stated that the exposure gained cannot be quantified.

Adding that the Union Bank team have the materials that can beat any player in the world, just the way Augustine Emmanuel did when he dusted all oppositions to win the U-16 League before coming back to emerge as champion of the 2016 U-16 Super League, thus making it a double crown for the bankers.

R-L: Amaechi Okobi, group head, strategic brand management, Access Bank Plc/member, Cycology Riding Club; Deji Tinubu, special adviser to the Lagos State governor on sport matters; Ladipo Soetan, captain, Cycology Riding Club, and Bayo Ogunnusi, member, Cycology Riding Club, at the Lagos criterium cycleraise in Lagos, yesterday.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

EXTRATIME

BRIEFS

Sturridge

y r r e T sure of

returns to

training D

Mourinho’sn Utd success at Ma

C

helsea defender John Terry is certain Jose Mourinho will be a success at Manchester

United.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea halfway through the 2015-16 campaign following a dreadful start to the defence of their Premier League title, but was appointed as Louis van

Gaal’s successor at Old Trafford last week.

Terry worked under Mourinho during his two spells at Stamford Bridge and he has confidence that his former boss will lead United back to the top.

“Mourinho’s appointment is fantastic news for Manchester United,”

19

Terry said.

“It was unfortunate the way it ended at Chelsea this year but I wish him well because he’s also a great man. He’ll be great for Manchester United, I’m sure.

“I’m sure that United’s fans and players will be delighted with that because, as I’ve said many times before, he’s the best manager I’ve

aniel Sturridge returned to training on Monday as Roy Hodgson prepares to name his 23-man England squad for Euro 2016. The Liverpool forward missed England’s 2-1 victory over Australia at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light last Friday because of a calf injury. He is the only player left in the squad who has not featured in the last two friendlies and Marcus Rashford’s stunning international debut against the Aussies has left Sturridge vulnerable of being left out by Hodgson.

Mourinho

worked under.

“I’m sure he’ll settle in well with the likes of Ryan Giggs - hopefully he will stay and support him as well.”

Mourinho will return to Stamford Bridge with United next term after his dismissal last December and Terry believes the Portuguese manager will get a warm welcome.

Sturridge

Chelsea Guardiola: Pellegrini must learn from

regrets announcement!

M

Guardiola

anuel Pellegrini has rued the decision to go public with the appointment of Pep Guardiola as his successor at Manchester City halfway through the season rather than wait until the end of the 2015-16 campaign.

City announced in February that Guardiola would replace Pellegrini as the man in charge ahead of the 2016-17 season when they were still fighting for the Premier League title, only to then lose against Leicester City, Tottenham and Liverpool in the following weeks.

Pellegrini has acknowledged it was his decision to confirm

Guardiola’s move to City and has indicated he would take care of things differently if he could do it all over again.

“Yes, it was my decision to go public with Guardiola’s appointment,” Pellegrini told reporters.

“After Guardiola said he was coming to England it was my decision to go public because all the media were talking about Guardiola here, Guardiola at Arsenal, Guardiola at Manchester United.

Rashford signs new Man Utd deal M

anchester United striker Marcus Rashford has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until June 2020, with the option for an additional season.

Rashford’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of the 2016-17 season, but the young striker has been rewarded for his fine performances this campaign with a new and improved contract.

The 18-year-old came through the ranks of the United youth academy and made his official first-team debut in the 5-1 Europa League win over Midtjylland back in

February, scoring twice.

He has since gone on to score eight goals from 18 appearances in all competitions, earning a call-up for England’s provisional Euro 2016 squad in the process.

“I am delighted to have signed a new contract. I have always been a Manchester United fan, so to be playing in the first team really is a dream come true,” Rashford commented on his new deal.

“I am grateful for having the chance to prove myself.

To be able to play football at the biggest club in the world means everything to me and my family.”

Rashford

mistakes

—Terry J

ohn Terry is hopeful Chelsea can challenge for top honours again under Antonio Conte after a disappointing 2015-16 campaign. The Stamford Bridge side had to settle for a 10th-place finish in the Premier League as they missed out on European football, while also prematurely crashing out of the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. Terry is optimistic about their chances next season, though, in what could be his last season at Chelsea after recently signing a one-year renewal.

Man Utd:

Borthwick-

Jackson

signs new deal

C

ameron Borthwick-Jackson has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United with the option of a further year. The young left-back was handed his debut by Louis van Gaal in a 2-0 win over West Brom back in November 2015 and went on to make a total of 14 first-team appearances in all competitions. The news comes on the same day that striker Marcus Rashford committed his future to the club and Borthwick-Jackson insists he is looking forward to learning from Jose Mourinho and the rest of the United coaching team.

20

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

EXTRATIME

Messi’s Zidane

Deschamps

amazed by

Zidane’s UCL win

F

rance head coach Didier Deschamps hailed the “amazing” achievement of Zinedine Zidane after his former international colleague secured Champions League glory with Real Madrid.

Zidane was parachuted into the top job at Santiago Bernabeu in January after a fractious half-season under Rafael Benitez, with Madrid pushing Barcelona all the way in the fight for La Liga, before securing an 11th European Cup against Atletico Madrid in Milan on Saturday.

Penalties were required to make Zidane the seventh man to win the UCL as a player and coach.

tax trial

resumes today L

ionel Messi goes on trial in Barcelona today for allegedly defrauding Spain of more than £3m in unpaid taxes.

After winning a league and cup double with Barcelona, the five-time World Player of the Year and his father will confront in court the accusations that have dogged him since June 2013.

The trial will run until June 2 - the day when Messi is due to testify along with his father.

The court appearance comes just days before he joins his Argentina teammates for the Copa America in the United States.

Messi and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, a r e accused of using a chain of fake

sack

Sanchez D

Robben,

Ribery in line

for Bayern renewals B

ayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has suggested both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery will be offered contract renewals at some stage in the coming months.

Both wingers’ contracts are due to expire in June 2017, but Bayern are yet to open talks over new deals with the experienced attackers.

Nevertheless, Rummenigge has made it clear the Bundesliga champions are keen to hold on to both Robben and Ribery beyond the expiration of their existing deals.

Messi

Ronaldo blasts critics after UCL win

Deportivo eportivo La Coruna have sacked head coach Victor Sanchez. The Galician club retained their place in La Liga last season, finishing four points above the relegation zone, but their tally of eight wins all season was the joint worst in Spain’s top flight.

Depor conceded eight goals in a home game for the second straight campaign as a Luis Suarezinspired Barcelona registered an 8-0 thrashing as part of their lateseason surge to the title.

companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on £3.2m of Messi’s income earned through the sale of his image rights from 2007 to 2009.

The two have already paid £3.8m to the tax authorities as a “corrective” measure after they were formally charged in June 2013.

They are charged with three counts of tax fraud.

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a jail sentence of 22-and-a half months for Messi and his father if they are found guilty, plus fines equivalent to the amount that was allegedly defrauded.

But any such sentence would likely be suspended as it is common in Spain for first offences carrying a sentence of less than two years.

R Ronaldo

eal Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at his critics after guiding his team to UEFA Champions League (UCL) success.

The Portuguese forward scored the decisive penalty as Madrid claimed a 5-3 shoot-out victory over Atletico Madrid after the European decider finished locked at 1-1 in Milan on Saturday.

Ronaldo was aware of his numbers this season after netting 51 goals, including 16 in the Champions League.

The 31-year-old was criticised in the wake of the win, but said that was of no concern.

“I don’t care about that. I always keep the people who love me close,” Ronaldo told British media.

“So this Champions League is for them, the guys who support me all the time, my fans in Portugal and around the world.”

Ronaldo is targeting further improvement despite yet another impressive campaign.

PSG’s Aurier ‘arrested’ in Paris

F

Including this season, Ronaldo has scored more than 50 goals in six consecutive seasons.

“After this I have more than 4,000 minutes on the pitch this season. I was number one in the team again, for most minutes. That means a lot to me,” he said.

“It means I am still good, I still feel good physically, mentally. If you ask me if I feel tired, of course. I have a lot of minutes in the legs, but I am still there, I am always there.

rench police detained Paris Saint-Germain star Serge Aurier on Monday after he hit an officer outside a nightclub, police sources said.

The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international, who has been regularly in trouble with his club, is alleged to have “insulted and hit a police officer,” one source told reporters.

Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that Aurier is in custody but made no other comment.

Aurier “elbowed” the policeman in the throat, according to a legal source. He has been held at a police Aurier station near the Champs Elysee for “deliberate violence against a person of public authority,” the source added.

Paris Saint-Germain briefly suspended Aurier in February after he appeared in a video insulting club coach Laurent Blanc.

Aurier later admitted he had carried out a “stupid mistake” and apologized.

Aurier signed for PSG in 2015 after a six-month loan at the French champions from Toulouse, where he played for three years.

He has 31 caps for the Ivory Coast, and played at the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, before being shortlisted for the team of the tournament at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

21 News

Lagos education budget almost one-third of FG’s, says Ambode

ÎÎÎLagos State’s 2016 Budget for the Education Sector, which is N113.3 billion and represented 17.11 per cent of the state’s total budget is about one-third of the N369 billion budgeted by the Federal Government for the sector.

The budget for the sector is also more than one-third of the N300 billion budgeted by the 17 Northern states of the federation for the same purpose.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State made this revelation while address-

ing audience at the grand finale of the state government’s activities organised to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration held at the Nigeria Police College Parade Ground in Ikeja at the weekend.

Speaking on the theme of the celebration, “Stop violence against children,” through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Ambode warned that anyone who perpetrated violence against children in any form – be it physical, sexual, psychological, deliberate ne-

glect, kidnap and child trafficking – would be dealt with according to the dictates of the law.

While assuring the children of a bright future, he urged them to work hard and be committed to their studies and shun examination malpractice so as not to truncate their future.

According to him, although it was noteworthy that the percentage of students who scored credit passes and above in five subjects including Mathematics and English language in WAS-

SCE in 2011 has increased from 17.40 % to 41.06 in 2015, the increment is not an acceptable standard for this government. So, we expect a better result from the SS3 students in the just concluded WASSCE. He however commended the improvement in the sector, attributing it mostly to the committed and dedicated staff, as well as various cocurricular activities such as debates and quizzes the students were exposed to.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr.

Adesina Odeyemi, urged students to give their studies a deserved attention, saying doing so would help them in no small measure to attain greatness in life.

Gov. Ambode

Fr. Kukah exhorts youths on culture of volunteerism Nduka Uzuakpundu

ÎÎÎErudite clergy and icon

Stationed Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) at the Ibafo Police Station over invasion of the community by pipeline vandals … on Monday.

PHOTO: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI.

Benin stool: Odubu, Obaseki, others set politics aside, honour Crown Prince at Izakhue rite

ÎÎÎMajor contenders in the

forthcoming 2016 governorship election in Edo State, at the weekend, set aside differences in their political ambition to honour the Crown Prince of Benin kingdom and the Edaiken N’Uselu, HRH (Amb.) Eheneden Erediauwa.

Prominent among them were the Deputy-Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, Dr. God-

win Obaseki, Charles Ehigie Arhiavbere (a retired MajorGeneral) all aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) including Hon. Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) The aspirants converged at the palace of the Benin monarch to join HRH (Amb.), when he performed the Izakhue traditional rite on

the gone beyond of the Oba of Benin, HRM, Omo n’Oba n’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa (CFR) These politicians who wish to succeed the incumbent governor Adams Oshiomhole were spotted hobnobbing, embracing themselves in a joyous mood to the awe of many well-wishers at the palace ground sending a positive signal of their relationship.

The Izakhue rites is said

to be part of the funeral rites perform by the Crown Prince with the Isewenrho family playing a dominant role.

According to information, the Isewenrho family play the role as traditional warriors and defenders of the monarch and the kingdom from internal and external aggression with a peculiar morning greetings, “Latòse” passed on until this present generation.

ECN set to empower 50 women, youths Ben Nwachukwu, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Pro-

gramme (UNDP) have begun the programme to empower 50 Nigerian women and youths from the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, using Ushafa Pottery Centre as the pilot scheme.

The Director-General of the Commission, Prof. Eli Bala told the Daily Times that the Commission in collaboration with the UNDP and the Social Development Secretariat of the FCTA, chose the Ushafa Pottery

Centre, which also hosted the former President of the United States of America, Mr. Bill Clinton, during his state visit to Nigeria based on the fact that the centre already had local expertise and skills as well as facilities for pottery.

of inter-religious dialogue, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called on Nigerian youths to rejuvenate the habit of volunteerism in a bid to boost peace and tolerance.

Addressing delegates during the just-concluded 83rd National Executive Council meeting of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria, (CYON), in Sokoto, the capital of Sokoto State, Kukah charged youth leaders to look beyond religion and expedite action plans aimed at mobilising their fellow youths to embrace the culture of volunteering.

As Nigeria marked her 2016 Democracy Day, Kukah pointed out the protracted negligence on the task of building a new and young generation of leadership-driven citizens, and advocated ties among fellow Nigerians.

He reminded the delegates at the opening ceremony, which also included representatives of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Joint Christian Campus Fellowship, “that the current challenges staring the nation in the face were conquerable only by men and women of ideas, and not merely by office holders.”

He said that he was against secession as was being called for in some quarters, stating that it was unnecessarily to distort the already inflated mood in the country.

Be ready to defend yourselves, Gani Adams to Yoruba ÎÎÎThe National Co-ordina-

tor of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, on Monday urged Yoruba people to prepare to defend themselves against any external aggression.

Adam declared that his men may not be able to provide enough security as attacks by the Fulani herdsmen persisted in the south-west.

He spoke at the lecture organised by the Ondo State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to commemorate the 2016 Democracy Day. The theme of the lecture was “Herdsmen/Fulani Clashes: What Implication for Inter- Ethnic Relations/ Nigerian Economy?”

Adams, who was the guest lecturer at the event, said OPC members had been demoralised by negative comments of Yoruba people on the activities of the group.

According to him, the group had lost the zeal to protect the people because its members had been branded touts, thugs and terrorists by the same Yoruba race.

The OPC leader said they were only recognised during elections, adding that politicians were fond of shutting their doors against them after winning elections.

Adams lamented a situation where some traditional rulers did not encourage OPC in their communities, describing it as painful.

He said: “Religion has taken away traditional means of protection from the people in Yourba land. Religion is good, but one must not be fanatical about.

“If we are moderate in our religious beliefs in Yoruba land, be you Christian, Muslim or traditional worshiper, who dares bring attack into our communities?

But Yoruba people are being hypocritical about traditional protections.”

Adams urged the people to use whatever traditional object they have to protect themselves and their communities, saying the first law in heaven is self-defence.

The OPC chieftain flayed the comment ascribed to President Muhammadu Buhari that the 2014 National Conference report would be kept in the archive, saying such statement was insulting.

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

1, 000 snipers: Al-Mustapha challenges Obasanjo to open debate ÎÎÎFormer

Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, has again call for a public debate with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he would substantiate his claim that he (Al-Mustapha) was contracted to head a killer squad of 1, 000 snipers for former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ahead the 2015 general election, Obasanjo had, in an 18page letter alleged that Al-Mustapha was contracted to head a killer squad of 1, 000 snipers for the President Jonathan.

Al-Mustapha, who who spoke with select journalists in Lagos, on Monday, on some number of issues relating to his 15 years travails in detention, also debunked insinuations that ex-President Jonathan interfered with court process to facilitate his release from prisons, to enable him (Al-Mustapha) help train the ‘killer squad’ or procure Jonathan’s success in the

North during the last election.

Al-Mustapha said ab initio, he had no case to answer but for the plots of his persecutors to see him eliminated because he stepped on their toes while he served as the CSO to the late Head of State, Sanni Abacha, adding that the Appellate Court acquitted him when it determined that he had no case to answer of all the charges leveled against him.

He said: “Firstly, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was not the one that facilitated my release. Rather, my release was facilitated by the content of the case as determined by the Court of Appeal. We were not even supposed to have been arrested in the first place.

After all, witnesses were induced and contracted to implicate us. At the end of the day, we were subjected to all manner of torture and abuses of our human rights. Today, despite the fact that we were convicted on grounds that were baseless without evidence and even against the submissions

of their witnesses, they did the contrary outside what was before the court of law.

“So, when the Appellate Court looked at the matter in totality, we were released based on purely the rule of law. So, anybody saying Jonathan facilitated my release is either one of my persecutors or those who have taken money from them. There are public documents in the public for all to see these facts.”

Adding, he said, “On the allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that I was contracted by the Jonathan administration to train 1,000 snipers, I have challenged him to an open debate to substantiate his allegations.

Obasanjo cannot go about creating an allegation that is totally false. If that assertion of Obasanjo was true, now that President Muhammadu Buhari was in power, now that the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA is being x-rayed, now that those who collected money from

Al-Mustapha

that office are being x-rayed by different committees, that allegation of Obasanjo would have come to fore.

“Nobody contracted me to catch 1, 000 mosquitoes under the Jonathan administration, not to talk of human beings.

I am Al-Mustapha, I have my background. Away from the

Two Delta LG staff slump, die on duty Uche Matthew

CORRECTION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That my name was wrongly written as abimbola adeyinka daramola my correct name is daramola adeyinka adeyemi all former documents remain valid general public should takee note

That I am the same person bearing badmus jamiu ayomide and badmus jamiu alade. Date of birth 12/feb/1989 all former documents remain valid general public should take note

That I am the same person bearing. Uwazie jude chukwudi ebere, uwazie jude chuks and uwazie Jude ebere all former documents remain valid general public should take note

ONUMAEGBU GOODLUCK IHIEANACHO

EKEH GETRUDE ONYEMARAOWEYA

OLORUNTOBA COURAGE BOSE I, formerly known and addressed as, IMAFIDOU BOSE COURAGE, now wish to be known and addressed as, OLORUNTOBA COURAGE BOSE. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note.

Asaba

ÎÎÎAs the backlog of the lo-

cal government salaries runs into 10 months in the state, two staff of the local government in Delta state have been reportedly slumped and died KOMOLAFE BISIRIYU OLAMILEKAN

I formaly known as POWER BENSON ILUMOMO now wish to be known as ONUMAEGBU GOODLUCK IHIEANACHO. All former documents remains valid.

The General Public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, EKEHNLUMA GETRUDE BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as, EKEH GETRUDE ONYEMARAOWEYA. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

ONYEKA EMMANUEL BROWN

MICHEAL DIVID UMOREN

AJIBOLA OLAYINKA RUTH

AJIBOLA OYINDOLAPO OKE

I, formerly known and addressed as, UDEGBUNAM NONSO EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEKA EMMANUEL BROWN. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

.I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ANEIDI UFOT UBOKUDOM.NOW WISH TO KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MICHEAL DIVID UMOREN.All former documents remain valid. general public should take note

I, formerly known and addressed as, FATANMI OLAYINKA RUTH, now wish to be known and addressed as, AJIBOLA OLAYINKA RUTH. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, AJIBOLA NURUDEEN OKE, now wish to be known and addressed as, AJIBOLA OYINDOLAPO OKE. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note.

SEVEN SISTERS FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

Trustees of the Foundation 1. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo 2. Mopelola Olufunmilola Adejohn Chairman 3. Olabisi Aderonke Apeneye 4. Oluwatobi Efunbowale Rotimi 5. Olumuyiwa Olutayo Gbadegeshin ( Dr).

Proposed Objects of the Foundation: 1.To encourage the promotion of acquisition of skills, 2 To contribute to poverty alleviation in the society, 3 To provide charitable services, Signed. Banwo & Ighodalo ( Legal Adviser).

propaganda peddled by the likes of Obasanjo. Obasanjo has had his day, I am doing my investigation, and I have discovered so many things as to what gave him (Obasanjo) that input to have made such allegation then. I have it. I will release it very soon and that is why I have challenged him to

an open debate.

“Obasanjo is my senior militarily, he was a former Military Head of State in this country, but when issues of law and rights of man are being discussed, definitely equality comes to the fore. You can’t put an allegation against your junior because you are a senior, and you believe the junior would keep quiet. No, I would not. That would amount to ignorance. I am not ignorant about our laws. I challenge Obasanjo to an open debate, so that he can substantiate his allegations before the whole world, but he is yet to oblige the challenge. Thank God today, a new government is here, where he (Obasanjo) can bring up the issue again, requesting it to scrutinise, and if there is any contract between President Jonathan and I, to catch one single mosquito, I want to say that I am guilty and want to be tried.”

I, formerly known and addressed as, OLASUNKANMI BISIRIYU ALABA, now wish to be known and addressed as, KOMOLAFE BISIRIYU OLAMILEKAN. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note.

ADIYAN/ ORUDU MANUFACTURER ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA The General Public is hereby notified that the above named organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR. ORIADE NOJEEM ADENIYI- CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR OYEDEJI TIMOTHY ADEKUNLE- SECRETARY 3. MR. EGBETAYO MOJEEM AYINDE- TREASURER 4. PASTOR OKE MOSES ABIODUN - MEMBER 5. ALH. FATAI ALANI LAWAL - MEMBER 6. SERIFATU YINUSA - MEMBER 7. MR. IYADOLA OLUYEMI JAMES - MEMBER 8. ALH. BOLA TERIBA - PATRON AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To see to the progress of the association

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

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

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Signed:- Prince Kunle Johnson

at their duty post.

Reports said that in Ukwani Local Government Area of the state where a 52-yearold man came to work last week Thursday but could not go back as he was said to collapse in office at about 12 noon and immediately rushed to a

nearby hospital, but gave up after an hour.

While in other local governments, reports said that council staff dies everyday as a result of unpaid salaries, adding that hungers and money for treatment contributed to their death.

RUEBEN EBIMIE

ISA HUSSAINI AGABI

I, formerly known and addressed as, EBI IKPANGI, now wish to be known and addressed as, RUEBEN EBIMIE. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, OSENI KENNY ISA, now wish to be known and addressed as, ISA HUSSAINI AGABI. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

MRS AYINDE ABIODUN SADIAT

AKINYEMI SEGUN SAHEED

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS ABDUL GANIYU HALIMAH ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS AYINDE ABIODUN SADIAT. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, AKINYEMI SAHEED SWAGGER, now wish to be known and addressed as, AKINYEMI SEGUN SAHEED. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

Location: Amuwo Odofin scheme , Lagos Name of Acquisition: Aremu Alabi File/C of O no: 92/92/1982 Plot no: 2025 block 55 Contact person phone no.

07080841093

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

23 News

Delta monarch raises the alarm over Oporoza military invasion Nosa Ogiugo, Asaba

ÎÎÎHis Royal Majesty, Oboro

Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, on Monday, raised the alarm that his life was in serious danger following last Saturday’s invasion of Oporoza community, his home town, by the military.

The monarch raised the alarm when the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Co-ordinator, Presidential Amnesty, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), paid an unscheduled visit to his Palace in Oporoza, calling on the government to come to his rescue.

Our correspondent, who was on the entourage of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, reported

that Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, was now a ghost town as the once bubbling coastal community had been deserted following the onslaught by the military, who took over the community in search of reinvented militant group called the Niger Delta Avengers.

HRM Oboro Gbaraun 11, who was visibly touched by unfolding episode of persistent invasion of his kingdom and the unpalatable experience of the 2009 bombing by the military, said he felt threatened by the presence of the military in Oporoza as nobody knew the fate that would befall them as the military had occupied houses vacated by his subjects.

“They came with a swarm of army, beat up people, loot our houses, descended on our people, humiliated my people and even injured an 80-year- old

chief. Some women are even looking for their children. I sit down here seeing the military parade my people as if they are criminals. I am in deeply pains.

I cannot move out of this palace. In fact, I am under arrest.

All my chiefs have ran away from the community. I am here alone and I don’t know what will happen to me next. The soldiers are now the owners of this kingdom.”

“We are a peace loving people, but I don’t know why the government will treat me this way. You don’t have to judge a kingdom from Abuja or Lagos.

You have to come down the way you are here and see for yourself. But they are judging us from Abuja, Lagos. Help us rescue that old man and myself here. I am in danger as you can see. You met me here in the dark. I am in the dark. Before

this time, I told them that we are prepared to work with government. We have been working with government before now and I don’t know why they are treating us this way. I am in danger. I am in the dark. They have switched off the generating set that supply electricity.

No water, even since morning I have not taken my bath. I am afraid. No member of my community is around. They have

invaded my palace, claimed some houses. I want to say that I am in danger,” the monarch said.

While saying that they were not criminals to deserve such inhuman treatment, as the military have bluntly turned down efforts to get them discuss with him, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom said, “I want government to come to my rescue.

Democracy Day: Adamawa indigenes urge Gov. Bindow to pay outstanding salaries Tom Garba, Yola

ÎÎÎDelegates

from the 21 Local Governmenta Areas (LGAs) of Adamawa State have called on Gov. Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow to pay all outstanding salaries, arrears of Primary Health and LGA staffs.

The delegates who spoke separately at the democracy day summit organised by Adamawa State Government at the Government House, Yola, unanimously said that doing that would help the hardship being face by the government workers as the Ramadan period was fast approaching.

Gloria Istifanus, a delegate from Lamurde LG Area,

called for the construction of Lafiya Lamurde Road. Sajoh Bobbo from Toungo, called for the electrification and rehabilitation of Sugo /Jamtare road.

Musa Johnson, a delegates from Shelleng appealed to the Government to lift an embargo of motorcycles which according to him would assist farmers during this farming season.

Another delegates from Michika called for reconstruction of damaged bridge by Boko Haram while Lawrence Demsa urge the Adamawa state government to assist parents in the payment of the West African Examination Council fees.

‘Niger to restore Baro Empire Hill’ Pita Chikwem, Minna

ÎÎÎThe

Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, on Monday, vowed to restore the lost glory of Baro Empire Hill in Agaie Local Government.

Vatsa disclosed this in Agaie, while taking stock of the tourism potentials in the state with a view of developing them to attract tourists.

He revealed the ministry’s readiness to reactivate the place and make it a tourist’s attraction, which would help to boost the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.

According to him, “there is much to be done in the place to package it to a tourist centre that will attract people from different walks of life to generate money for the state.

“We haven’t taken the stock of all that we have seen in Baro Empire Hill and my ministry will write a situation report which will be presented to the governor.”

The Commissioner further revealed that they have commenced talks with the village Head of Baro on how to clear the bushes in the area and see whether they would trace the exact portrait of the dilapidated building, adding that they would fix it to retain its original shape.

Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah (middle) flanked by members of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and delegates at the 83rd National Executive Council meeting of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria held in Sokoto… at the weekend.

Group, USAID to monitor abandoned projects in Imo ÎÎÎA non0governmental or-

ganisation known as Citizens Accountability Assembly (CAA), in collaboration with United States International Agency for Development, (USAID), has set up a multi- stakeholders’ platform to monitor all abandoned projects in the 27 local government areas of Imo State.

Speaking during the inauguration of CAA in Obowo LGA, on Monday, the facilitator of the CAA, Mr. Emeka Ononomadu, explained that it was established to give voice to the citizens’ needs and challenges in purpose-oriented manner.

“It is a platform that is open to citizens who want to volunteer their time to promote

social good and betterment of the society.”

He said that since advent of democracy in 1999, states like Imo had spent so much on capital projects without any community feeling the impact.

Ononomadu disclosed that out of 121 capital projects monitored in six LGAs such as Oguta, Ohaji-Egbema, Ngor Okpala, Ahiazu Mbaise, Obowo and Isiala Mbano from 2010 to 2015, only 32 projects representing 26.4 per cent were completed but are disability unfriendly, as pupils with physical disability cannot access them.

He also disclosed that the 34 projects representing 28 per cent were abandoned while 51 projects had been ongoing for over 12 months.

According to him “these facts are not available to many citizens due to difficulty in participating, accessing and understanding the budget. We are now making it available so that the communities can engage government with concrete facts.”

He said that non-availability of budget information, as well as non-release of capital project details had been identified as the reason why citizens and communities were unable to protect the commonwealth of the state by ensuring that the projects were awarded and executed in a transparent and open manner.

Ononomadu called on the government to make available budget information to its citizens to enable them detect cor-

ruption and help government to eliminate it.

He called on citizens to participate in the process of monitoring all government projects located in their communities and follow up on them, so that contractors do not cheat communities by collecting money and not doing what they were asked to do.

Gov. Okorocha

Kwara gov advocates livestock in agric policy Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÎÎÎGovernor

Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said that attack by herdsmen had persisted because livestock agriculture had not been captured in the nation’s

agricultural policy.

Speaking with journalists, in Ilorin, on Sunday, to commemorate Democracy Day, the governor said that the reported incessant herdsmen/ farmers attack should not have arisen, had successive federal government made de-

liberate effort to include livestock agriculture as revenue generation.

“To truly have solution to this issue of herdsmen/ farmers attack, we should take retrospective view on where we are coming from. Why are people who

had hitherto lived together happily now take up arms against each other? The first issue is that of economic factor. Man is always in a race for control of power, resource and income. That drive propels one to key into opportunities.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Democracy Day: Mimiko grants amnesty to 11 inmates in Ondo ‘Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÎÎÎThe Governor of Ondo

state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday, granted pardon to eleven convicts serving different jail terms, in different prisons in the state, as a part of the celebration

the 2016 Democracy Day. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the Governor said that the gesture was in line with the power conferred on him by Section 212 (1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as

amended.

Akinmade said reprieve came for the prisoners following considered requests and application for full and conditional pardon made to Mimiko by human rights and civil society organisations.

He added that the state

Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy recommended some convicts for release and commutal of sentences to the Governor to mark the Democracy Day. “Following which 8 prisoners have been granted outright pardon, while three others got their death

sentences commuted to life and 18 years imprisonment, respectively” he said.

The information commissioner said the convicts, who had all served portions of their term were granted amnesty on the ground of good conduct and being outstanding models.

Mimiko

Robbers attack Delta community, valuables carted away Nosa Ogiugo Asaba

ÎÎÎRampaging

Deserted Oporoza Community in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State over alleged military invasion… on Monday.

armed robbers terrorising OgwashiUku community, in Delta State, on Monday attacked residents in Agidiase Quarters and allegedly robbed them of their household use including N150, 000.

It was gathered that the armed hoodlums stormed the quarters in the early hours and began to rob house-to-house, including elderly persons before security agents arrived.

One of the victims, Osahor Felix, who spoke to our correspondent, said the robbers al-

Edo 2016: Guber aspirants march for peace Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÎÎÎAhead

of July 18, 2016 Governorship Primaries scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) aspirants in the state, on Monday marched for peace and non-violent election before, during and after the exercise.

The commitment to a nonviolent election was extracted from the aspirants, in Benin City, by the Alumni association of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, during a procession march round Kings Square.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ovenseri Utamere, a member of the AAU alumni, said that the occasion was organised to get the commitments of all the governorship aspirants and their supporters to ensure a peaceful election.

According to him, “when there is violence, the choice of the people to make their choice would not be guaranteed. Therefore, a part of the

objectives is to know the extent to which the aspirants support peace”.

Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, as aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), thanked the organisers of the even for extending the invitation to him and members of his campaign organisation, noting that as oxygen and air are synonymous with life, that is how peace is synonymous to democracy.

He said: “We must say ‘no’ violence, destruction of life and property. Today, the power sector is in comatose because of vandalism. Let us say ‘no’ to anything that will bring violence”, reminding people that violence is not a prerogative of one man.

On his part, a representative of the Labour Party aspirant, Pastor Amos Arhionogbe, said that being an alumni of AAU and a clergy, he had always been in the vanguard and a supporter of peace.

“We cannot continue to live in a country or state where there is no peace. Therefore, we say ‘no’ to violence and

I enjoin all to queue behind whoever gets the ticket”, he said.

To Gen. Charles Airhavbere, APC governorship hopeful, who was represented by Ehinwenma Elizabeth, without peace, there would be no progress and therefore, “I support democracy and nonviolent election”.

Similarly, Godwin Obaseki represented by his Deputy Director-General, Oskue John, appreciated all those behind the initiative and the Nigerian Union of Journal-

ists (NUJ) for organising the event. He said that as a man with robust career both in public and private sectors, his track record spoke for him as a man of peace.

“I am ready to work for peace because without it, there can be no democracy.

Democracy is about people having the freedom to make their choice. For democracy to thrive, we must subscribe to peace. Apart from that, we must take the message to our people at home and to our supporters who are not here that

we need peace”, he declared.

In his brief remarks, the Edo state NUJ Chairman, Sir. Roland Osakwe, noted that without peace, there would be no progress, enjoining all to remain properly committed and not pay lip service to the cause.

He told them that the NUJ would press charges against nay one of the aspirants who breach the peace, before, during and after the election, stressing “there must be a signatory to that effect and not just pronouncements”.

VCs meet in Jos to reposition Education sector Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÎÎÎThe Association of

ViceChancellors of Nigeria Universities (AVCNU) has decried the continued decay at the Nigerian universities since 1980 to date.

The Heads of Federal, States and Private owned universities, said they were working hard to see that the

universities were turned around to comply with the government’s desire to use them for the management of its economy.

These were the issues raised at the opening ceremony of the 31st Annual Conference of the Association, which opened, on Monday, at Chief Richard Akinjide Centre for International Law and Diplomacy, permanent site of

the University of Jos, in Plateau State.

Briefing newsmen as part of activities billed for the programme, the host Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Heyward Mafuyai, said that the event tagged: “UniJos 2016”, was a platform where the AVCNU gathered to discuss the common problems relating to inter-university cooperation, student affairs and international co-operation.

legedly gained entrance into his apartment after shooting the security guard on his legs, adding that they robbed him of his belongings and N50,000.

One Benson Okoh, who also spoke to our correspondent maintained that activities of the vigilante groups in the areas had not been helping matters, saying that robbers in the recent times operated unchallenged but Police Officers at the Ogwashi-Uku Police Division who did not want their in the print, confirmed that they were on the trail of the robbers and appealed for useful information that would help them.

Thieves raid Bosso FUTMINNA campus Pita Chikwem Minna

ÎÎÎArmed

robbers, in the early hours of Saturday, raided the Bosso campus of the Federal University Technology in Minna, the Niger State capital.

The robbers said to be about 20 in number were reported to have arrived the campus in a bus at about 2.30 a.m., with most of them dressed in the Mobile Police uniform.

Our correspondent learnt that immediately they arrived the university campus they disarmed all the security men and tied their hands at their backs.

Six students who were said to be at the gate when the incident happened were given similar treatment.

All the telephone handsets of both the security men and the students were also seized.

The robbers according to eye witnesses then went about breaking the ATM machines belonging to a first generation bank and made away with an unspecified amount of money.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

25 Opinion

President Buhari, no more excuses Wale

Fatade ÏÏÏ

One must really sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari at this moment. Faced with an incredible level of expectations from Nigerians but with dwindling resources, it must be a daunting task for him to deliver on the promises he made while campaigning last year. It is, however, fair to say that he led himself into such a situation. Having sought to lead the country three times, it is excruciatingly painful watching Buhari in the last one year leading as though he is doing us a favour or that we do not deserve to be informed regularly of what he is doing to take us to the Promised Land.

His has also been a slow government, till date many boards dissolved last year have also not been reconstituted.

Whether the actions of former President Goodluck Jonathan or the well-oiled propaganda machinery of the APC should be blamed for their gargantuan promises during the campaign, we must remind the President that the buck stops on his table. The constant whining and repeated references to crude oil prices of the last 16 years do not translate to more megawatts of electricity or more jobs for our large army of the unemployed.

I hope Buhari still remembers the billboards that the APC dazzled us with wherein they promised three million jobs yearly?

Looking persistently at a car’s rear-view mirror while driving is dangerous to such driver, his passengers and other road users, as he cannot look forward. We must look forward if this government would achieve some those things we were told last year.

We must appreciate the president’s sense of deprecatory humour when he wondered aloud why he must be the one leading Nigeria at a time when oil prices are tumbling but

President Buhari

he signed up for the job and millions are looking up to him to deliver. One gets the impression that our president thinks he has all the time to deliver on the “change” agenda even when as at today, he has only three years more. The level of unpreparedness as seen in the results so far in critical areas like the economy and energy makes one to wonder whether we have a reluctant president just as the fetishisation is mindboggling. The flip-flops in communication and policy somersaults too are also worrisome; remember subsidy removal versus

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price adjustment?

Agreed, Buhari has done well in two areas: the anti-corruption drive and containment of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Notice that I didn’t say security because under his watch we have the menace of another set of terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, who this government either don’t have answers to or don’t want to solve, which have been on rampage in different parts of the country.

Buhari’s personal integrity seems unassailable but he would do well to look critically at some of those working

with him. He must have equally learnt in the last year that it takes more than personal integrity of the leader to lead a country just as body language can only do so much. The president would do well to remember that his work as a leader is cut out for him in three ways: attracting talents, selling his vision, and synthesizing different points of view before arriving at a conclusion.

A leader must be able to make others do great work having empowered them to do so. Has Buhari energized Nigerians to do more in our respective lives since he assumed office?

For a taciturn person, selling his agenda could be a herculean task but our president needs to do more in communicating.

Politicians worldwide will agree that their job is at least 70% communication and 30% action and while it might be difficult to change Buhari’s temperament, he must do better in communicating.

While this column had criticized the president for saying little to us while in the country, it is worrisome too that he caused some ruckus the few times he spoke candidly. Saying that you would tell us how far about loot recovery on May 29 but not doing so

is a letdown. In a cabinet composed of many lawyers with at least three senior advocates, not considering the full implications of mentioning names as it regards judicial process is symptomatic of this government, not looking holistically at issues before deciding on a course of action.

Synthesizing different points of views should have been better with the help of the party but sometimes Buhari forgets he was elected under a party platform. As bad as APC is today, it is the party that gave us the president, treating it with disdain or condescension has dealt his government some blow. It is not tidy that some APC senators and representatives behave like opposition and this is slowing Buhari down.

Bungling his proposed trip to Lagos and later releasing photos of Ogun State governor’s visit the same day is not a good advert for statesmanship.

Dear president, glance only at the rear-view mirror but focus on the tasks ahead. Enough of excuses so that the case for your legacy would not be subjunctive – what could have been – yes we tried, but change was difficult.

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26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Law Æ s

Nigerians need a balanced federation – Agbakoba Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate and former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) x-rayed President Muhammadu Buhari’s 365 days in office and concluded that he has failed the yearnings of Nigerians for a true change. Agbakoba, who was also a member of the Sovereign National Conference set up by the immediate past administration urged President Buhari to refrain from calling another ‘wasteful conference.’ PETER FOWOYO, met him.

Agbakoba How would you Appraise President Mohammadu Buhari 365 days in office?

There is no doubt Nigeria was in a state of utter chaos and disorder prior to the 2015 elections.

Nigeria struggled with massive insecurity, weak political structure, empty treasury and corruption. These issues actually

influenced the election of President Mohammadu Buhari. How has the President handled these issues 365 days after assuming office?

The President has done well with the Boko Haram crisis.

But unlike late President Yar Adua, the Niger Delta crisis is seemingly out of control. With oil production at about 900 Bpd,

this is a danger signal. The President needs to adopt a more flexible approach. This also extends to pro Biafra agitators. Part of the flexible response is set out below: The President must go back in history and borrow a leaf from President Roosevelt who ably dealt with the shock of the great depression that ravaged the

United States of America when he became the US President in the 1930s.

Nigeria is in utter chaos and disorder. This greatly affects the nation. The disease of disorder has eaten deep into our national fabric. The absence of order has badly damaged the national psyche. Love of country is absent. It is suggested that government works out a framework to reverse disorder and instil discipline.

The issue of national order is closely linked with a new constitutional order. It is strongly recommended that priority should be given to the national question and resolved urgently. The Nation will not settle or move forward without solving the issue of disorder.

There is no doubt the absence of National Order has hampered the President from delivering on most of the issues. This government needs to stop looking at the rear view mirror. It needs to develop a clear political and economic vision for the country.

At the moment it does not exist.

Therefore I have moved from being cautiously positive to cautiously negative.

Do you think the Buhari’s administration has justified its mandate?

He hasn’t but, the rider for me, is that I think he can still justify it so it is not a hopeless case like the late Venezuela President.

His own case was a hopeless case because he missed two things.

You know he was the first native American President. That fired him on but, enthusiasm is not leadership. I knew he was going to fail and what is happening now is not a surprise. In the case of President Buhari do I feel there is some hope if he takes stock on this appraisal that is being done and applies radical medicines to change things, do I think he can get out of it and change my view? I think yes. It is not hopeless but, if you ask the man on the street, rice being N20, 000, foodstuffs high price, they are not rationalizing like

me, they are just angry. It is a good thing this country has no social regulation history so, we are calm. Our President must not delegate leadership, he should delegate tasks.

What is your take on the amalgamation of Nigeria? Is the country qualified to be called a nation?

The most critical pillars are the political arrangements and agreements that bind Nigerians in one nation. We have not lived in peace and harmony. Nigeria is a fractured and divided nation. The Amalgamation agreement of 1914 failed. The colonial agreements in the shape of orders in council promulgated by the English crown failed us.

The post-colonial constitutions and their military counterparts all failed. The result has been long years of national disorder and disharmony that has impeded economic development and political stability. This is a challenge the President must engage.

Would you then advise the President to constitute another Sovereign National Conference to deal with this issue of national order?

The President can build a new national order by recognizing our diversity and managing it in an inclusive process that would lead to an agreed constitution by all Nigerians. The president must refrain from calling yet another wasteful national conference. All that is needed is a comprehensive review of the reports of the national conferences. It will be a very difficult but not impossible task.

The key in arriving at a new constitution is in isolating what Nigerians will agree to immediately. I believe Nigerians will accept the need for a balanced federation. We must strive for a balanced federation and decentralization of powers from federal to state government. The centre is too strong and can pass CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

responsibility out of the ninety eight items of power, under its exclusive control, to the states.

This will balance up the federation. It is recommended that a graduated process of constitutional amendments should be introduced to replace failed holistic attempts to write new constitutions in one fell swoop.

Creating a new national order will be very difficult but not an impossible task. The effect of a national order will be stabilization and national rebirth.

What is your view on this government fight against corruption? Is there any sincerity on the part of government to fight the war?

Corruption is endemic in Nigeria and to reverse it requires strong new institutions. There has to be roots and branch reform of the anti-corruption agencies if we must succeed in slowing down corruption before even thinking of reversing it.

Salaries and emoluments voted to our legislators by themselves is about 25% of our national budget. This is unconstitutional because it is not approved by the Revenue Fiscal and Mobilization Commission.

Stopping this outrageous conduct on the part of the legislators is, with respect the litmus test in assessing the sincerity of the anti-corruption agenda.

It is strongly recommended that the NNPC be fundamentally reformed.

Corruption is also manifest in over bloated budgets for the presidential villa and government houses, corrupt/weak public procurement procedures and abuse of discretion of ministers in the award of contracts. All these have taken a major toll on our resources and encouraged corruption. The first crucial challenge is for the President to stop these aspects of corrupt practices and introduce major spending cuts.

Many are of the view that the President and his team lacked the wherewithal to handle our economy which is responsible for the depression we are facing but, others believe our economy is

still under recession. What is your take on this?

Experts are unable to agree on whether Nigeria is in a recession or depression. Whatever the position, 5 conservative quarterly low GDP performances have had a massively negative impact.

From Q4 2014 to Q1 2016 Nigeria has been in terrible economic straits. The critical nuggets to turn things around must be put in place right now because they are not in place. Confusion as to whether we are liberalizing or regulating different aspects of our economy is keeping investors away. A good example is the Petroleum Industry. The only way Nigeria can grow and sustain development to attract 5-10 GDP is to have an open deregulated economy. This will bring hardship but with a robust social benefit agency to properly implement welfare package in the Budget a substantial cushion can be provided.

The priority must be to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on imports.

Nigeria has long depended on crude oil as if it is the only hydrocarbon to the utter neglect of gas. The economy heavily relies on oil revenue and is vulnerable to price shocks in oil and the associated risk to national stability. The most recent volatility in oil prices suggest that we must start to diversify our revenue income streams by developing non-oil tradable sectors.

A clear strategy, model and plan for economic diversification both horizontally and vertically is necessary. Horizontal diversification should explore new opportunities in the same oil and gas sector. There are at least thirty-six value added products to be explored in the extraction of crude oil. Vertical diversification means a shift from the oil and gas sector to other sectors, Agriculture, Services, Maritime, Aviation/ space, Manufacturing, Health, Sports etc.

Pursuing economic diversification will make the economy less vulnerable to the boom and bust cycles of oil and natural gas prices. A model we can follow is the United Arab Emirate that has successfully diverted out of oil into new revenue sources.

27 Law

Agbakoba

Amalgamation agreement of 1914 failed - Agbakoba How would you assess this administration’s public private sector relationship?

Public Sector Economy is not properly defined in Nigeria.

Whilst Nigeria’s State owned Public Enterprises are often ineffective, China’s Model appears very effective. The Privatization escape route that Nigeria is often eager to employ has not been successful. In fact, none of the privatized entities in Nigeria could serve as a model. It

is urgent therefore, that Nigeria reviews her Public/Private Economy. Government must control the overarching sectors of the Economy. There is need for a strong Public/Private Sector Framework. It is important that despite current challenges, Nigeria is still rated as the 20th largest economy in the world.

Reviewing Nigeria’s public/Private economy would go a long way in turning potentials into reality and move the economy

forward.

What is your take on the issue of Forex Policy Management by the Central Bank of Nigeria?

Nigeria’s Forex policy is unclear and uncertain. We have CBN rates, rates for fuel importers, rates at autonomous markets and rates at the parallel Market “black Market”. This breeds corruption from differentials in the 4 markets.

“The Amalgamation agreement of 1914 failed. The colonial agreements in the shape of orders in council promulgated by the English crown failed us. The post-colonial constitutions and their military counterparts all failed. The result has been long years of national disorder and disharmony that has impeded economic development and political stability”

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Tech Times Æ s

NATCOMS urges NCC to adopt subscriber’s compensation policy Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Mr Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the National President, National Association of Telecom Subscribers (NATCOMS) has made an inroad into how telecom operators short-change subscribers in the country, and urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to adopt a subscriber’s compensation policy, including sanction to address the trend.

Ogunbanjo stated the Association position in a recent statement which he endorsed and made available to Daily Times, adding that in spite of the sector’s growth and its attendant benefits which include employment, access to internet and data, improved means of communication and information sharing, supporting start-up companies, access to affordable means of communication, creating an innovative workplace, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of over 18 billion dollars and an addition of 4 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amongst others; the sector is still bedevilled with a number of challenges.

Customers, he said have consistently complained of issues such as high tariff, poor network service, undue credit deductions, dropped calls,

excessive billing, charges for services not rendered among others.

Poor Quality of Telecoms Services The NATCOMS President revealed that there have been a lot of issues and concerns about the quality of service (QoS) of telecoms operators in Nigeria, adding that telecoms subscribers in Nigeria have adjudged the quality of service of telecoms operators in Nigeria as poor due to the following reasons: Missing credit issues; caller tunes and music issues; paid for, but undelivered SMS; airtime reward issues; automatic data plan renewals; borrowed credit overdeduction issues; share and sell issues; can’t receive / can’t call; can’t send / can’t receive SMS; data / internet bundle and GPRS related issues; breaking / dropped calls and cross-talk issues; can’t check account balance; can’t access call center agents due to programmed responses; over -scratched recharge cards resolution delays and other issues; unsolicited short code & network operator calls; unsolicited SMS; unauthorized short code and network credit deductions; caller / recipient incomplete call issues; call center long waiting time / response issues; caller / recipient silent calls issues; subscribers placed on suspension; SWAP issues and unresolved Call Centre complaints and redress issues.

Ogunbanjo

According to him, the above translates to complaints such as: Dialing a number between 5-10 times before getting connected / not-connected; dialing several times and still getting a ‘call failed’ message; moving from one place to the other in search of network signal before receiving or making calls; when you dial and eventually connected, you will be a lucky subscriber if both caller and recipient can hear each other without voice-breaks; often times, the caller /recipient may hear the recipient /caller, while the caller /recipient cannot hear; yet this incomplete call is paid for; sometimes when both of you are connected and you can hear each other, after talking for few minutes, one of you will not hear the other again as the

CLGF scribe implores use of technology to address urbanization

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), Carl Wright, has implored the smart use of technology to address the ever-growing global urbanisation challenge.

Wright made this appeal in a recent lecture he delivered on smart cities at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in London.

He noted that though the trend towards decentralised government in Commonwealth countries continues, urban centres also continue to grow, with greater need for efficiency in areas such as energy, public transport and other

L-R: Shola Taylor Sec-Gen, CTO and Carl Wright, Sec-Gen of CTGL in London, recently.

services.

According to him, smart city solutions through better use of technology will be essential to making our cities more efficient.

The lecture is fallout of the CTO’s

new monthly lecture series initiated by host Secretary-General Shola Taylor earlier this year.

Also speaking, Mr. Taylor said, the CLGF provides unique support to local government authorities and communities among member countries.

He stressed that “They have a unique understanding of the growing social and demographic urban challenge as more rural and semi-urban populations continue to migrate to larger urban centres.

Through e-government and other technology-centric solutions, ICTs provide us with opportunities to manage this change more effectively.”

call has been terminated by one of the networks; when you have tried to call through voice to no avail, you want to try the SMS (Text Massage) alternative, after typing your SMS and trying to send, it may not sail through, even after several trials as it gives the usual ‘message sending failed’ on the screen. You must keep trying even if it takes 15-30 minutes before a successful attempt; when your Text Message (SMS) is successfully sent, and the message is not delivered, the Subscriber is still charged. He added: “When your mobile-phone credit gets exhausted and you try to recharge in order to make an urgent call, you may not be able to recharge no matter how many times you try at that particular time; Sometimes, when you successfully recharge your phone either for voice calls or data /internet browsing and the network operator mistakenly remove Subscriber’s credit, and thereafter, Subscriber complains through operator’s customer care line or goes physically to operator’s customer care office, they deliberately keep posting Subscribers and not actually resolving the complaint. And in view of the small amounts usually involved, the Subscriber does not seek for compensation, even when he tries, the customercare officer is trained to tell stories that will eventually frustrate the Subscriber; When trying to complain to customercare of a network problem or over-scratched recharge card with some pin numbers not showing, they will either direct you to their website or keep you waiting for between 30 minutes to 1-hour. If you are lucky to get attention and you are eventually attended to, it takes 3-6 months before crediting the subscriber, after taking the details.

“When the Subscriber complains through network operator’s customer care line, he /she will be told that it will be resolved in few numbers of days to no avail. Even when the Subscriber physically goes to the Customer Care Centre of the network operator, it is also promises of resolution to no avail. Only 1 or 2 of every 100 cases are resolved satisfactorily; when the operators run their promotions for profit motives, they deliberately congest the

network to the detriment of good service quality which affects Subscribers.”

He explained that the sector which has been considered hugely successful has greater potentials for the future if the challenges identified by subscribers could be effectively dealt with.

With the current expansion of the Nigerian telecoms industry owing to the introduction of new service and product offerings, it has become pertinent for NCC (which is empowered to establish minimum Quality of Service (QoS) standards) and other stakeholders to become more vigilant to ensure that consumers continue to have access to high quality telecommunications.

The NCC, Fines and Telecoms Operators In furtherance to the above, he said the NCC bi-annually appraises the quality of service of the network operators by some specific Key Performance Indicator Parameters (KPI’s), stressing that when any Telecoms operator falls short of these specific KPI parameters and are service quality deficient, they are then sanctioned.

He noted that the only major sanction currently, is by imposing various amounts of fines on the Telecoms operators running to billions Naira which are paid into government treasury with the three tiers of government as major beneficiaries.

He lamented that the subscribers that have been injured through poor service quality are left in the cold without any compensation whatsoever.

Unfortunately for subscribers in Nigeria, he noted the Nigerian Communications Commission Act 2003, only provided compensation for consumer if . . . . “There is network service disruption; there is network service outage, but the NCC Act does not provide compensation to Subscribers for poor quality of service.”

Subscribers Spending On Telecoms Services It is noteworthy, he said that while Nigerian Subscribers spend a minimum of #1,200,000,000,000 (One Trillion, Two Hundred Billion Naira) on phone calls annually, Subscriber also loose CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

29 Tech Times

Nigeria needs paradigm shift from content consumption to content production -Rudman As the CEO/MD of Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) and the Vice President, NiRA, how will you rate the use of internet in Nigeria in 2015?

The use of internet in Nigeria is about 80 percent mobile, which is excellent, but we need to go beyond mobile. We need to start talking about high speed internet access that can make us to be more productive because the Internet access through mobile is mostly used for social media activities. Nigerians need Internet that can allow them access educational materials. It is good Nigeria is ranked very high online, but it is also sad that all that is not on the broadband Internet where they can be more productive. In terms of online usage ranking, Nigeria is ranked ninth in the world and first in Africa. This is because of our huge population, where 80 percent out of a population of over 170 people use the Internet. But the sad thing is that this huge population is not browsing on a content that is local; over 90 percent of the content is hosted abroad. We need to have a paradigm shift so that we can start hosting content locally because of the benefits involved. As it is now, we are just basically content consumers.

What is the panacea to make Nigerians start hosting content locally?

The solution is for the government to address the challenge of power.

Content is hosted in a Data Centre, which uses huge power. Two to three years ago, there was no single Tier 3 Data Centre in Nigeria, but today, we have three Tier3 Data Centers. All the three are using generators to power them. What government needs to do is to provide priority electricity line to the Data Centers. Identify them as critical Internet resource and make power available to them. If they have power, the cost of hosting will drop because when the operational cost of a Data Centre is high, they will charge the end user higher. The second challenge is the cost of interconnectivity, which is still very high in the country; particularly links between cities in Nigeria are still very expensive; this also hinders the hosting of content locally. I am sure the licensing of InFracos will be able to address that. The third challenge is the awareness from the end users.

They should be made to believe that they can host their content locally.

They should utilize the dot.ng domain as well as host their content locally.

All stakeholders must come together and create awareness for the content providers that their content can be

Mr. Muhammed Rudman is the chief executive officer and managing director of Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN),the Vice President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and Chairman Ipv6 Council Nigeria. In this interview with Tony Nwakaegho in Lagos, Mohammed believes that there is a need for Nigeria to start hosting content locally because of the benefits involved. Excerpts:

Rudman

hosted locally. This will greatly solve the problem of people taking their content out of Nigeria.

Do we have enough Data Centre and what are the contributions of the centre to Nigeria’s economy?

Data Centre in Nigeria is critical as our lives migrate online, especially nowadays that almost everything is done online. The Data Centre hosts all the things we do online, it is the economic engine of the Internet, and it assists in hosting the content locally so that the traffic does not leave the country. So it’s an excellent initiative.

We need more of the Data Centre because Nigeria is the highest user of Internet in Africa. The more Data Centre we have, the faster the speed of Internet we will see in Nigeria and the lower the cost of the Internet because the content is being hosted locally for the end users.

Nigerians need your services, what is the level of your expansion of IXPN services in the country?

Of course, they need our services. That’s why we are making efforts to expand our services to other regions in Nigeria. Apart from Lagos, we are also in Port-Harcourt, Abuja, Kano and trying to be in Enugu. This will ensure that traffic within those regions remains local as well as promote that region to start hosting content locally.

The Data Centre we just mentioned are all in Lagos, but I can assure you that very soon some of them will begin to spring up in other regions of the country because they need to localize traffic within those regions. What is hindering us is the challenges of electricity and the cost of transmission lines between states, but we are trying to address those things.

What is the measurement parameter of the M-Lab IXPN in partnership with Google and Glo1 launch this year?

The measurement is done by a consortium of

companies, championed by one of the Universities in the US. The idea is to measure the speed of the Internet, we notice that most of the speed test we are using, the servers are hosted outside Nigeria, so we partnered with Google and the consortium to see how we can localize those servers. The difference between M-lab and other Internet speed test is that the server does not only test the Internet speed pipe, it also tests the quality and the latency of the service. The networks and end users can use it as a diagnostic tool to test their Internet connection. It has advance feature, not just the speed test. The idea is that if you can measure it, then it can be improved because what you cannot measure, you cannot improve.

Is there enough awareness for the end users to be using the service now?

They are not really utilizing it because we need to do more campaigns for the end user to know how to use it. The service is available, but in terms of utilization, it is a bit low.

What are the necessary requirements that need to be met to be connected to IXPN? The requirement is that you must be a service provider, content provider, higher education institution or you are a University or any other organization that is IP-centric. For instance, we don’t allow end-user networks to be connected to IXPN. Is IXPN part of the African Union Africa Internet Exchange System and what is the benefit of being a member of that organization?

The African Union got some funding from other countries to support the establishment of Exchanges in Africa, especially in countries that do not have Exchanges and also to empower each of the IXPs in each of the region. Africa has five regions but the aim is to promote one of the IXP in each of the regions to become a regional IXP. Now we are trying to localize traffic within Nigeria but the idea of the project is to localize traffic within Africa. They are now focusing on regions for example and so all the exchange of traffic will happen within the West Africa region. I will also want to state that IXPN has won the Africa Union bid to be the regional IXP for West Africa. With that we will get the necessary support from the Africa Union Commission to grow us to be the regional IXP for the West Africa region.

As a stakeholder in the industry, what would you suggest should be the policy direction of the new minister of Communications?

I will like the new minister to have continuity from where the former minister left, especially in the implementation of the national broadband plan. I think he should continue with that plan because that plan was done holistically. It captures key components of what is required to move Nigeria forward in terms of broadband Internet penetration that would be accessible to all. The new minister should implement that as a package.

Pinnacle Communications set to drop suit against FG over DSO Tony Nwakaegho Pinnacle Communications Limited, a major signal distributor is set to drop its N1.2 trillion suit against the federal government.

The company had in 2015 dragged the federal government before a Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged breach of contractual agreement.

Daily Times gathered that the management of the communications company held talks with the representatives of National Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC) and the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Although no specific agreement has been announced between the federal government and the signal distributor, the company has disclosed that it was committed and comfortable with the intervention of Alhaji Lai Muhammed, minister of Information and Culture and has subsequently mobilised its foreign partners in preparation for the rollout.

Sir Lucky Omoluwa, chairman of Pinnacle Communications, told journalists in Abuja that his foreign partners, Jampro Antennas and Gates Air, manufacturers of broadcast equipment are ready to commence operation.

“We have held meeting with the government lately, we and our foreign partners also met with the minister of information and culture, and we are also talking with the NBC. Our global partners are familiar with the terrain and we have infrastructures in all the states in Nigeria,” Omoluwa said.

Also, Mr. Dipo Onifade, executive Director of Pinnacle, said in his response to questions from journalists that the law suit would be withdrawn as soon as all grey areas are cleared.

Onifade said Pinnacle was ready to play its own part in ensuring that the June 2017 deadline for the migration is realised.

Pinnacle which won a carrier license made available by the federal government alleged that NBC as the regulatory agency of the government, rescinded on the agreement as contained in the federal government white paper on transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

Omoluwa

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

NCC excels as African regulator award winner 2016 in Accra Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The apex telecommunications regulator in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has excelled as the African Regulator Award winner in the city of Accra, capital of Ghana where the award was handed over to the commission.

According to the chief executive officer and publisher of Londonbased MobileWorld magazine and United Kingdom (UK) registered Instinct Wave Incorporate, Mr. Akin Naphtal, the Africa Information Technology and Telecoms Award (AITTA) the choice of NCC as the winner of the award based on the U.K. firm’s Intelligence Unit gathering of data across the African continent. Stressing, “NCC’s strong and committed effort to enhance competitiveness and innovation as factors of economic growth” made it the winner of the award.

Naphtal further said that NCC’s transparent regulatory activities, prudent management of spectrum and human resources made the Commission, a regulator of choice.

Besides these, the NCC remains the pathfinder and first among equals as far as telecommunications activities are concerned that is why it remains a shining example of how the sector should be regulated.Today, Nigeria is the investors’ first choice

L-R: Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission receiving the Africa Telecom Regulator of the Year Award from William Tevie, Director General, National Communications Authority at the Africa Information Technology and Telecom Awards which held at the Kempinski Hotel Accra, Ghana recently.

for telecommunications investments in Africa.

The organisers also said, that Nigeria by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) assessment recorded the highest and fastest growth in numbers connected by five years consecutively and so got

global nods for that and coming home to Africa, the continent has continued to benefit from NCC’s experience and expertise.

In addition, he said, the active subscriber base of Nigeria surpasses those of several countries combined in Africa and Africa’s largest

networks reside in Nigeria, all thanks to the robust regulatory activities of Commission.

Mr. Tony Ojobo, the Director of Public Affairs at the commission, who received the award on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta said the award is only a motivation for the commission to do more.

“To whom much is given, much is also expected. While we are happy to be recognized as doing well, this is also an opportunity for us to do more in protecting the subscribers as well as the service providers,” Ojobo said.

Earlier in his submission as a lead panelist at the event, with the theme ‘Connecting West Africa for Growth’, Ojobo spoke on the importance of ICT towards poverty eradication in developing Nations.

There is a need for an enabling environment, he said where the private sector can operate with a free flow of information and ultimately eradicate poverty.

“ICT is important towards poverty eradication in developing nations and that successful, but using ICT to reduce poverty can only be achieved if there is an enabling environment where the private sector can operate with a free flow of information,” he added.

The West Africa Telecom Summit & Expo is a unique platform for sharing experiences and networking on: Data

Explosion and IOTs- Mobile Internet and Smart Cities; Government and ICTs –Broadband and Regulatory Policy; Local Contents Promotion, CIO CONNECT; Data Centre – Managed Services, Enterprise; Internet Banking – Banking Technology, eBanking, Remittance and Cyber Security.

Nigeria delegation to the award returned with National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) carting award for Local content promotion in Africa), President of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesola Aderounmu (for promoting advancement of IT professionalism in Africa), Main One Cable Company (for Africa wholesale Telecom Company of the year), IHS Towers (for Africa Telecom Infrastructure Company of the year) and Mr. Stanley Jegede of Phase 3 Telecom (for Africa Telecom Entrepreneur of the year).

Some of the Nigeria delegation to the award ceremony in Accra comprised the acting Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji; Director, Public Affairs NCC, Tony Ojobo, President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Olusola Teniola, his NCS counterpart, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, Cyber Security Expert, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola and Kazeem Oladepo among others.

ICANN’s first Africa regional office opens in Kenya The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has opened its first African regional engagement office in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

ICANN made this disclosure at a press briefing at bilateral engagements with the ICT Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Joe Mucheru.

Also present at the ceremony include Tarek Kamel, Senior Advisor to the President and Senior Vice President, Government and IGOs Engagement, Sally Costerton, Senior Advisor to The President & Senior Vice President, Global Stakeholder Engagement, and Pierre Dandjinou, VP Global Stakeholder Engagement for Africa.

The office located on 17th Floor of ICEA building was officially unveiled at an event at the Intercontinental Hotel, with various industry stakeholders present to witness the momentous occasion.

The choice by ICANN to select Kenya as its African home is a stamp of approval to Kenya’s increasingly important role in the Internet ecosystem. The regional

L-R: Tarek Kamel, Kris Senanu, Hon. Joe Mucheru, Ngene Gituku (Chair -CA) Mike Silber, Sally Costerton, Eng. Victor Kyalo (PS MoICT) Nii Quaynor, Christopher Kemei (Director Licensing Compliance & Standards – CA) Pierre Dandjinou, during the opening of ICAAN office in Kenya.

presence will further deepen ICANN’s engagement with African Governments as well as the private sector players.

Speaking at the launch, ICT Cabinet Secretary Mr. Joe Mucheru, said that the government of Kenya recognizes and supports the efforts made by ICANN in ensuring the growth and development of Internet.

“Kenya has continued to work with regional bodies towards the growth

of the Internet use in Africa and we are glad to have ICANN make Nairobi its first engagement office location for Africa. We believe that collaboration with ICANN will encourage investors in ICT to provide services from the Kenyan cyberspace through the hosting of root servers, Data centers, cloud services among others.”

Mucheru said.

Communications Authority of Kenya chairman Mr. Ngene Gituku

said ICANN’s regional presence in Africa and its choice of Kenya is a big boost to the ICT sector and further reasserts Kenya’s position as an ICT powerhouse.

“We are excited about this new phase for ICANN in Africa with the opening of our first engagement office in the region, here in Nairobi.

Moreover, we are very thankful to the Kenyan Government and the community for their amazing support.

Over the past three years, there has been much effort, dedication and goodwill from the community and ICANN staff in the implementation of the Africa Strategy,” said Sally Costerton, Senior Advisor to the President & Senior Vice President, Global Stakeholder Engagement.

“In March this year, during ICANN55 in Morocco, the ICANN board of directors and senior leadership announced the opening of the first ICANN engagement office in Africa. This is an important moment for us, as we increase our institutional engagement and outreach in Africa, to better serve the region,” Costerton said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has commended The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the opening of ICANN’s first Engagement Office in Africa.

NiRA delegates were in attendance at the ICANN 55 meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, when the announcement was made by Steve Crocker, ICANN Board Chair.

Rev Sunday Folayan, NiRA’s President, said, “ICANN’s Nairobi office will act as the organisation’s foothold in Africa and be focused on championing Institutional engagement with Stakeholders, including Governments, Civil societies, Technical and Academic Institutions. NiRA applauds the decision and has observed ICANN’s intent on becoming increasingly international in terms of its outlook, policies and the composition of its community. We at NiRA believe that the opening of this local office in Africa should create a more level playing ground for Africans”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

31 Tech Times

Africa leaders highlight need to create jobs for youth through ICT Stories by Tony Nwakaegho African leaders and businesses executives have harped on the need to step up investments in skills development and promotion of entrepreneurship to create jobs for young people.

Available data shows that although between 10 and 12 million young Africans enter the workforce each year, only three million formal jobs are created annually.

Besides, the youth often lack the skills required by employers, despite gains in education access over the past several decades.

“We need a sense of urgency in tackling the issue of unemployment. I cannot emphasize it enough,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank, during a high level panel on Jobs for African Youth at the just concluded Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank in Lusaka, Zambia.

Adesina underscored the need to invest in skills development to facilitate job creation.

“It’s not going to be about degrees – those are labels – it’s going to be skills,” he said.

Adesina pointed out that the Bank has taken bold steps to turn Africa’s phenomenal youth bulge into an economic dividend by developing a strategy that would create 25 million jobs for youth on the continent as well as equip an additional 50 million in the next decade.

The programs initially focus on the Bank’s high-priority sectors of agriculture, industry, and ICT, will include an index to measure youth employment outcomes and enabling policies at the country level, and provide information on the evolution of labour market performance over time.

It can also be used as a tool to incentivize policy-makers to pursue agendas favourable to youth employment.

On his part, Carlos Lopes, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), underscored the need for overhaul of educational policies in Africa.

He argued that education reform in Africa must be aligned to the economy and labour market needs.

He pointed out that if Africans migrating were properly tooled, they could help Africa’s transformation, cautioning that migration will intensify as Africa grows.

For instance, 2.9 million people migrate

Adesina

out of Africa every year, but twice that number migrates out of China, Lopes said, illustrating the challenges posed by unemployment.

“We just need economic transformation and the issue of youth employment will be taken care of,” Lopes said.

For Africa, the gains of employment

would be phenomenal. For instance, it would propel incomes, offer higher standards of living and better health and education access. It has been estimated that reducing Africa’s youth unemployment rate to that of adults would translate to a 10 per cent to a 20 per cent increase in the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Besides, it would provide better opportunities to thousands of youths who join rebel armies as well as save many souls who would otherwise perish in the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert in search of economic opportunity in Europe.

Tony O. Elumelu, Founder Tony Elumelu Foundation, Nigeria said the need to invest strategically in the continent’s young people is a pressing growth issue.

Building entrepreneurship and the skills base, he said would lead inevitably to inclusive growth.

“The way to address jobs for the youth is to look for solutions within [the continent] and then to work together,” said Elumelu who is currently investing US $100 million in an entrepreneurship program to grow 10,000 African entrepreneurs and create 1 million jobs across Africa over the next decade.

ITU makes history as 2 women lead 2016 council The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) made history recently as the governing Council opened its annual session; for the first time with two women are leading the Council.

Ms Julie Zoller, senior deputy coordinator for International Information Communications and Information Policy at the United States State Department took the reins as Chair with Ms Eva Spiny, Director, Spectrum Management Planning for the Communications Area, Ministry of Economic Development of Italy, serving as Vice Chair.

“It’s a sign of progress for gender equality,” said Ms. Zoller, during her opening remarks as the first woman to chair the Council since the year 2000. “We are making history together.”

“We are all in this together,” she told attendees from among the delegates of 48 countries representing the ITU Membership of 193 States at the Council session in Geneva, which runs until 2 June. “We must lead by example and commit to providing the best results.”

Ms. Zoller was also the first woman to chair ITU’s Radio Regulations Board in 2008, which

is again this year chaired by a woman.

“I’m an engineer … and gender balance has always been very important to me,” said Ms. Zoller during an interview with ITU this week.

“I’m really grateful to be able to have this opportunity. One of the things I would say to women as they consider their career path and their aspirations is: ‘Look ahead and think about what you would like to be doing. Build the skills. And then, ask for support for doing it. Ask to take a chairmanship.’ That’s what I did with the ITU Council.”

ITU Council this year will approve ITU’s operational plans for 2017-2020 and consider several key issues, such as how to address Internet-related public policy issues and cybersecurity, child online protection and gender mainstreaming, as well as conformance and interoperability of ICT products. Councillors will focus on future technologies in preparing for a globally connected world in the era of the Internet of Things, review ITU’s role in using ICTs as a means to achieve the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), and promote the empowerment of youth through ICTs.

Lagos State assures on Computer Village Ikeja relocation Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban development, has assured the state government readiness for the relocation of the computer village to Kontagora market in Agbado Oke Odo council area of the state before the year runs out.

Anifowoshe made this known at a recent ministerial press briefing in Alausa, stressing that under former Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, the State had mapped out N500 million for the project, which was never executed.

Anifowoshe said, “Another Urban Development project on the front burner is the development of Katangowa Market in Agbado/ Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, the market will accommodate businesses currently operating in the Ikeja Computer Village. The market, when fully completed, would boast of world class facilities that would enhance trade at the centre. I am also pleased to inform you that the second Phase of Tejuoso Ultra- Modern Market is ready for full business operations; furthermore, Urban Renewal studies are currently being carried out across the three Senatorial districts of Lagos State”.

According to the Commissioner, the government was planning to replicate the popular food commodity market- Mile 12 market in other regions of the state in no distant time, to prevent the entire population of ‘Lagosians’ heading in the same direction.

Same time, owners of abandoned buildings in Lagos State have been given up till June 3, to occupy them or risk losing them to the government.

Anifowoshe said the June 3 deadline would mark the end of a 90-day ultimatum earlier issued in March this year.

Gov. Ambode

NATCOMS urges NCC to adopt subscriber’s compensation policy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

a whopping N730, 000,000,000 (Seven Hundred and Thirty Billion Naira) annually to poor quality of service without any compensation whatever to the seriously injured subscribers.

Compensation Plans in Bangladesh and India.

He cited countries like India and Bangladesh, where the Telecommunications Regulators in these countries are currently putting in place a Subscriber’s Compensation

Policy.

“India’s telecom watchdog said that from January 1, 2016 mobile phone operators have to compensate subscribers on call drop and pay call drop penalty at the rate of a rupee for each such failure.

In January, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) gave directives to all mobile phone operators to provide compensation for each call drop.

Compensation Plan for Telecoms Subscribers

NATCOMS President recalled that the Director General, Consumer Protection Council, (CPC) Mrs. Dupe `Atoki, when she paid a courtesy call to the CEO/ EVC of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, requested the Commission to come up with a Special Compensation Scheme to take care of poor quality of service being experienced by Nigerian Telecoms Consumers He appealed to the NCC helmsman to ensure that a Subscriber’s

Compensation Policy which will compensate subscribers with free airtime, which is a Soft Fine anytime the Telecoms Operators perform below the Key Performance Indicators parameters as set by the Commission.

The current practice where Telecoms Operators fall short of KPI parameters and are made to pay huge fines, which goes only to government coffers, he said is very unsavory of the Subscribers who suffers the injury and the brunt of poor quality service and other unauthorized deductions.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.ng; email: info@dailytimes.ng. Tel: 018447948. GROUP EDITOR: BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08086296714

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.120

Price: N150

Obi in dramatic

transfer to

Ifeanyi Ubah FC after assault H

Obi

U-17World cup:

Flamingos

draw Brazil, England, N’Korea

eartland goalkeeper Ebele Obi is in talks with FC IfeanyiUbah in what could well be the most dramatic transfer in the Nigeria Professional League so far after he was sensationally assaulted by the owner of the Nnewi club recently.

Ebele Obi, older brother of Chelsea star Mikel, and billionaire Ifeanyi Ubah were both sanctioned by the league for incidents after a recent league game.

T h e goalkeeper was punched by the FC Ifeanyi Ubah owner after he attacked the referee. The Heartland shot stopper has already called off a plan to sue Ifeanyi Ubah.

But reliable sources confirmed that Obi could have a transfer sealed with the Nnewi club “in days”, with the goalkeeper available for their weekend trip to face Niger Tornadoes.

“Ebele Obi has been discussing with Ifeanyi Ubah over a potential move and he was in Nnewi on Monday and the deal could be completed in the next few days,” a source said.

N

igeria’s U-17 Women’s team, the Flamingoes, have been drawn against Brazil, England and Korea DPR in Group C of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan.

The draw was held at the Al-Hussein Cultural Centre, Jordan, on Monday.

Hosts Jordan are in Group A with Spain, Mexico and New Zealand.

In Group B Venezuela, Germany, Cameroon and Canada will slug it out.

Group D consists of USA, Paraguay, Ghana and Japan.

The opening game of the tournament will be between New Zealand and Mexico.

Go for victory in Luxembourg,

Glo tells Eagles ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor

N

igeria’s biggest corporate supporter of football, Globacom, has enjoined the Super Eagles of Nigeria to ensure victory over the Luxembourg National team in a friendly match today.

The friendly is one of the series of warm-up matches lined up for the Super Eagles preparatory to the forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

It will be played at the Josy Barthel Stadium in Luxembourg City at 7pm Nigerian time.

A victory for the Eagles will strengthen the confidence of the Nigerian squad as they prepare for qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Though it is a friendly match, Globacom in a statement released on Monday in Lagos, encouraged the team to play for pride and country. The company advised the Super Eagles never to take the match lightly.

“The Super Eagles should beat the Luxembourg national team convincingly, even though it is a friendly encounter. Defeat of their opponent

Super Eagles winger, Simon Moses (left) in action against Egypt. will strengthen the confidence Nigerians have in the national team that they can qualify for the forthcoming World Cup. It is obvious that Nigerians love the Super Eagles and are hungry to see the team get back to winning ways again,” Globacom stated.

Globacom went on to advise the players and their handlers to use the match to garner useful skills that will help them to bond together as a team ahead of the World Cup qualifying matches.

“We encourage the Super Eagles to also use the opportunity of the friendly match to correct the weaknesses of the team and build the much-needed cohesion that will mould the team into a strong squad for the oncoming Mundial,” Globacom counseled.

“Nigerians still have confidence in you and are proud of you each time you put on the colours of the nation. As a proudly Nigerian company with global footprints, you have our support,” Globacom concluded.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Strike: Ekiti workers shocked by Governor’s response Page B2

SEC places 20-year ban on Okumagba, BGL boss Page B6

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Budget deficit: FG to raise N2.5tr through taxation, borrowing Page B3

NUPENG decries politics of petroleum products importation Eno-Obong Okon Uyo

The Port Harcourt Zone of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has frowned on the politics of importation of

refined petroleum products as against local refining which they say has been a breeding ground for fraud and corruption.

The Union in a communiqué issued at the end of a three day education seminar held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on the theme

“Global crash in crude oil price; its economic, social, political and cultural implications to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” asserted that it was the politics of importation that had led to the abandonment of turnaround maintenance of existing refiner-

ies, vandalisation of the petroleum product pipelines and lip service being paid to building new refineries.

In the communiqué made available to Daily Times yesterday as signed by Chief Charles Eleto and Mr Salvation Ak-

Charles Okonji

Joy Ekeke

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

FG to enforce buy made-in-Nigeria products – Onu

Labour, Interior ministry partner on expatriate quota policy Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has disclosed ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Interior to secure the jobs of Nigerians threatened by expatriate incursions.

Senator Ngige who disclosed this in his text to mark the nation’s democracy day and one year in office of the present administration at the federal level also said that his ministry was liaising with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development for the conversion of countless illegal mining going on in many parts of the country into legal business.

The minister said that as an important step in protecting the national interest, his ministry was matching efforts with the Ministry of Interior to look at the expatriate quota provision to make sure that expatriates do not displace qualified Nigerians.

To that effect, he explained that already his ministry has a working relationship over the strict observance of the policy.

He said: “Since assuming office, I have quietly but relentlessly been active in dialoguing with all social partners to ensure condu-

paghoro, zonal chairman and zonal secretary, respectively, NUPENG asked as a matter of urgency all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians, industry players and politicians

L-R Executive Director, Cormmercial Dangote Flour Mills Plc, Halima Dangote, President / Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, presenting a Distribution van key to Chiarman, Gora General Ent. Ltd, Alhaji Ali Balarabe, at Dangote Flour Mills Plc 2015 Customer Forum/Distributors Awards ceremony in Kano recently.

Nigeria needs over $104pb oil price to balance budget – IMF Opeoluwani Akintayo The International Monetary Funds, IMF, has said that Nigeria needs $104.49 per barrel global oil price to balance its 2016 national budget.

The Body stated this on Monday ahead of OPEC’s next general meeting in Vienna come 2nd of June.

With fall in oil prices below $50 per barrel globally, and militants attacks, Nigeria with just 5.1 percent export in April, has

suffered setback in its oil region, cutting output to the lowest in 27 years, and helping to increase global prices.

IMF also listed what prices of oil per barrel other OPEC countries needed to balance their budgets.

Algeria $87.6(3.3 % oil export in April), Angola $93.14 (5.4% export in April), Ecuador $75.14 (1.7%), Indonesia unlike other OPEC members, is still a net importer so the fiscal break even concept is not applicable

(2.2%), Iran $61.3 (11 % ), Iraq $59.7 (13%), Kuwait $52.1 (8.7%), Libya $195. 2 (0.9%), Qatar $52.4 (2%), Saudi Arabia $66.2 (31%), United Arab Emirates $71.8 (8.9%) , and Venezuela $121.06 (7.4%).

OPEC members gathering in Vienna are expected to go along with a Saudi Arabia-led policy focused on squeezing out rivals amid signs the strategy is working. That means the meeting may be less fraught than the CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

The Federal Government has stated that it would enforce Nigerians to buy made in Nigeria products, especially vehicles made in the country.

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, who stated this on Monday in Abuja, explained that it was the only way to make Nigeria a producer country and to encourage local manufacturers to produce and grow the economy.

Onu said, “We already have made in Nigeria cars. We want to champion the idea of Nigerians looking inward and thinking Nigeria promoting made in Nigeria products to encourage our own local manufacturers. ``It is very important. That is the only way that we can ever become a producer nation. We cannot continue to be a consumer nation alone; it wouldn’t help us. We must help our own local producers. ``We must all start thinking of how we can do so. It shouldn’t be only the automobiles; it should be on all products.”

The minister assured Nigerians that the government would ensure that vehicle manufacturers in the country maintained the minimum standard obtainable anywhere in the world.

Business growth strategies in focus as FGBMFI holds seminar

Sam Nzeh

Strategies for business growth will be in focus from June 10-11, 2016 as the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI), South West District

3 Lagos holds its Annual Business Seminar.

The 2016 seminar which is the 19th edition of the Annual Business Seminar (ABS) is made of two sessions which will run simultaneously. While one session with

theme, Essentials for Modern Enterprise, is targeted at promoters of small and medium enterprises as well individuals seeking to start their own businesses and will hold at the Nigerian Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA) House

Event Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, the other session with the theme, Non-Oil Options for the Nigerian Economy, has promoters of large businesses as target and will hold at Sheraton and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

These were disclosed at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday by the FGBMFI South West District 3 Lagos Coordinator, Mr. Fola Aguda, adding that the sessions will expose participants to strateCONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Growth strategies in focus as FGBMFI holds seminar

NUPENG decries politics of petroleum products importation

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

to change their stereotype and take pragmatic steps to make the existing refineries function optimally, while modular ones should be built to complement the existing ones.

“This will help to reduce the dependence of the nation on international market for price regulations, make products available on time, help build up the industrialization process, create employment for the teeming unemployed youth or masses and create foundation for improved technological based.

“The union as the fifth estate of the realm shall expand her frontier and horizon to keep government and her functionaries on their toes till Nigeria takes her place of pride in the comity of nations,” NUPENG said.

The Union expressed serious concern for the “orchestrated delay in the passage of the petroleum industry bill into law”; and urged the 8th National Assembly to put aside vested and political interest to ensure the speedy passage of the bill “because retooling the oil and gas industry to attain its rightful position depends totally on the PIB.”

Nigeria needs over $104pb oil price to balance budget – IMF CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

previous summit in December, which ended with public criticism of the Saudi position from Venezuela and Iran.

Analysts say by allowing prices to fall, high-cost producers are being forced out, easing the supply glut and spurring a rally of 80 percent since January to about $50 a barrel.

An alternative proposal to freeze output, was finally rejected in Doha last month.

The group may also choose a secretary-general to replace Abdalla El-Badri, whose term has been extended after members failed to agree on a successor.

In recent months, three new hopefuls have emerged: Nigeria’s Mohammed Barkindo, Indonesia’s Mahendra Siregar and Venezuela’s Ali Rodriguez.

L-R: Mr. Shina Atilola, Group Head, Strategy and Communications, Sterling Bank Plc and Hon. Jones Onyereri, Chairman, House Committee on Banking and Currency and Senator John Enoh, Chairman, House Committee on Finance at the Nigerian Economic Stakeholders Summit held in Abuja at the weekend

Strike: Ekiti workers shocked

by Governor’s response Joy Ekeke Leaders of Labour in Ekiti State have criticised Governor Ayodele Fayose for his comments over the ongoing strike by workers in the state.

In response to the strike action which commenced last Thursday, governor Fayose had said he would pay only those who did not join the strike.

The organised labour accused Fayose of fuelling crisis and disunity by his decision to pay only the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), a section of workers in the state, which had decided to pull out of the ongoing strike action, urging the entire workforce to remain in their various houses until otherwise directed by their respective unions.

Their words: “On the issue of outstanding salary, it is a common knowledge that all workers have performed their duties efficiently and effectively for the period of January to May 2016 and hence they deserve their pay without further delay. “Therefore, contrary to government’s deci-

Fayose

sion to pay the sector that opted out of the current struggle is tantamount to divide and rule tactics usually employed by government in situations like this.

“It should be noted that the Labour has neither suspended nor called off the ongoing industrial action in the state, hence we are using this medium to implore the entire workers of all categories in all sectors to stay at home and observe the strike until the leadership of the organised labour gives further directives.

The workers had been on strike since Wednesday over the nonpayment of their five-month salaries and deductions.

gies that will put their businesses on the path of sustainable growth.

The sessions, Aguda said, are open to the public, and encouraged members of the public to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the seminar to learn relevant skills that will enhance growth of their businesses.

He informed that individuals wishing to attend the session with the theme, Essentials for Modern Enterprise, will pay N5000 each while those attending the session with the theme, Non-Oil options in the Nigerian Economy, will pay participation fee of N25, 000 per person.

Merck KGaA bags ‘African Alliances HE for SHE award’ In recognition of Merck KGaA’s efforts to empower women in the field of research and healthcare through the Merck Capacity Advancement Program and UNESCO, the group, recently, received the “African Alliances He for She Award” for women empowerment.

The award, received on behalf of the group by Chairman of Executive Board and Family Board of E. Merck KGaA, Professor Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, was during the 11th African Congress for Women Entrepreneurs, held in Cairo, the Egyptian capital.

The award also recognizes Merck’s significant contribution to empower infertile women in Africa through the ‘Merck More than a Mother’ campaign.

In his acceptance speech, Prof.

Stangenberg-Haverkamp says, “I am very happy to receive this important award. The “Merck More than a Mother” campaign is a very important initiative to empower an unprivileged segment of women in Africa,” Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg –Haverkamp said upon receiving his award. “Women who suffer

infertility have been neglected, mistreated and discriminated because they cannot bear children, while we must also consider that 50% of infertility is caused by male factor and yet women are solely blamed for it.”

Commenting on the choice of Merck KGaA for the award, President of African Alliances of Women Empowerment, Dr. Amany Asfur, explained, “We are very proud to acknowledge Merck’s efforts to empower infertile women in Africa by improving their access to information, awareness, health and change of mindset through their historic ‘Merck More than a Mother’ campaign.”

Chief Social Officer of Merck Healthcare of Dr. Rasha Kelej, also said of Merck KGaA, “Through the ‘Merck More than a Mother’ campaign we started an important project called ‘Empowering Berna.’

The project seeks to help infertile women, who cannot have children anymore, start their own businesses and build their independent and happier lives. I am very passionate about this project and I will follow it up by myself with women organizations across Africa.”

Labour, Interior ministry partner on expatriate quota policy CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

cive atmosphere for national productivity.

“I have unambiguously placed government intentions, positions and challenges on the table for all partners to appreciate and make necessary adjustments in their expectations in the over all interest of the nation.

Speaking further he said that the government had put in place

measures to kick-start self reliance and prevent job loses, which he said had yielded positive results.

According to him: “Notwithstanding the prevailing economic down turn, government is doing its best in the provision of jobs, with emphasis though on bluecollar.

“The main agency of job creation is the National Directorate

of Employment, which is under my ministry.

“The NDE has over one hundred skills acquisition centres across Nigeria, apart from the ones owned by some Federal ministries, agencies and states.

“Since I came in, we have embarked on the rehabilitation and re-equipping of these NDE skills centres to enhance their training capacity. We are establishing

a liaison with other skill centres owned by other ministries, agencies and state governments so as synchronize and standardize their operations.

“We are working to institutionalize them as training centres whose certificates – Trade Test 1, Trade Test 2 and Trade Test 3 can be recognized internationally just like the City and Guild certificate of the old.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

B3 Money Market

Afrinvest appoints new chairman, director Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, has announced the appointment of Dr. Fidelis Nde-Che as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, while Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo has been named a Director of the company.

In an email statement made available to our correspondent, Ike Chioke, Group Managing Director and CEO of Afrinvest said, “We are pleased to announce that Dr. Fidelis Nde-Che has been appointed Chairman of the Afrinvest Board of Directors, following the resignation of our erstwhile Chairman, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.”

Mr. Obaseki, who founded the company in 1995 as Securities Transactions & Trust Company (“SecTrust”) before it was renamed Afrinvest in 2006, resigned his position on the Afrinvest board to pursue his governorship ambition in Edo State.

We, at Afrinvest, are truly grateful for the visionary leadership he provided to the firm for over 20years, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavor.”

Chioke noted, “Dr. Nde-Che and Dr. Sambo bring with them a wealth of experience to the Afrinvest board. Their sterling reputation and invaluable input on the board will help ensure that Afrinvest maintains its tradition of integrity and service excellence, and significantly boost output in all areas of the company’s

business to the benefit of our esteemed clients.”

Dr. Fidelis Ndeh-Che is the Founder and Managing Partner of Quanteq Technology Services, Ltd, an Information Technology Consulting and Systems Integration firm based in Abuja. He graduated from the City University London, UK with a first class honors degree in Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering in 1992 and went on to obtain his PhD in the same area at the same university in 1996.

L – R: Chief Financial Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Mr. Olusola Olayinka; Director, E & F Services, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Mr. Manfred Blondeel; Head, Aeronautical Services, BASL, Mr. Ralph Uchegbu and Account Specialist, E & F Services, IATA, Mrs. Christine Charlier, during a courtesy visit by a delegation from IATA to Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos ... at the weekend.

Budget deficit: FG to raise N2.5tr through taxation, borrowing Stories by Motolani Oseni Due to sharp drop in the country’s oil revenue, the Federal Government has said it will raise a total sum of N2.5 trillion for its 2016 budget deficit through effective tax revenue, local and international borrowing.

In a move to ensure full implementation of this year budget, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, disclosed that there are indications that drop in global oil prices will stay for long,

and for government to power the 2016 budget will need significant contributions from taxation.

While speaking at the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting in Lagos, Dipeolu highlighted the importance of economy diversification as a measure to address the dwindling oil prices which has affected the government revenue.

As part of the strategic implementation plan of the government, Dipeolu said, “We need to pay attention to goods being manufactured here and improve the

manufacturing capacity of Nigerian companies. The first step to industrialisation of Nigeria has to be agro-allied so that the raw materials will be available for manufacturers.”

Speaking on the reforms that Nigerians should expect in the agricultural sector, he said the government’s focus in 2016 was to achieve sustainability in tomato paste production, saying that rice sufficiency would be the target in 2017 while local production of wheat would be the focus in 2018.

In addition, the Special Ad-

viser said the aim of the government was to improve the country’s ease of doing business ranking by 20 places.

The 2016 World Bank report on Doing Business had placed Nigeria as number 169 among 189 countries in its ease of doing business ranking.

However, Dipeolu stated the plan was to attain 149th position by implementing fast track measures for business approvals; visa application and issuance processes; and land titles acquisitions, among other bottlenecks businesses face in the country.

Stanbic IBTC explains delay in issuance of 2015 financial results Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has said that in the running of its business it will continue to exercise its constitutional rights to seek redress and protection through the legal process and the law courts. The organization made the clarification in response to the expected publication of its 2015 audited financial statements, over which it is in dispute with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC).

In a letter to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dated May 27, 2016, the organization said it was imperative to bring all stakeholders up to date on why the issuance of its 2015 financial statement is being delayed.

The organization said that on 24 March 2016, it informed NSE, shareholders and other stakeholders about the reporting challenges it was experiencing with FRC regarding its 2015 financial statements, which subsequently led to the engagement of its external auditors on the appropri-

ate presentation of certain items in its financial statements, which are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.

It will be recalled that Stanbic IBTC had instituted an appeal at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal following allegations of mis-representation of its financial report, over which FRC had announced a regime of sanctions against Stanbic IBTC Holdings, including a fine of N1billion.

The organization noted that in order to ensure the timely finalization of its 2015 audited financial statements, it obtained the approval of the NSE to delay the filing of its 2015 audited financial statements on 24 March 2016, while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) applied the regulatory sanction for late filing of financial statements by a listed entity.

However, the challenges with the FRC continued, as the regulatory agency continued to place

hurdles in the way of fair and quick resolution of the issues.

For instance, on 15 March 2016, FRC published on its website undated new rules which the agency said applied with immediate effect. In essence, the new rules would apply to all financial statements that had not been finalized as at 15 March 2016.

“Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC has prepared its 31 December 2015 financial statements in compliance with the undated new FRC rules published on 15 March 2016 and all extant accounting standards. KPMG has however indicated that they will not be able to express an audit opinion in respect of the financial statements given the stance taken by

DTN Exchange Rate Monitor

the FRC on this issue,” the organization stated in the letter.

The company added that it considers the position taken by the FRC with respect to the injunction and its 2015 financial statements as erroneous and

unfortunate and has alerted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), its primary statutory regulator, as well as the Honorable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to the challenges posed by the FRC.

CBN Exchange Rate Date

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central(NGN)

Selling(NGN)

5/27/16

US DOLLAR

196

197

197

POUNDS STERLING

28715.96%

288

289

EURO

219

219

220

SWISS FRANC

7/15/00

198

199

YEN

178.70%

2

2

CFA

0

0

0

WAUA

9/30/00

276

276

YUAN/RENMINBI

2986.49%

30

30

RIYAL

5226.25%

52

53

Currency

Official Rate

Parallel Market

DANISH KRONA

30.114

30.1908

30.2676

USD

197

348

SDR

10/3/00

279

279

EUR

225

387

GBP

285

495

NOTE: The parallel or black market rates stand for the most common. However, there could be slightly higher or lower among distinct traders.

Labour B4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

N350bn Infrastructure allocation will aid employment – FG Stories by Joy Ekeke The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has said that the allocation of N350billion to infrastructure development in the country will aid massive job creation.

He said this to assure unemployed youths in the country that the federal government would provide jobs

for them.

Speaking at the weekend while giving account of his seven months in office as part of the one year anniversary of President Buhari administration, Ngige said job creation was one of the cardinal agenda of the administration.

According to him, the heavy investment on infrastructure in the 2016 Budget, indeed the N350 billion-infrastructure funds

attest to the determination of government in this direction.

He said, “Notwithstanding the prevailing economic down turn, government is doing its best in the provision of jobs, with emphasis though on blue-collar.

The main agency of job creation is the National Directorate of Employment, which is under my ministry.

“The NDE has over one hundred skills acquisition

centres across Nigeria, apart from the ones owned by some federal ministries, agencies and states. Since I came in, we have embarked on the rehabilitation and re-equipping of these NDE skills centres to enhance their training capacity. We are establishing a liaison with other skill centres owned by other ministries, agencies and state governments so as synchronize and standardize their operations.

Buhari

Rep blames beneficiaries for empowerment schemes’ failure A member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Dolapo Badru, has blamed some beneficiaries of empowerment schemes for the lack of impact of such programmes.

He noted that the huge millions of naira spent annually by governors and lawmakers in the country to empower their citizens have failed to address the high unemployment rate in the country.

Badru disclosed this while addressing members of his constituency and beneficiaries at his mini-empowerment initiative in Lagos Island.

He said he uncovered acts of sabotage by scheme beneficiaries during his investigation into why efforts by lawmakers and other political office holders have failed to have a big impact on the people who voted them into office.

His words: “From my investigations, I discovered that many of the beneficiaries often sell the the items handed over to them by the lawmakers. They often sell them at give away prices. And these items were handed over to them to make them employers of labour which will further reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.”

Badru, a former special adviser on youth and social development in Lagos, explained “If they sell it, the money they will realise from it will not be commensurate with the purchasing price of the item.

“But if they utilise it, the fund they will realise will triple the money they will be offered for reselling the item. So, it is better to get the fund daily,” he added.

L-R: Principal Private Sector Specialist, African Development Bank Group, Emmanuel Akinwumi; Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, BOI, Waheed Olagunju; Dr. Abdulkareem Mayere; Chief Executive Officer, Arnergy Solar Limited, Femi Adeyemo and Executive Director, Corporate Services and Commercial, BOI, Jonathan Tobin during commissioning of Solar Electrification project at Charwa Community ,Makarfi LGA , Kaduna State… recently.

FG to produce 300,000 technicians annually – Ngige The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said that government will produce 300,000 new technicians from the unemployed pool annually.

Ngige said this at a news conference organised by the ministry to mark 2016 Democracy Day. He said: “The artisans will be trained in tiling, mechatronics, metal works, welding, plumbing, masonry, POP production and laying, Info-technology techniques, among others.

“They will primarily find opportunities in the formal and informal sectors and arrest a situation where a dominant percentage of such low cadre skills are provided for us by Ghanaians, Togolese and others.

“Through our partnership with the International Labour Migration of the European Union, these category of Nigerians will soon

Ngige

export their skills as legal migrants to other countries.

“So, our target is to train not less than 300,000 per year and trainings are already ongoing in most of our centres.”

Ngige said job creation was one of the cardinal agenda of the present administration and that the

ministry had taken concrete steps towards its realisation.

He, however, noted that all over the world, governments were responsible for the creation of 20 per cent of jobs while the rest were provided by the private sector.

He observed that the government owed it a duty to create the enabling environment for the private sector to flourish.

He said: “The heavy investment in infrastructure in the 2016 budget, indeed the 350-billion-infrastructure funds, all explain the determination of government in this direction.

“Notwithstanding the prevailing economic downturn, government is doing its best in the provision of jobs, with emphasis, though, on blue-collar.

The minister said the National Directorate for Employment, the main job creation agency, had over 100 skills acquisition centres

across the country, besides the ones owned by some Ministries, Agencies and states.

He said the ministry had embarked on the rehabilitation and re-equipping of NDE skills centres, to enhance their training capacity.

He said: “We are establishing a liaison with other skill centres owned by other ministries, agencies and state governments, so as to synchronize and standardise their operations.

“We are working to institutionalize them as training centres whose certificates – Trade Test 1, Trade Test 2 & Trade Test 3 – can be recognised internationally just like the City and Guilds certificate of old.”

Ngige further noted that the NDE also runs the Graduate Conversion Scheme of Teacher Corps, under which platform the 500,000 teachers would be recruited.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

B5 Energy

OPEC strategy yielding result Ï`ƈƒ Ƌ ƍƏ ƗƑƅƆƏ ƈ ƑƐ Ƈ ƄƑ ƈ Ɔ OPEC’s Saudi-led strategy to defend market share and force rival producers out of business is yielding results, according to Algeria’s former oil minister, Chakib Khelil.

Khelil expects prices to increase to $70 to $80 a barrel or more after oil majors abandoned or shelved projects. Still, that rebound risks reviving U.S. shale drillers, said the two-time president of OPEC. “This strategy is working today since the market is stabilizing,” Khelil said in an interview in Algiers. “But we must now take into account the competition from U.S. and Canadian production comes from shale oil.”

Khelil’s return to Algiers in March, after fleeing to the U.S. three years ago amid a corruption scandal, has raised speculation he will take on a leadership role in the North African nation’s energy industry, or even succeed ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Talk of a succession battle has swirled through Algiers in recent months as the oil producer attempts to diversify an economy hit by slumping crude revenues

and surrounded by Islamist unrest in neighboring Libya, Mali and Tunisia. Khelil said he’s ready to help his country in any capacity, if asked.

While backing Saudi Arabia’s policy, Khelil said the failure to reach a deal on freezing output last month in Doha represented a politicization of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries not seen since 1973 when Arab producers imposed an embargo that triggered an oil crisis.

Algeria itself has consistently opposed the OPEC’s Saudi-led strategy.

“We hope that OPEC will come back in the future to its mission and really play its role as defender of the member countries, especially taking into account the competition from American oil,” he said.

Khelil, who served as OPEC president in 2001 and again in 2008, said he hoped the political changes in Saudi Arabia wouldn’t lead to lasting politicization of the bloc. The kingdom has given up its role as the global “swing producer,” he said, with U.S. out-

put now having the key impact on price trends.

Yet, even U.S. production won’t be enough to satisfy increasing demand, according to Khelil. “In the coming three years, we really risk a supply crisis in the mar-

ket,” he said.

During a near-decade-long stint as oil minister, Khelil expanded gas shipments to Europe and attempted to lure foreign investment by limiting Sonatrach’s share in upstream ventures. That law was

overturned in 2005 as resources were nationalized. Algeria should consider offering majority stakes in minor fields, while increased investment and new technology would boost production by at least 10 percent, he said.

L-R: Head, Business Relations, SNEPCo, Alan Udi; Supervisor, Community Development, NAPIMS, Bunmi Lawson; a student of Murtala Mohammed Airport Secondary School , Leonard Idowu-Dawodu; representative of wife of Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Jumoke Adeyemi; Business Relations Adviser, SNEPCo, Monday Arichoke and Co-ordinator, Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Sir Emeka Nwokedi at 14th edition of NNPC/SNEPCo music competition held at MUSON Centre in Lagos … recently.

Insure customers, facilities – NERC tells DisCos Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has directed Electricity distribution companies, DisCos, to renew their comprehensive insurance as provided under Part 5 Section 5.2 of the Health and Safety Code for the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The directive was sequel to an investigation into electrocution of a seven year old minor at Kabusa, Abuja within the network of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

Giving further clarification of the Commission’s ruling, the Acting Chairman, Dr.Anthony Akah, said, “The directive for renewal of comprehensive insurance, has general application to electricity distribution companies whose insurance policies have expired.”

He warned that “stiffer sanctions await any electricity distribution companies over electrocution or any established case of negligence within their networks” even as he expressed worry over rising incidences of electrocutions.

AEDC was found liable in the untimely death of the minor for its improper maintenance of a low voltage aluminium conductor in Kabusa area of Abuja, even after residents had complained

over the facility.

The Commission’s directives jointly signed by the acting Chairman, Dr. Anthony Akah, mni, and General Manager, Legal Licensing and Enforcement, Mrs. Olufunke Dinneh, said that AEDC should pay N18million compensation to the deceased family and N100, 000 fines to the market for its negligence and failure to report the accident as at when due.

The Commission’s Accident Investigation Team that looked into the unfortunate incident discovered that AEDC failed in its responsibilities to respond to complaints by Kabusa residents that a snapped 0.415kV aluminium conductor was hanging precariously close to the ground not until the deceased minor accidentally came in contact with it and got electrocuted.

The investigators discovered that Kabusa area has “haphazard and unkempt network which constitutes manifest breach of the Electric Power Sector Reform, NESIS Regulations, Health and Safety Code besides other regulatory instruments.”

In the directive number NERC/DRT/143, the Commission observed that AEDC “placed commercial gain above safety standard and specification by

supplying electricity to sub- standard network.”

Attempt by AEDC to exonerate itself of any culpability in the incident by claiming its Fault Log Book showed no report was lodged by the residents, was found unsustainable.

This is because there was evidence that staff of the DisCo had worked on the faulty line before the sad incident.

Further claim by AEDC that it was impracticable for it to rehabilitate all its networks within two years of existence as a private entity, was considered a contradiction of the company’s obligations as specified in its licensing terms and conditions which expects the distribution to upgrade its networks.

The Commission, therefore, directed that “N18 million compensation should be paid to the family of the deceased within 30 days beginning from May 5, 2015” when the directive was signed. This is in addition to “N100, 000 fines for failing to submit a preliminary report of the incident within 72 hours in line with the Health and Safety Code.”

The company is expected to submit compliance to the Commission.

The Company was, therefore,

“directed to immediately begin renewal process of its comprehensive insurance policy; systematic and complete re-

construction of distribution network in Kabusa area; intensify consumer awareness campaign; carry out safety

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) 58850

This Week (Avg)

57696

58089

2908 1516 0

3014 1532 10

4612

4597

81 31

81 30

59475

OPEC

daily basket price

OPEC daily basket price stood at $45.43 a barrel Thursday, 26 May 2016

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

NSE president tasks FG on capital market development Stories by Afolabi Adesolq President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, has implored the government to integrate the nation’s capital market for the nation’s economic development.

Speaking at the 12th Annual Pearl Awards public lecture for capital market development held in Lagos, Aigboje said since the capital market is a barometer for measuring the state of a nation’s economy,

the Federal Government need create policy that would create environment for investment.

According to him, presently, NSE services the largest economy in Africa, being “the second largest exchange in Africa by market capitalisation at N16.1 trillion naira,” thus “championing the development of Africa’s financial markets.”

While noting that the economic growth was the panacea to most of the country’s challenges, he said government economic policy must be based

on fact and financial principles to achieve success, adding that public and private sector cooperation, collaboration and partnership were also required.

Aig-Imoukhuede, while speaking on the theme: “Global and National Socio-economic challenges and renaissance: Whiter the Nigerian capital market?”, stressed that to create an enabling environment for investment, entrepreneurship and development, the capital market should be integrated into public policy by increasing

dialogue between policy makers and market operators as well as having expert understanding of the market.

According to him, public and private sector cooperation, collaboration and partnership are required.

“The NSE and other capital market stakeholders are ready, capable and willing to do what is required for Nigeria’s socioeconomic recovery,” he said.

Aig-Imoukhuede explained that national corporate companies such as MTN, Glo

as well as other non-listed national champions should be encouraged to list on the exchange to deepen the market.

He, however, advocated for incentives/ palliatives to priority economic sectors to stimulate growth and development.

Aig-Imoukhuede said government must have both technical and business expertise that would put together quality infrastructure with the right risk and return ratio to attract capital.

Winners emerge in the UBA sponsored schools performing arts competition in Abuja

L-R: France Ambassador for International Investment and CEO, Business France, Mrs. Muriel Penicaurd; Chairman, UBA Plc and founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Chairman of Senate Inter parliamentary Committee on France-West Africa, Senator Charles Revet; French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denye Gauer at the French Senate,Palais Du Luxembourg, Paris on Friday, where Elumelu was guest speaker at the ‘Colloque Nigeria: Nigeria, the Leading African Economy’ forum.

Students from more than 30 primary and secondary schools took part in the annual FCT Interschool Performing Arts Competition (FIPAC), which held in Abuja on Thursday, May 26, 2016. The competition was sponsored by pan-African banking group; United Bank for Africa Plc as part of its commitment to youth development on the continent.

The schools competed in dance, music, theater and drama performances with three winners emerging in both the secondary school and primary school categories.

Grace Garden International School, Abuja emerged winner in the secondary school category with Glisten Academy, and Divine Mercy Secondary School coming second and third respectively.

In the primary school category, Royal Family Academy, Abuja emerged first while Titsall Global School, Abuja and Nigerian Turkish International School, came second and third respectively.

Winners will get up to N2, 000,000 in cash prizes, trophies and much more.

Speaking on the competition, Olamidun Majekodunmi, the CEO of The Studio, Abuja/ The Performing Arts School Nigeriainitiators of FIPAC, said the competition is helping build cultured, multi-talented children in Nigerian schools “that will grow up to become well-rounded Nigerian leaders in the future”. She also commended UBA for sponsoring the competition urging corporate organizations to encourage students to excel in their academic and extra-curricular activities.

SEC places 20-year ban on Okumagba, BGL boss The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has banned the Managing Director of BGL Securities Limited, Mr. Albert Okumagba, from further participation in capital market activities in the country for 20 years for market rules infractions.

Okumagba was banned along with Mr. Peter Adebola, both of whom were in addition fined N100,000 each, for breach of the code of conduct for capital market operators and their employees.

Also banned for various terms are 22 others found culpable for different capital market infractions.

The registration and operational licenses of BGL Securities Limited and BGL Assets Management Limitedwere also

revoked even as N27million fine was imposed for a similar offence. BGL Securities was equally ordered to refund about N855.54 million to the complainants.

SEC upheld the decision of its administrative proceedings committee on the matter brought against them by Afolabi Gabriel Oluwaseyi and nine others over alleged failure to liquidate their investments in both the Guaranteed Consolidated Notes (GCN) and Guaranteed Premium Notes (GPN).

The Commission said that following investigations of the several complaints received against Okumagba and BGL Securities, it was discovered that their indebtedness to petitioners stood at about N2.185 billion.

The Committee said by their

actions and/or omissions, Okumagba and BGL used the other convicted persons to engage in acts capable of adversely affecting the investing public’s image of, and confidence in the capital market.

Three of the accused persons were however discharged, as the allegations against them were not substantiated.

The various sanctions have been confirmed by the relevant regulatory authority in the capital market, SEC said in statement by its spokesperson, Habu Abdussalam, on Friday.

SEC further said that in line with the provisions of Section 304 of the Investments and Securities Act 2007 all affected persons have been referred to the enforcement department of the commission as well as all appro-

priate law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Committee said Joseph Ashley-Osuzoka would serve four years ban from engaging in capital market activities, in addition to a N100,000 fine, while Victor Obire banned for three years, would pay a fine of N100,000.

Others sanctioned includes, Ande Ewubare, Victor Inyang, Hilary Eludu, Ehime Alofoje, and Ofem Omni were banned for two years and fined N100,000 each, while Nkechi Azubike, Adekunle Alli, Mohan Lalchandani, Anthony Nwozor and Oluwo Oluwale, who were banned for one year and fined N100,000 each while Joshua Adetiloye got two years ban for his offence.

Summary of activities on NSE ASI

27,116.45

DEALS

4,902.00

VOLUME

559,079,724.00

VALUE

3,592,482,660.90

CAP

9,313,358,078,659.37

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

B7 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) 27-05-2016

Insurance B8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Use insurance not emergency budget, stakeholder tells FG An Insurance stakeholder has called on the Nigerian government to use the potentials in insurance to mitigate risks against making budget for emergencies.

The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Fatai Adegbenro, disclosed this at the Annual Lecture of Actuarial and Insurance Students of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, stating that with insurance, the government would be open to free funds for developments.

Speaking on the theme: “The Role of Insurance in an Emerging Economy”, he mentioned that the insurance allows different risks to be managed more efficiently, encourages loss mitigation and enhances peace of mind and promotes financial stability.

Adegbenro, further said that insurance helps relieve the burden on government for providing all services of social protection to citizens via social security systems, facilitates trade and commerce, supporting businesses and economic growth.

He noted that insurance also helps mobilize domestic savings, creates employments and foster efficient allocation of capital.

“It is indeed important to remember why insurance is so pervasive (and usually voluntarily) in the developed world today and increasing its presence in the developing world - because it answers some of our basic needs and it is generally for less costly in the long run to be insured than uninsured,” he said.

Mr. Fatai Adegbenro, however urged the students to partake actively in the insurance awareness campaign, adding that the economy needs insurance to thrive.

L-R: Mrs. Bunmi Oshinowo of Niger Insurance Plc; Fatai Adegbenro, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), and Sam Okwu of Niger Insurance Plc, at the Annual Lecture of Actuarial and Insurance Students of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu … recently.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance posts N6b as gross premium, pays 3k dividend Stories by Kayode Adelowokan Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc has posted a gross premium income of N6.03 billion in the year 2015, as against N4.61 billion in the previous year, while profit before tax stood at N704.91 million, as against N205.62 million and total assets stood at N7.02 billion as against N6.13 billion in 2014.

The leading underwriting firm recorded a net profit of N545.81 million in 2015 as against N193.07 posted in 2014.

Dr Obi Ekezie, the company’s outgoing Chairman disclosed this at the firm’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, recently.

He posited that from the N545.81 million profit, the sum of N180 million will be paid as dividend at

3kobo per share to shareholders, adding that the company remains one of the regular dividend paying insurer, having paid N300 million in (2009:2008 accounts); N180 million (2011:2010); N120 million (2012:2011) and N180 million (2013:2012).

Dr. Ekezie, who resigned as chairman of the firm alongside other Non-Executive Directors on March 31, 2016, due to the implementation of the new industry’s Code of Corporate Governance, introduced the new board members whose positions where ratified at the event.

He noted that the firm had paid N960 million dividend since 2007.

The new board members include: Obinna Ekezie; Mrs Eziaku Obidegwu; Andrew Odigie; Joel Avhurhi; Mrs Adebola Odukale and Ben Onuorah.

The Executive Director, Finance, Systems & Investment, Babatunde Adaramola was also unveiled at the event.

The President, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, applauded the former board members for keeping the firm afloat despite the nation’s economic challenges.

Nwosu, stressed that the former board members will be remembered for their contributions towards propping the firm to lofty heights.

He however urged the new board to live up to the confidence reposed on them, adding that the former board members have put in place a strong foundation on which they are to build on.

He though acknowledged that insurance operators in the coun-

try are working assiduously to sell their products amidst apathy.

But Sir Sunny Nwosu, urged the operators not to relent, adding that as the economy improves, backed with aggressive awareness campaign things will improve.

Meanwhile, Eddie Efekoha, the company’s Managing Director/ CEO, said “To accelerate our company’s growth towards the desired heights, a five years growth planned have been rolled out.

“The plans are strategic component visioned to be the first choice provider of insurance and other financial services in Nigeria.”

He lauded the contributions made by the outgone board, stressing that the new board consists of tested hands who are capable to drive the firm to lofty heights.

ARIAN celebrates Children’s Day, tasks parents on education insurance As the world celebrate the 2016 Children’s Day, the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) joined hundreds of students and their parents in Lagos to celebrate the hope of the country.

The National President, ARIAN, Mr. Gbadebo Olamerun, told Daily Times at Caleb International School in Ikosi, Lagos, that awareness is aimed at educating parents, Principal and pupil about the importance of insur-

ance to the life of every Nigerian child.

Olamerun, affirmed that his leadership has taken it as a point of duty to take insurance awareness to schools across the nation.

According to him, the ARIAN Education Children’s Day Initiative would be an annual event with a mass marketing across all neighborhood primary and secondary schools around the environment Insurance Agents operate across the country, adding

that individual companies’ children educational plans will be marketed during the campaign.

He maintained that the plan is also aimed at highlighting the need for insurance social security system to guarantee the education of children who are the leaders of tomorrow, stressing that a well nurtured child makes the nation strong and sound.

“This is an initiative to drive the sales of children educational plan across all the composite

insurance companies through all our members (agents) and to enlighten the public on the relevance of children educational plan,” he said.

The ARIAN President stressed that the insurance would not be necessary until when every Nigerian child have the understanding that he/she can walk into any firm that has provided cover his/her parents to lay claims for the proceed of their parents after their demise.

Life&

Times Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Amah

Grace The delectable screen diva

L2

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 31, 2016

I want to remain a role model to young ones

-Grace

Amah

Grace Amah needs no introduction in Nollywood, as far as the Nigerian movie industry is concerned, having cut her teeth as an actress early in life. The Ebonyi State-born thespian who had been off the screen but now back in the interview with AJIBADE ALABI, talks about her current engagements, career and sundry issues. Enjoy…

What is new for Grace Amah?

What is new for Grace Amah? As usual it’s a new year, new vision and sustained focus.

I will focus on my project of attending to the needy in the society and promote issues that will help protect the poor from the domination of the privileged. I want to drive a vision where everyone in the society will be proud to identify with that society and willingly contribute to the building of the society in all ramifications. I want to remain a role model to the young ones that hold the key to the future of the society.

Would you say you are fully back to Nollywood?

I am fully back to Nollywood. I never left Nollywood. I only needed to give the desired attention to the family which is the primary constituency of every human person. But I am fully back now. You will begin to see my new movies in due course because I’m getting busier.

Life&

T E A M

I read an interview where you said that Nollywood is a gathering of professional prostitutes. Are you still standing on that?

It was a question that was thrown to me during an interview and I had to say it the way I perceived it. I have got several experiences and the perception people have about us is that actresses are prostitutes.

Some of my colleagues have actually

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

downgraded the profession but I am proud to be a professional. When I got into the industry, I went through several auditions but now actresses are getting roles on a platter of gold. At that time you could attend about 20 auditions and yet, you would not get your name on the list. It was really frustrating then.

Talking of new actresses, how do you see them?

They are favoured because what we went through during my own time is certainly not what they are going through right now.

These days someone could just walk into a location and act or a producer could just see somebody on the road and call her to come and feature in a movie. Before you know what is happening, he or she would become popular and eventually become a celebrity or star as journalists always say. Most of these young actors don’t have respect for elders in the industry. Most of them don’t know how to say hello to their seniors in the industry and when the seniors go extra mile to say hello to them, they snub you.

Do you mean the upcoming artistes disrespect their seniors?

Some of the upcoming artistes don’t have respect for elders.

What makes a good actress?

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

A good actress is someone who has acting skills. If you find yourself in Nollywood, believing you are talented, you also go to school to acquire more acting knowledge. Someone who can deliver his or her character very well and pass that message to his or her audience perfectly can be said to be a good actor or actress.

Some actresses don’t know how to handle stardom. What do you think is responsible for that?

It’s simply because some of them didn’t really know they were going to become stars. As stars they became so arrogant and proud and throw caution to the wind.

Your son is four. How does it feel?

My son is four years. That was the reason you were not seeing me on screen as usual. It’s a joy of every mother to see her child in good health and in a peaceful home.

What is your relationship with his father?

My son’s father is fine. There is no problem. What is important is not relationship per se but the welfare or wellbeing of the child. And I can confirm that my son is growing great and doing very well in

Graphics Daniel Ekiye

school.

Does he pay special attention to him?

I don’t know what special attention is. He pays attention to him and that is enough.

We are still asking if you’ve found love or you will stick to your baby’s daddy.

When I am ready to discuss my love life I will invite the press (laughs).

What do you really want from the man to spend the rest of your life with?

Any man that I will spend the rest of my life with will be credible. He must have integrity. He must be caring and ready to tolerate our deficiencies.

Is it really difficult to find true love?

Finding true love depends on what the person searching for love wants. What I want in love may not be what another person wants. I will marry at God’s appointed time.

What are you most grateful to God for and your greatest wish?

I am grateful to God for life and good health. He is a great provider and I will worship Him forever. I pray to live a fulfilled life worth emulating and pleasing to God Almighty.

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday May 31, 2016

L3 Teen World

Agboola oluwarantimi

For many parents, yelling at their adolescent child is a normal event. Although most parents who yell at their teen would not dream of physically harming their teen, shouting or cursing or using insult may be detrimental to the long term wellbeing of the adolescence. Researchers found out that adolescents who had experienced harsh verbal discipline suffered from increased levels of depressive symptoms, and were more likely to demonstrate behavioural problems such as vandalism or antisocial and aggressive behaviour. “Parental warmth”— i.e., the degree of love, emotional support, and affection between parents and adolescents— did not lessen the effects of the verbal discipline. The sense that parents are yelling at the child “out of love,” or “for their own good, does not mitigate the damage inflicted.

Neither does the strength of the parent-child bond .Even lapsing only occasionally into the use of harsh verbal discipline, can still be harmful.

When parents aggressively yell at their teenagers, the teens feel rejected and that their parents dislike them. When parents act hostilely towards their children, the teens tend to become angrier, more irritable and more belligerent. Rather than feeling nurtured, the teen frequently becomes suspicious of his or her angry parents and feels the need to defend him- or herself. This often leads to bad behavior. Sometimes it’s hard to keep your cool but less yelling means better communication.

So why is it so important to be firm—without raising your voice?

Upping the ante, losing the message: Yelling often fails to get the point across because emotions can overcome the message. They will also likely escalate the situation and their children’s aggression, be it verbal or physical.

Heard it all before: If parents yell all the time, “kids may either shut down or ignore it because it’s nothing new, they feel that if they are wrong all you do is yell at them, it makes them even worse.

Hard on self-esteem: We know that yelling and harsh parenting are associated with lower self-esteem for kids, and can affect their performance in school. Kids who are the object of verbal aggression are at risk for aggressive or disruptive behaviour, when parents yell too much the child may feel the parent doesn’t “love them or even like them” and can only criticize.

Missing out on the positive: When yelling is the chronic mode of communication, both children and parents are missing out on the chance to form positive, affectionate bonds. And for kids predisposed to anxiety and depression, internalizing these negative interactions may be the tipping point.

You feel bad, too: Meanwhile, blowouts can leave parents feeling guilty, frustrated and demoralized. Adults who express anger in negative ways increase their chronic stress, which contributes to health problems.

Addressing inappropriate behaviour calmly enables you to focus on teaching the child what’s problematic about his behavior, and following through with effective consequences.

Modeling behaviour is major: When parents practice healthy self-regulation, it helps kids learn how to self-regulate themselves.

Kids feel safer: The best style of parenting

Yelling at your teen

may be more harmful than you think

features “a high degree of nurturing, firm but kind. As much as children and teens may act like they want control, what really makes them feel safe are calm, consistent, fair authority figures.

If you work on specific strategies that help yourself feel calmer, you can help your children learn to regulate better. Below are tips parents can use: Identify problem interactions: Pinpoint the recurring problems that frequently set you and your kids off. If getting out the door for school in the morning is a chronic issue, solutions might include laying out their clothes and showering the night before, or everyone waking up a bit earlier. Try to break it down into steps you can tackle calmly.

Create consistency: With younger kids, it helps to create a set routine with simple, onestep directions that could include visual aids, not to mention plenty of labeled praise and

rewards.

Consider triggers: Being aware of the context of the behavior allows for c a l m e r responses.

If we recognize when a child is cranky because he missed his snack or is overtired, it can be easier to temper our own frayed feelings.

Understanding = patience: It’s also important for parents to know and understand their children’s capabilities, since this can help them become more patient. You can become calmer, she says, when you “accept kids as they are, love them as they are, and recognize that half the problem is how you react.”

Time management: Trying to do too much causes stress. Parents trying to multi-task increases the risk of kids misbehaving. “Just be there with your kids; it’s less likely they’ll throw their breakfast on the floor.

Count to 10: All the parents interviewed for this article had one key piece of advice: Take a break and breathe. It’s important to recognize when you’re about to lose control so you can step away from the situation.

Disengage: Actively ignoring problem behaviours is another strategy that helps stop parents from yelling. If you disengage from

the situation until you regain your composure, you won’t be feeding the fire. (This cannot be done when a child is being aggressive or destructive.) Instead, by responding positively to only desire behaviour, parents reinforce what they want vs. what they don’t want.

Plus, by allowing kids to practice “slowing their engines down” on their own, without parental prompts, they’re learning how to handle frustration.

Learn to let go and when to laugh it off: Along with ignoring comes learning to loosen up. “If the snack ends up on the floor. Instead of getting mad at the kids, just say, ‘Oh no, you made a mess, let’s clean it up together.’

Do what you have to do to make it easier on yourself.

Seek support: Long adds that it also helps to have a safety net of friends and relatives for those extremely bad days when you don’t feel you can calm yourself down and need to call in reinforcements. Blogs, support groups, other parents and clinicians can all help by assuring parents they aren’t alone.

Own up to your feelings: Depending on the age and developmental level of the child, parents may, after things have calmed down, model for their kids how to talk about feelings.

“You can tell them you’re not feeling respected or you’re feeling ignored. You should make them understand the yelling—it’s not because they’re bad kids; it’s because I lost my temper.

‘I’m sorry I lost my temper—that was kind of rough, and I shouldn’t yell at you. But do you understand why I got little frustrated?’ And then we have a brief conversation about the situation.”

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 31, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday May 31, 2016

L5

L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 31, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday May 31, 2016

L7

Party Girl

Rules

Eyola

eyola@aol.com

Style your hair for dancing and make sure that your makeup stays looking as good as it did when you first arrived. Some makeup tips: before you apply lipstick, color your entire lips with lip liner; wear lip gloss over your lipstick; prep your skin using a primer before you apply makeup; use oil blotting sheets throughout the night to minimize shine; and keep your party makeup on all night long by setting your makeup with atomized water.

˿ Don’t worry about meeting anyone – a potential suitor, an ex or your worst enemy.

Dress to kill and smile. Have fun and take no notice of haters, jealous and negative people.

˿

Don’t walk home alone after a party. Keep yourself safe.

Plan your exit strategy and organize a reliable mode of transportation well before the night kicks off.

Be sure to take off all your makeup before you crash into bed. Sleeping with your makeup will prevent your skin from breathing, which will interfere with the skin healing itself and regenerating tissue. Makeup will clog pores, leading to bacteria build up, causing skin to breakout.

Keep an eye on your drinks. Know your limit. Alcohol is dangerous when it is used irresponsibly. Never let your drink go out of sight. If it does, don’t drink it.

Buy another drink from the bar, in a fresh new glass.

Don’t accept drinks from strangers. Drink at your own pace and don’t let anyone top up your glass until your glass is empty.

Detox after each night out. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid salt, sugar and alcohol. Start the day with a big mug of hot water and a few slices of lemon to flush out toxins in the body.

Eat healthy. The more fruits and vegetables, the better. Take your vitamin supplements to replenish your body with essential vitamins and minerals and to restore your energy levels.

˿

Party before the party. Get yourself in high spirits before you arrive. Hang out with a handful of close friends pre-party or put your favorite music on, turn the volume up, sing along and dance, dance, dance.

Wear a stylish crossbody bag, so that you don’t have to dance around your bag on the dance floor.

˿ Follow Eyola on Facebook: /Eyola and Twitter: @WorldEyola

L8 TV guide

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday May 31, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

Movies ACTION+ Channel 106

Movies Comedy Channel 104

11:20

18:00

Tue, 31 May |PG

Tue, 31 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