Dtn 5 7 16

THE

DAILY

TIMES

NIGERIA INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER. EST. 1926 WWW.DAILYTIMES.NG https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

dailytimesng

Court recognises Melaye alleges plan Makarfi as PDP to indict Saraki, national chairman Forgery trial:

Ekweremadu with forged Police report Ï ó^Ə ƆƅƑƐƈ Ɠ ƐƏƕƈ Ɛ doctor the report and include the names of both presiding officers’ 11 Ï ój Ɔ Ƈ Ə ƆƏƕ ƅ Ɔ ƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ɔƈ Ɛ Ƈ ƗƆ ƍƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƅƕ some elements to bring Ɨ Ɠ Ɛ Ɔ ƋƆ ƈ Ƌ ƐƑƏƆô

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Ï d ƆƏƈƇƇ ƊƈƅƊ è ƕ Ɔ remains in charge until Court of Appeal’s decision Ï 0 ƕ Ɔ ƈƋ ƉƑƗ ƆƌƆ Ɛè ƕ ƋƋ Ɔ Ƒƈ Ɔ Ƌ ƒƆƏ Ƈ ƍ ƏƐƕ ƌƑ Ɛ Ɠ Ƒƍƍ ƏƐ Makarfi

90

YEARS OF JOURNALISM

Lateef Ibrahim, ƄƑƉ

ÏÏÏA

Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday recogContinued on page 11

TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 145

N150

Ƅƈ ƒƆƏ Ə ƈƍ Ƌ Ɖ ƌ

Your enrolment order hasty, Ikpeazu tells judge Ï j Ɔ ƅ ƑƏƐ ƗƈƗ Ɛ Ƅ ƆƏƒƆ Ɛ Ɔ ƌ Ɨ Ɛ Əƕ ƆƒƆ Ɨ ƕ ƋƋ ƓƆƗ Ƅƕ Ƌ Ɠ – Ikepazu’s lawyer, Olanipekun Ï ƑƏƐ ƉƑƏƈ ƗƈƅƐƈ Ɛ ƈ Ɔ Ə ƋƌƆ Ɛ ƏƗƆƏ ƕ ƐƈƌƆ ƇƐƆƏ ƗƆƋƈƒƆƏƕ Ƈ ƉƑƗ ƌƆ Ɛ – Judge Ï ƑƏƐ ƇƈƔƆ CƑƋƕ ƣ Ɛ Ɔ ƐƆƏƐ ƈ 9ƊƍƆ ƖƑô ƍƍƋƈƅ Ɛƈ Ƈ Ə dƐ ƕ Ƈ &ƔƆƅƑƐƈ è R ô Ƈ Ə Ɔ Ƈ ƏƅƆƌƆ Ɛ Ï 9Ƈ ƕ Ƒ ƏƆƌ ƒƆ 9ƊƍƆ ƖƑè ƓƆ ƓƈƋƋ ƌ ƊƆ Ƅƈ Ƒ ƒƆƏ ƄƋƆè nƊƓ éM Ɠ ƕ ƑƐ Ɠ Ə Ï 9ƊƍƆ ƖƑô Ɛ Ɣ ƅƆƏƐƈƇƈƅ ƐƆ Ɛ Ƈ ƊƆè ƓƆ ƓƆƏƆ ƆƒƆƏ ƈ ƒƈƐƆƗ Ƅƕ Ɛ Ɔ ƅ ƑƏƐ – Abia Revenue Agency

11

Buhari names Baru as new NNPC GMD Ï E ƅ ƈƊƓƑ Ɛ ƅ ƈƏ ƆƓ Ƅ ƏƗ of corporation

12

d ƑƗƈè _ Ɛ Əè n & Ƅ ƆƏƒƆ &ƈƗéƆƋé0ƈƐƏ zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕ 0 ƏƌƆƏ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛè #Əê 1 ƗƋƑƅƊ C Ɛ æƌƈƗƗƋƆçì `ƈƒƆƏ dƐ ƐƆ 1 ƒƆƏ Əè MƕƆ ƌ zƈƊƆ æƋƆƇƐçè Ɨ Ɛ ƆƏ ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƏƏƈƒ Ƌ Ƈ C Ɛ ƇƐƆƏ ƈ ƐƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƌ ƍƆ Ɗƈ Ɛ ƑƏè Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ^ ƏƐ 6 Əƅ ƑƏƐ ƈƏƍ ƏƐČ dƑ Ɨ ƕ ƈ Ɛê

NSE QUICK BITE

GAINERS AS AT 4th July, 2016 OANDO

7.37

0.68

10.16%

VANLEER

9.69

0.46

4.98%

LOSERS SKYEBANK

0.95

-0.10

-9.52%

HONYFLOUR

1.51

-0.10

-6.21%

11

Yul Edochie No hidden z ƕ 9 L2 stopped kissing in ƌ ƒƈƆ

agenda to ban Nigeria’s crude oil B1 – US Envoy

Alleged N4.9bn fraud: Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman get N250m bail each

12

2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, July 4, 2016

Page Three

s

3

PHOTO TIMES

Editorial SON and substandard goods

R

ecently, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), impounded 500 expired tyres and suspended the sale of 1,000 suspected substandard steel bars in Calabar, Cross River State. According to the state coordinator of SON, Mr. Udeme Udom, the items were confiscated during a market surveillance carried out by the organisation in some building material shops between May and June. Furthermore, Udom disclosed that apart from tyres and iron rods, the agency seized substandard automobile parts, consumable products and electrical appliances.

Even though we are alarmed and worried at this development, it comes as no surprise. There is no doubt that Nigeria ranks first among the countries where substandard items such as drugs food and beverages, articles, electrical materials, electronics, household appliances and equipment, building materials, automobiles, spare parts and tyres are dumped indiscriminately.

Unfortunately, this absurdity appears to be underestimated by both the public and government. Part of the reason is that we have become accustomed to abnormalities and oddities. In Nigeria, lives and property are lost due to building collapse or fire outbreak occasioned by substandard materials and electrical parts, even as our roads and highways have become graveyards of crashed vehicles running on substandard tyres that are prone to bursting at high temperatures. How many accidents could have been avoided were it not for motorists buying and fitting these tyres on their vehicles?

Unfortunately, Nigerians are not getting value for their money because they probably spend five times more replacing and maintaining these products because of their inferior quality, a clear case of huge economic waste and losses. It is a fact that Nigeria is facing a monumental battle against importation of substandard goods. This is

because of the often-huge profits dealers in such goods can make. This contrasts with the losses sellers of genuine products have to endure, because substandard goods tend to be cheap. It is estimated that more than 55 per cent of imported products valued at N15 billion are believed to be lost annually to fake or counterfeit goods.

It is worthy to note that not only do substandard goods pose grave dangers to public health; the risks to gullible consumers are also huge and put a big burden on the regulatory authorities to counter the trend.

For the government, it means lost revenues, customs duties and taxes, while presenting serious health hazards, privacy and security concerns, low performance and degraded quality of service to consumers.

We are aware that substandard products are the result of negligence on the part of authorities, insufficient human and financial resources by government or counterfeiting. Factors contributing to this situation include weak regulatory systems and lack of legislation against substandard and counterfeit products, and, where they do exist, there is ineffective enforcement. Others include poverty, which has weakened the purchasing power of about 65 per cent of the Nigerian population; epileptic electricity supply, which has forced many industries to relocate to other countries.

In addition, it is known that some Nigerians have been accused of conniving with some foreign manufacturers to lower the quality of goods to be imported into the country. The SON in cooperation with the Customs, among others, must step up efforts to stem the importation of substandard goods. On the other hand, Nigeria must provide a favourable economic environment and other incentives that would promote and encourage local manufacturing of products to discourage the importation of fake or substandard goods.

Ag Deputy Editor/ Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

Editor Daily Times Biodun Durojaiye

Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide

Deputy Editor/News Editor Sam Nzeh

Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru

Online Editor Segun Adio

Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

L-R: President, International Association of Business Communicators Nigeria (IABC), Chido Nwakanma; Communications Director, Lafarge Africa, Viola Graham-Douglas; General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Kudo Eresia-Eke and President, African Public Relations Association (APRA), Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, during the IABC 6th Business Leaders Forum with theme: 2016 Communication Trends and CSR’, powered by ExxonMobil and Lafarge, held in Lagos... recently.

Acting Business Development Manager Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Asst. Business Dev. Manager Yetunde Oyelude 08033600907

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Group Head Business & Special Project Christelle Mande 08088144613 Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription 09033765031 Laureta Airamoehi 08028554956

Group Head Commercial & Marketing Konnie Agu 09033765031

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

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode (in black), before he was granted bail in the sum of N250 million on alleged fraud at the Federal High Court in Lagos… on Monday.

Words On Marble :

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

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) serving some physically-challenged and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to Ramadan breakfast in Presidential Villa, Abuja… on Monday.

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Mathew Kukah

David Oyedepo

Norma Vincent Peale

“The world can provide for the need of everybody but cannot provide for the greed of everybody.”

“Until you are willing to change your approach, you cannot improve on your results.”

“The trouble with most of us is that we’d rather be ruined by praise than loved by criticism”.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

5

6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

7 News

Fayose’s account remain frozen, as Court adjourns hearing Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÎÎÎThe

Zenith Bank Account of the embattled Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose has remained frozen following the adjournment of the hearing, just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) submitted a 20-paragraph affidavit and 10 exhibits at the Federal High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, to justify recent freezing of personal accounts of the governor.

The leader of the 3-man legal team that came to hold brief for the anti-graft agency, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that 10 of the affidavit was filed in response to the summon by the court that EFCC should appear before it to give reasons why it should not grant Fayose’s prayers for the defreezing of his accounts domicile with Zenith bank.

He said another separate 10-paragraph counter affidavit, and one exhibit was also filed in response to the

Gov. Fayose original affidavit filed before the court by the governor

while seeking injunction of the court to stop the agency from further holding on to his accounts.

According to him, EFCC decided to make representation to the court and file the said responses to prove that it was a law-abiding organisation that has respect for the judiciary, while the second defendant, Zenith bank was also represented at the hearing by a 4-man defence team headed by Mr. Oluwaseun Omotosho.

EFCC defence papers

Oduah denies stashing N2.5b in aide’s account Olufemi Samuel & Chris Emetoh, Abuja

ÎÎÎFormer

Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah (PDP/ Anambra North), has dismissed report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had traced the sum of N2.5 billion to an account operated by her house maid, stating that the report has no iota of

truth whatsoever.

The Senator faulted the report which she said was anchored on “non-existent source in EFCC, stressing that the report was published essentially to tarnish her name.

She described the report, published by an online news blog, Sahara Reporters as “Totally false, baseless and at best the imagination of the platform who

is only set out to extort and blackmail leaders in its continuous attempt by their paymasters to break the rank of Senators of the 8th Assembly.”

Oodua averred that she had taken note that Sahara Reporters has of late been publishing false reports about her in a manner that portrayed it as all out to mislead Nigerians while in the process bastardising

journalism as a profession.

The Senator, in a statement she personally signed, said, “The online platform claimed their sources in EFCC said a whopping N5.6 billion must have been stolen, then went further to contradict itself that the agency had determined it was N3.6 Billion, then again reduced it to N2.5 billion in the same publication.”

could, however, not be debated as lead counsel to Fayose, Chief Mike Ozekhome, who led 15 other lawyers complained to the court that the documents of justification brought by EFCC were submitted to him barely three minutes to commencement of the day’s sitting.

Describing the action of EFCC as an “ambush”, he pleaded with the court for adjournment to enable his team study the affidavits as well as contest the exhibits.

He also submitted that a

quick flipping through the EFCC documents indicated that direct opposite of what Fayose pleaded in his original affidavit was what EFCC tendered.

“My Lord, I have quickly ran through the EFCC documents and found out that all issues raised in its defence are issues that were not raised by my client.

“It is therefore proper that we be given time to read and counter every single issue that the EFCC has alleged”, he said.

Skye Bank: Militants, shareholders seek reversal of CBN’s decision Titilope Joseph

ÎÎÎA militant group in the

Niger Delta- Iduwn Volunteers Force (IVF) and some major shareholders in the banking sector have described the CBN’s decision to forcefully ‘wind up’ activities of Skye Bank Plc and some other banks under the pretence of ‘Insider Credits’, as anti-people’s policy and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the action.

In their agitation, they have

also asked the President to prevail on the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to withdraw a letter addressed to 11 banks, including Skye Bank Plc which has compelled them to bring insider related credits’ before December 31.

According to them, the action would throw the country into economic instability if the apex bank be allowed to go ahead with its planned directive as the plan was nothing but to take-over the 11 banks.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Politics

BUHARI

Buhari is biting more than he can chew — Akinlaja, former Deputy President, NLC

s Hon Joseph Akinlaja, representing Ondo East Ondo West in the lower legistlative chamber and a former deputy president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), currently the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream, in this interview spoke on national issues including the crisis in the Niger-Delta, War Against Corruption by Buhari’s administration and the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State. Excerpts:

What is your reaction to the ongoing forgery trial against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Eke Ekweremadu?

I see the trial as a political persecution. It should never have come up at all. Why I’m saying so, the trial amount to the executive interference in the affairs of the upper chamber. How members elect their own officers is none of the executive business.

Then if at all, if any trial is to come up, it is to be initiated by

members of the Senate, and that will be if any of them feel aggrieved that the election process was not transparent enough.

If it is any member of the senate or group of senators that initiated the suit, there is no problem with that because they are interested parties. But for God’s sake what is Malami’s business with how members of the National Assembly elect their own principal officers?

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

For PDP, the beginning of the end Ahead of 2019, with the muscle flexing of the factions laying claim to the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there are indications that the party might lose out forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.

Though the election is coming up in September, barely two months from now, the two factions have sent two different names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a development that might give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) an open field to coast home to victory.

Already, the Ahmed Makarfifaction of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that the INEC has no basis to recognise the candidate of the Ali Modu Sheriff group of the party for the forthcoming Edo governorship election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Makarfi-led PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, told newsmen in Port Harcourt at the weekend that the governorship candidate of the party ahead of the Edo

ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA

“I am pleased to see that we are now all agreed that the Federal system is, under present conditions, the only sure basis on which Nigeria will remain united.’’

poll remained Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Adeyeye, who decried the indiscriminate manner the judiciary was churning out orders in the PDP crisis as dangerous to democracy, said that Sheriff was removed by the PDP National Convention in line with the party’s constitution.

Explaining that the amendment of the PDP Constitution only allowed the national deputy chairman of the party to take over in the absence of a substantive chairman, Adeyeye maintained that Sheriff should not have been made the acting chairman of the party.

“In Edo, the Sheriff faction is saying INEC must recognise the candidate submitted by it (Sheriff faction). How would INEC take something from a man that is only a busybody to the party?

“If a court had ruled that Sheriff is not the chairman of the PDP, how then would a court say that INEC should recognise a candidate recognised by Sheriff,” Adeyeye further queried.

The Makarfi-led PDP national publicity secretary wondered why Sheriff would continue to

NNAMDI AZIKIWE

No matter how old an individual may be, no matter if he is young or old, if he thinks in accordance with the times he is immortal.

MAKARFI parade himself as the PDP chairman when a National Convention had removed him.

FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI

“To be spiritual is not by praying and going to church. Spiritualism is the understanding of the universe so that it can be a better place to live in.”

PDP National chairman

On the series of court orders issued over the crisis in the party, Adeyeye said: “When has it be-

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

“Those who desire to reach, and keep their places at the top in any calling must be prepared to do so the hard way.”

come the tradition for courts to choose executive members of a party?

“Sheriff is saying that he is the national chairman of the PDP by a court order even when the governors and other members of the party have rejected him. Some people are trying to use the judiciary to destroy Nigeria’s democracy.

“An example is what is playing out in Abia State. But we are not going to allow our nation’s democracy to be destroyed. Nigeria has become a laughing stock and we must sensitise people to this because it (indiscriminate court injunctions) is a new development.

“People are trying to manipulate the judiciary for their own gains and this is dangerous for democracy. The PDP National Convention is supreme and Sheriff has no legal basis to parade himself as the PDP national chairman,” he added.

Adeyeye, however, described the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states as litmus tests for INEC, adding that Nigerians were not interested in inconclusive elections.

ALEX EKWUEME

“Ours is hardly a Federation except in name”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

9 Politics

Buhari’s Anti-Corruption war commendable but must unmask the looters — Akinlaja, member house of Reps & former Deputy President, NLC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

What Malami the Attorney General of the Federation has done by dragging Saraki and Ekweremadu to court amounts to interference. This suit is in bad taste – it is a clear case of lawmakers being harassed by the executive – the suit is an abuse of separation of powers, and it is capable of setting the executive and the legislature on a collision course.

But what some people are saying is that a crime has been committed …

Cuts in … Which crime has been committed when members of the National Assembly decided to elect their own officers, and refused to tow party line. Saraki is in trouble because he decided to contest Senate Presidency in defiance of his party’s APC’s directive that a particular candidate had been chosen by the party, and that the preferred candidate must be elected Senate President.

But Saraki defied his party’s directive and that is why he is in trouble. But Nigerians should not have short memory. This will not be the first time such a thing will happen.

If you remember during the time of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 when he won re-election for 2nd term, and PDP was zoning out political offices, it was agreed that the post of Speaker House of Representatives should be zoned to the south-west, but what happened later? PDP lawmakers defied the party, and went ahead to elect Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto State as the Speaker of the House. Did PDP or President Goodluck Jonathan ha-

rass these legislators for defying the party? No. Although the party was not happy but the will of the legislators was respected.

What are you now suggesting?

Saraki and Ekweremadu’s trial should be discontinued. APC and Buhari are overheating the polity.

My advise to Buhari is that he should not let bad advisers mislead him. Buhari should not bite more than he can chew. He already has loads of problems upon his head – why add this one to it?

The Boko Haram problem is still there for him, the Niger-Delta crisis is there, the Biafra problem is also there for him, killings by Fulani herdsmen is there, the economy crisis is also there, insecurity problem across the land is also there for him to contend with, what about problem of hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians? Buhari should take it easy. Even the corruption war is also there that he is fighting. He can’t afford to work with a hostile or fractured legislature. He just needs to take it easy.

On the issue of lingering crisis within PDP especially the battle between Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions, what is the way out?

The way out for Sheriff is to quit. Majority of the members no longer want him to stay, and he must respect their decision.

Initially we thought Sheriff had come to help rebuild PDP to become a formidable party again, but recent events have shown that Sheriff is being sponsored to destroy PDP. He is suspected to be working for APC in order to weaken PDP. Sheriff ’s prob-

Akinlaja

lem is the usual problem with a Blackman, that is this sit-tight syndrome. They asked Sheriff to take over in acting capacity for a period of time, and the time has lapsed but the man didn’t want to go again.

PDP members should not panic. The will and wish of the majority members of PDP must be respected. Whether Sheriff likes it or not, he must go. Sheriff will be flushed out of PDP through constitutional means.

But Sheriff has been claiming that he has the mandate of majority of PDP members to remain as the party’s chairman until 2018 …

Cuts in … That’s a mere wishful thinking, who are with him?

When PDP state governors, majority members of the party’s Board of Trustees, and state chairmen of the party across the federation including PDP members at the National Assembly have all pledged their support for Ahmed Makarfi’s committee, I

don’t know what Sheriff is waiting for.

As a former SecretaryGeneral of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union, NUPENG, and Deputy President, NLC, what do you think is the way out of the current Niger-Delta crisis, especially the bombing of oil pipelines and facilities by a militant group, Niger-Delta Avengers?

The way out of Niger-Delta crisis and other problems facing Nigeria today is for us to return to a true practice of federalism.

True federalism is the only panacea to the myriads of woes confronting Nigeria today. Let each region control resources within its own domain and pay tax to the government at the centre.

The claims of one region or certain states suffering if this is done are unfounded. There is no state in Nigeria that doesn’t have one or two mineral resources. It is our over-dependence on oil that is killing Nigeria. It is time for us to shift attention on other areas through diversification. I believe that without oil Nigeria can survive.

There are many mineral resources in the North which have not been exploited, and this can be done on a commercial basis.

The same thing also applies to the West and the East. Have we even forgotten the era of cocoa and palm oil in the west, cotton and groundnut pyramid in Kano, and coal mining in Udi in the east.

But unfortunately, when oil came, we neglected all these things which used to be money spinners for the nation.

I’m above seeking to be governor - Babachir Lawal Lawal

Secretary to Government of the Federation, (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, says at his age and level he is above seeking the position of governor in the country.

According to him, consequent-

ly, he is not nursing the ambition to become governor of Adamawa State.

Lawal told newsmen in Yola at the weekend that the speculation was baseless, adding that at his

age and position as SGF, it was not proper for him to think of serving as state governor in the future.

“At over 60 years of age and my position as SGF, I should not be thinking of being a governor; governorship should be left for younger people”, he stressed.

Lawal also said he was not planning to sponsor a candidate for governorship of the state.

His words: “The whole thing is funny; they are even saying that I favour my own tribe of Kilba

in federal appointments because Boss Mustafa was recently appointed the Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways Agency.

“People need to know that Mustafa is not only well qualified for the job but also a chieftain of the party who actively participated as an official in Buhari Campaign Organisation.

“Buhari knows Mustafa’s capacity and Buhari’s appointments are always based on merit.

“If they said I engineered the

appointment of Mustafa because he is a Kilba man like me, how about other appointments of Adamawa indigenes that are not Kilba.

“Another funny thing is that in Abuja, some people are accusing me of favoring Adamawa”, he lamented.

He urged Nigerians to shun rumours and politics of sentiments, adding that Buhari has good plans for Nigerian and was committed to positive transformation of the country. NAN

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Fayose saga: Ekiti APC sends SOS to police, army, SSS The political crisis in Ekiti State involving the state governor, Ayodele Fayose has taken a new turn as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has sent a save-OurSoul message to the state Commissioner of Police, James Etop, over alleged threats to the lives of its members by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s aides.

A statement by the State Secretary, Omotoso Paul Ayodele, referred to an earlier petition sent to the police on June 26, 2016 alleging planned attacks against party’s members.

In a petition also copied to the State Director of DSS, Omotoso explained that on Monday June 27, 2016 under the guise of holding a rally against President Muhammadu Buhari and in support of Governor Ayodele Fayose, some hoodlums suspected to be PDP members stormed a restaurant/bar operated by an APC member, Mrs Ayoola Adetola, at Okeyinmi area of Ado-Ekiti, smashing many cartons of beer worth about N40, 000 for no reason other than for being member of APC. Besides, in the latest plot, he alleged that top APC members, including the party’s spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun, and

members of APC’s media team were being marked for attacks to keep them out of circulation.

His words: “Similarly, as we mentioned in our earlier letter about the threats of attacks, another member of our party, Mrs Omotunde Fajuyi, whose organisation, Be The Change Organisation (BCO) led the anticorruption rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, June 24, 2016, has come under both verbal attacks and threats of assassination from persons suspected to be working for Governor Ayodele Fayose.

“Some aides of the governor led by his Special Assistant on New Media, Lere Olayinka using a facebook pseudo account of Irinkerindo; a member of the House of Assembly representing Ijero constituency, Mr. Dayo Maxima; a Special Assistant to Governor Fayose, Mr. Sunshine Anifowose;- and one Igbalajobi David Ayodele on June 25, 2016 on their Facebook pages, launched a very damaging smear campaign against Mrs. Fajuyi by maligning her person calling her many unprintable names.

“Not done, these aides sent hoodlums suspected to be hired assassins to the residence of Mrs Fajuyi to pose as part of the peo-

ple who participated in the rally with her and had come to collect their own share of the purported money in her custody with the plan that Mrs Fajuyi should be hacked to death under the excuse that she refused to pay them.

“To perfect their plan linking the attack on Mrs Fajuyi to purported short-changing of the protesters, the above named aides wrote on their Facebook pages that some people were at Mrs. Fajuyi’s house to demand for their share of the money for participating at the rally. They lied that Mrs Fajuyi collected N1.7million for the rally and refused to pay those who participated.

“The hoodlums, who were armed with axes and cutlasses actually came to Mrs Fajuyi’s residence but luckily for her, she was with her neighbour where she could see them at a distance at her gate making noise and threatening she should come out. They left with a promise to come back. Mrs Fajuyi has since left town for fear of her life,” Omotoso explained.

He denied that Fajuyi collected money to hold the rally but was sponsored by her organisation and the people who participated at the rally were members of her

FAYOSE

Governor, Ekiti State

organisation who she knew very well, while those who came to her house were hoodlums on a mission to attack.

He also explained that the governor’s aides only wanted to create an alibi to eliminate Fajuyi for holding the rally where speakers representing various interest groups encouraged the EFCC to recover the money allegedly found in the governor’s accounts, which Omotoso said did not go well with the aides.

He added: “We also learnt that the State PRO, Honourable Taiwo Olatunbosun, and members

of the party’s media team have also been marked for attack.

“We wish to state clearly that the aides working for Governor Fayose shall be held responsible if anything bad happens to Mrs Fajuyi, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun or any member of our party.”

Also at the weekend, in what looked like a smear campaign against the APC’s spokesman, the social media was awash with a purported letter by Olatunbosun castigating the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, for her alleged complicity in Halliburton scandal.

We are sensitive to Kogi students’ plights - Bello

Bello

The Kogi State Government has denied allegations by the national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, that it insensitive to the plight of students in the state.

In a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Kingsley Fanwo, the government described the attacks as unjustified on the Government of Kogi State by an association which is still sorting out its leadership splinters.

His words: “It is incredulously ridiculous to insinuate that Governor Yahaya Bello is not sensitive to the plight of the students at the state-owned university, which has been on strike for months.

“Immediately after his inauguration, authorities of the various higher institutions in the State

were the first to be invited for briefing by the Governor. He assured them of his determination to reposition tertiary education in the State, saying his New Direction agenda was built on the platform of education.

“The Academic Staff Union of University told the whole world that they were going on strike because of unpaid salary arrears owed by the previous government.

But, out of commitment to the need to prioritise education, Governor Yahaya Bello has paid six months salaries to the university staff since assuming office on January 27, 2016; the latest being the four months salaries paid even as he awaited the final report of the staff verification exercise.

‘The State Government nego-

tiating team has continued to engage ASUU on the need to resolve the industrial dispute and reopen the university. “If for any reason, it is expected that the students body would have directed its angst at the lecturers, who have not reciprocated the good gesture of government. Directing tirades at the government, despite its efforts, is the height of irresponsible activism and misplaced intervention.

“NANS should have been properly informed about the real reasons why salaries were delayed.

Hundreds of millions of Kogi State resources had been going into ghost pockets. In a bid to block the corruption by a fiefdom, the Governor took the bull by the horn by directing a scientific and holistic staff verification exercise.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

11 News

Your enrolment order hasty, Ikpeazu tells judge Andrew Orolua, Abuja & Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

ÏÏÏA Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday adjourned till July 7, to entertain the application for stay of judgment execution filed

by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Justice Okon Abang fixed the date after listening to the submissions of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to Ikpeazu.

Olanipekun had informed the court that late receipt of counter affidavit to his main application from Dr Alex Izinyo (SAN), counsel to Uche Ogah, necessitated the demand for extra days to file further responses.

Olanipekun had at first request the court to set aside the enrollment

judgment order it made on July 1.

Olanipekun argued that the enrollment order was hastily done, saying the court did not observe the mandatory seven days allowed by law.

Enrollment order is a summary of the judgment delivered on June 27 and was allegedly used to the advantage of Ogah.

He also said that the court should abrogate the Certificate of Return issued to Ogah, adding that INEC was already served when it carried out the action.

On his part, Izinyon dismissed that argument, saying that the Certificate of Return was dated June 28 and was not given to his client after the notice of appeal was served.

This was collaborated by Mr

Alhassan Umar, counsel to INEC, when he said the commission had carried out the judgment order before the service was received.

Ruling on the application to vacate the enrollment order made

by Olanipekun, Abang held that it lacked merit. ``The court of law has the jurisdiction to sign its enrollment order any time upon the delivery of a judgment. ``In fact, the enrollment order is not made to favour either the judgment debtor or judgment creditor.

It is simply an enrollment order of the court. ``Any party is free to apply to the Registrar of the Court for a Certified True Copy (CTC). ``If the appellant applicant did not apply for the

CTC then the court is not to blame,’’ he said.

The judge further said: ``besides, Orders 23 Rule 3 and 54 Rule 2 of the court gives me the jurisdiction to sign the enrollment. ``I do not have to wait for the expiration of the three days as stated in Order 4 Rule 2 of the Judgment Enforcement Rule as contended by Olanipekun to sign it. ``I have jurisdiction to sign the enrollment order as at the time I did. With respect to the senior learned counsel, the application lacks merit and it is hereby dismissed,’’ he held.

Abang further held that: ``the second leg of the application for Continued on page 12

Staff of Egor Local Government council of Edo State barricaded Benin/Lagos Expressway over alleged non-payment of 17 months’ salary arrears in Benin…on Monday.

Forgery trial: Melaye alleges plan to indict Saraki, Ekweremadu with forged Police report Olufemi Samuel & Chris Emetoh, Abuja

ÏÏÏChairman, Senator Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi Central has raised the alarm on what he called a plan by certain individuals to doctor the Police report on the investigation of allegation of forgery leveled against the leadership of the Senate so as to indict Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Melaye in a statement stated that those behind the sinister plot are scheming to forge a police report different from the one signed by DIG Dan’Azumi J. Doma in other to

justify and prove a case of forgery against the Senate President and the deputy president.

He said it was necessary for members of the public to be aware of the ‘unlawful plan’ According to him, “We have our own sources and we have been reliably informed that the prosecution having realized that there is a big hole in their case against Saraki and Ekweremadu who were not mentioned in the police report, are now trying to doctor the report and include the names of both presiding officers of the Senate.

“We are aware of that development and we want members of the public to know the level of desperation that these people are ready to

go to nail the Senate President and his deputy.

“It is because of this plan that they refused to include the police report in the process they filed in court. We have said it repeatedly that the government and specifically, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami has no case against our presiding officers. They filed the case to distract the two men, embarrass them, force a change of leadership and eventually cow the Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general.

“The forgery case is the height of desperation by some elements to bring down the legislature. Malami has a personal agenda to achieve

an objective for which he has been hired as a counsel by a few aggrieved Senators. Now, a court has affirmed our claim that he is abusing his office and that there is a conflict of interest involving him.

“The said police report is already in the public space. The media has published it verbatim. We will be watching them to see how they will smuggle Saraki and Ekweremadu’s names into it.

“This is the height of desperation and we will continue to monitor developments on it. It is clear those who initiated this forgery suit against the leadership of the Senate know that they have made a mistake. They should cut their losses and discontinue the error.

Makarfi

Court recognises Makarfi as PDP national chairman Continued from page 1 nised Sen. Ahmed Makarfi as the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Muhammad Liman in his judgment said that the National Convention of the PDP held in Port Harcourt was lawfully conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and guideline.

Liman said that the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff’s led executive was lawfully dissolved during the national convention held in Port Harcourt.

The national leadership of the PDP and the Board of Trustees had filed a motion before the court, seeking the recognition of the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi`s led Caretaker Committee.

The motion also prayed the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff`s faction of the party.

The Sheriff-led faction of the PDP also filed two motions, praying the court to declare the faction the authentic leadership of the party.

The Sheriff faction also asked the court to declare as ‘’null and void and of no effect,’’ the May 21 National Convention of the party held in Port Harcourt.

Saudi, Qatar, UAE observe Eid-il-Fitr on Wednesday ÏÏÏSaudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have announced that Eid il-Fitr in these countries will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 6, making Tuesday the last day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Authorities made the announcement on Monday evening after failing to sight the moon that marks the start of the three-day festival.

Eid il-Fitr starts when the new moon is spotted in the sky, making the Eid holiday different around the world. The celebrations begin when the fasting month of Ramadan ends and the following month of Shawwal begins.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

L-R: Chairman and Founder, Asian Banker, Emmanuel Daniel; Chief Inspiration Officer, XL Family, Jaspar Roos; Head, SME Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinna Ukachukwu; Head, Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Anya Duroha and Managing Director, Connected Thinking, Matt Dooley; at the 2016 Asian Banker - West Africa International Banking Convention, Stanbic IBTC clinched the Most Innovative SME Bank of the Year award, in Lagos… recently.

Alleged N4.9bn fraud: Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman get N250m bail each

…As EFCC arraigns Omokore, Diezani’s associate, over alleged money laundering

Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏTemporary respite, on Monday, came the way of two former ministers and chieftains of Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Senator Nenadi Esther Usman as a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos admitted them to bail.

Justice Sulaiman Hassan also admitted one Danjuman Yussuf, who was charged alongside the duo to bail.

They were charged before the court on alleged N4. 9 billion fraud but admitted to bail in the sum of N250 million each with two sureties in the like sum.

The judge also ordered that the sureties must have landed proper-

ties within the jurisdiction of the court and its title documents must be verified within seven days.

Justice Hassan also ordered the three defendants to deposit their international traveling passport with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), while equally ordered that they should be returned to prisons’ custody pending the perfection of the bail conditions.

The matter was subsequently adjourned till October 19, 2016 for the trial of the three defendants.

The judge upheld the submissions of the defendants’ lawyers, Mr. Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and S. I. Ameh, who urged the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms.

But opposing the bail applications, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo and Mark Ananna, urged the court to discontinue the defendants’ bail applications on the ground that they may likely tamper with the evidence and interfere with the witnesses.

The three accused persons, and a limited liability company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited, were arraigned before the court last Tuesday, on a 17 count-charge bordering on fraud, stealing and corruption.

Also, the anti-graft agency on Monday arraigned Jide Omokore, chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited and associate of former Petroleum Resources minister, Mrs. Diezani Ali-

son-Madueke, in court.

On June 20, the anti-graft agency announced the arrest of Omokore and Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Omokore was arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, alongside other accused persons.

According to the EFCC, Omokore is to be tried on four counts of money laundering to the tune of N400m.

Other defendants to the charge are Victor Briggs, Abiye Memnere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

Your enrolment order hasty, Ikpeazu tells judge Continued from page 11 adjournment is hereby granted and July 7 is fixed to hear all the postjudgment applications’’.

Justice Abang said that Olanipekun’s oral application seeking to set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission lacks merit. He ruled that court processes don’t includes enrolment orders.

Earlier, Olanipekun (SAN) who was appearing in the matter for the first time had urged the court to adjourn the matter till Thursday but

Izinyon (SAN) refused and prayed the court to vacate an Abia State high court ex-parte order inhabiting the judgment execution.

Both counsel to the parties also accused each other of resorting to self-help when the matter is pending before the court of appeal.

Meanwhile, an apex umbrella body of all youths in Ukwa/Ngwa land, Supreme Council of UkwaNgwa Youths, has warned that if Ikpeazu is removed, the body will make Abia state ungovernable.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, the body called on President Muhammadu Buhari to “as a mat-

ter of urgency, wade in and nip in the bud the brewing crisis” in the state.

Speaking for the youths, the National Co-ordinator, Comrade Kinsley Nna Okdigbo frowned at the judgment that ordered for the “hurried” issuance of certificate of returns to Dr. Uche Oga by INEC, on the 30th of June This, he noted was done by INEC “having acknowledged the receipt of motion for the stay of execution and notice of appeal filed by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on the 28th of June 2016”, even when Dr. Oga “ab initio did not accept the outcome of the

PDP governorship primaries”.

They described the scenario as “a rape of the Ngwa man”, stating, “This is a clear case of judicial rape on the democracy of Nigeria, an act we shall vehemently resisted by whatever means possible. No man is born violent or a militant.

“The council states that in clear terms, the security and safety of oil and gas facilities, staff of the operational joint venture companies in Ukwa-Ngwa nation can no longer be guaranteed if issues raised herein are not redressed in consonance with the rule of law and diligent due process.

Buhari names Baru as new NNPC GMD Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident

Muhammadu Buhari on Monday appointed Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru as the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

This was announced in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Adesina said the appointment followed the composition of the board of the NNPC which was dissolved along with those of other federal establishment at the inception of the present administration.

Baru replaces the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who had been doubling as the GMD. In the new order, however, the minister will hold sway as chairman of the board as statutorily provided, the statement noted.

Besides Kachikwu and Baru, other members of the board are Mallam Abba Kyari, Dr. Thomas M.A John and Dr. Pius O. Akinyelure.

They also included Dr. Tajuddeen Umar, Mallam Mohammed Lawal, Mallam Yusuf Lawal and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum resources.

Baru

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

13

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Soyinka and Nigeria’s sovereignty

B William Bozimo

eyond his literary escapades where he had earned a justifiable international acclaim and was enthroned as a worthy Nobel Laureate in 1986 for Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, had carved a niche for himself locally as an unbridled Agent provocateur.

Essentially, as an accomplished poet and playwright, he had always been regarded as public commentator on burning national issues.

His style had been acerbic and for many years in the past, he had collided with military rulers of Nigeria for whom he had displayed a great deal of pathological distrust.

General Yakubu Gowon found his effrontery a little bit offensive during the civil war years as he leisurely strolled across the River Niger to meet and perhaps, dialogue with the Secessionist leader, Col Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the leader of the breaking away faction of Indigbo of Nigeria under a Republic of Biafra.

That adventurous spirit of Soyinka earned him incarceration for almost two and a half years in various detention cells. He was released in 1969 and he reported for duty at University of Ibadan under Professor Adeoye Lambo’s watch as the Vice Chancellor. Incidentally, the two-some was Egbas.

Reputed to have formed or founded the Pyrates Fraternity at the University of Ibadan, many until now, feel he was the father of Cultic groups in tertiary institutions as he later claimed it was an elite group of select and intelligent students who were never into the later days aspects of daggers and knives.

Professor Wole Soyinka survived the Gowonic era and went through the Civil war years and almost came face to face with the darkgoggled former military dictator in Gen Sani Abacha.

Quick witted, Soyinka reached for the borders near Seme and made away to more civilized climes. He later teamed up with Nadeco forces of politicians who had fled the country to fight against the creeping dictatorship of Gen Abacha.

He briefly flirted with IBB when he won the Nobel Laureate in 1986 and he was then appointed the first Road Safety Director General.

He had always shown incredible

disdain for his fellow Egba kinsman, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who came back as a civilian President in 1999; he was bankrolled and eventually enthroned as President. Coming on the heels of the annulled election of Chief MKO Abiola, another Egba son and multi- millionaire businessman.

Throughout his literary career, Soyinka had clearly defined his friends in the literary world and had always advocated that the first condition of humanity is freedom. Therefore, one can understand his predilection for unconstitutional governments and their strange bedfellows who kowtow and remain subservient under draconian rulers and rules.

Strangely enough, during a run up to the 2015 Presidential and general elections, Prof Wole Soyinka was patently seen hobnobbing with the newly- fangled, patch-work of a party the APC where two of his friends Chief Ashiwaju Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and the Governor of Rivers state, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, who on his 80th birthday threw a lavish birthday party put a staggering cost of N85 million.

In addition, perhaps, not too surprisingly, the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC is Professor Osibanjo- a formidable bloodline into the seemingly juicy bargain.

Wole Soyinka was hooked and railroaded into their fold.

Despite his earlier documented diatribes against the flag bearer of the APC, Professor Wole Soyinka, returned literally to his earlier vomit and polished up Maj Gen Muhammadu Buhari and described himas aborn against democrat and was worth given a benefit of the doubt.

From then on, the critics mass of Nigerians felt not quite let down but were amazed at Wole Soyinka’s volt face about the soldiers for whom he had given the length of his acerbic tongue over the years.

On the direction of the anti- corruption war, ordinarily, a Soyinka could have stood up to be counted and dismissed large portions of the war as either too self- serving or partisan or patently distractive, aimed at settling old scores.

Soyinka, after a long silence sprang out from his Abiku Forest and drew attention of President Buhari, to the his studied silence over the marauding killer- gang of Fulanic breeds, spreading mayhem

across the farmlands of people all over the place.

An Abiku exponent, like its mythical spirit child, came back again to draw attention to a misleading misnomer over the years by past rulers, mostly former military apologists to the effect that the corporate entity of Nigeria was not negotiable.

Professor Wole Soyinka in an interview with the Punch Wednesday newspaper of June 29, 20161 with a b old and screaming headline threw a fresh bombshell ‘NIGERIAS’S SOVEREIGNTY IS NEGOTIABLE’.

Prof Soyinka had joined many others who had called for restructuring the country and the Nigerian Federation and it is sovereignly was negotiable.

For Soyinka, the age-long idea of non- negotiability of the country was not good for fast development.

Professor Soyinka bared his mind on several other miond boggling issues like Cattle Reserves, the menace of Fulani Cattle herdsmen.

Syinka averred ‘ I am on the side of all those who say we must do everything to avoid disintegration.

That language I understand. I do not understand ex President Olusegun Obasanjo’s language. I do not understand President Muhammadu Buhari’s language and all their predecessors saying the sovereignty of this nation is non- negotiable.

It is bloody well negotiable and we had better negotiate it.’

This is Soyinka in his rightful elements. Quite Soyinkaresque.

Frank, fearless and to the point.

Leading form, his long awaited outburst that oftentimes is capable of

punching holes in the body systems of leaders and dictators. He eventually anchored his outburst on the implementation of the 2014 National Reforms Conference held in Abuja under President JONATHAN. Somehow, the forgotten document, which most self-confessed progressives in the country had been clamouring for, had suddenly remained silent. Soyinka said ‘ We have a habit of concerning files to the dust shelves and then we start all over again’ A telling word on over- policy had resulted in centralisation Leading to constituents units of the country resentful as they say Monkey de work Babon de chop.

There is no iota of helthy rivalry to see states coming to Abuja to collect doles as uninspiring and not productive.

For those who admire him, we expect Prof. Wole Soyinka to remain on this anti- establishment trajectory, come out occasionally to throw constructive and critical spanners in the works and steer the ship of state into a safe harbor.

It would be unSoyinkan for the literary Olympian to ‘siddon look’ like many a pedestrian watchers of the polity, especially, remain non- aligned and aloof from the chop- chop syndrome. Therein, lies your enduring legacy. Kongi, keep your reputation as spotless as you can and harvests all other assets at your disposal. As am anointed career like most strong breeds, be unique and distinct and be an enduring National Conscience for our shared humanity and generations to come. Let the Abiku spirit you symbolise not be adulterated or vitiated by other earthly demands of porridges packaged in various forms- friendships and ethnic ties.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

15 Opinion

Defining new values in Maritime sector

I

Martins Nwamadi

n 2013, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) identified the ports in Nigeria as one of the flash points of corruption, and demanded urgent intervention.

To reverse this erroneously held impression, inspired by new ideas and in line with the change mantra policy of the present administration, an inter-ministerial committee made up of NPA, NIMASA, NIS, NDLEA, CRFFN, ICPC, TUGAR, BPP, UNDP, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Federal Ministry of Finance was constituted to drive the implementation of the integrity plan.

The new vision backed saw the launching of STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) AND PORT SERVICE SUPPORT PORTAL (PSSP) recently in Abuja.

According to the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Standard Support Procedures (SOP) and Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) is a collective effort of various government agencies to bring sanity in our ports. Our goal is to have an efficient service delivery, improve personnel performance, embrace change and unhindered commitment to service.

“When all these are achieved within the set platform, the cost of doing business in Nigeria will reduce while

sharp practices will be contained and human traffic flow at the ports minimized.”

The Minister further explained that we cannot continue to run business from the prism of our eyes but must adapt to global best practices.

“The SOP and PSSP being launched today is an attempt to change the way we do things and if these services are well managed, will jumpstart other sectors of the economy that have linkages.”

Restating the enormous contribution of this service to the nation’s maritime industry, the Vice-President, who was Special Guest of Honour ,Prof.Yemi Osinbanjo revealed that the maritime sector is key to our market recovery. The service is innovative, user friendly and the portal allows the public to assess critical information that will stimulate their businesses.

Osinbajo, while commending the agencies that came to build this window of service especially Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Port Economic Regulator, who within the short period of time as interim regulator has shown a track record of excellence and best global practices was directed to ensure that our ports are not only efficiently run but arbitrary rates and charges coupled with sharp practices drastically reduced.

The portal at a glance displays responsibilities and functions of each agency in the value chain.

Apart from deepening consumer market and facilitating global trade, the service epitomises the economic and strategic potentials in the maritime sector and how to employ it for betterment of the economy.

“The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) an on-line real time platform domiciled in Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been developed to afford port users an efficient service delivery, complaint and Redress System,” Prof Osinbanjo explained.

The days when maritime operators are looked down as cancerous vessels milking the economy dry is now a thing of the past.

Reinforcing the above assertion that the maritime sector is critical to the recovery of our economy the Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shipper’s Council, Hassan Bello insists that the launch of the portal is designed to stimulate the economy to bounce back. The irrefutable fact is that the sector has witnessed tremendous growth since the period of port concessioning but with the portal in place,

“Maritime stakeholders are instantly directed where to route their complaints which makes the project novel. The service is not only transparent but it reduces the huge traffic witnessed at the ports which encourages sharp practices,” Bello noted.

Enumerating the inherent benefits of the project, Bello emphasised that apart from driving the sector to a sustainable turn around in the economic fortunes of the country.

Furthermore, this service delivery is not only a prerequisite for a sustainable improvement in the economy; it will also make Nigeria the maritime hub in Sub Sahara Africa.

In her remarks, the Chairlady of the project committee Barrister Azuka Ogo, Director Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, pointed out that this innovation is not only critical to the sector but will nurture and grow the economy as sharp practices will be reduced.

“A sector that accounts for more than 90 percent of our global trade with huge employment opportunities and at least six functional sea ports requires high corporate governance standards, excellent business models, quick and efficient service delivery that will scale up investment to the economy,” Barrister Ogo added.

Rescuing traumatised refugees in IDPs Idowu Samuel

F

or a nation with conscience, the troubling graphic depiction of life at the Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) is sufficient to stir

emotions.

Lately, some Doctors without Borders visited an IDPs’ camp at Bama in Borno and left to tell the world the story of crass dehumanisation of the living condition of refugees. The pictures of humans, mostly children and women so deprived, traumatised and debased welled up tears.

Incidentally, such pictures trended unrestrained in social media, ending up with the narrative of how detached or rather heartless a nation could be towards the poor and vulnerable. Such had offered a reason for the New York Times to publish a damning report on the careless manner the Nigerian authorities have been handling refugees in different camps.

It is worst when the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) declared that over 3,000 children are separated from their parents at the Bama Camp, while 140 of them are currently on danger list and are being attended to on daily basis by health workers. Succinctly, the gory pictures of hunger stricken underage, sickly and helpless men and women are a hint of what to expect in the event of similar tragedy in any other part of Nigeria.

From almost all parts of Nigeria, the drumbeats of war are getting louder as separatist groups gear for fight with strident campaign for dismemberment of Nigeria.

On daily basis, there are reports of “a catastrophic humanitarian emergency” at the Bama camp which record says accommodate not less than 24, 000 refugees. Some health workers had also reported that close to 30 children die weekly in the camp.

Most tragically, over 1, 233 graves, had been dug near the camp so far.

Since the Boko Haram war escalated, statistics have revealed that refugee centres had been built to cater for the victims and are spread over 13 states of the north and Abuja.

The spread is as follows: Abuja (13,481 IDPs), Adamawa (136, 010), Bauchi (70,078), Benue (85,393),

Borno (1,534,149), Gombe (25,332), Kaduna (36,976) Kano (9,331), Nasarawa (37,553), Plateau (77,317), Taraba (50,227) Yobe (131,203), Zamfara (44,929).

In each, the issue of food, sanitation, shelter, health facilities and others have continued to raise overwhelming posers.

The refugees appeared to have been trapped eternally with near impossibility of plans to get them relocated.

Worst still, the refugees could not get the sympathy of the host communities.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Leverkusen target Ambrose E

Ambrose

fe Ambrose has emerged as a transfer target for German Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, who are reportedly ready to fork out 1.5 million pounds for the Nigeria defender.

Reports from Britain said the experienced Nigeria central defender could

therefore be on his way out of Scottish champions Celtic on account of this interest from Germany.

The 27-year-old Ambrose joined Celtic in 2012 from Israeli club FC Ashdod for 800,000 pounds.

He has since established himself at the Glasgow club,

but last season his firstteam appearances were limited to 21 games as against 27 in the 2014/15 season and 38 in 2013/14 season.

New boss Brendan Rogers is already ringing the changes at the perennial Scottish champions.

Page 17

Khedira ruled out for

Germany Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Poor Durban show prompted AFN trials —Olumide The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Monday said the country’s poor performance at the recent Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Championships in Durban, South Africa, necessitated the national trials.

AFN Secretary-General Bamiduro Olumide told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the trials would help assess the current performance of athletes before the Rio Olympics.

The national trials will hold at the All-Nigeria

19

Athletics Championships scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Sapele, Delta.

Team Nigeria won 15 medals in Durban, made up of four gold, five silver and six bronze, to place a disappointing third.

The performance clearly sent warning signals about the state of the Nigerian team ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games scheduled for Aug. 5 to Aug. 21 in Rio, Brazil.

“We want to see athletes’ current performances

NFF banks on $1.5m lifeline for foreign coach

N Nigeria’s sprint queen, Blessing Okagbare, expected to shine at Rio 2016 Olympics.

and make our selection, because we don’t want any disappointment,” Olumide said.

He however said the trials was open to all athletes who have met the Olympic standard in their respective events.

Olumide further stated that participating athletes and other officials were expected to start to arrive from today for the trials.

The AFN official nonetheless could not give the number of athletes expected, but disclosed that foreign-based athletes were also being expected.

igeria Football Federation (NFF) are now banking on a sum of $1.5 million from a sponsor to cover the salaries of a new foreign coach for the country according to a reliable source.

The cash is expected this week and if it came through, Nigeria could appoint a new coach as early as next week.

The NFF are broke and the sports ministry has made it abundantly clear the government will not help out with paying for an expatriate coach.

The NFF are known to have sounded out a bank and an oil company to pay for the new coach, who will lead Nigeria through a difficult 2018 World Cup qualifying group that has Algeria, Cameroun and Zambia.

Earlier, a major telephone company bankrolled the salaries of German coach Berti Vogts between 2007 and 2008, while a presidential task force was responsible for the salaries of the country’s last foreign coach, Lars Lagerback, for

Oyo lifts Copa Coca-Cola U-15Tournament ANDREW EKEJIUBA

O L-R: Mallam Ibrahim Mohammad, President, Nigeria School Sports Federation; Adeola Adetunji, Managing Director, CocaCola Nigeria; Deji Tinubu, Special Adviser to the Lagos Governor on Sports/Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC); and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, First Vice-President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) during the COPA Coca-Cola Grand Finale which held at Onikan Stadium at the weekend.

yo State’s Asegun Comprehensive High School boys have won the 2016 edition of Copa Coca-Cola U-15 tournament and smiled home after weeks of hard won and tension-filled matches, with a cash prize of N1 million.

The victory came after the Asegun defeated National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu, at

the National Final match played at the Onikan stadium, Lagos Island.

Oyo State’s emergence as winners of the tournament ended weeks of football matches that started with over 3000 schools and 60,000 players from across 32 states of the federation.

Determined and focused all through the 60 minutes of play that ended in a goal less draw, both teams put up a strong spirited fight

for the trophy and the prize money of a million naira. In the end however, the Asegun boys pulled an ace from their hat with a 5-3 score during the penalty shootout.

Presenting the medals and trophies to the Asegun boys, the Managing Director, CocaCola Nigeria, Adeola Adetunji congratulated them for their outstanding performances in the tournament, stating that their hard work and team spirit

earned them the victory.

Captain of the winning team, Olanrewaju Fadipe, who was unable to control his happiness, shed tears of joy and declared that he was overwhelmed and grateful to Coca-Cola for the chance to participate in the tournament.

The second place winners, National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu state, received a cash prize of N500, 000.

18

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

EXTRATIME

TRANSFER....TRANSFER.... TRANSFER.... TRANSFER.... TRANSFER.... TRANSFER....

Torres pens new Atletico deal Barca seal Torres Torres

Suarez deal B

arcelona have signed former Manchester City prospect Denis Suarez on a four-year contract from Villarreal.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder arrives at the Nou Camp from Villarreal, who he joined last August after spending two years on the books of Barcelona ‘B’.

A statement from Barca on Monday revealed the Catalans had paid €3.25million (£2.73m) to buy Suarez back from Villarreal, with a buy-out clause for the player set at €50m.

Suarez, who scored four La Liga goals for the Yellow Submarine as they finished fourth in the league last season, will undergo a medical today.

The Galician joined City from Celta Vigo in May 2011 and made two cup appearances before moving to Barcelona ‘B’ in August 2013.

A Europa League winner with Sevilla, where he spent the 2014-15 campaign on loan, Suarez made his senior Spain debut as a substitute in a friendly match against Bosnia earlier this year.

F

ernando Torres has signed a new one-year contract at Atletico Madrid to prolong his stay at his boyhood club.

The 32-year-old would have been a free agent in the summer with his contract expiring, but reports in Spain had suggested the he would sign a new deal.

He returned to Atletico from Chelsea in 2014 after an unsuccessful loan spell with AC Milan.

Torres scored 11 league goals in 30 appearances and helped his team reach the final of the Champions League, where they lost on penalties to Real Madrid.

Antoine Griezmann also signed a new deal in June,

which tied him to Atletico Madrid until the summer of 2021 and he and Torres will renew their strike partnership next season.

Torres said: “I am happy to be here. I never had any doubts about where I wanted to be during the course of this process - even though we didn’t know what was going to happen. In the end, the important thing is that I got what I had hoped for.”

Sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero added: “It is great news for us because Fernando belongs here and all Atletico fans are happy that he will continue with us.

Man City complete Zinchenko deal

M

anchester City have completed the signing of Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The 19-year-old winger - whose arrival was confirmed by City’s official Twitter feed - scored twice

in 26 appearances last season for Russian club FC Ufa, having joined from Shakhtar Donetsk on a free transfer in 2015.

Zinchenko played in all three of Ukraine’s matches at Euro 2016, coming on as a substitute against

Germany and Northern Ireland, before starting against Poland.

He follows Nolito into the club after the Spain international forward sealed his transfer from Celta Vigo on a four-year contract on Friday morning.

Zinchenko

Briefs Stoke confirm Nani interest

Ibrahimovic

Stoke are interested in bringing ex-Manchester United winger Nani back to the Premier League, assistant boss Mark Bowen has confirmed. Nani, who is currently preparing for Portugal’s Euro 2016 semi-final clash against Wales on Wednesday, left Old Trafford for Fenerbahce last summer after a season on loan at Sporting Lisbon.

Wanyama trains

with Spurs

Victor Wanyama has spent his first day at his new club Tottenham ahead of the new campaign. The toughtackling midfielder, who has signed a five-year deal at White Hart Lane after joining from Southampton for an undisclosed fee last month, was put through his paces at Spurs’ state-ofthe-art training complex at Hotspur Way on Monday.

Phillips set to join West Brom

West Brom have agreed a £5.5m fee with QPR for winger Matt Phillips. He featured in 44 Sky Bet Championship games for QPR last season, scoring eight goals and was left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the Netherlands where Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side will play PSV Eindhoven and FC Groningen.

yne

Tuesday, JuLY 5, 2016

EXTRATIME

19

EURO 2016… EURO 2016… EURO 2016… EURO 2016… EURO 2016… EURO 2016…

Sigurdsson backs France, Lloris for glory Sigurdsson

G

ylfi Sigurdsson wants France and his friend Hugo Lloris to claim Euro 2016 glory after they ended Iceland’s remarkable run with a 5-2 quarterfinal win in Saint-Denis.

Iceland’s exploits in moving through the competition unbeaten, with wins over Austria and England, appeared to catch up with them on Sunday and France ruthlessly exploited signs of fatigue among a

starting XI unchanged for the fifth consecutive game.

Didier Deschamps’ men cruised into a 4-0 lead at half-time, with tournament top scorer Antoine Griezmann to the fore before Olivier Giroud completed his brace after half-time.

There were welcome goals from Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Birkir Bjarnason to restore a measure of Icelandic pride but Swansea City

midfielder Sigurdsson reflected on a supreme first-half showing from the hosts, who now face the prospect of a mouthwatering semifinal against world champions Germany in Marseille on Thursday.

“Their attack is so good, they have got very good players going forward. And their keeper, Hugo, made some fantastic saves,” Sigurdsson said.

“If they can get through Germany

I think they will win the tournament.

“They are the best team we’ve played by far. Their passing going through our defence was very good.”

Lloris and Sigurdsson played together during the latter’s twoyear spell at Tottenham. Before the game, the goalkeeper described his former team-mate as a “lovely guy” and post-match it was clear such affection cut both ways.

Khedira ruled out for

Germany

G

ermany coach Joachim Low has confirmed Sami Khedira will miss Thursday’s Euro 2016 semi-final against France.

The Juventus midfielder sustained a thigh injury after over-stretching during a challenge for the ball in the early stages of Saturday’s quarterfinal victory over Italy and will miss the showdown with the hosts in Marseille as a result.

Khedira, 29, who has started all five of Germany’s matches at the tournament, faces a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s final if Germany can overcome France.

“Sami Khedira won’t play for us on Thursday. We will do everything for him to be available for a potential final,” Low said.

“I will have to bring in new names.

There will be personnel changes in the line-up.”

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger replaced Khedira in the 16th minute against Italy but he is also a doubt for the trip to the Stade Velodrome due to a knee ligament injury.

Zaza Del Bosque quits as haunted by penalty Spain coach miss

S

imone Zaza says he will never get over his penalty miss for Italy as they were dumped out of Euro 2016 by Germany.

Germany won 6-5 on penalties to end their tournament hoodoo against Italy and Zaza was one of four Italian players to miss his spot-kick in the shootout.

The 25-year-old was specifically introduced just before the final whistle because of his good record from the penalty spot - however, he was the first player to squander his opportunity from 12 yards.

The Juventus striker received criticism for his skied effort after stuttering in his run-up and his pre-kick antics went viral on the internet.

“I have always taken my penalties like that and was convinced I’d score,” Zaza told reoorters at Milan’s Malpensa Airport as the Italian players arrived back in the country.

“I did send Manuel Neuer the wrong way, but unfortunately the ball went too high. It will be difficult, but I want to get over it. I want the Italians to know that we gave everything.

T

he Spanish Football Federadion (RFEF) has confirmed that Vicente del Bosque is stepping down as coach of the national

team.

Del Bosque revealed last week that he had “no intention” of staying on once his current contract expires at the end of July.

And following Spain’s Euro 2016 second round defeat to Italy, Del Bosque’s decision has been made official by the RFEF. “Vicente del Bosque will not continue at the front of the national team,” A RFEF statement read.

“The RFEF president, Angel Maria Villar, and national team selector, Vicente del Bosque, had a meeting on July 4, in Madrid where the coach has told the RFEF president of his idea not to continue at the front of the national team.”

And the statement added that the former Real Madrid boss has accepted an offer to continue

working with the RFEF in a yet-to-be confirmed role.

The 65-year-old was appointed by the RFEF in 2008 to succeed Louis Aragones, who had led this squad to European Championship success, Spain’s first since 1964.

Del Bosque would retain the trophy four years later, by which time he had ensured his position as Spain’s most successful coach by winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In total, Spain recorded 87 wins, 10 draws and 17 defeats under Del Bosque, while scoring 254

Del Bosque

News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Adamawa community vows drastic measures against herdsmen Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏ

The Njiya-Goron Community of Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa state has warned that if the state government and all the relevant security agencies fail to protect them against the heinous attacks always meted on them by some suspected Fulani herdsmen, they will have no have no option than take drastic measures to protect themselves against the attackers.

They accused the Adamawa state government, the Adamawa Emirate Council, Girei Local Government Council and Girei

District Council of taking no action to stop further attacks despite identifying the arrow heads of the attack and those herdsmen that participated fully in the heinous crime.

“In view of the stated facts, we condemn the lukewarm attitude, belated reaction, and the unholy silence of the state and Federal Governments over the massacre of our people. We equally condemn the sentimental and pathological discrimination against our people” they said.

While addressing journalist in Yola, the leader of the group, Manassah K. Nayangom (retd) also revealed that property worth over Two Billion Naira

(N2, 000,000,000) were destroyed and some were looted by the Fulani marauders.

Njiya-Goron community, comprises of 13 villages and one among 10 political wards in Fire LGA who are mostly predominantly farmers, also dragged the Federal Government, the Police and Military before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the attacks and killing of their men.

In their words: “The grave yard silence, and the discrimination meted in our devastated community in which we were left to bear the brunt of an armed attacks, where the Fulani herdsmen plotted

and prepare under the watchful eyes of the state and Federal Government without taking any decisive action to foil it.

“The said attacks had left 65 members of the community dead. There were wanton destruction and looting of our properties worth billions of naira by the vandals. This left us with no alternative than to run to the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) in order to enforce our fundamental human rights, as we hold strong that, the right to life is a universal gift of God that no race or tribe no matter how strong can lay higher claim to it as being insinuated by the Fulani herdsmen”, they said.

Ex-Gov. Daniel felicitates with Muslims on Eid-el-Fitri

Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏThe

immediate past governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has felicitated with the Muslims as they celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri after the completion of the Fast, urging them to take the blessings of the period beyond the month of Ramadan.

The lessons of the month, he stated, are essential virtues required for peaceful coexistence within the society which included building selfcontrol, self-restraint, selfevaluation and sacrifice.

According to the former governor, Muslims should imbibe righteousness and strive to dwell more on acts which positively affect the welfare of others and become more sympathetic to the needs of the poor, noting that enduring hunger through the fasting period should get us closer to the condition of the poor who cannot afford regular daily meals.

Gbenga Daniel

L-R: Director, Network Deployment, Etisalat Nigeria, Adekunle Durojaiye; General Manager, Biporal, Ebimoboere Bankole and Director, Security, Etisalat Nigeria, Muhammad Abubakar during the presentation of a Hilux Patrol v/an to Biporal by Etisalat Nigeria at its headquarters in Lagos… on Monday.

Anambra JSC announces plans to scrap Customary Court of Appeal, moves judges to High Court Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏThe

Anambra Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced plans to scrap the Customary Court of Appeal in the state and transfer its Judges to the High Court Bench as Honourable Judges of the court.

The Executive Secretary of the State’s JSC, Mr. Christian Nnabuihe, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting of the commission on Monday, said the reason for the quest to move judges of the Customary Court of Appeal to the High Court is because the judges are almost redundant as a result of lack of cases.

Nnabuihe said the judiciary in Anambra is the same, and judges of the Customary Court of Appeal cannot be idling away when cases in the High Court are overwhelming the existing judges.

“This is to inform you of the resolution of the Anambra State Judicial Service Commission on the need to transfer Honourable Judges of the state Customary Court of Appeal to the High Court Bench of the Judiciary as Hon Judges.

“Let me sum up by informing you that following the above resolutions, his Lordship, the Hon. Chief Judge/Chairman JSC, Hon. Justice Peter Umeadi has been mandated by the commission to forward the said resolutions to His Excellency, the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the Chief Justice of th Federation/ Chairman National Judicial Council, Hon Justice Mahmud Mohammed for necessary action,” Nnabuihe said.

Eid-el-Fitri: Saraki, Ekweremadu send goodwill messages to Muslims Olufemi Samuel & Chris Emetoh, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe President of the Senate,

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged Muslim faithful in the country to sustain the values and virtues which the holy month of Ramadan taught them in their day-to-day relationship with God and fellow human beings.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, in commemoration of this year’s Eid-el-Fitri, also urged all Nigerians to remain steadfast and prayerful in the face of daunting socio-economic challenges.

He said that the present

challenges were surmountable “if we all realign our character and deeds in tune with the wishes of Allah”. He stated that the country could only regain its lost glory when the citizenry uphold the virtues of good neighbourliness and eschew intolerance of other people’s opinion, corruption, abuse of power, disregard for due process and disobedience to the laws of the land.

Saraki said: “I urge all Nigerians, across religious divide, to remain steadfast, prayerful and patriotic.

The virtues of moderation, piety, regular supplication to Allah and being our brother’s keeper, should subsist beyond the Ramadan.

Beyond this, every Nigerian should

seek to contribute to rebuilding the nation with renewed vigour.

“I also urge Boko Haram insurgents and other agents of destabilisation across the country to retrace their steps and give peace a chance in the spirit of the Eid-elFitri. Again, Nigerians who nurse one grudge or the other against the state should seek legitimate and peaceful means of expressing their grievances so that it will be possible for their position to be better understood and addressed through constructive dialogue.

“Similarly, let us all refrain from using violence to express our stand on issues. Violence only destroy, it does not build. Let us also shun greed and other vices capable of

undermining the socio-political growth of our dear nation,” he said.

Also, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu called on the Nigerian Muslims Ummah to use the occasion of this year’s Eid el Fitr to pray for divine intervention in the face of various forms of difficulties confronting the nation.

He stated this in his Sallah message, where he congratulated the Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast, and called for unity and concerted efforts among Nigerians, irrespective of their various religious, tribal, and political inclinations.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

21

Public Notice 22 TRANSFIGURATION AND SOLUTION BELIEVERS CHURCH ADDRESS: 35, SEBANJO STREET, PAPA AJAO, LAGOS

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

THE NAMES OF TRUSTEES ARE:1. MR BALOGUN OLAJIDE GABRIEL. 2. MRS BALOGUN RUTH OLUWATOYIN 3. MR IDOWU SAMSON OLUWATOYIN. 4. MR ENILOLOBO OLAJUWON 5. MRS OMOLERE OLUWAFUNMILAYO ABOSEDE 6.. MRS ONI OLATUNDUN IDIAT. 7. MR. EJIRO ANTHONY AKPIROROH. 8. MR SONAIKE OLUSEGUN ADEBAYO. 9. MRS OLAJUWON AYISAT ADEJOKE .

10. MRS OLUFELA MARY DAWODU

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(2) Towards evangelism & welfarism for mankind.

(3) To save lives and show them the way of life in Jesus Christ (4)To promote the gospel of peace and reconciliation in Jesus Christ and demonstrate His power Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY: SECRETARY

CHANGE OF NAME SPRINGS FAMILY WORLD WIDE WORSHIP CENTER. The general public is hereby notified of our intention to change the name of our MINISTRY from SPRINGS FAMILY WORLD WIDE WORSHIP CENTER to SPRINGS INT’L WORSHIP CENTRE With the corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act I990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE. l. UGBOME GEORGE. PRESIDENT. 2. JONATHAN UVIASE. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. I. To raise a family of love that would go forth as spring and refresh our thirsty land.

2. To preach and teach the sound doctrine of God’s word.

3. To win souls to Jesus Christ and God.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

EHUDEMBI AZUBUIKE CHRISTIAN I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IMEMBA AZUBUIKE CHRISTIAN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EHUDEMBI AZUBUIKE CHRISTIAN ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

CALISTA NNENNA IFEANYI CHUKWU I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CALISTA NNENNA ONYEANULA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CALISTA NNENNA IFEANYI CHUKWU ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

SULAIMON YUSUF ABIOLA

EJEH OJOBO INNOCENT

I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OMISADE YUSUF ABIOLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SULAIMON YUSUF ABIOLA ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EJEH INNOCENT SUNDAY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EJEH OJOBO INNOCENT ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN MESSIANIC JEWS This is to inform the general public that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Elder David Otobo (Chairman) 2. Apostle Azaryahu Koko 3. Elder Uriel Tikili 4. Elder Barr. Samuel Urang 5. Elder Byiness Sunday Oku AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. Promoting the Jewish faith in Nigeria.

Any objection to this change of name should be forwarded to the Registrar General . Corporate Affairs Commission . Plot 420. Tigris crescent off Aguyi Ironsi street. Maitama. Abuja . Within 28 days of this publication.

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

sign, Jonathan Uviase. Secretary

Signed: Chairman

GLOBAL EVANGELISM AND SOUL WINNING NETWORK This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. ERICONDA AMADI - PRESIDENT 2. MRS. VIVIAN NWAWUOLOR AMADI - SECRETARY 3. JERRY GABRIEL - MEMBER Aims And Objectives÷ 1. Reaching out to the unsaved through evangelism.

2. Caring for the less privilege.

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

Signed: PRESIDENT

BUNKER TRADERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

GYNAECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

NEW CENTRAL MOSQUE OF ABIGI OGUN

The Trustees Are: 1 PROF. GBADAMOSI, TAJUDEEN GBADEBO OLUSANYA -Chairman 2 ALHAJI BALOGUN MUSLIM ADENIYI 3 AWONUSI TAJUDEEN OLUSEGUN 4 SAFIRIYU GBADAMOSI 5 FADERIN, FALILAT ADEBIMPE 6 ADEMOYE, ADEMOLA WASIU 7 RUFAI, AKIBU ADEMOLA - Secretary.

Aims and Objectives.

1 To encourage all Muslims to be united to worship Allah irrespective of creed, nationally.

2 To teach and broaden the knowledge of Islam to all Muslims in accordance to the teaching of the Holy Quran. .

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

Signed: Barr. Edith Obikpo Secretary

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

TRUSTEES: 1. Rev Fr.Cornelius Nebeuwa Obe 2. Bro Chukwudi Ozioko 3. Engr. Christopher Eke 4. Rev Fr. Michael Nwabueze 5. Mr Paul Eze AIMS: 1. Care for the Old People’s Home 2. Rehablitation of Mad People 3. Care for the Widow 4. Care for the Less Privileged Ones 5. Care for the Orphanage Home.

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

GRACE FOUNDATION FOR THE WOMAN AND CHILD The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Aim and objective: 1. TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF INDIGENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN

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

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

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Signed: FIRST LAW PARTNERS

MERCY DROPS FOUNDATION

TRUSTEE 1.Mr Olusola Owomoyela 2. Adenike Arotiba 3. Ajibike Arhuere

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

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

The aim and objective: 1. To promote efficiency and professionalism among members

TRUSTEES 1. MOMOH-JIMOH OYAREKHUA 2. OLUSOLA AYOOLA ADEWUMI 3. OLAYINKA OLUFUNMILAYO OLAGBAJU 4. OLUWAROTIMI OLAWOLE IGE 5. HENRY COKER 6. OLAGOKE CHRISTOPHER OJO

Signed Gaveislsmith Solicitors.

That new name shall be HELPLINE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN INITIATIVE. That the constitution of the association should also be effected to reflect the new name That all the trustees remain with out any removal.

The Trustees are : 1. CHIOMA AKPOTHA 2. MOROLAKE KINDIJI 3. OGECHUKWU NDIGWE 4. IFEYINWA NWOHA 5. OMOLOLA SALAKO 6. DR. JOSEPHINE OKEI-ODUMAKIN

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR THE REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

Any objection to the registration shouls be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affaira Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

This is to inform the general public that the association incorporated in Nigeria with CAC has resolved to change their name.

The Trustees are : 1. Professor Olalekan Abudu 2. Professor Othman Kyari 3. Professor Adekunle Odunsi 4. Professor Abdulmuminu Rafindadi 5. Professor Benjamin Ozumba Chukwuma.

The general public is hereby inform that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990.

Aims 1. To provide a national forum for the discussion and propagation of bunker industry issues in Nigeria. 2. To review, clarify, improve, develop and endorse where appropriate industry methods, practice and documentation. .

PUBLIC NOTICE Change of Associations name from Association for CARE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO HELPLINE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN INITIATIVE.

OBJECT 1. To fund health care for those who cannot afford It. 2. To create sickle cell awareness among employers so as To Foster special consideration for sickle cell staffs 3. To care Fun programmes in order To avoid boredom.

4. To empower our youths & mothers economically Through educative programmes .

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja Within 28 Days of this publication.

Signed Secretary 08035069035

THE DIVINE KING OF GLORY CHRISTIAN BIBLE CHURCH This is to notify the general public that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990

PRESCIENTFAIR COMMENTATOR AND MEDIA FOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. BARRISTER EMMANUEL UDO JOHN – CHAIRMAN 2. LADY ANIEKAN EMMANUEL - MEMBER 3. ENGR. ENOUBONG EMMANUEL JOHN - SECRETARY. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Harnessing the power of media for development 2. Promote and stimulating public awarene, develop and endorse where appropriate industry methods, practice Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed :Secretary

THE STANDING CHURCH INTERNATIONAL This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: PASTOR (PROPHET) SOLOMON NIYANU ADELEKE – GENERAL OVESEER MR. LAWRENCE OLANREWAJU AKOGUN – ASS. GENERAL OVERSEER MR. AARON OLUGBADE ODUWAYE – GENERAL SECRETARY LADY EVANG. ABIMBOLA OLUBUNMI MR OYEBAMIJI HAMMED ADEMOLA

The board of Trustees are: 1. Akinkuade Akintara Caleb - President 2. Olayinka Adeniyi Oluwasegun 3. Popoola Toromoluwa Anuoluwapo 4. Omitoyin Oluwamayokun Odunayo - Secretary 5. Akinkuade Akintide Philip 6. Oni Oluwatomi Ifeoluwa 7. Familoni Oreoluwa Oluwaseyi

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE To preach the gospel of peace and deliverance of our Lord Jesus Christ To establish more churches for the expression of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach the gospel of God 2. To evangelise the world

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication

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

Signed: GENERAL SECRETARY

Barr. Titilayo K. Ajala (Legal Adviser)

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

23 News

Ebonyi allocates land to govt officials, others for compulsory rice production ÎÎÎThe

Ebonyi State Government has revived its agricultural programme by mapping and allocating land to the members of the Executive Council (EXCO).

The event, which took place at Ezillo Government Farm in Ishielu Local Government Area is the first phase of Governor David Umahia policy to involve every segment of the society in massive rice production.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Uchenna Orji, led the team comprising Agric Extension workers and officials of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to carry out the exercise on Saturday.

Orji, according to a statement, on Monday, by Emma Anya, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, 140 hectares of land were allo-

cated to the EXCO members for the cultivation of rice, under the Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Ltd, in line with IFAD requirements for co-operative system and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The remaining 1,360 hectares were set aside for other co-operative societies and individuals that have already keyed into the policy, through the IFAD-and-CBN-anchor

borrowers’ programme.

Orji, who described the agric programme of the Umahi administration as all inclusive, said tractors would be mobilised to the site immediately in line with the governor’s vision of massive rice production for commercial quantity.

He added: “We do expect that through the Senior Special Assistant on Rice Production, Chief Itakpa Azobu,

that by Monday, July 4, we will mobilise our tractors to come here.

“It is in line with governor’s vision that we should not only go into mechanisation of farming, we should go commercial. We are going to express that this 2016 farming season.”

The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, said it was EXCO’s

decision that any individual of mature age, whether government appointee or civil servant, must cultivate at least one or two hectares of land to boost agriculture in the state.

The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Ebonyi State University, Prof.Folusho David, commended the agricultural policy and called on government to continue the sensitisation of farmers in the area.

C’ River govt reclaims green areas in metropolis Edem Edem, Calabar

ÎÎÎThe

Cross River State Government has commenced reclaiming, recovery, restoration and protection of green areas within the Calabar metropolis. The Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Mike Eraye, disclosed this on Monday, while addressing news men during a routine inspection of some green areas that had been reclaimed and those still undergoing the restoration process.

He expressed regret that the green verges which were beneficial to the environment as they reduced erosion of soil into waterways, improve air quality, the aesthetics of the urban environment and added value to the status of Cross River State as a clean and green state was being depleted by human activities.

Government, he pointed out, could not take absolute responsibility for everybody’s surroundings but admonished residents to inculcate the habit of caring for the green areas around their homes and business areas, clean drainage and environment without being coerced.

Gov. Ayade

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (middle); Special Adviser on Budget, Efficiency & Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Melie Onyejepu (left), his wife and children after the swearing-in at Exco Chambers, Government House Awka… on Monday.

Pita Chikwem, Minna

ÎÎÎThe Niger State House

of Assembly, on Monday, flayed the decision of the state government to slash the salaries of civil and public servants, describing it as unlawful and irresponsible.

The House directed that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello should refund the 50 per cent balance cut-off from the salaries of workers or face the consequence.

The Chairman, House Committee on Labour and Productivity, Hon. Abdulmalik Madaki, made the stand of the House known, while briefing journalists at the Assembly complex, in Minna.

Madaki said that no one had the right to tamper with the salary of civil and public workers, adding that the salary cut was a gross violation of the law and labour act.

“Our salary is a law. The

Niger Assembly tackle Gov. Bello over 5O% salaries cut way the civil servants salaries were slashed, so was the salaries of the legislators was slashed into two.

The issue of salary is regulated by the law and someone cannot just wake up one morning to slash the salaries without consultation with the House of Assembly.”

He said that the Executive should explain what they had done with the N14.6 bailout funds advanced by the Federal Government, in which the payment of salaries was included.

“At the inception of this administration, the House of Assembly granted an approval to the state government to access a loan of N1.8 billion to enable it pay the arrears of salary for local governments, which was inherited from the past

administration “The Federal Government offered the state government N4.6 billion bailout loan to argument the shortfall from the Federation Account, which the House of Assembly approved. If the governor now says he secured N3 billion overdraft from banks, then where is the N4.6 billion?

What has he done with it?

“The sum of N10 billion bailout funds was also granted to the state by the Federal Government to enable it execute demanding projects. The state government also generated revenue internally. The House observed that there is no wisdom in cutting the salaries of public and civil servants by half”, Madaki said.

The Committee Chairman further lamented that

the government was being run as a private enterprise, stressing that it was not right and the House would work towards ensuring that the anomaly was corrected.

He said that the State Assembly would reconvene from its recess for an emergency sitting to consider the issue that was currently causing havoc in the state, while he assured the workers in the state that the issue would be addressed.

Eid-el-Fitri: NACOMYO preaches peace Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÎÎÎNational

Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, (NACOMYO) has enjoined Nigerians to embrace peace and good neighbourliness as key ingredients for societal development.

NACOMYO in its Eid-el Fitri message to Nigerians charged adherents of the major faiths in the country, Islam and Christianity, to tolerate and love one another as they were partners in the Nigeria’s march to progress.

MORENIKE ELIZABETH AYADI

Gov. Bello

I FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MORENIKE ELIZABETH AKINDE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MORENIKE ELIZABETH AYADI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

News 24 Obasanjo, Tinubu, Ooni, Alaafin, others for Lere Paimo’s book launch

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

PDP counsels acting IGP on modern policing

Remi Oladoye

ÏÏÏEminent

personalities from all walks of life –including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, His Royal Highness, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, the Alaafin Of Oyo, South West governors, are among the dignitaries expected to grace the presentation of a veteran actor and theatre practitioner, Chief Lere Paimo biography on Friday, July 8.

Other traditional rulers from South, prominent theatre and movie practitioners, academicians, captains of industry, and others are also expected.

Sustain virtues of Ramadan, Olagoke charges Nigerians

Pita Chikwem, Minna

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has counselled the new Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Ibrahim Kpotun Idris on modern policing advising him to discharge his duties without fear or favour.

It also said that Idris should keep a close eye on his foot soldiers in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, so that they would not bring the good name the police force had carved for itself over the years into disrepute.

The party’s Chairman in Niger State, Mr. Tanko Beji, on Monday, gave the advice,

in a sallah message, to the people of the state, in which he also congratulated Idris on his appointment as the new Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force.

“We use the period of this religious festival to charge the new Acting Inspector General of Police to be fair to all Nigerians in the performance of his duties, so that at the end of the day his name will be written in gold in the history books of the Nigeria Police Force.

“We also charge you not to allow the Police under your watch at the state and federal levels to be turned into instruments of oppression, coercion and intimidation of

Nigerians under whatever guise.”

Beji, who solicited the support of all Nigerians to enable the new IG succeed, said that “without our support we may not have the desired peace that will bring about socio-economic development of the state.”

The PDP chieftain also in the message called on the Niger State Government and its labour unions to ensure they reached an amicable settlement of the ongoing salary dispute in the interest of the state.

“The government and labour unions should return to the negotiating table, in order to reach an amicable solution on the issues at stake. It should

Acting IGP Idris,

be noted that taking hard-line position by any of the parties will not augur well for the economic development of the state”, Beji submitted.

He congratulated Muslims on the occasion of this year’s celebration of the Eid el-Fitri festival and called for concerted prayers by all for the peace and progress of the state and the country.

Njoku Chibuike

ÏÏÏMuslims all over the globe

who have just successfully completed this year’s annual Ramadan have been admonished to sustain the virtues associated with the holy month, otherwise their sacrifices would be an exercise in futility.

The Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen-In-Islam Worldwide, Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, gave the admonition in his Eid-El-Fitri message made available to newsmen, in Ibadan, on Monday.

Describing the Ramadan period as that of mercy, knowledge, charity and piety, Olagoke urged believers to maintain the qualities experienced during the time, adding that to do otherwise would amount to backsliding.

AUSTINE EGBE USIBE

Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) ACP, Olatunji Disu (right), flanked by officers of RRS during a training sesssion on drone usage to combat crime at the organisation’s headquarters in Lagos… on Monday

I, formerly known and addressed as, PRINCE NDIDI SAVIOUR, now wish to be known and addressed as, AUSTINE EGBE USIBE. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

ADELEKE ADENIKE ASHAKE OLUWAFUNKE

MRS. JUDITH TOCHUKWU VALENTINE

I, formerly known as ADELEKE NIKE now wish to be addressed as ADELEKE ADENIKE ASHAKE OLUWAFUNKE. Of no: 90, Apata Street, Shomolu, Lagos date of birth 31/12/1975. General public note

I, formerly Miss Judith Tochukwu Udeoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Judith Tochukwu Valentine. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

MRS. ELUCHIE ONYEKACHI

SOPHIA CHIDINMA ORJI

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. ONYEKACHI IBEAWUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ELUCHIE ONYEKACHI. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, SOPHIA ORJI, now wish to be known and addressed as, SOPHIA CHIDINMA ORJI. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

OBIAGELI ESTHER EZUGWU

KUJORE SAMUEL DAMILOLA

I, formerly known as OBIAGELI ESTHER IHIONU wish to be known and addressed as OBIAGELI ESTHER EZUGWU. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known as ADEJUWON ADEOLUWAKIISHI DAMILOLA. Wish to be known and addressed as KUJORE SAMUEL DAMILOLA. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

EDE EDWARD CHIBUIKE I, formerly known and addressed as, EKEH IFEANYI HENRY, now wish to be known and addressed as, EDE EDWARD CHIBUIKE. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

FALETI MUBO YIDIAT I Formerly known and addressed as FALETI MUBO ESTHER Now wish to be known and addressed as FALETI MUBO YIDIAT All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, IWUAGWU VERONICA, AND OSUJI VERONICA, refers to one and same person but, now wish to be known and addressed as, IWUAGWU VERONICA. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

MRS ADEBIYI TOLULOPE MOROMOKE I Formerly Known And Addressed As Miss Olufemi Tolulope Moromoke Now Wish To Be Addressed Mrs Adebiyi Tolulope Moromoke All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Should Take Note

DAUDA IBRAHIN ADESINA I Formerly Known And Addressed As Dauda Ibrahim Adeboye Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As Dauda Ibrahin Adesina All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Should Take Note

MRS. OKORO OBIAZI LOUIZA

I, formerly known and addressed as, OSARO ODODO INNOCENT, now wish to be known and addressed as, ODODOBARI INNOCENT. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. EMILIA ANAGAMOUYEUBA PATRICK I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. EMILIA ANAGAMOUYEUBA ARIZIEH, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. EMILIA ANAGAMOUYEUBA PATRICK. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

MRS LILIAN TOCHUKWU NWOSU

MRS. DANIEL UCHECHI IMMACULATE

ANIEFIOK UDOETOK AKPAN

I, formerly known as Miss Lillian Tochukwu Onyekwelu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Lilian Tochukwu Nwosu All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. IBEH UCHECHI IMMACULATE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. DANIEL UCHECHI IMMACULATE. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ETOKAKPAN ANIEFIOK UDO, now wish to be known and addressed as, ANIEFIOK UDOETOK AKPAN. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

ODODOBARI INNOCENT

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. OBI OBIAZI LOUIZA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. OKORO OBIAZI LOUIZA. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

25 Foreign

Kenya court orders probe into death of lawyer, 2 others

ÏÏÏ A Nairobi court has grant-

Mourners of July 3, bomb blast in Baghdad.

Islamic State claims Baghdad deadliest attack

ÏÏÏ

Iraqi officials said on Monday that at least 162 have died from Sunday’s suicide truck bombing in the country’s capital.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted Shi’ites with the bomb that hit a busy shopping area in Baghdad’s Karrada district. The attack is the deadliest in the city in a year and one of the worst bombings in more than a decade.

At least 192 people were injured and officials say that number is likely to grow as rescuers dig through ash and rubble using shovels and their hands.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered tighter security measures in Baghdad, but on the

streets some Iraqis expressed anger over the government’s inability to keep residents safe.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is “appalled by the utter disregard for human life” shown by those responsible for the bombing.

“The Secretary-General appeals to the people of Iraq to reject any attempts to spread fear and undermine the unity of the country,” Ban’s spokesman said in a statement condemning the attacks.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck bombing, saying it targeted Shi’ites. The mainly Sunni militants consider Shi’ites heretics.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price

said Sunday the United States remains united with Iraq in their combined efforts to destroy Islamic State.

“These attacks only strengthen our resolve to support Iraqi security forces as they continue to take back territory from ISIL, just as we continue to intensify our efforts to root out ISIL’s terrorist network and leaders,” he said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

The militants swept through large areas of northern and western Iraq two years ago.

Iraq forces fighting on the ground and a U.S.-led coalition of airstrikes have reclaimed territory, including Fallujah last month, but Islamic State still controls several large cities such as Mosul.

UN fears re-escalation of violence in CAR ÏÏÏThe United Nations Human

Rights chief has warned that security and human rights atmosphere in the Central Africa Republic could start to deteriorate following a series of incidents in the capital Bangui and other areas.

According to Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, “While 2016 began on a positive note, with the successful holding of elections in February, recent events in Bangui and in several parts of the country make me fear a re-escalation in violence in the coming months.’‘ He, therefore, called for the urgent demilitarisation of armed groups, which he says ‘‘remain far too powerful and retain the potential to reignite the conflict – as well as to restore state authority and rule of law, and to ensure the security of all civilians.”

Even though there is a func-

tional government under the leadership of Faustin Archange Touadera, the capital of the country has been restive since the middle of June. There were reports of clashes between MINUSCA (UN forces) and armed groups leading to deaths on June 20.

On the same day an unarmed group of security officials were rescued by MINUSCA at hands of an irate crowd. A Senegalese peace-keeper was also killed by unidentified armed men.

Clashes outside Bangui have been equally deadly with ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka rebels clash leading to 17 deaths. Other armed elements and nomads in the region have also clashed resulting in loss of lives.

“The steps taken by the authorities to establish the Special Criminal Court and the adoption

of a new Constitution are promising, but I remain concerned at the large number of arbitrary arrests and detentions by security forces,” the UN human rights chief said.

“More resources and political will are needed to ensure proper justice for past and current crimes and human rights violations,” he added.

CAR crisis victims

ed police prosecutors 14 days to complete investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of a human rights lawyer, Willie Kimani and two others.

Three Kenyan police officers linked to the death of a lawyer and two others have been detained for 14 days pending investigations.

The three police officers were detained over the disappearance of a lawyer and his client, who had alleged mistreatment by the police, newspapers and broadcasters reported on Friday.

These extra-judicial killings are a chilling reminder that the hard-won right to seek justice for human rights violations is under renewed attack Lawyer Willie Kimani and his client Josephat Mwendwa had filed a complaint alleging that

Mwendwa had been shot and injured by police in April.

The Director of Public Prosecutions told the court that investigations into the murder were complex and that they required more time do a thorough probe.

The relationship between Kenyans and their police force has always been sour.

Kenya’s police have often been accused of brutality and they have been blamed for a series of extra-judicial killings.

Police spokesman, Mr. George Kinoti, said that the three officers had been arrested in connection with the deaths and that an investigation was underway.

The Human Rights groups were also outraged at the circumstances leading to the death of one of its members as they claimed that the dark days for the rule of law in Kenya had resurrected.

Netanyahu in rare Africa visit

ÏÏÏThe Israeli Prime Minister,

Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday, arrived for an historic tour of East Africa starting in Uganda before heading to Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia.

As part of the visit, the Israeli premier is expected to pay a memorial visit to the spot where his elder brother, Yoni Netanyahu died on this day in 1976. He would subsequently partake in a regional security summit to be hosted at the Ugandan State House.

Mr. Netanyahu will be the first sitting Israeli prime minister to visit Africa in over two decades.

The anti-terrorism summit will pool together regional Heads of State from Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia and Malawi.

Yoni Netanyahu, Benjamin’s brother, died on 4th July 1976, as he commanded a rescue mission to free Israelis who were part of over 250 passengers taken hostage on an Air France flight from Israel to France.

Uganda’s Daily Monitor news portal reports that as part of his plans, the Israeli Prime Minister would actively seek to woo Africa ‘‘to end decades of hostility and convince African countries to stop voting against Israel at the United Nations.’‘ The Daily Monitor quotes Mr. Netanyahu as saying, “I’m very open about it, that’s true, why should there be such a dissonance between these strong bilateral ties and the multilateral ties? Why not correct this absurdity?”

US celebrates 240th anniversary of independence from Britain

ÏÏÏThe

United States celebrated the 240th anniversary of her independence from Britain, on Monday, with a national holiday full of picnics, parades and fireworks across the country.

President Barack Obama hosted military families for a barbecue at the White House and a concert by Kendrick Lamar and Janelle Monae. If rain forecasted Monday night in Washington holds off, they were expected to have a good view of the city’s major fireworks display on the nearby National Mall.

But the key to the holiday is just down the street from the White House at the National Archives building. That is the home of the Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by Congress on July 4,

1776.

“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” it says, laying out some of the founding principles of the nation.

More than anything, the declaration is a sharp rebuke of Britain’s King George, calling him a tyrant and saying he had repeatedly ignored the pleas of the American colonies for better treatment.

Among the 27 grievances Jefferson detailed were Britain stationing a large number of armed troops in the colonies, cutting off their trade to the rest of the world, imposing taxes without their consent and suspending local legislatures.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Law

What is your view on the Kogi state gubernatorial election petition tribunal judgment which dismissed Hon. James Abiodun Faleke’s petition for lack of merit?

The Kogi Governorship election has been one of the most complicated since the return to democracy. INEC declared the election inconclusive and asked the APC to nominate a replacement for its deceased candidate, Mr. Abubakar Audu. Mr. Bello was nominated and he in turn invited Mr. Faleke to run as his running mate which Mr. Faleke refused. Mr. Faleke then challenged the emergence of Mr. Bello as Governor and asked the tribunal to declare him Governor because the election of late Abubakar Audu was almost concluded before he died.

A position initially canvassed by many was that Mr. James Faleke would emerge the next governor of the state, being the running mate to Prince Audu, who was already presumed to have won the election. Proponents of the position cited section 181 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to support their claim. The said section provides: If a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy-Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the House of Assembly of the State.

However, the above provision did not apply as Prince Audu was at the time of his death not yet “duly elected as Governor” so Mr James Falaeke could therefore not draw a benefit from a situation that has not yet come into existence as envisaged by the constitution.

The situation in Kogi State arose as a result of the lacuna in the Law which does not provide for what happens in the event of the death of a candidate after elections have been conducted but before results are declared. We hope the National Assembly will bear this in mind in its ongoing law reform efforts.

What is the difference of this judgment and that of the Supreme Court which declared Rotimi Amaechi as Governor in place of Celestine Omehia who was PDP’s candidate?

The issue before the Court in Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi

s Dafe Akpedeye, a Senior Advocate and former Delta state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice is also the Chairman, Electioneering Monitoring Group of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In this interview with PETER FOWOYO, he spoke on the Kogi state election petition tribunal judgment which dismissed the petition of Honorourable james Abiodun Faleke for lack of merit, the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the National Judicial Council (NJC) and sundry other issues.

SAN

DAFE AKPEDEYE

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Delta State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, and Chairman, Electioneering Monitoring Group of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

Composition of NJC is Constitutional - Akpedeye vs. Independent Electoral Commission & Ors (2) Celestine Omehia (3) Peoples Democratic Party (2008), was one of withdrawal of candidate by the party and not death. But the interface between the two cases is that both revolve around the appropriate way a party can replace a candidate for the purpose of election. In delivering judgment the Court stated that when a political party later asks to substitute a candidate, it does so against the background of the result of the primary election. If there is a problem with a candidate who comes first, then

the party will opt for the 2nd and later 3rd etc in that order. There is simply no room for a candidate who never contested a primary election in such setting to emerge a party candidate. Applying this principle in the Kogi election, it is clear that Abiodun Faleke does not feature at all as he did not take part in the party primary. He was chosen as a running-mate to Audu only after the party primary. So, if anyone has to be considered outside a fresh party primary, it must be, according to the Supreme Court decision and the choice will be Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was

the closest rival to Audu at the primary.

Consequently, the proper way of applying the Supreme Court verdict in the Amaechi case is not to assume that because the running-mate and the deceased are running on one party platform, the death of the gubernatorial candidate automatically means the running-mate steps in as the part candidate as both were produced by the party during their primary. This is for the simple reason that the running-mate was not the party candidate for the governorship election. Going by

the Supreme Court decision, the party must be given the opportunity of choosing its own governorship flag bearer, rather than indirectly imposing one on it before the election. As the Supreme Court pointed out, the “one unchanging feature” is the sponsoring party. It is political parties, not candidates that actually contests elections. The 1999 Constitution has no provision for independent candidacy. It’s a different matter if they had won the election and a Deputy-Governor Mr. James Faleke is stepping into the shoes CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

27 Law

‘Composition of NJC is Constitutional’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

of a Governor Abubabar Audu for reason of death of the latter.

Where an election is yet to be conducted or concluded, the party must be given the opportunity to put itself in a position to win by choosing its own candidate.

How do you see the move by the Senate to commence the process of amending the 2010 Electoral Act to pave way for early primaries and strengthen electoral process?

This is a welcome development which is long overdue. Nigerians have been clamoring for the amendment of the Electoral Act. Even Nigerians in the diaspora have learnt their voice to the cry.

Their inclusion in the process would be a positive development for many reasons: first of all it would represent true democracy and full inclusion of all Nigerian citizens stricto sensu. However, the amendments should not only be focused on party primaries.

There should be a holistic amendment of the Act. Before the 2015 general elections the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) submitted proposals to the National Assembly for amendment of some sections of the Act, which it said, is making its works “ambiguous and confusing,” especially in dealing with the antics of political parties and other stakeholders. I believe the time has come to take another look at this.

Apart from this amendment, are there any other amendments you envisage that the Senate will look into?

The National Assembly recently kick started the process of amending the constitution for the fourth time by inaugurating constitutional amendment committees to oversee the process which I believe is a step in the right direction. Going by the various security, economic and socio-political issues confronting the country there is no gain saying that this is coming at the right time. The National Assembly should be looking at amendment which will grant some measure of autonomy

and strengthen key institutions that support democracy such as the Courts, INEC, the Police, ICPC, EFCC and other key Institutions. I would like to add that in carrying out the much needed Constitutional amendment, the National Assembly should take into consideration the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians and also the bear in mind the need to cut down of the cost of governance in Nigeria.

The composition of the National Judicial Council (NJC) has been seen by many lawyers as unconstitutional. Do you share this view?

The National Judicial Council is one of the Bodies created by virtue of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to insulate the Judiciary from the whims and caprices of the Executive; thus guarantying the independence of the Judiciary. By the provision of Paragraph 20 of Part One of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended, the National Judicial Council shall comprise the following Members: -the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who shall be the Chairman; the next most senior Justice of the supreme Court who shall be the Deputy Chairman; the President of the Court of Appeal; five retired Justices selected by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal; the chief Judge of the Federal High Court; the President, National Industrial Court; five Chief Judges of State to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Chief Judges of the States and of the High Court of the Federal Territory, Abuja in rotation to serve for two years; one Grand Kadi to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among Grand Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years; one President of the Customary Court of Appeal to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Presidents of the Customary Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years; five members of the Nigerian Bar

Association who have been qualified to practice for a period of not less than fifteen years, at least one of whom shall be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association to serve for two years and subject to re-appointment: Provided that the five members shall sit in the Council only for the purposes of considering the names of persons for appointment to the superior courts of record; and two person not being Legal Practitioners, who in the opinion of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, are of unquestionable integrity Going by the current membership of the NJC, I fail to see the unconstitutionality of its composition.

Many have described Nigeria’s system of governance as unitary federalism and that the country should be restructured. Do you agree with them?

Different commentators have expressed the views that the Nigerian system of government is in fact unitary and not federalism. This is because power is concentrated in the center and rather than wither down powers of the centre, we have continued to strengthen the federal government. It is easy to identify with these arguments especially with the recurrent issues of sectarianism and allegations of neglect/ partisanship and tribalism currently plaguing the country. An important characteristic, which distinguishes federal system from non-federal systems, is non-centralization of power. In a federal polity, there is an irrevocable division of power between the central and component units.

Observers of Nigeria’s federalism have always said that, while the underlying principles of federalism have often been ignored by successive Nigerian governments, efforts were made earlier to implement the policy of fiscal federalism based on the principles of derivation.

Akpedeye

“I would like to add that in carrying out the much needed Constitutional amendment, the National Assembly should take into consideration the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians and also the bear in mind the need to cut down of the cost of governance in Nigeria”

28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Tech Times

Rack Centre delivers robust collocation services to world class standard - Coker

Innovations in new digital technology, critical to achieving UN’s SDGs-Report

s Disruptive technologies vital to Nigeria’s GDP, others - Experts Stories by Tony Nwakaegho A disruptive technology has been described as one that will displace an established technology and shakes up the industry or a groundbreaking product that creates a completely new industry.

Some experts in the ICT industry have shared divergent views on what this disruptive technology tends to offer the sector in the emerging era as stakeholders converged to examine the growth and future of disruptive technologies in Nigeria with theme: ‘Role of Disruptive Technology in Catapulting African Continent’s GDP’.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya who was represented by Vice President, Networks Operations, Airtel Nigeria, Adedoyin Adeola at the recently held maiden edition of Nigeria International Technology and Exhibition Conference (NITEC) in Lagos said disruptive technologies can contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if ICT startups are encouraged to create innovations that deliver value.

Adeola noted that ICT currently contributes up to nine percent to Nigeria’s GDP while there is potential for growth if ICT start-ups can explore the available

opportunities despite the current dollar rate and Nigeria’s slow GDP. “Nigeria needs to change from i m p o r t b a s e d economy to exportb a s e d e c o n o m y, af fordable p o w e r must be available and gover nment s h o u l d f o r m u l a t e enabling fiscal and monetary policies in order to boost GDP,” he recommended.

He also noted that quality and affordable data network like Airtel, affordable ecosystems for phones, cloud service and broadband penetration will enable the growth of ICT start-ups in Nigeria, making it possible to access the untapped benefits of ICT. He charged the government to formulate regulations that allow spectrum and active infrastructure sharing, removal of double taxation and declaration of telco infrastructure as critical national infrastructure.

He also urged corporate and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to invest in capacity

building, creation of innovation centres across the country and sponsorship of innovation internship/challenge programmes in order to discover young talents.

On his part, the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo who was represented by Mr. Okoh Aihe, Head of New Media and Special Publications at the commission stated that ordinarily the word disruptive will qualify for troublesome and unsettling, but in this instance has been transformed into a beautiful bride whose qualities are being considered strong and positive enough to transform the GDP of the continent.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

MEF, Etisalat partner in research on NCC to enforce Nigerian mobile media users’ habits compliance over Corporate Governance Code A recent survey carried out by global trade body, Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) in association with Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications network, Etisalat Nigeria, has revealed an increasing appetite for mobile apps and entertainment services among Nigerian telecoms consumers.

The study identifies apps, music and video as the biggest drivers for the increase in mobile data spending as a third of Nigerian mobile media users have paid to increase their data packages in the last six months in

order to access these services.

“The growth of the mobile ecosystem from more established areas like entertainment and messaging to the uptake of health, reading, transport and foods apps, along with the uptake of mobile Commerce and banking is encouraging and demonstrates the continued rise of the mobile economy in Nigeria”, said Rimma Perelmuter, Chief Executive Officer, MEF. Rimma Perelmuter explained that while the report shows strong growth in data consumption with 34 percent purchasing additional data, it also

highlights that nearly three quarters of respondents which is 73 percent, are still held back from downloading popular services such as video & using more apps, due to a lack of trust.

“Therefore in order for the mobile opportunity to truly take off, not only do the networks need to continue to improve their service, but data and pricing models need to be more affordable, transparent and better understood as the study shows that where this is the case, consumers are more willing to pay for content and services as long as the value is clear,” She said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

29 Tech Times

Rack Centre delivers robust collocation services world class standard -Coker Briefly explain what Rack Centre does in the ICT ecosystem in Nigeria?

We provide collocation services for hosting IT assets which means you don’t need to go to any data centre you can have it immediately available here. We operate on the highest global standard of reliability and sophistication and that is why you have to offer here in Nigeria so you don’t need to go abroad to host your IT assets. You can come to Rack Centre and collocate and get assets immediately to high quality services on as pay as you go basic and avoid all capex you have to pay as a company.

What is your assessment of the ICT environment in Nigeria?

I think there is a lot of opportunity now and there is a significant amount of energy being put in now actually with the youth in creating capacity and creating capability.

We still have a lot of challenges creating the capacity locally, but it’s an opportunity because as we do that we are developing the younger people. You will see other benefits coming out from five to 10 years in terms of impart from all these entrepreneurs and also impart in the GDP.In terms of other infrastructure capability, even what we are doing at the Rack Centre, we know there is a great super market for the collocation businesses is significantly more than the capability right now. But the key thing we have to do is unlock that address super market and build our capacity to deliver up to that address super market.

There is a lot of opportunity to develop that capacity which by and large we don’t have yet, that is fine, but in the Rack Centre we were showing that with the right lead ship investment and so on we can start to build that core capacity and skill. It’s a progressive thing.

What can the centre do to help the SMEs in the country?

What we can do is to provide them with services that are affordable so that they can get their businesses going quickly on pay as you go basics and also as scale businesses they pay as a scale. And when it come to the IT services and asset that they have, so these are the kind of services that we are able to provide the SMEs. In the IT space we look at the CSR that they can do with respect to helping the smaller companies understand

Tunde Coker is Managing Director Rack Centre in Nigeria with over 25 years’ international experience across Europe, USA, Asia and Africa.He spoke to Tony Nwakaegho on the Rack Centre, issues and challenges in the hosting of data both at home, abroad and other sundry issues. Excerpts: how they develop and how they can scale their own businesses.

You talked about SMEs that with improve internet they can grow. Can you expatiate on that?

Data from around the world has shown that internet access drives successful SMEs ecosystem, so with more internet asset we can deliver here in Nigeria the more it assist SMEs in growing because the access they have to the internet give some access to other resources like websites whether cloud services, access to the internet, consumers and so on. You need that as a base to transform your SMEs ecosystem.

Some companies have their own physical servers. What is the advantage of such servers?

If you privileged to buy your own physical server and so on, that is fine, we have a lot of companies that do that, Top and Medium enterprises that bring their servers and their racks and so on but some don’t need a whole rack, they need less than a rack, we provide that and some of these services through partners. But some don’t want that amount of scale they only want a little amount slice of IT, that we can also provide. It means therefore that you don’t need to have all of that income that can buy big expensive servers you can start your business at the level of scale that works best for you.

Now there is paucity of energy supply in Nigeria, how are you powering the Rack Centre?

Right now we empower solely on diesel and we have very sophisticated power delivery architecture. By the end of this year we are bringing in utility and it gives us another choice because right now utility is a lot more reliable, previously it wasn’t when we went to diesel. And over the next 12 to 18 months we are also looking at gas because where we are located they have gas capability, availability locally, so you will see us increasingly generating power through gas. So we have three choices, diesel, utility and gas.

Please explain what you refer to as utility and how reliable is such infrastructure?

By utility, I mean the public

COKER electricity supply. I won’t get technical, but if you go for the regular availability in public, the availability isn’t as high as when you have a dedicated high capacity line. It is a significant capital investment in getting our own capacity line coming directly into the Rack Centre; in that case it is much more reliable as we are talking of 80 percent rather than much lower percentage for the normal public supply.

How will smart phone and feature phone thrive in the IT ecosystem?

You know smart phone now have significant amount of functionalities they connect to the internet they call it TFA and the interaction is much higher for browsing and they have apps that you can use to control a whole range of things. As you have all these new disruptive technology innovations coming, the core of being able to control and interact with us will be the smart phone.

Managing Director Rack Centre

Either the smart phone or other awearable technologies like the smart watch, but by and large it has to be the anchor point of the internet of things controlling new technology because that is the user interaction with the internet.

It is a highly sophisticated powerful device that allows you to use as an anchor for creating all the other technologies that will be coming up and other innovations that are also coming in.

Is there anything government is doing to assist the Rack Centre get the needed infrastructure that will stimulate hosting of assets in Nigeria?

We had the Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu around a couple of months ago and he stated that he was amazed that the quality that we are able to provide is world class and added that he will ensure that he support that type of infrastructure locally. They are aware of what we do as we are

getting all the supports from them, and we are already working on how government will locate its own data here in Nigeria.

Briefly speak on the percentage of those hosting their data abroad and those that have hosted with the Rack Centre?

By and large there is higher percentage abroad, but we are creating the awareness here, because if people don’t know it’s here they will not come back here.

So if we create the awareness of what we have got here, they will start to reassess their own reason of hosting abroad. We don’t have that data; all we have is the feeling that there is a significant amount of hosting abroad and we see that being brought back here.

What is the experience of consumers who are using the centre?

They are happy, and have very high consumers’ satisfaction and we monitor it regularly and any little bleak on that we deal with it passionately because we are very passionate about our consumers that are with us and our consumers satisfaction rating is very high.

How would cloud services help to accelerate a smarter society?

As you are able to get into business quicker either as a corporate and so on, you see the contribution of technology is not just technology on its own, it also has to do with how technology enables the other industries, the banks for instance and it enables the banks to operate much more efficiently. Banks don’t have to build their own data centre but being able to host with the Rack Centre with other companies, the telcos, industries and manufacturing needing technology being able to leverage the services we have and grow so you find the impact on the economy and based on the fact that we are growing the IT contribution to the GDP on it own. It is enhancing through the IT contribution other part of the economy to GDP. You see this is an important part of the core infrastructure for the industrial Nigeria.

Tech Times 30

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Samsung, Softcom partner to implement mobile learning solution at MTU

Innovations in new digital technology, critical to achieving UN’s SDGs -Report Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Innovation in new digital technologies and business models has been identified as a critical requirement by CEOs to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is formally known as Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, are an intergovernmental set of aspiration goals with 169 targets.

The Goals are encapsulated in paragraph 54 United Nations Resolution A/RES/70/1 of 25 September 2015.

Over 1000 CEOs were surveyed for The United Nations Global Compact-Accenture Strategy CEO Study 2016. 97 percent believe that sustainability is important to the future success of their business, with 75 per cent of CEOs saying that digital technologies enable more

sustainable business models.

In addition, 87 percent of the CEOs surveyed say the SDGs represent an essential opportunity to rethink approaches to sustainability.

“These CEOs acknowledge digital technologies will play a key part in this transformation, redefining competitiveness in many industries. Managed in the interests of both business and society, digital advances make it possible to unleash radical innovation to create value and deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” Peter Lacy, managing director at Accenture Strategy said.

A recent report by GeSI, #SystemTransfor mation: How digital solutions will drive progress towards the sustainable development goals, published in collaboration with Accenture Strategy, shows that ICT sector companies could gain USD 2.1 trillion in additional annual revenue by

2030 from services that directly contribute to SDG achievement, which includes USD 400 billion per year from connecting 2.5 billion people by 2030. Moreover, USD 1.7 trillion could be realized from digital services such as e-Commerce (USD 580 billion), e-Work (USD 537 billion), smart buildings (USD 200 billion), e-Government (USD 86 billion), and online learning (USD 75 billion).

Widespread deployment of ICTs - which are recognized as a key means of achieving the SDGs by the UN (in SDG#17) - will greatly contribute to all three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. For example, Boosting equitable growth: Digital solutions like the Internet of Things and robotics can help bring economic benefits of up to USD 1 trillion by supporting industries such as smart manufacturing and smart logistics (SDG#9)

Improving people’s lives: 1.6 billion people could benefit from more accessible, affordable and better quality medical services through e-healthcare, while connected road vehicle solutions could save up to 720,000 lives annually and prevent up to 30 million traffic injuries (SDG#3) Protecting the environment: Digital solutions could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive market transformation for renewables, cutting carbon emissions by around 20 percent in 2030 (SDG#13) It will be recalled that at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030.

NCS advocates investment- in IT as enabler for national

As nations are investing in Information Technology (IT) in the in the 21st century as the key enabler for national security, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has advocated the usage of IT in security needs to be improved through more widespread adoption of IT professionalism in the private and public sectors.

This remark was made by the Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, President Nigeria Computer Society, (NCS) during a press conference held in Lagos today to announce the upcoming NCS conference taking place on Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st of July in Abuja with the theme “Information Technology for National Safety and Security”.

Aderounmu disclosed that the theme is apt due to the security

… announces NCS conference 2016

L-R: Rogba Adeoye, Chairman, Education and Manpower, Raphael Omosola, National President , NITPCS, Iyiola Ayoola Executive Secretary, NCS, Prof.

Adesola Aderounmu, President NCS and Jide Awe, Chairman Conference Committee during the press conference held at NCS secretariat, Lagos, recently challenges facing the nation, adding that NCS has assembled an impressive line-up of leading researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, industry experts,

thought leaders, international scholars and subject matter experts to share their extensive knowledge and experience on the themes. Sub themes,

including the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship platform (YIEP) which has been endorsed by the global IFIP International Young ICT Group.

According to him, NCS and its members can play a major role in improving the state of security nationwide; combating terrorism; enhancing public service delivery; accountability; boosting job creation; building a digital, prosperous; inclusive and secure Nigeria that leverage on IT to achieved the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

High dignitaries expected to grace the event include: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, President –elect, Mike Hinchey, among others.

Samsung Electronics West Africa, alongside one of its Information Technology partners, Softcom, has collaborated with Mountain Top University to implement a mobile learning solution for teaching and learning within the university.

This collaboration will see Samsung and Softcom make available learning applications and tablets to the University while providing the security component that enables the University to enforce school policies on the tablets and still ensure that the students have access to relevant educational content.

Mountain Top University, one of the recently approved private universities in Nigeria recently admitted its first 300 students into its undergraduate programs.

Speaking on the collaboration, Vice Chancellor, Mountain Top University, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi said “It is very important to us as an institution of higher learning to offer only the best to our students and what better way can we do so than to introduce the mobile learning program at the inception of this institution. Mountain Top is an ICT driven institution and we are glad to have the opportunity to collaborate with the big players in the technology industry on the project. It is imperative that we get it right as a new institution and we are delighted and confident to be taking the right steps towards the right direction with the introduction of this mobile learning program”.

In his remarks, Director, Business to Business, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Olumide Ojo said “through the mobile learning program, the University is able to enforce school policies on the device of students by permitting access to only educationally relevant content per time. This program also guarantees time reduction in continuous assessment, easier class management, easy access to learning materials, and real-time collaboration by students from any location amongst other advantages.

We are confident that this will change the face of learning in Nigeria”.

Mr. Olumide Ojo also commended the management of Mountain Top University for adopting the mobile learning program and infusing it into the school’s learning curriculum at this commencement stage of the university’s academic activities.

The mobile learning program is designed to create a more conducive and easily accessible learning environment for both teachers and students by providing educational content that can be accessed by any user in any location, thereby breaking learning barriers.

Mountain Top University is one of the first universities to adopt the mobile learning program in Nigeria.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

31 Tech Times

NCC to enforce compliance Corporate Governance Code The regulatory authority of telecommunication sector, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given a final signal that the honey moon is over the two years of voluntary compliance as it will now bark and bite if any telecommunications company operating in the country fails to embrace the Corporate Governance Code for the industry.

The mandatory enforcement of Corporate Governance Code for the industry is coming on the heels of the recent stakeholders’ forum held to fine-tune the document by the commission in Lagos.

Prof Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman/ CEO, NCC, at a “Corporate governance forum: Review of the industry code” in Lagos, said the Code was largely declaratory in nature and implementation was initially voluntary across the industry thus leading to violations.

Danbatta warned that enforcement of regulatory stipulation is a last resort, adding that once “you are operating in a market, the rule of engagement must be respected”.

According to him, the liberalisation of the telecoms industry opened investment opportunities for both local

DANBATTA and foreign companies, contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He emphasizes that it was in recognition of the need to sustain the phenomenal success recorded in the industry and replicate the lessons learnt in other sectors that had gone through

Disruptive technologies vital to Nigeria’s GDP, others - Experts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

The telecom regulator, he said will continue to provide a transparent, regulated industry, which must be friendly to local and international investments and ultimately open up the fortunes of disruptive technologies to thrive.

The telecom regulator said even as technology disrupts other industry, it is the most disrupted, so it hopes to be remembered for creating a commodious environment for ideas, technologies and

businesses to grow.

NCC said part of the effort being made is the concentration of a robust broadband plan across the country, as a result of the availability of disruptive technologies like Mobile Internet, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud, Advanced Robotics, Autonomous vehicles, Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony, Live Streaming and other Social Media Applications.

According to him, the commission is aware that a robust broadband plan that

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC

the “Boom and Bust” cycle, the Commission in 2012 set up a multi-stakeholder Corporate Governance Working Group (CGWG) with membership drawn from across the Nigerian telecoms industry, the Commission and Corporate Governance practitioners.

The mandate of the Group,

can support these disruptive technologies is capable of boasting the nation’s Gross Domestic product (GDP).

“The Commission as a regulator is committed in boosting Africa’s GDP with disruptive technologies in its robust broadband plan, which is geared towards steering the industry to the kind of growth that will allow Nigerians fulfill their dreams,” he added.

Okoh agreed that what is happening today in technology is totally out of control and beyond the expectations of everybody, including the regulator.

The commission being aware of these trends said every point in the 8-Point agenda of the leadership of NCC under Prof. Umar Danbatta has been carefully thought out and followed with vision and strategy to help push the industry to new heights in an era of

he added, was to determine the industry’s corporate governance needs and the best approach to be adopted in addressing them, and noted that the CGWG developed the Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry, which was published in 2014.

Some telecom companies, Daily Times gathered have over the years regularly and consciously ignored sustained and systematic red flags as their promoters and managers diverted funds meant for expansion into frivolous projects like manufacturing, oil and gas, politics and so on.

Daily Times also learnt that the practice quickened the deaths of most CDMAs in the country because of the fraudulent and self-serving practices of some members of board and management and the overbearing influence of chairmen or Managing Directors /CEOs of CDMAs. Some experts also buttressed that non-compliance with laid down internal controls and operation procedures, biased recruitment exercises and general lack luster management practices as some of the reasons why many other telecom companies have folded up.

very fair, firm, and forthright regulations.

The 8-Point agenda include Facilitate Broadband Penetration, Improve Quality of Service, Optimize Usage and Benefits of Spectrum, Promote ICT Innovation and Investment Opportunities, Facilitate Strategic Collaboration and Partnership, Protect and Empower Consumers, Promote Fair Competition and Inclusive growth, and Ensure Regulatory Excellence and Operational Efficiency.

“Broadband occupies a central peg in the Agenda as a result of the intruding technologies, which are sometime difficult to regulate.

The current Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, he noted is very excited by the opportunity given to drive the growth of Broadband in Nigeria and has already ‘thrown his hat in the ring in full readiness for action’.

Airtel introduces short code for ‘Do Not Disturb’ service to manage messages In the telecom space there are customers that demand promotional services to keep abreast with various innovative products and services, there are others who complain that they do not want to be disturbed with unsolicited text messages.

It is in response to this and the regulator directive that leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, announced its ‘Do not Disturb’ short code, 2442, designed to empower customers in respect to the management of all promotional messages sent to their lines.

The self-service platform allows customers to either optin or out of the ‘Do Not Disturb’ service, thereby empowering telecoms consumers to end unsolicited promotional SMS or promotional voice calls. To use the service customers can text ‘help’ to 2442.

Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Ahmad Mokhles, while commenting on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ short code, noted that the company introduced the short code in compliance with the directive of the telecoms industry regulatory body, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and in response to complaints of unsolicited SMS or promotional voice calls by some customers.

“Airtel is committed to offering excellent customer service and we are pleased to introduce the ‘Do Not Disturb’ self-service to empower our esteemed customers to decide what messages or calls they receive from the network.

“While there are customers that demand promotional services to keep abreast with various innovative products and services, there are others who do not want to be disturbed - that is why NCC has mandated telecoms companies in Nigeria to create this service, providing options for customers to either opt-in or out,” he said.

OGUNSANYA

MD CEO Airtel Nigeria

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. email: info@dailytimes.ng Tel: 018447948.

DAILY EDITOR: BIODUN DUROJAIYE

TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.145

Price: N150

Torres pens new Atletico deal P 20

News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08086296714

N Musa

Musa joins Leicester, set for medical

Gatlin makes Rio with year’s best A

merican sprinter Justin Gatlin ran the fastest 100m time of the year at the US Olympic trials for Rio

2016.

The 2012 bronze medallist, 34, finished in 9.80 seconds, beating 20-year-old Trayvon Bromell who qualified for his first Olympics.

World champion Allyson Felix also set the year’s fastest time in the women’s 400m.

The 30-year-old, who won 200m gold in London, finished in 49.68secs despite still recovering from an ankle injury.

Also, Yohan Blake claimed victory in the 200m Jamaican Olympic trials, finishing in 20.29 seconds - his best time since finishing second to Usain Bolt in 19.44 seconds at London 2012.

Bolt was forced to withdraw from the trials on Saturday after suffering a hamstring tear in the 100m semi-finals.

Blake, who also won the 100m, said that he did not think Bolt’s injury was serious enough to rule him out of Rio. Meanwhile, Russian athletes who say they are not drug cheats could find out if they can compete at this summer’s Rio Olympics just 15 days before the Games start.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it has reached an agreement with the athletes and athletics’ governing body, the IAAF, to end their dispute quickly.

The IAAF has banned Russia’s athletics federation from the Olympics because of widespread doping in the country.

But 68 clean athletes are arguing they

should be allowed to compete.

The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) says any Russian athlete who is not banned for doping and has met qualification standards should be allowed to compete in Rio. CAS said it would rule on the matter by July 21 “at the latest” after agreeing to “an expedited procedure”.

Gatlin

igeria star Ahmed Musa will undergo a medical with Leicester City on Wednesday before signing a fiveyear contract with the Premier League champions.

Leicester City agreed a deal to sign the CSKA Moscow striker, Musa, the Nigeria international’s agent said.

The Premier League champions have reportedly agreed a fee of £16.6million to sign the 23-yearold, who has scored 54 goals in 168 games for CSKA. Musa’s agent Tony Harris revealed that everything has been finalised and Musa will be in England for his medical on Wednesday.

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky has also confirmed the deal is set to be completed and is confident in Musa’s ability to adapt to the English game.

“He’ll be leaving today,” Slutsky told Russian media. “And if you look at the way things are done over there you’ll see he is a player just made for English football.”

Musa has won three Russian Premier League titles and a Russian Cup in his time at CSKA. He was also part of the Nigeria squad that triumphed in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

He is set to become the fourth player to join Leicester in the transfer window, with centre-back Luis Hernandez, goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler and midfielder Nampalys Mendy having signed for Claudio Ranieri’s men.

Musa made his international debut for Nigeria against Madagascar in September 2010 and has scored 11 times in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles.

He scored twice in Nigeria’s 3-2 loss to Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, becoming the first Nigerian to score twice in a World Cup finals match.

His first goal in that Group F game was Nigeria’s fastest at the tournament, coming after just four minutes.

M

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

CBN replaces Skye bank board over capital failure, high NPLs Page B3

Oando embarks on N70.5bn downstream recapitalisation Page B2

NLNG, NASS and $57b Niger Delta investment conundrum Page B7

Dearth of professionals hits NAMA Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA is grappling with the shortage of professionals in various cadres in the organisation, as most experienced hands

have retired.

Daily Times investigation revealed that no fewer than five directors of operations have retired in the last few months in NAMA. About 80 percent of workers of the agency engaged in provi-

sion and maintenance of navigational aids are professionals requiring huge amount of money for training and retraining.

As a result of dearth of professionals in the system, the agency engaged the services of these retirees as contract staff

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

based on their experience and lack of trained personnel.

Ageing workforce is also affecting the agency and the inability of government to train professionals has worsen the situation.

Aviation stakeholders have in

different fora called for succession plans in the aviation industry especially an agency such as NAMA the has professionals as it’s core workers.

The immediate past president CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

NEPC targets 21 countries for export of Nigerian products Joy Ekeke

Nigeria/China Trade

L – R: Chinese Vice Minister Of Commerce, Mr Qian Keming; Minister Of Budget And National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister Of State For Budget And National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmad; Minster Of Information And Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, And Minister Of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, At The 6Th Session Of China And Nigeria Trade And Technical Cooperation Joint Commission In Abuja On Monday

No hidden agenda to ban on Nigeria’s crude oil — Envoy Opeoluwani Akintayo Following an earlier report by Business Times on how the United States of America cut off ties with Nigeria in terms of buying its crude oil, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has said there was no hidden agenda behind the decision.

While answering questions from journalists during the U.S 240th Anniversary in Abuja on Monday, Entwistle said the decision was informed by the

trends in the international market, and that his country targets getting the best product at the best price.

“There is no conspiracy for the U.S not to buy oil from Nigeria. Price of oil is determined by the international market and business people go to get the best product for the best price,” he said.

Explaining further he said, the United States is committed to growing the Nigerian economy.

“But I wish you listened to my

last statement where I talked about the importance of the private sector, the commitment of the U.S companies to help build this country (Nigeria),” he said.

The U.S which had been the largest buyer of Nigeria’s crude, stopped importation from Nigeria in June 2014 following the discovery of shale oil and gas which was close in grade to Nigeria’s light crude.

However, in September 2015, President of Washington Global Water and Energy Strategy Team, GWEST, Paul Wihbey,

predicted a re-bonding of oil trade between the U.S and Nigeria, especially since President Muhammed Buhari came into office.

Earlier in the year, reports of Nigeria’s oil cargoes heading to the U.S trickled in, raising hope that trade bond between the two countries have been strengthened again.

But, with the crash in oil price globally, things took a new turn as countries now seek a cut down in budget expenditure.

A national action plan targeting 11 specific Nigerian products is set to be unveiled by the Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo, as part of the federal government’s economic diversification efforts.

Awolowo disclosed this in Abuja, when the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello paid him courtesy visit.

Awolowo said the scheme, known as zero-oil plan, would target 21 priority countries where the demands for such products are already waiting.

He added that among the key ministries that would help in driving the project are, the Nigerian Shippers Council, Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian Customs and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The NEPC boss explained that the council, which has begun wide consultations to identify stakeholders for the partnership, is to work closely with the Nigerian Shippers Council to drive the objective of the scheme.

“The products include petrochemicals, palm oil, cocoa, soybeans, rubber etc. To achieve this, Nigeria must scale up domestic production to unprecedented level and create competitive channels to transport cargo and other goods into foreign markets,” he said.

He said the plan is to ensure a marked increase in the total nonoil export volumes in Nigeria, which is expected to grow by 70 million tons.

According to him, the feat would be propelled by the upgrade of major transport corridors to get goods from Nigeria’s hinterlands to where they are needed.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

IBM, Techplus team up to address agricultural challenges with hackathon

Union Bank storms Abuja, unveils upgraded branches Abimbola Obatayo One of Nigeria ‘s oldest bank Union Bank recently stormed Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city with a series of activities to further reflect its commitment towards delivering a simpler and smarter bank to its customers. The transformation activities include the launch of three newly upgraded branches, a networking series for entrepreneurs and professionals as well as a digital training workshop for millennials.

The three upgraded branches of the Bank unveiled are located at Federal Secretariat Complex, Area 1, Garki; Veterinary Council Building, Maitama and Area 3, Garki.

In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa said, “We are here today to unveil to you, results of the transformation we started three years ago. Given our almost 100 year heritage, we recognize the need to adapt to the changing economic space, to prepare for the future, to be nimbler and better without giving up our heritage and values.”

Dearth of professionals hits NAMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

of Aviation Round Table Capt Dele Ore, has expressed fear and worry over the continuous retirement of core professionals in the aviation parastatals especially NAMA warning that it will be disastrous should government fail to address the situation.

The only recently, the newly appointed acting director of operations Daily Times gathered was dropped following petitions and disagreement among the professionals in NAMA as per the choice of the man.

At the time of gathering this report, the NAMA has no acting director of operations as a result of the disagreement among the professional body as who is to head the Directorate.

As it becomes messier, the management is not leaving any stone unturned as it had decided to fill the position by conducting examination for contenders to the post following agitations by the affected professionals.

GSK

L-R: Non Executive Director, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc (GSK), Mr. Samuel Kuye; Managing Director, GSK, Mr. Dayanand Thandalam Spiral; Chairman, GSK, Mr. Edmund Onuzo; and Company Secretary, Uche Uwechia, during the 45th Annual General Meeting & Extra ordinary General Meeting of the company in Lagos…on Monday.

As part of efforts to address food security in Africa through technology, IBM in collaboration with the organizers of #TechPlus2016 is set to host programmers developers to the first of its kind three-fold hackathon event focused on Africa’s agricultural sector.

Tagged ‘Hack-Pitch-Code’, the event will bring together computer programmers, developers and hackers to deliver technologically driven novel solutions to agricultural challenges in Africa during the conference.

The code festival is targeted at both students and non-students who will be expected to creatively crack a given brief utilizing new technologies that will debut at #TechPlus2016.

Oando embarks on N70.5bn Afreximbank’s Obi Emekekwue downstream recapitalisation elected APNEG President Opeoluwani Akintayo Oando PLC, has announced completion of its N70.5 billion recapitalisation Downstream business with HV Investments II B.V. The deal will see an immediate injection of estimated N70.5 billion into Oando’s downstream operations and the larger Oando group.

Commenting on the transaction, Oando PLC Group Chief Executive, Adewale Tinubu, said: “Despite global economic headwinds, we have taken the proactive approach to establish a strategic partnership which will leverage Oando’s sector dominance, considerable local knowledge and expertise, together with HVI’s vast international, financial, and technical capabilities.

This partnership will reinvigorate Nigeria’s downstream sector and create one of Africa’s largest downstream operations. We take great pride in our origins as a predominantly downstream company, and we are extremely confident in the success and potential

returns this alliance will deliver.”

Under the new business structure, all Oando retail stations will retain the Oando brand. However, Oando Downstream will be renamed OVH Energy (“OVH”) to reflect its new ownership structure and the commitment of its new shareholders. OVH Energy will hold interests in Oando Marketing Limited, Oando Supply & Trading Limited, Apapa SPM Limited, and Oando Trippmart Limited. Oando PLC will retain a 49 percent shareholding in the newly formed corporate vehicle, with the HVI consortium also owning 49 percent. A residual 2 percent will be owned by a local entity.

Oando Downstream is comprised of Oando Marketing PLC, Oando Supply & Trading Limited, Oando Trading Limited, Apapa SPM Limited, and Ebony Oil & Gas Limited.

OVH will be led by a local management team, tasked with creating new cost efficiencies, building the business safely and efficiently, while leveraging Oando’s existing employee base.

The Association of Professional Nigerians in Egypt (APNEG) on Saturday elected Obi Emekekwue, the Head of Communications of Cairo-based African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), as its President for the next two years.

Mr. Emekekwue, whose election took place during the Association’s second quarterly meeting held in the New Cairo section of Cairo, will take over from the President of Afreximbank, Dr. Benedict Oramah, who has completed two terms as the President of APNEG. Also elected along with Mr.

Emekekwue

Emekekwue were Patrick AduayeOdiete as Vice President; Ekene Uzor as Secretary-General; Oluranti Doherty as Assistant Secretary-General; and Okechukwu Ihejirika as Treasurer. Others are Ayo Mubarak as Financial Secretary; Ada Abel-Osuji as Public Relations Officer; Humphrey Nwugo as Assistant Public Relations Officer; and Joy Albright as Legal Adviser.

The objectives of the APNEG include working for the advancement of Nigeria, promoting and projecting a positive image of Nigeria and her cultural values, promoting mutual understanding among its members and serving as a channel of communication with the government and people of Nigeria.

APNEG’s key activities for 2016 include the hosting of a NigeriaEgypt Business Forum in Egypt in October in order to strengthen trade and business relationships between organisations in the two countries. It provide a platform for discussions on trade promotion, policies and programmes aimed at facilitating two-way trade between Egypt and Nigeria.

MTN’s Group chief financial officer resigns The Chief Financial Officer of MTN Group, Brett Goschen is to step down in September after more than a decade at Africa’s biggest telecoms operator, the company said on Monday.

A statement by the company in Johannesburg said Goschen had held the position since 2013.

According to MTN, its Rwanda Chief Executive Gunter Engling will assume the position of Acting Group CFO on Brett’s departure until a permanent CFO is appointed.

Goschen leaves the company in the middle of a hunt for new revenue streams that include convincing its more than 200 million users to use their hand-

sets for everything from storing money to paying bills.

MTN also named former Barclays Africa Investment Banking Chief Stephen van Coller as head of mergers, acquisitions and strategy.

Coller’s appointment follows that of another banking veteran Rob Shuter as chief executive officer last month.

Coller will take up his role in October while Shuter is expected to start by no later than July next year.

MTN has struggled to make money at a faster pace as years of price wars and regulation aimed at bringing tariffs down hit profitability and made it less attractive to spend on new networks.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

B3 Money Market Shareholders charge FG to guide against banks takeover by regulator

STERLING

R-L: Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Lanre Adesanya; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Bola Ilori at the official presentation of highway managers’ uniforms to the Governor at City Hall, Olonkoro, Oshogbo…Thursday.

CBN replaces Skye bank board over capital failure, high NPLs …As Emefiele assures depositors not to panic Stories by Motolani Oseni The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has dissolved and replaced the board and management of Skye Bank Plc, after they failed to achieve minimum Capital Adequacy Ratios ((CAR) and high Non Performing Loan (NPLs) portfolio of N700 billion.

The apex bank said that chairman and chief executive of Skye Bank have been replaced after the Bank’s NPL ratio has been above the regulatory limit for a while and it had met with Skye’s board to resolve the issue, but failed to improve on their poor performance.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele who revealed this at a press conference in Lagos, said that Alh. M. K. Ahmad, a seasoned public sector executive with over 35 years of distinguished experience spanning the public sector and the financial services industry will become the chairman.

He however, reiterated that Skye Bank is not in distress and remains a healthy bank in the system.

The CBN boss assured depositors, shareholders and all relevant stakeholders that there is no

reason for concern or panic as it’s seek their continued cooperation at this time But before the announcement by the CBN governor, industry sources have disclosed to our correspondent that Skye’s Chief Eecutive Timothy Oguntayo and other top management of the lender had resigned in anticipation of the planned dissolution of the board and management cadres by the apex bank.

“The basic issue is capital adequacy and liquidity. From what we see, adequacy ratio in the bank has been weakening and we don’t want it to get to a point where depositors will be at risk,” Emefiele said.

Skye Bank is designated as one of Nigeria’s systemically important banks due to the size of total sector deposits it holds after the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank.

This means it has to hold more capital.

Emefiele said the CBN had conducted a stress test and decided to replace the chairman, chief executive and all non-executive directors after they failed to recapitalise the bank.

He said Skye had been a net borrower from its rediscount window for “sometime

All the directors and executives at the bank except three executives who joined the bank last year have been shown the door.

He said Skye had been a net borrower from its rediscount window for “sometime.” The central bank also appointed Tokunbo Abiru from First Bank to head Skye Bank.

It would recall that last year, the CBN gave three commercial banks until June 2016 to recapitalise after they failed to hit a minimum capital adequacy rate of 10 percent.

Some shareholders in the banking sector have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from forcefully winding up some banks in the country.

The group, in a press statement issued in Lagos and signed by one Johnson Biboye, also urged the President to prevail on the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele to withdraw a letter addressed to 11 banks, including Skye Bank Plc compelling them to bring ‘insider related credits’ before December 31, describing it as anti-people’s policy.

This, they said would throw the country into economic instability should the apex bank be allowed to go ahead with its planned directive as the plan was nothing but to take-over the 11 banks.

The CBN had in a letter dated January 22 and signed by its Director of Banking Supervision, Benjamin Fakunle asked the banks to bring 10 per cent of their paid-up capital per director before December 31.

The letter reads: “The Central Bank of Nigeria has granted an extension of time till December 31, 20 I6 to enable you bring your insider related credits within the stipulated regulatory maximum of 10% of your Paid-up Capital per director including his/her related parties and 60% Paid-up Capital for total related credits in line with our circular BSD/9/2004 on Large Exposures and Connected Lending. You are however required to provide quarterly report/update on the progress made.”

Six months before the expiration of its directive, the CBN sacked Skye Bank management.

The group asked the President NIBOR as @ June 29, 2016 Tenor

Rate (%)

to remove the CBN Governor, Emefiele, describing his policy as anti-people.

The statement reads “Your Excellency, we are saddened as Nigerians that recent economic policies being released by the Central Bank Governor, (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, are not only antipeople, anti-economic development but also anti-progressive. It is very important to let you know of the ongoing harassment/intimidation of Chairmen of banks including their Managing Directors and Chief Executives.

“This, Your Excellency, should be aware, is a well-orchestrated plot by enemies of your government to use the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to systematically collapse the nation’s economy, so that global watchers could make mockery of your government and finally turn Nigeria to a laughing stock locally and internationally.”

Buhari CLOSING FX & MONEY MARKET RATES 4/7/16

Change (%)

Change (%)

282.02

0.00?

O/N

14.4667

-4.16 ?

1M

13.5587

-0.67 ?

3M

15.6877

-0.31 ?

O/N:

5

0.00?

6M

18.0095

-0.03

OBB:

4.58

0.08?

Spot($/?): MM

DTN EXCHANGE RATES

Emefiele

Rate FX

4/7/16

USD

GBP

EUR

INTERBANK

282

376

314

LAGOS

353

469

386

ABUJA

348

480

382

PH

351

488

382

Labour B4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Beneficiaries of AHI empowerment skills

120

After the training programme, the 120 girls acquired skills in various areas such as catering, makeup/Gele (headgear) tying, and bead-making

AHI targets 120 indigent girls for vocational skills empowerment Stories by Joy Ekeke

Action Health Incorporated (AHI) has concluded arrangements to empower 120 girls residing in slum communities with vocational skills, through a twoweek intensive livelihood skills and sexual reproductive health training in Ilaje/Bariga communities of Lagos state.

AHI organised a two-week intensive livelihood skills and sexual reproductive health programme with the support of United Nations Fund Population Activities (UNFPA) in Ilaje community. The project was aimed at improving the activities of OSG adolescent girls whilst advocating for government and stakeholders’ support for these girls

who account for 60 percent of the 10.5 million children who are out of school in Nigeria.

After the training programme, the 120 girls acquired skills in various areas such as catering, makeup/Gele (headgear) tying, and bead-making. They were also handed start up kits worth over ten thousand naira to begin their businesses. They were registered with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and a bank account was opened for them in Access Bank Limited.

The Excutive Director of AHI, Adenike Esiet stated that beyond their business skills training, the girls have acquired better understanding of their sexual and reproductive health, adding that they

have also become change agents within communities, reaching out to other girls.

“They have reached out to other girls with accurate information on sexual and reproductive health as well as non-prescriptive family planning commodities towards reducing the spread of unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases “(STI) includes HIV among young people in Lagos state. It is important to note that lack of schooling has implication far beyond access to basic education, being out of school substantially increases, threats to these adolescents girls’ health, pressure to engage in risky sexual relations, pressure to marry early, as well as exposure to exploitative labour con-

ditions.

“Policy makers and the larger society need to be innovative in reaching them, addressing their needs and leveraging the potential of this significant proportion of Nigeria girls because this is of fundamental importance to Nigeria’s own development.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Country Representative of UNFPA, Koffi Kouame, noted that countries are currently setting in place actions that would ensure that the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He stated that the ability of the OOSG to fulfil her potential is a major contributor to the attainment of the SDGs and therefore it is critical to the development goal of Nigeria,

adding that the ceremony is a call to action for legislators, development partners and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to strive towards ensuring that that the OOSGs are empowered in terms of accessing formal or informal education.

One of the beneficiaries, Gbolagada Desola Odunayo, who dropped out of school because financial problem and also a teenage girl from Ilaje, a slum community in Lagos State.

She was among the 120 girls Out Of School Girls (OOSG) from Ilaje/ Bariga communities who were recently empowered by Action Health Incorporated (AHI) and given startup business kits at a ground breaking graduation ceremony in Lagos.

IABC 6th business leaders’ forum urges impactful CSR initiatives Business leaders at the the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) 6th business leaders forum have stressed the need for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to be more impactful.

The President of IABC Nigeria, Mr. Chido Nwakanma said that “The 6th business leaders’ forum “continues and extends a tradition of providing food for the mind and leading thought on critical issues germane to communication and business leadership in Nigeria.”

Using the leadership talk forum which was at held at Black

Diamond Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos as a platform to imbibe positive improvement in business operations, the IABC Nigeria’s 6th Business Leaders Forum focused on how organizations can improve the scope and content of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Nwakanma, stressed that CSR is a theme of growing importance across businesses in Nigeria, asserting that it can make a very huge positive impact on various communities and environments in Nigeria.

“IABC is a body that seeks to ensure best practices in the business environment. We help

people develop skills in order to grow and be able to contribute optimal wherever they work. We look for where we can intervene; where we can make an impact, and we found that, in leadership talk forum. In a leadership talk forum, people come and canvass ideas and discuss best practices, so we all learn and improve better in the things we are doing.”

In his speech, Dr. Kudo EresiaEke, General Manager External Relations of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) however said that CSR is critical for every organisation to engage in.

He said, “It is important wherever people are located, to think

about the overall good; the general good. If you think about the overall good, then you can think about how to position yourself in that context and how to work for the good of the whole and not just think of yourself as one partitive element and become centrifugal.

Let’s be more centripetal, let’s try to work together, to harmonize in our differences and always bear in mind the overall big name of our nation: this, we need to give primacy. Because it is in this collectivity that we find our definition; it is in this collectivity that we find our prosperity; it is in this collectivity that we find our place in the world.”

Nwakanma

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

NLNG

B5 Energy

NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, with the Koreans at the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) presentation recently.

Power outages in Nigeria: Olorunsogo …What over N28b could power plant N470m daily loss have achieved for Nigeria Opeoluwani Akintayo Power outages have become the norm in the country that an average Nigerian probably does not understand how spates of pipeline vandalism would deny him the privilege to adequate power supply, and why pipeline vandalism should be his headache.

In June, the Federal Government announced severe losses following attack on the Nigeria Gas Company’s pipeline connected to Chevron Nigeria Limited’s facility at Escravos in Delta State.

According to the Senior Adviser (Communications) to the Minister

of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Hakeem Bello, the attack impacted negatively on the Olorunsogo NIPP plant with a generation capacity of 600MW, and other power plants.

The sabotaged gas pipeline which contributes to the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), led to a loss of 160mmsfcd of gas daily.

And at a cost of $2.50 per thousand scf, the loss means about $400,000 loss to the country on a daily basis (N78,800,000 daily) in gas volume.

This is in addition to losses to be incurred daily from affected power generation ($1,988,223 or N391,680,000 daily). The total daily

loss to the country is therefore estimated at over N470 million.

Repairs of the damaged pipeline was estimated as costing ($609,137 or N120,000.000).

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

It would be recalled that during the monthly meeting of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN with operators in the Power Sector last week the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC), the Nigerian National Pe-

Sahara Power trains 100 youths in capacity building To ensure enhanced productivity and seamless skill transfer, the management of Sahara Power has trained 100 youths in capacity building.

The raining took place as the company’s way of restating its commitment to sustained human capital development investment in Nigeria’s power sector.

Speaking, Managing Director, Sahara Power, Kola Adesina, said the firm’s Graduate Engineering Programme has set the foundation for increased funding to drive sundry capacity building initiatives in the organisation.

Sahara Power comprises Egbin Power Plc, Ikeja Electric (IE) and First Independent Power Limited (FIPL) are affliates of

Sahara Group. The company and its technical partner, Korea Electric Corporation (KEPCO) are currently implementing a plan across these power entities that is shoring up power generation and distribution in Nigeria.

According to Adeshina at the session titled “Human Capital Development in Nigeria’s power Sector”, he noted that the programme would address the gulf created by an ageing workforce in the sector. Industry experts say the dearth of young engineers and technical staff remains a huge challenge for the sector that needs about 50,000 young skilled engineers, craftsmen and fitters to replace the ageing workforce - according to a recent report released by the

National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN).

The GEP currently has 100 young graduate engineers spread across Egbin Power, IE and FIPL. These engineers are being trained by seasoned Nigerian and foreign professionals under the scheme which also involves local and overseas exchange programmes.

Adesina said Sahara Power‘s management had set aside substantial funds to drive a holistic human capital policy that will cater to the specific needs of all employees within the organisation. He explained that Sahara Power is built on strategic reengineering and re-orientation activities designed to enhance capacity and efficiency.

troleum Corporation (NNPC) and the GACN led by the Minister of State of Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, shared information on significant gas projects that will improve gas supply which are scheduled for completion in Q2 of 2016.

Pipeline vandalism and you While pipeline vandalism is a major worry to the Federal Government. The difficult situation has also become a threat to an average man on the street.

That is because hacking on oil and gas pipelines not only cost the country to lose huge amount of daily income, power plants which operational product is gas, also fall short of production, thereby affecting availability of electricity.

The implication of these attacks may further lead to challenges ranging from low production, environmental pollution and other vices that could trigger hardship for Nigerians and its economy.

Consistent pipeline rupture also leads to further decline in the country’s oil daily revenue which is down to N10.1billion daily at a deficit of over 1.01 million barrels per day.

Although, production which was trading at a long last fortune of 1.4 million, has dipped further to less than 1 million barrel per day. To this end, the spate of these irregularities may cost the economy billions of Naira.

A report from the think-tank, Chatham House, stressed harder times for Nigeria, as, as it loses over N5.724 trillion annually to oil theft, fraud and piracy in the country’s oil industry.

The report puts the overall

Fashola

damages incurred by Nigeria’s oil industry at about $1.5 billion each month, translating to N5.724 trillion annually. It also revealed that the country is currently losing 400,000 barrels of crude daily to pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, depressed oil prices, rampant corruption, and pipeline vandalism, the equivalent to the entire daily export capacity of the country’s Forcados terminal.

According to Head of Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue, due to attack on the pipelines, there has being a major drop in its load allocation from the National Grid.

His words: “Due to attacks on pipelines and industry facilities by the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, current gas supply to generating companies have been adversely affected and this has led to a major drop in our load allocation from the National grid.

“The threat has immensely halted power supply across the country, as we have in the last two months received less than 200MW of power as against 1500MW expected to meet the demands of our customers across our business network in Lagos.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

NSE resumes week bearish, ASI sheds 1.04% Afolabi Adesola Equities trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed the week on a bearish note as lead indicators further dipped by 1.0 percent. The All Share Index lost 303.34 points to close at 29,002.06 compared to the closing figure of 29,305.40 points recorded last Friday.

Market capitalisation also decline to 9 trillion mark closing at N9.960 trillion compared to N10.064 trillion recorded as the closing figure for last week.

SkyeBank Plc topped the day’s 31 losers with a decline of 9.52 percent or 10 kobo in its share value to close at N9.52 per share, following the resignation of the Bank’s MD and board members as well as the Central Bank’s decision to take over the bank.

Other lagers were: Honeywell Flour Mills Plc which shaved off 6.21 percent or 10 kobo to close at N1.51 per share, Guinness Nigeria Plc closed at N99.50 per share as it lost 5.21 percent or N5.47, while FBN Holdings Plc also depreciated by 5.13 percent

OANDO

or 20 kobo to close at N3.70 per share and Forte Oil Plc dropped 5 percent or N9.51 to close at N180.84 per share.

On the other hand, Oando Plc led 10 gainers with an advancement of 10.16 percent or 68 kobo to close at N7.37 per share.

VANLEER Plc followed with a gain of 4.98 percent or 46 kobo to close at N9.69 per share, Red Star Express Plc added 4.88 percent or 21 kobo to close at N4.51 per share, while Continental Reinsurance Plc and DN Meyer Plc appreciated by 4.55 and 4.44

percent or 5 kobo and 4 kobo each to close at N1.15 and 94 kobo per share respectively.

At the end of the day’s trading session, investors had exchanged a total of N142.8 million shares worth N1.35 billion in 3,321 deals compared to N189.7 million shares worth N2.2 billion exchanged in 3,486 deals on Friday.

FBN Holdings topped volume movers having sold 21.8 million shares followed by Zenith Bank which traded 12.5 million shares and Access Bank 11.7 million shares.

L – R: Tony Ibeziako, Head, Domestic Market, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, NSE; Mr. Jubril Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc and Mr. Olufemi Adeyemo, Group Chief Financial Officer, Oando Plc at the Facts Behind the Figures presentation at the Exchange … on Monday.

FMN seeks to extend release of 2016 financials till July 14 Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc last Friday affirmed it will file its 2016 financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2016, the company said in an issuer’s announcement with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

“The Management of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc. (FMN) wishes to announce the late filing of Its Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended March 31, 2016 with the Nigerian Stock Exchange,” Flour Mills said.

According to the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firm, the delay came on the heels of the audit exercise been challenging as a result of being the first year of audit of its Accounts

by Messrs. KPMG Professional Services following their appointment as the company’s external Auditors in 2015.

“KPMG has, during their audit, raised several questions/ clarifications on previous year’s financial accounts, which delayed work on the current year reporting. Whereas, we had hoped we would be able to submit the audited financial statement on Thursday June 30, 2016 based on the assurances given by the auditors, the auditors had reasons to request further disclosures than previously done, which necessitated last minutes delay,” the company disclosed.

GSK shareholders approve divestment, Summary of activities on NSE receive 60 kobo as special dividend Shareholders of Glaxosmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc, has approved a special dividend of 60 kobo for each share as a consolidation for the divestment of the drink business of the company to Suntory Beverage and Food Nigeria Limited.

At an Extra-Ordinary Meeting held in Lagos on Monday, board members proposed a special dividend of N716 million to be paid to shareholders on the completion of the transaction of the divestment.

In 2013, the parent company, Glaxosmithkline Group had divested Ribena and Lucozade brands to the Suntory Group but GSK Nigeria secured

the rights to continue to manufacture and distribute the product in the country under a 10-year arrangement.

However, in 2016, GSK Nigeria accepted a non-binding offer from Suntory for the acquisition of the company’s drinks brand for a headline prive of $79.2 million dollars.

Speaking at the EGM, chairman of GSK Nigeria, Mr Edmund Onuzo, explained that the proposed use of proceeds includes payment of taxes, cost of transaction, debts, dividends and investment to grow retained business.

He added that transaction would give the company an opportunity to focus on

growing the GSK Consumer business in alignment with its parent company, while noting that the other rationale for the transaction include monetising the low margin products, securing employment for employees at the factory and addressing payment of foreign exchange dominated debt.

Mr. Onuzo who expressed satisfaction with the transaction note that the deal was rated high, even by valuers, while noting that the sales of GSK drink business and other assets including the factory appropriated to and utilises for the drink business would be beneficiary to shareholders.

ASI

29,002.06

DEALS

3,321.00

VOLUME

142,836,827.00

VALUE

1,349,556,707.97

CAP

9,960,739,503,218.84

Honeywell posts N2.8 billion loss for Q1 2016 Honeywell Flour Mills Plc., has released its financial statements for the year ended 31st March, 2016, with a 370 percent decrease in profit to a loss after tax of N3 billion from a profit after tax of N1.1 billion posted for the same period of 2015.

The company increased its revenue slightly by 4 percent

to N50.8 billion from N49.1 billion as Net Assets decreased by 20 percent to N16.4 billion from N20.3 billion.

Earnings of the company fell by 370 percent to a loss of 38.13 kobo from 14.13 kobo last year, while the company proposed no dividend for the financial year, compared to 5 kobo proposed a year ago.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

B7 Business Feature

NLNG, NASS and $57b Niger Delta investment conundrum

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the House of Representatives are presently at loggerheads with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, over ‘refusal’ to pay an alleged three percent fund into the Commission’s account as stipulated in the NDDC Act. OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO writes that the allegation spurred a motion from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who demanded for amendment of the NLNG Act. According to Nwaoboshi, the gas company had refused to pay dues to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the past 16 years.

In his motion, he also indicted the Managing Director of NLNG, Baba Omotowa, over his comment that the company had not been paying any money into the NDDC account.

“We have asked the Managing Director of the NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, and he said that they have not been contributing money to the NDDC. They showed us a Supreme Court judgment, which described NLNG as a gas processing company and that there is a Gas Act that came before that of NDDC Act. “They argued that the NDDC Act has not replaced the Gas Act. The NLNG claimed that the Gas Act has given them tax holiday…”, he said.

Obviously, Omotowa’s argument was based on the NLNG Act that states “inter alia that the NLNG Ltd, is not a gas processing company” in the context of the NDDC Act and as such cannot be subject to any new laws, taxes, dues or other obligations enacted or prescribed in Nigeria after 1993, except such laws, taxes or obligations are generally applicable to all companies registered in Nigeria. Thus, it lays claims to a

Dogara

special exemption granted in perpetuity to NLNG Ltd by virtue of Section 9 of and Clauses 2, 3, 6 and 15 of the 2nd Schedule to the Nigeria LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act 2004, previously Decrees Nos. 39 of 1990 and 113 of 1993 (herein also called the “NLNG Act”)”.

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Leo Ogor, while arguing on this same issue, hinged his reason on untold environmental and health havoc wrecked on the people of the Niger Delta in the area of gas flaring.

“The amendment to this Act is aimed at redressing the great injustice that the NLNG has meted to the people of the Niger Delta region for almost 27 years now”, he said.

The NDDC establishment Act, specifically section 14 (2)(b), stipulates that 3 percent of the total annual budget of any oil producing company operating onshore and offshore in the Niger Delta area, including gas processing companies like NLNG, shall pay the said percentage into the funds of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

“To my knowledge, the NLNG Limited has not contributed a kobo to the NDDC fund as required by the NDDC Act, 2000 for about 27 years of its operation in

NLNG

About 27 years of its operation in the region, despite the huge earnings it has made. This is great injustice and dis-service to the people of the Niger Delta

the region, despite the huge earnings it has made. This is great injustice and dis-service to the people of the Niger Delta region”.

“The NLNG has continued to hide under the pretext that the Nigeria LNG (Fiscal incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act exempted it from such contributions or payments, we now know that it is right and just for it to make such payment, especially when they have enjoyed these incentives for more than 27 years”, he said.

However, allegation that Omotowa accepted that NNLG had not paid any money to NDDC, contradicted what the company’s General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke quoted Omotowa to have said.

At the public hearing on the bill to amend the NLNG Act, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Babs Omotowa, was quoted in a statement by the company’s General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, as saying that NNLG had spent $177 million on corporate social responsibility projects in the Niger Delta.

“As evidence of our commitment to the development of the Niger Delta, NLNG has spent $177 million in the areas of infrastructure and education in the region.

So it is not an issue of reluctance

to support Niger Delta, but one of ensuring we work within the confines of the law and honour agreements and promises to maintain the valued reputation of our country in international business,” Eresia-Eke quoted Omotowa.

According to Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, rakes in profit in excess of N500 billion annually.

Business Times checks on documents published by NLNG on its website, quotes the company as saying that “over the years, NLNG invested in 24 hours electricity, roads and pipe borne water to thousands of households and businesses in our primary host community on Bonny Island where its plant facility is located, health, educational facilities…” however, the document published on January 19 under title ‘NLNG faults ActionAid on tax Incentives’, did not state specifically how much had gone into the projects.

Another document titled ‘NLNG offers FG N60 billion for Bonny-Bodo Road’, was published on 25th of February, shortly after the company was publicly dragged for operating in a tax haven. In the document, NLNG offered the Federal Government and NDDC N60 billion for the Bonny-Bodo road however, neither NDDC nor the FG has confirmed

receiving the money.

The last document found by Business Times was on the 3rd of May titled ‘NLNG restates commitment to Niger Delta’. There, NLNG stated that it had spent a total of $177 million in the Niger Delta in the area of infrastructure, education, etc in the region.

Up until the time of publishing this report, no other document was found stating NLNG’s further financial commitment to the Niger Delta. However, Business Times discovered that aside from the N60 billion the company offered FG and NDDC for the Bonny-Bono road, no other amount was quoted to have been spent in Niger Delta by NLNG before arriving at the $177 million.

Further findings show that other money spent by NLNG on educational projects were not totally in the Niger Delta. According to available document, as part of the company’s $12 million university support programme, the company commissioned the NLNG-University of Ibadan Engineering Labouratory Complex in Ibadan, University of Ilorin, University of Port Harcourt, University of Ilorin and University of Nigeria, Nsuka. If $12 million is shared among the five universities, it means Niger Delta under University of Port-Harcourt, got $2.4 million out of the $12 million.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 5, 2016

32,000

Naira Value (m)

NSE All Share Index

14,000

29,500

10,500

27,000

7,000

24,500

3,500

04-Jul

01-Jul

28-Jun

25-Jun

`

22-Jun

19-Jun

16-Jun

22,000 13-Jun

B8

Life &

Times Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Managing your PL3 emotional reactions

The Best of New York Fashion Week Spring 2016 Ready-To-Wear

L7

P

Yul

Edochie: On spotlight with father, Pete Edochie L P

2

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 5, 2016

Why I stopped kissing in movies -Yu l E d o c h ie

Nollywood star, Yul Chukwubuike Edochie, son of veteran actor, Pete Edochie, strikes you as a young man whose

father of three in this interview with family and lots more. Enjoy‌

TV? I am a very simple guy I think, and from my own assessment of myself, I love life, I love enjoying myself and I would say I engage in bad stuff. I love peace. I love it when everywhere is peaceful and people are happy. I try as much as possible to preach peace in everything I do. I would rather walk away from anything that is going to cause problems. I am very down to earth. A lot of people have this wrong impression about me but I am not like that. We build this world around us for protection, but by the time you

extremely very strict, but I thank God that

kind of family I was raised too and my mum

have wished for a better father. He is a strict catholic, so a lot of things I know today I learnt because of my background. Like I told you, I

then to throw around but we grew up loving God and each other.

made us to understand that it is better to have a good name.

Good name will get you

Lots of it though, but I think my own name paved a way for me too. That was why at a son. I had my reasons then. I am blessed and

is very good with that and pay the producer to run everything but it is going to be professional. everything then I will mess it up.

son. And I try as much as possible not to mess up the name.

Some people say they kiss and other things I feel good. I have been a fan of Tinsel for 7 years; I am one of their biggest fans. Being part of their cast is a great achievement for me.

down to earth. I try to be very friendly. No to my head. I still hang out with folks and old friends. I am just the very easy going person who is always happy and hardly My full names are Yul Chukwubuike Daniel Edochie. My father named me after an American actor. In fact, we were all named after foreign actors.

Yeah, Linc started before me. He started like a year before I got in but later left to do something else. So, I would say we all have our own destiny.

It feels good. Growing up was really good with him as a father.

No, I am not even thinking about that.

Never! I studied Theatre Art and I took get in.

He

a passion for producing. So, if I want to do my

is

at all. During the shoot, I just die and wear the character I am playing. By the time we are done and I come back to myself, I feel nothing.

Funnily enough, all those romance scenes, they are about 5 or more crew in the bedroom with you, so how comfortable would you be to start feeling something else (laughs). Aside that, you still have lines in your head, you are battling to remember. So my dear, the supposed feelings would be far dead and gone.

At a point, I had to limit the kissing scenes I play. I know I did a lot of that while I was still young in the industry, but at the present stage of my career, I reject a lot of roles that has to do with kissing and romancing. I can do romance scenes for you, perfectly without kissing. I can act that I am madly in love with a girl, without getting so romantic with her. I often talk to the director to let me have it my own way without kissing the actress in question and they would come out well.

Life&

T E A M

It is not easy. Trust me, it is not. I try my best.

Whenever, I am in Lagos, I make sure I stay with my family. I do two or three movies outside Lagos, then I hurry back home to meet my family.

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Daniel Ekiye

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 5, 2016

L3 Relationship

Agboola Oluwarantimi

Managing your emotional reactions Emotions are the most present, pressing and sometimes painful force in our lives. We are driven day by day by our

emotions dictate our thoughts, intentions and actions with superior authority to our rational minds. But when we act on our emotions too quickly, or we act on the wrong kinds of emotions, we often make decisions that we later lament.

other aspects of life, emotions are best met with a sense of moderation and logical perspective. This is not to say that we should stop ourselves from falling in love or jumping for joy

Negative emotions, like rage, envy or bitterness, tend to

grace in our darkest moments. No matter your creed, developing a healthy relationship with the divine world will help you surmount your obstacles more easily. This is because when you believe in a higher force, you also believe in the power of divine intervention to show you what you must do, teach you why something is happening or even save you from a certain unwanted situation. When burdened with emotion, close your eyes, envision a positive solution to your problem, and ask the universe to illuminate the best path forward.

should never be bottled up. Call or go see someone you trust and recount to them what happened. Hearing an opinion other than your own broadens your awareness. Keep a journal and transfer your emotions from your inner self onto the paper.

weeds, slowly conditioning the mind to function on detrimental feelings and dominating daily

way. But they allowed certain emotions to stir within them for so long that they became inbred feelings arising all too frequently.

Follow this steps to control your emotions and regain rationality in any challenging situation: immediately to emotional triggers can be an

feelings. Others meditate and chant to return to a tranquil state of being. Perform whatever activity is best-suited to you in order to liberate your being from pent-up sentiments.

disassociating from the harsh feelings attached to your responsibility for your reaction...

refuting the trigger with your emotional argument, take a deep breath and stabilize the overwhelming impulse. Continue

of our lives, whether good or bad, serves a higher purpose. Wisdom means being able to see past the moment and discern the greater meaning of any given situation.

You may not understand it in the beginning,

bigger picture falling into perfect order. Even in the midst of an emotionally upsetting moment,

will come to comprehend soon. negative thoughts, creating cycles of downright negative patterns. Whenever you are confronted with an emotion which is making you feel or think something bad, force it out of your

mind

and

to your problem playing out, think about someone who makes you happy or remember an event that makes you smile.

Forgive your emotional triggers: Your emotional triggers may be your best friend, your family members, yourself or all of the above. You may feel a sudden wave of anger when your friend “does that thing she does,� or a stab of selfloathing when you remember something you could have done differently. But when you forgive, you detach. You detach from the resentment, the jealousy or the fury lingering within you. You allow people to be who they are without the need disassociating from the harsh feelings attached to your being. as powerful instead of as victim to remove the veil of selfdeception. When you seek to identify what is triggering how you feel in the moment, you give yourself the chance to feel differently if you want to. You will also have more clarity on what you need to do or what you need to ask for to change your circumstances.

Choose what you want to feel: With practice, the reaction to your emotional triggers could subside, but they may never go away. The best you can do is to quickly identify when an emotion is triggered and then choose what to say or do the person actively denying your need or are you taking the your need or blocking you from achieving it, can you either ask need go for now?.

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 5, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 5, 2016

L5

L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 5, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 5, 2016

L7

Eyola

eyola@aol.com

The Best of New York Fashion Week Spring

2016 Ready-To-Wear 1ne

Nepal seamlessly seeped into his spring collection inspired by the work of Nepalese artist Laxman Shreshtha. Largely dominated by dresses with midi length hemlines realised in soft hues of beige, ivory and block colours red, yellow and orange - the symbolic colour of Buddhism.

New York challenged the concept of style, which before the Second World War was overshadowed by the haute couture collections showcased in Paris. It was not until after the war that society began to embrace a more relaxed minimalist style. Legendary publicist Eleanor Lambert jumped on the bandwagon of this shift in fashion perspective by introducing fashion week to New York in 1943. Thanks to her efforts, in the realm of fashion becoming a fashion capital in its own right. The sportswear-luxe style has become synonymous with American fashion Ralph Lauren.

2wo of the Spring 2016 catwalk shows.

It was a week dedicated to commemorations that spanned across tributes, anniversaries and remembrances, all of which coincided with a common theme: giving back to the community. Such heartfelt emotional moments saw the glamour of fashion and the runway unite for a greater cause, granting New York Fashion Week (NYFW) some of the most memorable fashion moments of Spring 2016. This cocktail of style, celebration and philanthropy was received with open arms particularly as it hit close to home with my fashion milestone: 8-year anniversary on 8.8.8 (8 August 2015 [2+0+1+5=8]). anniversary gift with each online purchase at eyola.com/Customised.

3hree

attention of his front row celebrity army to whom he shared his vision for Spring 2016. According to Wang, the upcoming Spring season should welcome the following new additions into your closet: a casual mix of denim, military-inspired jackets, pyjamastyle silk slip dresses - all in relaxed laid-back cool downtown style. Incorporating past designs from previous collections during his ten year tenure on the fashion map, Wang continued celebrating by hosting a VIP postshow soirée with live performances from Lil Wayne and Ludacris.

Front Row (FRow): Mary J Blige, Nicki Minaj

4our stenberg would have a pro-feminine prints and bright colours decorating wrap dresses, trousers and playsuits in various length varieties. After all, von Furstenberg has tirelessly promoted and encouraged women to be strong and independent while looking elegantly beautiful in the process. Of

10-year Anniversary - Awardwinning designer Alexander Wang popped onto the fashion scene

from the queen of effortless style.

The collection found its roots in the

Parsons School of Design. In just 10 years, he has become a staple on the international fashion scene with his signature chic street style

the Roman Goddess of luck, fate

hard to believe: “I always had this fantasy of working in fashion, just never thought it would take me this far so soon.” Coinciding his anniversary celebrations with supporting the youth and social change, Wang sold T-shirts and sweatshirts prior to the show to raise money for DoSomething foundation. Over 30 celebrities had been previously photographed wearing the T-shirts and sweatshirts including Taraji P. Henson, Joan Smalls, Kanye West, The Weekend

failed attempts in his fashion quest, the ever-determined West left Paris Fashion Week in hopes for more positive reviews in New York. This without his collaborative partner last season Adidas, and presented his own fashion line Yezzy. While West ing, just using clothing as a canvas digest that such a powerful presentation was inspired by such a simple message. Consisting of a skin-tone colour palette (of beige, taupe, brown and black) worn from head-tothe skin-tone of the diverse models. erful visual presentation translated world crippled by inequality. As for the collection, his signature minimalist military-inspired pieces consisting of bodysuits, oversized coats and hoodies was a dose of déjà vu, reminiscent of his previous collection with Adidas which saw his limited edition Yezzy Boost 350 sneakers sell out in style can be praised for being consistent, the word echoed on the street for music.

FRow: Drake, 2 Chainz, Miguel, Kim Kardashian, Michael Strahan, Common

6ix Nepal Remembrance - Prabal Gu-

stenburg explained. It was a practical collection with a strong message conveyed through bold statement prints in very feminine, goddess-like, -

FRow: Models Hailey Clauson & Karolina Kurkova

5ive ring appearance as fashion show attendee and front row royalty was overshadowed by his last minute surprise catwalk show. After many

the worst natural disasters to burden his homeland of Nepal earlier this year, taking the lives of over 8,000 people. He took it upon himself to use his collection to pay tribute to the lives lost and those still in desperate need of aid, following the aftermath that still plagues Nepal. Dressed in traditional robes, 30 Buddhist monks chanted a prayer in honor of the earthquake victims; an act that coining funds via his crowdrise.com page and the Shikshya Foundation Nepal.

Thanks to his efforts over a million dollars has been raised. His ode to

ate a romantic, strong and minimalist look richly decorated with what resembled paint brush strokes. Gurung experimented with off-theshoulder varieties and different necklines, favoring a plunging neck for many dresses. Fabrics were romantically light and sheer with some pieces featuring cutouts, layering, fringing and beading, without losing the lightness and romantic feel of the collection.

FRow: Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Hudson, Dwyane Wade

7even presentation could possibly end up being the most talked about catwalk shows of the season. Moving from their residency (since inception) at Paris fashion Week, the label made New York its new home this season and gave a welcome dose of couture in stark contrast to the minimalist style code that echoed throughout NYFW. To celebrate their new residency, Givenchy gave away free show tickets to the public who they invited to watch their September 11, 2001 tribute with the help of internationally acclaimed performance includes a collaboration with hip-hop the set design using recycled materials which coincided with the Givenchy label utilizing recycled designs from past couture and ready-to-wear collections, combined with new denim pieces. Ivory slip dresses and lace-edged camisoles were paired with tailored trousers, tuxedo jackets and kimono coats.

FRow: Bethann Harrison, Nicki

message Lim used as the inspiration for his collection that coincided with the celebration of his 10-year anniversary.

The beauty behind was that the soil was later donated to local community gardens in New York and the brand donated money from their own pocket to a number of wildlife and environmental charities and foundations. Such humble and honorable celebrations made a beautiful backdrop for the stunning spring collection which echoed the environmental theme of the setdesign. Mimicking the properties of sand, Lim chose a neutral palette of white, sand beige and earthy green

Swizz Beatz

8ight 10-year Anniversary - 3.1 Phillip Lim collaborated with environmental artist Maya Lin to create a sculptural installation of man-made mountains made out of organic toxic-free soil, some reaching a height of 13 feet.

-

for lightweight fabrics with a slight shine to construct his sporty collection of anoraks, baseball jackets and tailored trousers, shirts and shorts.

Keywords of the collection: wearable, light, feminine, sultry, relaxed, stylish, practical.

–FRow: Solange Knowles

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 5, 2016

Showing on

Movies ACTION+ Channel 106

11:20

Showing on Movies Comedy Channel 104

18:00

Tue, 5 July | PG 16

Tue, 5 July | PG 13

101 M-Net West

118 Telemundo

120 BBC Brit Entertainment

155 AfricaMagicWorld 152 AfricaMagic Epic

L8 TV guide

128 SONY MAX