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EFCC whisks Metuh away for ‘friendly chat’ Ï 6ƈ ƏƏƆ Ɛ Ƌ Ɛ ƐƏ Ɠ Ɛ Ɛ ƌ ƕ ƄƏƆ Ɗ Mƈ ƆƏƈ ô ƗƆƌ ƅƏ ƅƕè ƕ ^#^ Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎOperatives

of

the Economic

and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday morning stormed the Abuja home of the National

Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, and took him away to their

headquarters in Wuse 11, Abuja.

Continued on page 6

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N150

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 17

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 5th January 2016.

TOTAL

147.01

148.5

1.49%

CCNN

9.66

9.96

0.3%

NESTLE

830

820

-10%

NB

129.2

122.74

-6.46%

ETI

16.8

17.64

0.84%

ACCESS

4.85

4.95

0.1%

MOBIL

160

152

-8%

STANBIC

16.53

15

-1.53%

Buhari, Lagarde agree no need for IMF ‘loan’ Ï ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ ƕ Mƈ ƆƏƈ ƓƈƋƋ Ƌ Ɗ ƈ Ɠ ƏƗ Ɛ ƒƆƏƅ ƌƆ ƅ ƋƋƆ Ɔ Ï 9L0 Ƅ ƅ ƋƋ Ƈ Ə ƌ ƏƆ ƇƋƆƔƈƄƈƋƈƐƕ ƈ ƌ ƆƐ Əƕ ƍ ƋƈƅƈƆ Egena Egena, Abuja & Opeoluwani Akintayo, G

ÎÎÎPresident

Muhammadu Bu-

hari has said his administration will look inwards, enforce regulations to stop financial leakages and adopt global best practices in gen-

erating more revenue to mitigate the effect of dwindling oil prices on the Nigerian economy.

He stated this on Tuesday at the

Presidential Villa in Abuja when he received the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms Christine Lagarde,

who said that given the zeal and determination she had seen in the Continued on page 6

Refineries now produce 6.76m litres of petrol daily – NNPC gB2

The politics of Ajimobi/ Olubadan royal rumble g8 Shari’a court sentences man to g6 death for blasphemy in Kano

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On career, fashion and collabos

2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Combating pipeline vandalism

N

o one would deny that pipeline vandalism is assuming an embarrassing phenomenon in Nigeria.

Everyday brings the sordid news of oil pipelines being vandalised in one part of the country or the other and with it, direct and collateral damages running into millions of naira. Speaking recently on the menace, the Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs. Esther NnamdiOgbue revealed that from January to September 2015, more than 2,055 vandal points were recorded on different sections of the company’s network.

As result, the agency recorded a total loss of 531 million litres of PMS, which amounted to N50 billion. We are indeed piqued at such derringdo by oil pipeline vandals. Obviously buoyed by successes in destroying and siphoning oil from damaged pipelines, these vandals have become more daring in their criminal activities, thereby inflicting untold damage on the nation’s economy. We therefore demand that the government take severe and drastic measures to check the menace.

Not only does the Federal Government lose billions of naira to vandals yearly, some oil companies are being forced to shut down their operations, following losses due to the vandalism of their pipelines. Even at that, it is not only the government and the oil companies that lose. The activities of vandals also pose a danger to themselves and communities near their areas of operation as many have lost their lives to the explosions and subsequent infernos while stealing oil from the pipes.

The damage to the economy is even more deleterious not only in the capacity of the vandals to cripple effective distribution of petroleum products across the country but also in

foisting on the nation increased trucking option which comes with enormous risks and cost. The continuing high incidence of pipeline vandalism is a reflection of the general collapse of sound values in Nigeria, a society caught in the shameful throes of unbridled material acquisition.

It is worrisome that over the years, vandals have notched up their criminality, moving from destroying pipelines of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and stealing oil, to killing security agents.

Incidentally, some security personnel also collaborate with, and aid, oil thieves in their nefarious acts. While welcoming the decision of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to terminate the pipeline protection contracts awarded to some militia groups, we believe that many of them are still strong and active along the oil pipeline routes. There is no gainsaying that enormous sums are earned from the illicit trade of stolen oil, often settled through cash and arm deals, fueling a cold war between entrenched actors and the state.

The government must therefore strive to block the security loopholes that armed groups appear to be exploiting in the pipeline routes. That is why we welcome the news that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), is testing drones designed to document evidence of vandalism. Our endorsement of the measure is informed by the fact that in 2014 alone, Nigeria lost over N1.2 trillion to oil theft. Given that Nigeria depends on oil as her major source of revenue, the country has everything to lose with a poor protection of the oil pipelines.

Therefore, the campaign against pipeline vandalism should, be a collective effort by governments at all levels, including oil companies and the local communities.

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Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏThe

ComptrollerGeneral, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), appears not to be in a hurry to shed his military toga despite years of retirement and the fact that Nigeria from May 29, 1999 till date has been democratically administered.

This observation stems from Ali’s public statements since assumption of office most of which portray him as someone not used to following due process in matters of public interest particularly actions of NCS personnel. He appears to see his main task at the NCS as that of dishing out orders, just the way he was used to while in active military service and cares little about perception of his actions by the public.

For instance, on November 10, 2015, while addressing officers of the Sokoto/ Zamfara/Kebbi Area Command, Ali said: “The minimum jail term for corrupt officers is five years, but I will make sure that any officer found to be corrupt gets the maximum jail term of 10 years. This is to serve as a deterrent to any officer who finds himself in the Customs to make money and not to earn money”.

Ali has severally repeated the warning, leading many to wonder whether he has realised that under the current democracy in Nigeria, the rule of law is sacrosanct and thus anything contrary to it no matter how good is null and void.

Ali’s warning is good talk and his stance on graft among NCS personnel should be commended.

However, mouthing it as if Nigeria is still under military regime where fiat takes

Words On Marble :

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Managing Editor Yinka Olujimi

Is Customs CG suffering from military hangover?

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precedence over due process is irritating.

Though he is right to threaten hell and brimstone on personnel of NCS found to be perpetrating corruption, the Customs CG should be told in clear terms that he lacks power to jail any NCS personnel except in line with due process. At best, he can only dismiss personnel found to have contravened service oath and rules in line with extant laws regulating the service.

But when it comes to sending any personnel to jail, Ali has to be reminded that he lacks power to do so. He can only initiate the prosecution of NCS personnel before the courts. It is left for the courts to agree or disagree with him.

So, the Customs CG should realise that Nigeria has past the stage where officials of state rule by fiat. All actions of public officers, Ali inclusive, must be in tandem with the due process.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Ben Murray-Bruce

Pat Utomi

Femi Fani-Kayode

“If a lizard goes to America it does not become a crocodile, likewise if a looter goes to the APC, he shouldn’t become a saint”.

“What our country is dealing with is huge financing gap. We used to earn so much, we are now earning this much. If we pretend nothing has changed, then we will go into an economic spiral downturn that will just keep going.”

“Unlike military dictatorships, democracy enjoys and derives its power and legitimacy from the inviolable and sacred principle of separation of powers.

44

Daily DailyTimes TimesNigeria Nigeria Wednesday, January 2016 Friday, November 13,6,2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Buhari, Lagarde agree no need for IMF ‘loan’ Continued from page 1 Buhari administration, the country did not need any IMF programme but advised Nigeria to be more flexible in its monetary policies.

Lagarde is on a working visit to Nigeria ahead of the scheduled visit by the Fund’s experts to examine the country’s economic progress.

President Buhari said that his administration would also enforce greater discipline, probity and accountability in all revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government.

“We have just come out of budget discussions after many weeks of taking into consideration the many

needs of the country, and the down turn of the economy with falling oil prices and the negative economic forecasts.

“We are working very hard and with the budget as our way forward, we will do our best to ensure that our country survives the current economic downturn.

“We have also told all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that on our watch, they will fully account for all funds that get into their coffers,” President Buhari told Ms Lagarde.

According to him, the Federal Government was reviewing its operational costs and had directed all the Ministries, Departments

and Agencies to cut down on their overhead costs.

President Buhari said the Federal Government would welcome the technical support and expertise of the IMF for its plans to diversify the Nigerian economy and further release its growth potentials.

Lagarde, at a press conference after the meeting with Buhari and the Federal Government’s economic team, the IMF Managing Director advised Nigeria to be more flexible in its monetary policies.

She said her admonition to the Nigerian government was against the background of dwindling oil price and the need to support the poor.

She said: “we believe that

with very clear primary ambition to support the poor people of Nigeria, there could be added flexibility in the monetary policy, particularly if as we think, the price of oil is likely to be possibly low for longer, because clearly the authorities should not deplete the reserves of the country, simply because of rules that will be exceedingly rigid.

“I’m am not suggesting that rigidity be totally removed but some degree of flexility will be enough.”

Lagarde also added: “With that I am going to have more discussions with the Finance Minister, with Governor of Central Bank. We will be discussing issue of fiscal discipline, financing mon-

etary policies and the degree of flexibility, all that with the fact that Nigeria with a vibrant large economy still has to deal with poor people, a lot of inequality and those two components should certainly be the drivers of reforms, whether it is looking at subsidies and how they are structured and how they can be phased out; whether it is monetary policy and the flexibility needed and knowing what effect it has on the poor, all of those are ambitions that we could quickly recognize and support.”

The IMF boss further disclosed that her discussion with the Buhari economic team was within the context of the country being the largest economy in the African continent.

She noted, accordingly that the economic agenda of the Buhari administration was the issue in focus, especially becuse of the impact any policy somersault could have on the neighbouring countries in the West African sub region.

She stressed that issues of fiscal discipline, transparency, the need to reduce corruption and accountability by the Buhari administration were also exhaustively

discussed.

“We have excellent discussions with Buhari and we discussed the challenges ahead stemming from oil price reduction. The necessity to apply fiscal discipline and the need to also respond to the population needs while addressing the Medium Term specificities of improving the competitiveness of Nigeria and yet also focusing on the short term fiscal situation which requires that revenue sources be identified in order to compensate the shortfall resulting from oil price decline.

“We discussed with the President, Vice President and the Minister of Finance and Minister of Budget how more efficiency, more transparency, better accountability, enlarging the base of revenue could actually contribute to sound budget going forward.

“Nigeria is one of those that have impact not just on itself and its people but around it and it’s neighbours,” she stated.

She equally disclosed that a team of IMF experts would be in the country next week Continued on page 12

Shari’a court sentences man to death for blasphemy in Kano L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Christine Lagarde; and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele during the courtesy visit of IMF Team to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja… on Tuesday.

EFCC whisks Metuh away for ‘friendly chat’ Continued from page 1 This is even as the national leadership of opposition PDP on Tuesday declared Metuh’s arrest as the last straw that may break the nation’s democracy, adding that there are top directives to break or possibly poison the party’s spokesman while in EFCC custody.

The EFCC operatives, who stormed Metuh’s Abuja residence were four in number and came in a white unmarked Toyota Hiace bus.

The officials of the antigraft agency, upon enquiry, however said Metuh was not being arrested but was be-

ing ‘friendly’ invited.

Metuh’s arrest was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Assistant, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, in Abuja.

The statement by Ihediwa reads: “Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrived the Abuja home of the spokesman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, this morning (Tuesday), inviting him to follow them to the commission’s headquarters.

“Upon enquiry on the reasons for the invitation, the officials stated that he has

some issues to clear with the commission. They also said he was not being arrested but friendly invited.

“The operatives, four in number, came in a white unmarked Toyota Hiace bus.

“As at the time of issuing this statement, Chief Metuh, was still being kept at the commission’s headquarters and his lawyers were making frantic efforts to reach him.

“While details of why Chief Metuh was invited is yet to be made public by the commission, it could be recalled that severally, Chief Metuh, as the mouthpiece of the opposition party had

alerted in various press conferences and statements that he has been under threat and that the ruling party and the government have been very uncomfortable with his stance.

“The latest being the outburst and threats by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, in reaction to Chief Metuh’s criticisms of President Buhari’s widely criticized response on government’s disobedience of court orders, during the last Wednesday’s Presidential Media chat.

“The Office of the NationContinued on page 12

Yakubu Salisu

ÎÎÎA Sharia court in Kano

has sentenced one Abdulaziz Dauda popularly known as Abdul Inyass to death after the court found him guilty of uttering blasphemous words against Prophet Muhammad( SAW) and inciting violence.

It could be recalled that Inyass, along with nine other persons, was apprehended sometime in May last year after they were said to have blasphemed against the Prophet during a ‘Maulud’ (celebration of the Prophet’s birthday) which resulted in chaos.

The prompt intervention of security men prevented the violence from spreading to other parts of the state.

The other nine persons had, since last year, been sentenced to death. The verdict had attracted lots of

criticisms. Many wondered why the Shari’a court could pass such a sentence on them.

The trial of Abdul, whom is believe to be the leader of the other nine persons, was delayed till this New Year, and for security reasons, his trial took place at an undisclosed venue.

Thousands of persons took to the streets last year to protest and demand for the immediate execution of the accused persons without any form of trial which they said was a plan to set them free.

The protest led to the destruction of one of the accused persons’ home while his family narrowly escaped and a court which was to the listen to the case was set ablaze by protesting crowd even before the suspects could be brought to court.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Bayelsa guber: PDP, APC trade words

PDP: APC plans to rig with security, INEC PDP’s beat of war drums not strange —APC

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎ Ahead of

Saturday’s Bayelsa state governorship supplementary election in Southern Ijaw, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plans to use security agents and INEC officials to rig the election.

But in a swift response, the APC expressed worries at what it called the ‘latest and familiar antics of the PDP which has been beating war drums” ahead of Saturday’s poll, describing it as a ploy by PDP to intimidate eligible voters, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security operatives deployed to ensure peaceful, free and credible election.

In a statement issued by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, in Abuja, the APC maintained that it is important that security agencies must be on high alert over the dangerous threats by the PDP to cause a breakdown of law and order in the state on Saturday.

The PDP had in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday in Abuja, directed its members in the state and particularly Southern Ijaw Local Government, to use all means necessary in a democracy to resist any move by the APC to rig the election, stressing that the directive became necessary following its (PDP’s) loss of

ÎÎÎPresident

Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday in Abuja, said that an inter-ministerial committee would soon be established to speed up the re-organisation and reformation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Speaking at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Jin-Yong Cai, at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari said that the reformation of the NNPC had become inevitable in view of the corruption and abuse of its present structure in the recent past.

Free El-Zakzaky, wife, others in detention, Shi’ite group demands Victor Jibrin, Kaduna

ÎÎÎ

Women wing of Shiite group, otherwise known as Sisters Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, on Tuesday, demanded for unconditional release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, as well as others under detention of the security agents with immediate effect.

Similarly, they are asking for the corpses of their members that lost their lives during the fracas between the army and the group to be released to them for burial in accordance with Islamic right.

The women, who made the demand at a press conference in Kaduna, declared that despite the explanation by the army, the detention of their leader, husbands and children is illegal.

APC declares 3-day fasting for returns of ‘unpleasant fortunes’ Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

L-R: Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba; the minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Chairman, Joint Staff Union of the Ministry, Com. Adam Agwola during the presentation of the keys of some newly acquired staff buses to the union in Abuja… on Tuesday. confidence in the INEC, and security.

Besides, the PDP instructed its members and supporters not to leave the polling area after casting their votes, but to remain alert within the distance provided by the law and go ahead to use all means necessary to defend and protect their votes, should there be any attempt by anybody to rig the process.

The party called on the international community and all wellmeaning Nigerians to note the

ceaseless undemocratic activities of the APC-led federal government and to hold it responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order during the Saturday’s election.

The party alleged it was aware of plots by the APC to use compromised security operatives and INEC officials to attempt to produce fictitious votes and declare itself winner, but vowed that any such unholy bid would be greeted with vehement resistance and dire consequences.

Buhari to form inter-ministerial panel on NNPC reforms Egena Egena, Abuja

7 News

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said Buhari also cited Nigeria’s current need to maximize income from every source of revenue as a further imperative for reforming the NNPC. He said that his administration was doing everything possible to boost national revenue so that it can effectively implement its programme of change and significantly improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

It added that Mr. Jin-Yong Cai, who is also the Vice President of the IFC, told President Buhari that with proper reformation and re-organisation, NNPC could become Africa’s largest company.

“You have brought monumental changes since you got to power. You have brought in strong leadership and Nigeria has the opportunity under you to become highly reputable.

“In NNPC, you can create an entity that is dominant in Africa, and this is the right time to do it, with the momentum you have created,” he was said to have told the President.

Buhari

The PDP leadership reiterated that Southern Ijaw is a wellknown PDP stronghold and that it would never accept any results that do not reflect the will of the people.

According to the party: “We issue this statement as direct notice to the APC and their compromised INEC, military and other security operatives who have been stationed to ostensibly assist to produce fictitious votes with which the APC intends to declare itself winner.

ÎÎÎ

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, has urged citizens to observe a three day special fasting and praying period from today, January 6 to Friday, January 8, 2016.

The state chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun announced this in a statement released in Osogbo, on Tuesday.

According to the chairman, everybody in Osun owes it a duty to themselves and the state to seek divine intervention so that our losses of last year may be restored.

The other reason for this fasting and prayers, the party said is “to plead for God’s favour so that the year, 2016 will reverse the unpleasant fortunes that characterised last year, and bring prosperity and blessing instead.”

Alaafin gives Aregbesola ‘Omoluabi of Yorubaland’ title ÎÎÎ

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Tuesday, bestowed on Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, the title of “Omoluabi of Yoruband”, just as he urged Osun people to pay their taxes.

The monarch, who was at the Government House, Osogbo, to present the award, stated that the Osun state governor has always been at the forefront of projecting the “Omoluabi ethos” which the Yoruba race has always preached.

He explained that he had always monitored the administrative and leadership style of the governor since inception of his administration, saying Ogbeni Aregbesola has always led along

the line of a true “Omoluabi”.

The monarch said: “The Yorubas are a tribe that always instill in their children and the youths all the characters of a responsible and well brought up individual, I have studied the leadership style of Aregbesola among all the governors in the country and have discovered that he is the only one whom have through his leadership style projected the “Omoluabi ethos” of the Yoruba race.

“Aregbesola is man that breathes responsibility at all times, we have always been hearing of an Omoluabi for a long time and am so happy that we now have a governor who is leading by example.”

8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Politics

Ajimobi

Akinjide Akintola, Remi Oladoye Fear is mounting in Ibadan, the capital of the old Western Region as the royal rumble between the state governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi and the Olubadan-InCouncil is escalating political tension in the state.

This is sequel to a 48-hour ultimatum given by the governor to the Olubadan and nine other High Chiefs in Ibadan to revert their installation to higher posts following vacancies in the council with the deaths last year of two most senior chiefs next to the Olubadan, Balogun and Otun Olubadan.

As the ultimatum expires

The 36 ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet have been urged to publicly declare their assets in the light of the ongoing war against corruption.

The challenge was thrown by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), which insisted that by publicly declaring their assets, the ministers would be demonstrating their readiness to complement the president’s zero tolerance for corruption and a transparent government.

The coalition, through its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, declared that President Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo, “have laid a good precedence by keeping in line with Section 140 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),

Æs

Ladoja

Lekan Balogun

Olubadan

The politics of Ajimobi/ Olubadan royal rumble midnight today Wednesday, there are fears that the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade and his chiefs might be on a collision course with Governor Ajimobi who is said to be furious that the Chiefs performed the installation contrary to his order that they

should not go ahead with the ceremony.

However, there appears to be a ray of hope on the horizon for truce to prevail as stakeholders in the city are making moves to halt the looming impasse.

Since the death the two high chiefs in November last year-

Chiefs Omowale Kuye, Otun Olubadan and Sulaiman Omiyale Balogun, who passed on within two weeks of each other in November last year, the OlubadanIn-Council had expected the governor to give approval for the vacancy to be filled even though the Olubadan has pre-

Why Buhari’s cabinet must publicly declare assets

Buhari

Fashola

by declaring their assets publicly.”

“This was also in fulfillment of their campaign promise of running a transparent government as

Dambazzau

Amaechi

well as eradicating corruption in the country.

“Public declaration of assets usually aids the assessment of

Fayemi public officers and will help in monitoring of public office holdCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

scribed authority over the promotion.

But the governor was said to have declined approval which was said to have prompted the chiefs to give the government 21 days ultimatum to approve or they would go ahead with the installation with or without the government approval.

But instead of giving the approval, the government rolled out a set of guidelines to be met by the chiefs before they could be promoted to their next position on the Olubadan Hierarchy.

The nine chief involved are to be automatic members of the state council of chiefs.

Consequently, the state government directed the high chiefs jostling to occupy the vacant stools of Balogun and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and seven others to submit a medical report certifying them fit for the positions in line with extant chieftaincy laws.

The government position was conveyed in a letter by the Director of Chieftaincy Matters in the Ministry of Local GovCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ernment and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Z. O Jayeola, which was addressed to the Head of the Ibadan South East Local Government administration, on Thursday.

In strict compliance with the Chiefs Law of the state, the ministry said it had set machinery in motion to obtain the approval of the governor for the filling of the vacant tools following a November 30 letter by the Ibadan South East LG on the subject matter.

The statement reads, “In line with Section 14 (2) Cap 28 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, our ministry has commenced necessary steps towards the executive governor’s approval of the filling of the vacant stools of Balogun and Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land and seven others.

“In compliance with the dictates of the aforementioned law, the office of the Department of State Services had been requested to carry out security checks on the prospective occupants of the stools.

“In the same vein you are requested to advise the affected chiefs to submit their medical reports issued by a state-owned secondary health institution to the ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters as part of requirements for being considered for the vacant stools”, the government said.

But in what the High Chiefs saw as a sort of insult, the guideline was jettisoned as the installation was performed by the Olubadan last Friday, January 1 amidst fanfare.

It was the first time such a stringent guideline would be rolled out before the promotion which many saw as pure routine once someone attains the position of Mogaji of his family and would proceed step-bystep once there is a vacancy by death.

During the administration of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, he attempted to do something like when he had disagreements with the Olubadan and some chiefs but had to halt the move when it appeared provocative to the people of Ibadan, thus threatening his political future.

However, this time around, just like during the Akala era, political insinuations is being read into the government action.

This is because two of the High Chiefs who are being promoted are the governor’s arch political enemies. They areSenator Lekan Balogun, newly promoted Otun Olubadan and Senator Rashidi Ladoja, the

9 Politics

The politics of Ajimobi/Olubadan royal rumble Law in the stat and therefore, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the monarch on Monday to reverse the elevation or face sanction.

In a statement from the government titled “The Illegal Elevation of Nine High Chiefs in Ibadanland: The Position of the Oyo State Government”, released on Monday, the government said the promotion violated the relevant chieftaincy laws guiding such promotions.

The statement signed by the Director, Chieftaincy Matters, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Zaccheaus Jayeola, read in part: “Government has observed with dismay and utter disapCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Ajimobi

new Osi Olubadan.

While Balogun is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladoja, a former governor of the state, was the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in the last general election who lost to Ajimobi.

Not satisfied with the outcome of the polls, he challenged the result at the Tribunal, where he lost and also appealed to the Appeal Court where he also recently lost out. And despite appeals from individuals not to go further, he has also filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.

This, many believed may have infuriated the governor to insist that due process must be followed in the appointment of the new high chiefs. Even though, it has always been in the books, no government has gotten the political will to go ahead with it.

The idea is that with the long years of climbing the chieftaincy ladder, most of them would have gotten very old, hence, there was the need to ensure that they were fit and proper for the high level chieftaincy position.

But the unique Ibadan system is in itself regulating and self-cleansing as over the years hardly had there been anybody of questionable character getting to the topmost level in the ladder.

This is why this latest attempt

by Ajimobi is causing concerns in the largest city south of the Sahara.

Ladoja

This is particularly when viewed along the lines that during the first term, it was the Olubadan-In-Council that supported his emergence and even mediated between Ajimobi and Ladoja which culminated in the two forming a sort of coalition government and which was why Ladoja did not go to court.

In spite of this, it was Governor Ajimobi who stopped the Olubadan from continuing as the chairman of the state council of Obas and chiefs, which Akala had made rotational, prior to his exit in what was seen as a kick-in-theteeth for the Alaafin who had always been chairman. In one of his last actions after his defeat at the poll, he introduced rotational chairmanship making the Olubadan and the Soun of Ogbomoso co-chairmen with the Alaafin.

During the installation ceremony, one of the new High Chiefs, Olufemi Lanlehin, Asipa Balogun said the government’s order was alien to the culture and tradition of Ibadan and an insult to the exalted position of the Olubadan.

However, sensing the grave implications of the growing tension in Ibadan over the feud between the Olubadan-incouncil and the governor, some elders in Ibadan on Tuesday invited the warring parties with a view of finding a lasting solution to the debacle.

Both Senator Ajimobi and some high chiefs representing the Olubadan honored invi-

tation for the meeting which was held at Ojetunji Aboyade Development Policy Centre in Ibadan. Also present at the meeting were Chief Bayo Oyero, Chief Gboyega Arulogun, President of CCII, Chief Wole Akinwande, Chief Bode Amoo and Prince Femi Lana.

Governor Ajimobi arrived at the meeting with former SSG, Alhaji Olalekan Alli and Yomi Layinka, at 1pm and the meeting ended at 2:20pm.

Also, the Olubadan-In-Council held a separate meeting at the palace and the outcome of the meting is yet to be disclosed to the public as a palace source disclosed that a communique will be issued later.

Another meeting was scheduled to hold at 5 pm Tuesday but as at the time of filing this report, few of the concerned stakeholders have arrived while others including Senator Ajimobi, Senator Ladoja, Senator Balogun and others who are directly concerned were yet to arrive.

The monarch elevated nine high chiefs to their next rank on January 1, 2016 following the death of Chief Sulaimon Omiyale, who was the Balogun of Ibadan and Chief Omowale Kuye, who was the Otun Olubadan in November, 2015 Governor Ajimobi had frowned at their promotion, saying it was in defiance to state government’s order to allow the chiefs go through security and medical examinations as stipulated by the Chieftaincy

Why Buhari’s cabinet must publicly declare assets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ers and ultimately reveal those who corruptly enriched themselves while in office, paving way for proper punishment and sanctions against them.

“As public officers it is expected that the ministers should also declare their assets in line with this administration’s quest to run a transparent and corrupt free government.

The coalition also reminded the president of his promise to encourage his ministers to publicly declare their assets and act without delay.

“With the President and his Vice having shown a great example by declaring their assets, the ministers should also follow suit without further delay,” they said.

“The President, in his ‘my covenant with Nigerians’, promised to ‘encourage’ his ministers to publicly declare their assets. The President is hereby reminded of his promise and called to act appropriately.

“CSNAC therefore calls on all ministers to publicly declare their assets as a matter of priority. By so doing, they will have shown their readiness to complement the President’s zero tolerance for corruption and promise in the actualisation of a transparent and corrupt free Nigeria.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

How Buhari can grow economy, block drain pipes, by Agoro For President Muhammadu Buhari to meet his governmental Change Mantra objectives, there must be “Strategic Laid Out Plans” hurtfully targeted at drain pipes blockage and curing of cancerous human elementals in the nation.

These were the words of former presidential candidate of the National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro.

According to him, Prime factor of the strategic laid out plans must be the declaration by the Federal Government of “Twelve Calendar Months Measure Austerity Period” starting from January 2016.

“Strategic Laid Out Plans” ‘Targeted Point One’ of the austerity measure period should be: (i) Curbing and logically restricting any of the serving ministers, cabinet members of the Federal government, serving commissioners of the 36 States of the federation, entire Permanent Secretaries in the services of Federal and State governments, entire members of the National Assembly and their supportive ancillaries from going on foreign exchange draining holidays, medical trips and excursions. (ii) Importation of all none essential commodities must be banned and in particular of issuance of foreign exchange allocations for same must be

Buhari

Agoro

curbed. (iii) Management of Foreign Bills income and outflow and in particular by “Third Stage Foreign Exchange Dealers” must be vigorously monitored by the Central Bank of Nigeria to curb capital flight and block foreign exchange drainage.

This will largely curb the menacing attitude of “Purchase the Dollar” at all cost and at any ‘Exchange Rate’ available and obtainable by those with Excess Liquidity and “Liquid Cash with Doubtful Source” irrespective of how obtained.

“Strategic Laid Out Plans” Targeted Point Two’ should be the financial and logical empow-

erment of the Federal Minister of Health to put in place extraordinary recouping of six hospitals on geo-regional spread basis to be able to meet life threatening challenges and emergencies that would have required them travelling abroad to get.

This will assist our health care delivery system develop vertically and horizontally and grow the knowledge base of our medical doctors and health management personnel to standards obtainable in hospitals of foreign country.

Also, “Strategic Laid Out Plans” ‘Targeted Point Three’: CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Buhari cannot stop NASS buying vehicles, says lawmaker Amidst the uproar over the huge allocation for vehicles for National Assembly members, Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (AdamawaAPC), has said the Federal Government cannot stop buying vehicles because of downturn in the nation’s economy.

Namdas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that the National Assembly had already conclud-

ed arrangements to procure vehicles for its operations this year.

He explained that the 469 vehicles to be procured would aid effective performance of legislative duties, including oversight functions, by the legislators.

NAN recalls that the plan by the National Assembly to procure the vehicles had elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari.

The legislator said that states’ Houses of Assembly often bought cars for official use.

“Governors buy vehicles for their commissioners and in most cases for their special advisers, for official use all over the country.

“Ministries buy vehicles for official use; ministers are given vehicles for their official use”, he said.

The lower chamber’s spokesman explained that the vehicles would be purchased through a

loan scheme which would be liquidated over time and from the lawmakers’ severance allowances.

“In the case of NASS, we have not taken the car loan for now as it is being alleged, but even if we eventually take the loan, it is not a gift.

“It is a loan which will be deducted from our salaries, that is what people should understand.

So, it is not free and the vehicles CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

The politics of Ajimobi/Olubadan royal rumble CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

pointment the recent ‘elevation’ of nine Ibadan High Chiefs by the Olubadan-in-Council without the mandatory approval of the Government of Oyo State.

Government, as required under the Law, stated its position on the procedures for the elevation in its Public Service Announcement of 31st December 2015 and its letter to the OLUBADANIN-COUNCIL. The letter was duly acknowledged by the Olubadan’s Private Secretary”.

“It is to be noted for the avoidance of doubt that since the inception of the present administration, Government has resisted, as a matter of policy, any attempt to be lured into re-

ligious, chieftaincy and labour union leadership and other contentious issues.

“This is in order to maintain its neutrality, ensure fairness, justice and respect for the rule of law. Government will always uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and would neither encourage nor condone any tradition or peculiar culture of illegality, impunity, disregard and/or disrespect to constituted authority. Instead, it has concentrated on its avowed mission on the peace, safety of lives and property security, welfare and empowerment of the people, infrastructural development, employment generation and urban renewal, among others, to make life more abundant

for the teeming populace of the State”.

The newly promoted Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Ladoja described the statement as a rumour which he could not react to because he only received a letter from the Olubadan to attend the installation which he duly attended and was installed.

Ladoja said such directive by the state government was never part of Ibadan traditional system, adding, “I think we should just allow the sleeping dog to lie. Olubadan has the prerogative of who to appoint as a chief ”.

Similarly, the new Otun-Olubadan, High Chief Balogun described the said order by the

government as strange which had never been in existence before now and could not be effective.

Balogun, who disclosed that he was aware of the state government’s proposed reformation of the ascension to the Olubadan throne said “the system is self-reforming and doesn’t need any committee or fiat from any quarter”.

Describing the Olubadan throne ascension as a function of the history of the people, the new Otun Olubadan said the system “is peculiar to the ancient city and there’s no way it can be compared to any other place in terms of the peaceful transition and the experience garnered over the years be-

fore one ascend the Olubadan throne”.

Olubadan

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

11 Politics

Buhari cannot stop Anti-graft war: Rep asks Buhari to NASS buying vehicles, sign Asset Forfeiture Bill into law says lawmaker

Buhari

Saraki

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

ent cost and sold to interested members of the assembly.

“Members are asked to pay if they are interested; that will be deducted from their severance allowance, but if a member is not interested, he returns the vehicle and his severance will be intact,’’ Namdas said.

He said that some members of the seventh National Assembly returned their vehicles at the end of the tenure, while others agreed to pay at the present cost and that the money was deducted from their severance allowance.

that NASS intends to buy for the committees are for official use.

“It is not fair for people to only hammer on vehicles that are to be procured by the National Assembly for official use.

“I think that if we are able to buy vehicles at a reasonable cost given the economic situation at the moment, we should be commended,’’ he said.

On what happens to the vehicles at the end of each legislative year, he said that they would be valued at the pres-

Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Elendu Ukeje, Tuesday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly give presidential assent to the Asset Forfeiture Bill passed by both legislative chambers with a view to give bite to the current anti corruption drive of the federal government.

Ukeje who made the appeal in a chat with newsmen said, the Assets Forfeiture Bill will play a pivotal role in combating financial crimes in Nigeria immediately it gets a presidential assent.

The lawmaker however explained that “three pieces of legislations were passed by both houses of the national assembly; the Foreign Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, the Asset Forfeiture Bill and the FATF bill”.

“As we speak now, those three bills are waiting assent and in the midst of that, there should also be the executive commitment to this fight against corruption because in the Criminal Assets Forfeiture Bill for instance, if today that bill is not passed into law, and we say a person has proceeds of crime, because there is no law in place to give the federal government the powers to take the proceeds of crime back, it can’t.

“The FATF Law is the international law that tracks stolen funds; we need to sign it into law for us to

be able to deal with the movements of money and money laundering.

“The Foreign Assistance in Criminal Matter Bill, we have to pass that into law; it helps us in extradition, it helps us when Nigerian citizens are arrested abroad and we want them to come back, we need to have that immediately passed into law.

“Aside from the extradition treaties and laws, we must have those laws in place.

“So I would be urging the executive arm of government, Mr President to please sign these into law so that whatever we do in this fight against corruption has the legal backing that is required for it to be effective”, Hon. Ukeje said.

On why lawmakers failed in they oversight functions over agencies in the last administration, she said: “Everybody sticks to the fact that we must be alive to our responsibility as legislators. But you would recall that at the twilight of the last administration, we had challenges with inviting ministers to come before committees of the National Assembly”.

“You would also recall that it was actually the call for litigation saying, did we have the power to invite certain ministers before the National Assembly and that put a clog in the wheel of what we did.

“Of course it was difficult for us to do the work for which we were

elected to do when we were working with an executive arm of government, with ministers who did not think that they had any cause to answer to the summons of the National Assembly.

“And so it was a bit difficult towards the end. And I would say that was probably also responsible for the fact that we were not able to capture the last phase in the budget.

“But let me also say that yes, while it is a concern for the Legislature, we also must engage with the Executive arm of government.

“The Executive arm of government must realise that it is on a vertical relationship where all of us are co-partners in this Nigerian project.

“So we must be willing to keep to the spirit and the letter of the constitution when it comes to submitting themselves to the oversight functions of the National Assembly.

“And of course everybody has seen all the stories that are going around; of course, we all know that the constitution says every person is innocent until proven guilty. We are waiting for the outcome of all the litigation. But even the fact that this mind burgling figures are been thrown up, is a call for the Executive arm of government to also be committed to the spirit and the letter of the constitution”, the Abia-borne politician stated.

How Buhari can grow economy, block drain pipes, by Agoro CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Retraining (for a period of nine months only) and Mentoring to become “Cottage Hospital Medical Doctors” those already retired Chief, Principal, Senior Nurses, medical personnel et al who had meritoriously served more than Thirty Years in well established government hospitals and or government approved hospitals.

These are to serve as Referrals to (SPECIALIST HOSPITALS) in Cottage Hospitals to be established in the 337 local governments of the Federation to meet the medical needs and necessities of the rural populace.

He said “Strategic Laid Out Plans” ‘Targeted Plan Four’ should be engaging on “Get Paid On Effective Performance Basis” and holding responsible for

Buhari

Agoro

NON PERFORMANCE” basis, Chiefs, Village heads, Local political leaders of particular areas of insurgent prevalence.

This will go a long way exposing those pretenders to power and political positions who are

the evils behind the insurgents.

“Strategic Laid Out Plans” ‘ Targeted Point Five’ according to him, should be mandating Town Planning Authorities having the responsibilities for building plan approvals par-

ticularly in and within Abuja Federal Capital, Lagos Nigeria Business’ Economic Capital territories to first and foremost make it a prime demand for presentation of Tax Clearance Certificates by those seeking building plans approvals.

No surrogates should be entertained in what so ever form.

This will go a long way to curbing and exposing corrupt elements finding hiding places for their illicit gains.

He said “Strategic Laid Out Plans” Targeted Plan Six’ is the sad development, unethical and lacking commonsense issuance of Driving Licences and Road Worthiness Certificates to just anybody by Federal Road Safety Corps and officers Without the applicants ever going to the Testing Grounds to be tested and passed fit. In-fact

the idea of Vehicle Inspection Officers been seeing on our road and testing grounds performing their role duties of conduct of exclusive tests on persons and vehicles seeking “FIT FOR CERTIFICATES” is now a thing of the past in Nigeria. This an ugly situation explaining increase of accidents on our roads and drainage to private purse of accruable and generate -able incomes to the Federal and States governments.

He stressed that if some of these ‘Targeted Action Points’ are carefully worked out and implemented to letter and details, Nigeria would not only be seen moving strongly ahead into an era of economic growth and stability, its lost gains and past glory would be assuredly coming back to it plenteous.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Ibadan elders intervene in Ajimobi, Olubadan crisis Remi Oladoye, Ibadan

ÎÎÎSensing

grave implications of the growing tension in Ibadan over the feud between the Olubadan-in-council and the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, some elders in Ibadan on Tuesday invited the warring parties with a view of finding a lasting solution to the debacle.

Both Senator Ajimobi and some high chiefs representing the Olubadan honoured invitation for the meeting which was held at Ojetunji Aboyade Development Poli-

cy Centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Present at the meeting were Chief Bayo Oyero, Chief Gboyega Arulogun, President of CCII, Chief Wole Akinwand, Chief Bode Amoo and Prince Femi Lana.

Governor Ajimobi arrived at the meeting with former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Olalekan All and Yomi Layinka, at 1pm and the meeting ended at 2:20pm.

Meanwhile, the OlubadanIn-Council held a separate meeting at the palace and

the outcome of the meeting was yet to be disclosed at the time of filing this report but a palace source said a communique will be issued later.

Another meeting was schedule to hold at 5 pm on Tuesday but as at the time of filing this report, only few of the concerned stakeholders had arrived while others including Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Senator Rashidi Ladoja Senator Lekan Balogun and others who are directly concerned were yet to arrive.

The monarch elevated nine high chiefs to their next

rank on January 1, 2016 following the death of Chief Sulaimon Omiyale, who was the Balogun of Ibadan and Chief Omowale Kuye, who was the Otun Olubadan in November, 2015.

Gov. Ajimobi had frowned at their promotion, saying it was in defiance to state government’s order to allow the chiefs go through security and medical examinations as stipulated by the Chieftaincy Law in the state and therefore, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the monarch on Monday to reverse the elevation or face sanction.

But in a statement from the government titled “The Illegal Elevation of Nine High Chiefs in Ibadanland: The Position of the Oyo State Government”, released on Monday, the government said the promotion violated the relevant chieftaincy laws guiding such promotions.

The statement was signed by the Director, Chieftaincy Matters, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Zaccheaus Jayeola.

But the newly promoted Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Ladoja described the said release as a rumour which he could not react to because he only received a letter from the Olubadan to attend the installation which he duly attended and was in-

stalled.

Ladoja said such directive by the state government was never part of Ibadan traditional system, adding, “I think we should just allow the sleeping dog to lie. Olubadan has the prerogative of who to appoint as a chief”.

Similarly, the new OtunOlubadan, High Chief Balogun described the said order by the state government as strange which had never been in existence before now and could not be effective.

Balogun, who disclosed that he was aware of the state government’s proposed reformation of the ascension to the Olubadan throne, said “the system is self-reforming and doesn’t need any committee or fiat from any quarter”.

Buhari, Lagarde agree no need for IMF ‘loan’ Continued from page 6

L-R: Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Founder, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and wife of Otunba Balogun, Abimbola, during the Thanksgiving Service organised by Balogun at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State...on Tuesday.

EFCC whisks Metuh away for ‘friendly chat’ Continued from page 6 al Publicity Secretary will keep the public updated on any development on the issue”, the statement said.

Meanwhile, reacting to Metuh’s arrest, the national leadership of PDP, on Tuesday described his arrest as the last straw that may break the nation’s democracy.

The PDP national leadership added that that information available to them indicated that there are top directives to break or possibly poison the party’s spokesman while in EFCC custody.

The opposition party lamented that since Metuh was arrested at about 10 am on Tuesday by the operatives of the EFCC, he had been kept incommunicado, with his lawyers denied access to him.

The National Secretary of

the PDP, Prof Adewale Oladipo, in a statement Tuesday evening, said that Metuh’s arrest was a continuation of APC’s grand design to silence and decimate the PDP. The statement reads: “The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demands an immediate release of the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who was Tuesday morning invited and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“This development, which did not come to us as a surprise, given series of threats to our party’s spokesman by the APC and the Federal Government, who are obviously not comfortable with our stance on the confused state of the nation under their watch, is a continuation of APC’s grand design

to silence and decimate the PDP. “The arrest of Chief Metuh today underscores the growing political intolerance in our country and the foisting of a police state which was last Wednesday underscored by the President and Commander-inChief himself, who defended why a government in a democracy should flout constitutional provision and brazenly disobey court orders.

“This onslaught against our spokesman, according to intelligence available to us, is part of a larger script by the government to ensure that PDP wings are finally clipped in their mission to install a dictatorial one-party state in the country.

“The excesses of security agencies under this government, especially the Directorate of Security Ser-

vices (DSS) and the EFCC, in abridging the human rights of PDP members have become worrisome and a threat to our democratic evolution.

“Nigerians and the international community will recall that on a number of occasions, the PDP, through its spokesman has been outspoken on some undemocratic proclivities being exhibited by the APC-led Federal Government in the last seven months.

“The PDP insists that for whatever reason Chief Metuh was arrested, his rights as a citizen under the law must not be trampled upon.

“We therefore demand for his immediate release and that due process of investigation and prosecution concerning him should be strictly adhered to.

do discuss and analuse the 2016 budget along with Nigerian officials.

Lagarde also dispelled insinuations that she was in the country to negotiate loans and conditionalities on behalf of the Fund.

She pointed out, however that with the zeal and determination she had seen in the administration, the country did not need any IMF programme.

“It is precisely to have good discussion about these new objectives, these reform agendas that have been identified and supported by the President and also to appreciate the impact that it will have on neighbouring countries because when a country large as Nigeria, anything that it decides, any hardship that it faces will have consequences around it and that is what our research and analytical work is demonstrating,” she said of her visit.

The IMF boss added: “First let me make it clear that I’m not here nor is my team in this country to negotiate a loan with conditionalities. We are not into programme negotiations and frankly at this point in time, given the determination, resilience displayed by the President and his team,

I don’t see why an IMF programme will be needed.

“So of course discipline is going to be needed, of course, implementation is going to be key for the objectives and the ambitions to serve the country well, in order for it to be actually sustainable.”

On the belief that IMF policies are not pro-people, especially the poor, Larage said the Fund had since shifted focus in its relationship to members, with more emphasis on policy advice.

“Certainly, the last four and a half years, since I have been Managing Director of this institution , this is not the recipes we adopted and this is certainly not the feedback I have received from the countries that we have worked with.

“I just want to point out that we are majorly involved in three kinds of activities.

The first one which is the most traditional one is under which we give policy advice to our members, we have currently 188 countries that are under this institution and it is our duty and accountability to them to review their economy every year to give them report about their economy. We don’t push them, we don’t do things necessarily to please them we say things as we see them,” according to her.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

13 Foreign News

Kuwait backs S’ Arabia, recalls envoy to Iran ÏÏÏKuwait

joined other Saudi allies in taking diplomatic action against Iran after protesters angry about Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shi’ite cleric stormed the country’s embassy in the Iranian capital.

The state-run KUNA news agency said Tuesday Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Tehran and reiterated its support for all measures Saudi Arabia takes to maintain its security.

The move follows decisions by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sudan to cut diplomatic ties with Iran, while

the United Arab Emirates downgraded its relations with the country. All four nations are members of the Arab League, which is due to hold a special meeting Sunday to discuss the Saudi-Iran developments.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani continued criticism of Saudi Arabia’s decision to sever ties, saying that cannot cover up its “crime” of executing Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

The Saudi government announced his execution on January 2, along with 46 other prisoners on terror-

ism related charges. Nimr was an outspoken critic of the Saudi monarchy.

The United Nations Security Council issued a statement Monday condemning the attack on the Saudi embassy. It called on Iran to respect its international obligations to protect diplomatic property and urged all parties to “maintain dialogue and take steps to reduce tensions in the region.”

In a letter earlier Monday to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as to the presidents of the U.N.

Security Council and the General Assembly, Saudi Arabia’s U.N. Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi strongly condemned the invasion of its Tehran embassy and damage to its consulate in the Iranian city of Mashhad.

“We call upon the Security Council to take all appropriate measures to ensure the inviolability of diplomatic facilities and the protection of all Saudi diplomats in Iran,” al-Mouallimi wrote.

He said Riyadh is “appalled” at the failure of Ira-

nian authorities to prevent the attacks. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, host countries are required to take necessary steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises and staff.

In its own letter to the U.N. chief, Iranian envoy Gholamali Khoshroo acknowledged that “around 8,000” protesters staged a peaceful demonstration that got “out of control,” despite “extensive efforts” by police.

He said more than 40 protesters were arrested and an

investigation to find other perpetrators is under way.

The Iranian ambassador called the al-Nimr’s execution by beheading “unjustified and provocative.”

Secretary-General Ban expressed concern at the escalation in tensions between the two regional powers, urging them to avoid actions that could exacerbate the situation bilaterally and in the region as a whole. He added that the announcement of a break in Saudi diplomatic relations with Tehran is “deeply worrying.”

Kagame hits back at US

17 drowned migrants found on Turkish beach

ÏÏÏRwandan

authorities on Tuesday found the bodies of 17 migrants, including several children, washed up on a beach after their boat sank while crossing the Aegean Sea to EU member Greece, Dogan news agency reported.

Eight of 22 migrants seeking to reach the Greek island of Lesbos were rescued by the Turkish coastguard while efforts were underway to locate the remaining five.

The bodies were found on a beach near the resort of Ayvalik in southwest

President Paul Kagame has hit back at the United States for criticising his decision to seek a third term in office, repeating his earlier stand that foreigners shouldn’t determine the destiny of Rwandans.

More than 98% of Rwandans voted in a December 18 referendum to lift term limits and allow Kagame extend his time in power, possibly until 2034.

The US is “deeply disappointed” by Kagame’s decision to run for reelection in 2017, said State Department spokesperson John Kirby.

“With this decision, President Kagame ignores a historic opportunity to reinforce and solidify the democratic institutions the Rwandan people have for more than 20 years laboured so hard to establish,” Kirby said in a statement.

Responding on Twitter, Kagame said he was not concerned that the US government was disappointed: “Africa’s problems: poverty, disease, governance, technology etc etc will not easily be solved by what is behind this (deeply disappointed) attitude !!!”

ÏÏÏTurkish

Iranian demonstrators hold anti-Saudi placards in a rally to protest the execution by Saudi Arabia last week of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent opposition Saudi Shiite cleric, in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 4, 2016. Photo: Voanews.com

Congo to release 2,000 prisoners in January ÏÏÏThe

Democratic Republic of Congo will release about 2,000 prisoners this month in a bid to reduce overcrowding in jails and calm political tensions at the start of an election year, the justice minister said on Tuesday.

Congo’s prisons are notoriously overpopulated and hold around 20,000 people,

according to the United Nations.

A 2013 study by the U.N. mission in the country found the occupancy rate in the capital Kinshasa’s main prison at more than 400 percent of capacity and documented multiple prison deaths from suffocation.

Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe said about 1,200

low-level offenders who have served at least onequarter of their sentences and received approval from the prison director and prosecutor-general would be freed in the coming weeks.

He did not provide names and said the list still needed to be finalized.

About 800 additional pris-

oners are to be released following pardons granted last week by President Joseph Kabila to all prisoners aged 70 and older who have not committed serious crimes.

The president also pardoned nine members of a separatist religious movement in southwest Congo who were convicted of launching an insurrection

I’ Coast details leniency for 3, 100 prisoners ÏÏÏIvory

Kagame

Turkey after the migrants’ boat ran into trouble in bad weather after leaving the neighbouring resort of Dikili.

Images published by Dogan showed the bodies of children, fully dressed and wearing shoes, lying on the beach with their life-jackets still on.

Video footage showed Turkish security forces lifting other bodies from the waves in the shallows.

The tragedy is the latest involving migrants fleeing war and misery in the hope of finding a new life in Europe.

Coast’s justice minister has given details of President Alassane Ouattara’s pledge to show leniency to 3 100 inmates, saying only a small portion of those selected were behind bars for deadly postelection unrest.

The president’s act applied to just 100 people awaiting trial in connec-

tion with the violence, which left some 3 000 dead in the west African nation over five months in 2010-2011, Justice Minister Gnenema Coulibaly told AFP. The move, announced in Ouattara’s New Year’s address to the nation on Thursday, affects “3 000 people, and another 100

who received provisional release, which is not a pardon,” said Coulibaly.

“This measure (provisional release) concerns people covered by the postelection crisis cases. Most of them have not yet been judged.”

Coulibaly said the move “can be considered an effort for social cohesion” as

the country seeks to return to stability after years of turbulence. Ouattara told the nation on Thursday that he had decided to use his right of “clemency to grant full and partial sentence reductions.”

He added it would allow 3 100 people to “get their freedom back and for others to see their terms

in 2007 after disputed gubernatorial elections.

Thambwe said the measures were aimed at reducing political tensions before a contentious presidential election scheduled for November. “We have taken [these] measures to calm the general situation ahead of the dialogue,” Thambwe told Reuters.

shortened”, but did not give a breakdown of how many prisoners would go free immediately and how many would remain behind bars.

Ouattara, a former economist, won a second fiveyear term by a landslide in October in the nation’s first peaceful vote in more than a decade.

14 News

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Dasukigate: SERAP wants EFCC, ICPC to prosecute executives of CBN, other banks ÏÏÏA

non-governmental organisation known as Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) requesting them “to use your

good offices to investigate the degree of complicity of Nigerian banks – including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and financial institutions in the large-scale stealing of over N70 billions meant for purpose of arms for Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the northeast of the country.”

In the petition dated

January 5, 2016, and signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation expressed “concern that while the CBN turned a blind eye to corruption involving highranking government officials, it continues to engage in anti-poor policies such as introducing charges for use of Automated Teller

Machine (ATM cards, and threatening to send to jail economically and socially disadvantaged citizens who use dollars for local transactions.”

“This inconsistent and discriminatory approach of penalising the economically and socially disadvantaged citizens for minor infractions, while showing

no concern about the over N70 billion stolen arms purchase funds is unlawful as it is contrary to national and international anti-money laundering standards and best practices.

“SERAP believes that the CBN cannot absolve itself of complicity in the stealing of the over N70 billion and that this largescale corruption would have been prevented had the CBN been alive to its leadership and supervisory

roles in the implementation of anti-money laundering standards within its systems and in other banks.”

The organisation urged the Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, and Chairman of the ICPC Ekpo Nta, to “urgently institute a joint-probe on the roles played by the leadership of the CBN and other banks and financial institutions in the stealing of over N70 billion arms purchase funds.”

Saraki meets IMF boss, Lagarde today ÏÏÏSenate President, Dr.

Abubakar Bukola Saraki will, today, lead the leadership of the Senate to a meeting with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Christine Lagarde, who is currently on a four-day working visit to Nigeria.

The meeting between Saraki and Lagarde at the National Assembly is expected to focus on the nation’s economy, particularly the recent global developments and their impact on Nigeria.

Kano govt to upgrade PHCs Yakubu Salisu

ÏÏÏThe Kano State gov-

ernment has set aside N500 million for renovation and upgrading of its dilapidated primary health centres across its 44 local governments areas. This was made known by the Secretary, Primary Healthcare Management Board, Alhaji Nasir Muhammad.

He said the amount would also be used to renovate and upgrade facilities in the primary health centres, so as to provide the public with all the necessary health equipment needed which would help to decongest major hospitals in the state. He added that the board would embark on awareness campaign on protection against communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in a statement in Abuja noted that falling oil prices at the international market had negatively impacted on the nation’s oil revenue, external reserve and increased pressure on the Naira at the foreign exchange market.

The meeting will be coming after a similar exchange Lagarde had with President Muhammadu Buhari and other managers of the national economy.

Commercial motorcyclist apprehended by the officers of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos… on Tuesday.

Army, DSS invade Abia commissioner home over alleged assassination attempt on Otti, Nweke

Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏThe

Nigerian Army and the Department of State Service, in the early hours of Tuesday, invaded the residence of a former functionary of the National Assembly and now Abia State Commissioner of Works, Eziuche Ubani, in Ovom town, in Aba. Narrating this to news-

men in his house, Ubani said the combined team of the security agencies arrived his residence about 2 a.m. by scaling the fence and forced his gate open.

The men, who were more than 10, and led by a DSS operative from Abuja and arrived in more than 6 Toyota Hilux vans. He said that they held him up for more than four hours after breaking the doors to his

boys’ quarter and dragged his driver to come and wake him up.

Happy that his family was not at home to face the embarrassment, Ubani said that even his wife’s vanity boxes, ceilings, water tanks and even safety tanks were not spared along tight search of his house and compound.

The search team, he said, had when he opened his

doors shown him a search warrant from the DSS office stating that they were looking for arms and that he had, allegedly, been reported as training people to assassinate All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftains, including the party’s guber candidate, Dr. Alex Otti and one Ahamdi Nweke.

Ubani said that having found nothing incriminat-

of Ooni Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II to the subsequent installation of a new one.

The statement said the role played by Aregbesola and the state government during presentation of staff and instrument of office to Ooni Ogunwusi was key and highly appre-

ciated by the people of Ile Ife. Expected to be on Ooni’s entourage are the 16 members of Ife Traditional Council known as Agba Ife, led by Lowa of Ife HRH Oba Joseph Ijadola, the Isoro chiefs, to be led by Obadio of Ife, Oba Ifarotimi Faloba.

ing, the search team signed on a piece of paper that they did not see anything and left, having aroused the suspicion of neighbours that waited anxiously to see the outcome of the invasion.

He recalled that one Ahamdi Nweke, an APGA member had, earlier last Sunday, phoned him to allege a knowledge of training some people and arming them and a plot to assassinate him (Nweke) and Alex Otti.

Ooni of Ife visits Aregbesola ÏÏÏThe Ooni of

Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, will today visit Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, in his office in Osogbo.

The visit, which will be the first of its kind since the monarch was

presented to the public last month, according to a statement issued by Comrade Moses Olafare, Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Ooni Palace, would provide an opportunity for the Ooni to express appreciation for the support Ile-Ife got, right from the transition

Otti

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

15 Opinion

The fault is in us, not in our stars

T Ubanese Nwanganga

his essay is a response to Femi Fani-Kayode on his recent very interesting outing entitled, “The Caliphate, the Emir and Nigeria’s Master Race.”

His under reference was in turn a reaction to an arrogant 1998 posting by the arrogant Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. I hasten to correct the wrong impression that Nigeria has a master race.

Nigeria has no master race. What has made the Fulani think they are anointed to lord it over the rest of us is that the southerners have refused to close ranks. The Yoruba think their real enemies are The Igbo. Ndiigbo in turn consider the Yoruba untrustworthy. The Ijaw, Efik, Ibibio, Ogoja, Annang, Ekoi, would prefer to be drawers of water and hewers of wood for the Fulani. Even Ikwerre who are Igbo-speaking would prefer the Fulani. If it were possible to claim, ancestry from Sokoto the Ikwerre would have since done so in order to distance themselves from their kit and kin.

We often make the mistake of glossing over the attitude of the Christians and Muslims of the Middle Belt who want to be northerners when politics is the point at issue. When persecuted by the Fulani-led Muslim north, the Christians of the Middle Belt begin to look for help from

south. For instance, when General Zamani Lekwot from Zango Kataf was sentenced to death by IBB. Pressure against his execution was loudest from the south.

However, politically he was a northerner manipulated by the Fulani. We also gloss over the fact that the Fulani tolerate the Hausa when they have their eyes set on a national price. You can imagine what the former NSO boss said about the Hausa and Kanuri leaders, IBB and Abacha respectively, as quoted in FaniKayod’s piece under reference! It speaks volumes.

While I can understand the subservient role of the Christian Middle Belt in matters of political self-interest, the attitude of the two major nationalities in the south to the Fulani is difficult to understand. The Hausa benefit from aligning with the Fulani against the south for several reasons. Even at that, this is intriguing because the Fulani constitute less 5 percent of Nigeria’s population. Why are they able to manipulate the Hausa, who constitute more about 20percent of Nigeria’s population?

The Yoruba under Awo refused to work with the feudal Fulani. He remained resolute in opposition to them. On the other hand, Zik’s experience in the Western House of Assembly left lasting impression on him and his kinsmen, so much so that when

Awo offered to work with him as a junior partner Zik turned it down.

This is one of the origins of the lingering lack of understanding between Igbo and Yoruba, which continues to sustain Fulani hegemony in Nigeria.

I do not doubt the Yoruba.

However, it appears they are going too far recently. Yoruba stand against feudalism and Awo’s unflinching belief in education as the surest way of ridding society of ignorant men and women, might have been compromised all in the name of fighting corruption. The underlying reason however is the desire to regain lost ground in national political space. In spite of producing a President who received massive support from Ndiigbo, the loss of the position of Speaker of the House, which the PDP had zoned to the southwest, was considered marginalisation by the Yoruba.

Unfortunately, their anger was ill directed It was an arrogant Fulani man who ganged up with some other members of the House to appropriate what was zoned to the Yoruba. Instead of blaming the Fulani, the Yoruba directed their anger against Ndiigbo because one of their own was elected Deputy Speaker. Besides, Jonathan, against all expectations appointed an Igbo officer Chief of Army Staff. Therefore, even though some Yoruba members of the House voted against Hon. Akande,

the Yoruba concluded that Ndiigbo had received more than their fair share in the Jonathan administration.

According to the Yoruba, President Jonathan had marginalised them. He had committed a serious sin by appointing an Igbo man Army Chief of Staff, a position, predominantly occupied by officers from the north since the end of the war.

Because of this, the Yoruba were bound to vote against Jonathan, for which they are now playing the second fiddle to the Fulani feudal overlords that Awo fought against throughout his political career. It does not matter to the Yoruba if the Fulani pocket all the important positions in the government.

Their concern was and still is how to make Ndiigbo politically irrelevant. In addition, they found a wonderful partner in President Buhari. The Yoruba did not bother about the fact that the Fulani had cornered all the sensitive security positions in the Nigerian military.

However, whatever the position, so long as Ndiigbo had none, the Yoruba are happy and satisfied.

So, Brother Fani-Kayode, if you were in the position of the Fulani would you behave differently?

Jonathan’s shortcomings in office were no worse than Obasanjo’s.

Yet, Awoists found it convenient to sleep with feudalists. The fault, in us and not in our stars.

Time to commend Buhari for Boko Haram’s retreat

F

Victor Uzomba

rom his vantage position as President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian military, Muhammadu Buhari announced to the world at an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that Boko Haram’s ability to launch conventional attacks has been significantly degraded by the heroic efforts of our men and women in uniform.

Soft of voice, he talks in tones of measured reasonableness, not given to chicanery or frivolity he calls a spade a spade, which is why most Nigerians believed him when he declared on his inauguration that he was going to defeat Boko Haram. True to his words, today, the predator has become the prey having been put under intense financial and military pressure.

More so, Boko Haram has seen much of what used to be its ample war chest depleted, a situation that has reduced it to a mere

shadow of its former self.

A little over a year ago, Boko Haram was at the top of its murderous campaign of unleashing mayhem on the hapless people in North eastern Nigeria. In fact, they took vast swathes of that part of the country by stormknocking out power lines, blowing up bridges, over-running police stations, holding people hostage, even beheading and summarily executing the unfortunate ones.

Such was Boko Haram’s acts of infamy.

Boko Haram’s reign of terror was not confined to the North East, its reach was long enough to extend to Abuja and environs. At a point, it sent a mobile car bomb after the motorcade of the former Inspector General of Police Hafiz Rimgin who escaped by the whiskers.

Cities like Kaduna, Kano etc also came under Boko Haram’s attacks, even President Muhammadu Buhari was attacked during his electioneering campaign by elements of the jihadists.

Boko Haram almost turned

much of the North into a killing field leaving in its wake blood and tears.

Buhari, desirous of fulfilling his election promise of change, knows that change will not take place in an atmosphere of insecurity. This made him to make far reaching decisions that saw major shake-up in the top hierarchy of the military.

Having been done with the change of baton, he directed the newly decorated service chiefs to move their command and control centre to the theatre of war and ever since the military chiefs have relocated to Maiduguri; which is why our troops are now on the verge of romping to final victory anytime soon. However, in a defiant gesture on December 28, 2015, Boko Haram struck killing more than 70 people in Adamawa and Borno states.

Such cowardly attack is the modus operandi of a terror group that is becoming irrelevant; their inability to hold territories means they are now a spent force waiting to be consigned to history.

Just before the dirge on Boko Haram, it will be right that we

begin the most difficult task of sorting out the mess left behind by the world’s grisliest barbarians.

Firstly, we can start by de-radicalising the already radicalised minds since Boko Haram is an idea; it has no doubt brainwashed many innocent and malleable minds. Succour should also be given to the displaced persons by re-building their houses and infrastructure. Efforts should also be made to create jobs in order to keep the vulnerable youth busy.

All these are necessary because depressed areas are always the hotbed of youth restiveness.

In addition, those vigilantes that helped in the war effort should be integrated into the regular force, so that we do not have a backlash.

Finally, I salute President Buhari for his excellent leadership that spurred and boosted the morale of our soldiers. I also doff my heart for the service chiefs who have worked hard to galvanise the troops into determined fighting force. I say happy new year to those at the frontline who are the best in the world.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

NSCDC to safeguard pipelines as refineries begin operation Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏThe Nigeria Security and

Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), saddled with the core mandate of anti-vandalism, has taken proactive measures to safe guard the oil pipeline that runs through Kaduna, Jos, Bauchi and Gombe, even as the refinery begins operation soonest.

This was stated by the Plateau state NSCDC Commandant, Engr. Felix Abolade, while interacting with newsmen in Jos. According to him, “In our fight against crime, we have fea-

tured most in anti-vandals drive against pipelines especially now that the Kaduna Refinery is set to start pushing products through the Pipelines”, he said.

The NSCDC boss also stated that, in the bid to ensure effective policing and safety of the pipelines, the Corps have also synergies with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), deport in Jos, to promptly checkmate the excesses of hoodlums.

He stated that his command has also sensitise the people living within the environment where the pipes ran through to be careful as anytime from now

pumping will commence, urging them to also keep an eye on those who will want to vandalise the pipelines.

In his words: “We have developed a working relationship with the people in the communities within the pipelines, so that they can feed us with useful information regarding the activities of vandals. We gave them emergency phone lines for prompt contacts”.

However, when asked if the pipes are in good condition after not been put into use for almost a decade, Abolade said while on patrol to inspect the pipelines,

revealed that maintenance are ongoing, which will soon be concluded, hence the pushing of oil product will commence.

Responding to questions from Journalists, the NSCDC boss said in an overview, crime rate has dropped significantly in the state in 2015, owing that the Christmas and New Year celebration was celebrated in a peaceful atmosphere, an achievement that will not only be credited to all security outfits in the state, but also to the state government for providing an enabling environment for the security agencies to operate.

Minister of Transport, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (middle), in a handshake with Managing Director, Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited, (SAHCOL), Dr. Olu Owolabi (right) during a courtesy visit by Amaechi to SAHCOL in Lagos recently. With them is, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engr.

Saleh Dunoma (left).

Photo: QUADRI OLOWOLAGBA.

Labour cautions FG against job losses in New Year ÏÏÏOrganised

Labour has continued to agitate and warn that it would resist any large scale job cuts by the Federal and State governments, as well as Private Sector employers in the New Year.

A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday, in Lagos, revealed that over 500,000 jobs had been lost since July 2015.

NAN gathered that the job losses were in the construction, oil and gas and telecommunications companies, due to one issue or the other.

Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, Acting Secretary-General, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), warned that it would resist a further sack of its members in the Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC).

Okugbawa said that although the association believed in reforming the oil and gas sector, it was averse to any reforms that would jeopardise the welfare of its members. ``There is nothing wrong with the unbundling of the NNPC to bring about greater efficiency and effectiveness. The unbundling and repositioning of the corporation should be done with a human face,’’ the acting secretary general said.

He said that the restructuring which has heightened tension in workplaces and the labour market, would be resisted if it negatively affects the association’s members.

According to him, the planned

sack was not in tandem with the “change” that the government promised Nigerians, especially in the area of job creation.

Okugbawa said that the plan to sack half of the current NNPC employees, would further compound the unemployment situation in the country.

Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, President of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), said that the industry was at a crossroad because various construction firms were owed over N600 billion for projects already executed.

According to him, this development has already led to a massive lay-off of workers because the construction companies have stopped work.

Kwara, Rotary International bankroll cleft surgery for 100 children Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏThe

Kwara state government, in collaboration with the Rotary International club will bankroll cleft surgery for 100 children in the state.

Mike Omotosho Foundation and the Alliance for Smiles, based in the United States of America are also co-sponsors of the programme.

The surgery would commence on January 10, 2016 at the General Hospital, Ilorin.

A team of 17 volunteers comprising doctors, nurses and other paramedics will arrive Nigeria from USA, Canada and Australia on January 8 for the exercise.

A statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, by the Rotary International District Governor in Nigeria, Dr. Mike Omotosho, said the cleft lip and palate reformatory surgery would be performed by a team of surgeons from the United States of America, Australia and their Nigeria’s counterparts.

According to the statement, cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy.

It called for the setting up of birth defects registry across the country, which the organisation believed would help in determining Nigeria’s birth defects prevalence.

APC aspirant drags Gov Bello, party to court Saka Bolaji Minna

ÏÏÏ

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship aspirant in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger state, Zubairu Mohammed Badamasi has concluded plans to drag his party and the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello to court over omission of names and pictures in the ballot paper.

Badamasi briefed newsmen in Minna on Tuesday after all efforts by the aspirant through due process failed to yield result as the acclaimed government candidate was given the flag of the party for the forthcoming local government elections in Minna, on Monday.

Badamasi, whose name and pic-

Bello

ture was said to be omitted deliberately from the primary election ballot papers which he had officially wrote to the party secretariat from ward, local government, and state secretariats, but nothing was done about his complaint till date said that such action was violating his human rights despite his successful certified screening by the party.

Education Times Æ s

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

17

Enrolment in poly, college of education on the increase – JAMB The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday said that the enrolment for Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Monotechnics and Innovative Enterprise Institutions had improved greatly.

JAMB’s Head, Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said this in a statement he issued in Lagos.

It said that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) had expanded the carrying capacity of the institutions and thereby, to a large extent, addressed the issue of admission access in the country.

According to the statement, the negative preference by most Nigerian candidates over these institutions of higher learning necessitated the need by the board to introduce a unified examination. ``Today, we are not there yet, but the enrolment for colleges of education, polytechnics, monotechnics and Innovative Enterprise Institutions has greatly improved. ``Having said this, I want to say that we are worried by a recent interview granted by the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahmon Bello, where he allegedly blamed the Board for admission challenges in tertiary education. ``The respected scholar

L-R: Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Ekiti State, Hon. Jide Egunjobi; Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, Dr. Kolapo Olusola and Corporate Social Value Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mrs. Abosede George-Ogan at the launch of Samsung’s second Engineering Academy in Nigeria, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State… on Monday.

also said that the board’s matriculation examination should be split into three, with the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education each having separate entrance examination. ``We sincerely appreciate this concern over the challenges of admission, especially as it affects carrying capacity and the preferences of candidates for universities over other tiers of tertiary institutions.

``However, the board would want the public to note that it was this same concern amongst others that led to the unification of the matriculation examination,’’ the statement said.

According to the statement, when the board was conducting UME for universities and MPCE for other institutions of higher learning, one of the major concerns of stakeholders was the negligible number of

candidates sitting for the MPCE. ``For instance, when over a million candidates sit for the UME, less than 200,000 applied for the MPCE. `` At the 2008 National Council of Education meeting, it was observed that the disparity in entrance examination and separate examination was partly responsible for this negligible enrolment. ``The Prof. Dibu Ojerinde-led board was then mandated to

fashion a way of addressing this challenge and ensure uniformity in entrance requirements. ``It was to also look into the admissions and also to improve the patronage of these tiers and above all, ensure that teachers and technical education in the country get the best,’’ it said.

According to the statement, today, one of the challenges that has negatively affected the choice of university over others is the issue of the HND/B.Sc dichotomy.

It said that the board was appealing to all stakeholders to call on government to urgently address this issue, as it holds the key to resolving the preference of universities over other tertiary institutions in the country.

It said that when policies ran into stormy waters, there was the need to find a lasting solution by involving all stakeholders rather than jettison all its gains. ``What we should be looking at now if there are challenges of admission is to look for ways of improving on the policies and ensure that the today gains are sustained and improved upon. ``One of the gains of the Unified Matriculation Examination by the board is the tremendous increase in the patronage for polytechnics, colleges of education and the Innovative Enterprises Institutions.

ASUU flays appointment of Adamu as Education minister Augustine Okezie Abuja The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) has rejected the appointment of a journalist, Mallam Mohammed Adamu Adamu as Education minister by President Muhammad Buhari, preferring instead ‘’a core Educationist and pragmatist’’.

Chairman of the UNIABUJA chapter of the union, Dr. Ben Ugheoke, who spoke to a selected team of newsmen in Abuja dur-

ing an interview advised Nigerians especially in the education sector not to expect any major changes and policy shift different from past administrations, especially ‘’with a journalist as minister’’.

The ASUU UNIABUJA helmsman further criticised the decision of the Education minister to set up panel on the University of Abuja instead of releasing and implementing the white paper of a 45-member visitation panel that was sent to the institution some years back. He said government action on the white

paper being clamoured will go a long way in addressing some fundamental problems the institution has been experiencing for some time now.

On the implementation of the NEEDS Assessment agreement entered into in 2013 between the Federal Government and ASUU, Ugheoke decried the attitude of government towards the implementation of the agreement He said: ’’Since they made the first release in 2013, nothing more has been made to the universities since 2014, 2015 and

even for the 2016 we are now into. It’s all deceits and lack of commitment on the side of government’’.

Recall that Mallam Adamu Adamu served as the Secretary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Transition Committee and is a renowned public analyst and columnist with a national daily (not the Daily Times). He has written on so many issues concerning the country and on international politics.

While Mallam Adamu was given the portfolio of Minister

of Education, Prof. Anthony Onwuka, from Imo was appointed as Minister of State, Education.

Adamu is generally seen as a fervent follower of Buhari for many years and was on board on account of his relationship with Buhari.

As the Minister of Education, so much is expected from him including tackling the decay in the education sector. Similarly, he was expected to introduce several measures that will restore the old glory of education in the country.

Education Times 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Edo: Police boss expresses concern over cultism in primary, secondary schools

Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, inspecting NYSC Computer Room during his visit to NYSC premises in Lagos on Tuesday. With him are Permanent Secretary, Mr Christian Ohaa (left); Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, and State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Cyril Akanemen.

Ambode signs bill converting LASU to residential campus .Approves 70yrs as retirement age for Profs

Sam Nzeh Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, signed into law a bill converting the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, to a residential institution as well as approving 70 years as retirement age for professors of the institution.

The law, LASU (Amendment) Bill 2015, also approved a fiveyear single term for the Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Signing the bill into law at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Gov. Ambode said the amended law is aimed at raising the standard of the school to an enviable position and a school that people would be proud of.

The governor said it is the desire of the state government

to build a LASU that would produce better students, saying that in the next few days, changes would begin to take place in the school.

Speaking also, Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said the law was amended to address the acrimonies that arose during the tenure of former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. John Obafunwa.

He said the major reform of the law is approving five-year single term for the Vice Chancellor of the school in order to prevent the crisis often encountered when the Vice Chancellor’s position runs for two terms.

Another major reform in the law, Eshinlokun-Sanni disclosed, is converting LASU to a residential campus, while the

retirement age of professors of the institution would now be 70 years instead of the usual 65 years.

He said turning the school to a residential campus would help in mitigating incessant clashes between students of the school and Iba residents.

Gov. Ambode

Don tasks students on acquisition of vocational skills The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, University of Ilorin, Prof. Sidikat Ijaiya, has advised students of the institution to develop a positive attitude toward entrepreneurship and acquisition of vocational skills.

Ijaiya gave the advice on Monday while speaking at the first edition of the Omoluabi Vocational and Entrepreneurship Programme organised by the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), University of Ilorin chapter.

The don described vocational

skills as a potent tool for achieving self-fulfillment and self-sufficiency.

She also advised students to ``think outside the box and not wait for the country to prepare, make and bake the cake of national treasury for them.’’

Ijaiya urged them to use their God-given talents to hit the ground running and break the yoke of dependency.

The Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies of the university, Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, also advised the students to con-

tribute positively toward boosting the nation’s economy as well as their personal income.

Earlier, the President of NAOSS at the university, Mr. Abideen Opeyemi, said that the programme was organised primarily to enlighten students on how to develop a positive attitude toward acquisition of vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Opeyemi said this would enable them to become job creators rather than job seekers after graduation.

The Commissioner of Police, Edo Command, Mr. Chris Ezike, has expressed concern over cases of cultism in primary and secondary schools in the state.

Ezike made this known on Monday at the disbursement of scholarship to six pupils of the Police Children’s School I and II in Benin.

He said ``cultism had gone beyond tertiary institutions where it was known to be prevalent and had now penetrated the walls of institutions of lower education.’’

He urged parents and guardians to pay adequate attention to the whereabouts of their children and wards, especially the kind of company they keep.

The commissioner said parents should not be too busy to look after their children.

He also appealed to teachers not to relent in their effort at impacting positive ideals in the children.

He said ``I want to ask all Divisional Police Officers whose jurisdiction it is to cover our police primary and secondary schools or police institutions to do their utmost best to offer necessary security and safety that the children need. ``If you have problems doing that, get back to the DC, Ops, who will reinforce you to ensure their safety and security are not compromised.’’

The commissioner explained that the scholarship programme was inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

The scholarship was to provide succour to the children of serving, retired and deceased police officers.

School resumption: Ondo SUBEB tasks parents on pupils’ punctuality The Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has tasked parents of pupils in all public schools in the state to allow their children to face their academic activities.

The Chairman of SUBEB, Mr. Rotimi Olasogba, said this on Monday in Akure, Ondo State, after he had monitored resumption of the second term in the 2015/2016 academic sessions in some schools.

He frowned at the attitude of some parents who did not release their children to come to school on the resumption day.

Olasogba said that parents and guardians should ensure their children and wards’ punctuality in their various schools.

“It is unfortunate that the turn-out of the pupils is low as they resume for the second term of the 2015/2016 academic session. ``But the attendance of teachers is encouraging and it is evident that they are ready to work by what we have seen.

“The teachers’ readiness to work is highly impressive despite all their challenges. ``Parents should discourage their children from going to farms and engaging in business activities during school hours but encourage them to come to schools,” he said.

Olasogba charged the teachers to put in their best to turn their societies around for good.

He advised the head teachers of public schools to mobilise parents in their areas through `House to House’ orientation on the need to embrace punctuality for their children.

Olasogba urged the ParentTeacher Association (PTA) to do more in ensuring that education was taken to the 21 Century standard by being keen in improving the standards of educational.

The chairman noted that all lands belonging to the public schools but being encroached upon by individuals would be looked into, promising that government would come out with firm decisions on it.

ATBU Microfinance Bank begins operation The Microfinance bank set up by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in 2015 has begun operation.

Alhaji Awal Amin, Executive Director of the bank, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Bauchi that the institution commenced operations two weeks ago.

He said that the institution was granted operational licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to start with N32 million share capital.

Amin said that the institution would also operate normal banking services by granting loans to salary earners.

He said that the category ‘E’ institution was operating mobile and e-banking to stand the test of time.

The director said that the institution intended to pump in more resources, to enable it to move in modern trends.

He said that customers could access one quarter of their salaries as loan before the payment

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

19 Education Times

FG should fully implement agreement with ASUU on NEEDS assessment for varsities - UNIABUJA ASUU chair

The chairman, University of Abuja chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Ben Ugheoke, recently granted interview to select group of newsmen in Abuja where he bared his mind on issues affecting the university and the Nigerian Education sector. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE brings excerpts…

What is the relationship between ASUU University of Abuja branch and the present Vice Chancellor?

I am a scientist and I believe in good result and if you have tried one method in approaching issues over and over again, of course you expect the same results. That was why when I was elected, I told the Executive, we were going to employ some other methods. We will not wait to see management make mistakes before we begin to fight them over the mistakes they have made, rather, we will stop them from making mistakes by engaging them in discussion over issues that we see or foresee and I am happy it worked.

Luckily we have a Vice Chancellor who believes in superior arguments and each time we engage him on issues, we present our facts and we debate it and he agrees at some point because we come with superior argument and that is how it has been. So far, we are happy with the system; we have had one full academic session without interruption and that is a new one.

From a lecturer’s perspective, what do you think are the challenges facing the University of Abuja?

They are myriads; office space.

I do not have an office space; many lecturers do not have office space. We work in very austere conditions. This is Abuja, when you imagine that the pay is the same with someone who lives in Yola, Maiduguri, Calabar, you will begin to imagine what we go through.

Also, where the university is located is a challenge to us. The welfare is a serious issue, not many of us have an accommodation. The few that have, when you get to where they live, you begin to ask yourself, is this a poultry pen or an abode for a lecturer? I hope someday those who conceived the idea of having the University of Abuja sited in

this place should look into this institution very well to see what they can do to turn it around.

This is the university that could serve as the first point of call for any leader coming from outside the country to visit Nigeria but no leader has come here just because of the state of infrastructure; we don’t have enough lecture halls, almost everything is inadequate here in a university located in the Federal Capital Territory. It is very challenging.

University of Abuja ranks 33rd in Nigeria and 85th in Africa, what could be responsible for the poor ranking?

Where were we before June 30th 2014 in Nigeria and Africa?

We ranked 118 in Nigeria, and now from over 100 to 33 and within a space of a year and half; of course, you will know we are working hard.

That should encourage us that truly things are moving in the right direction. Sometimes when we have square pipes in a round hole things could be stalled. It goes to explain where we have been; things are not where they used to be, we are moving.

What have you been able to achieve during your tenure as ASUU chairman in University of Abuja and what do we look forward to this New Year?

I have presided over a tough union under tough circumstances but if I look at where we are coming from and where we are now, I would say we have moved.

When I came in, professorial promotion was a settlement scheme but today it has moved from that. When I came in there were 59 academic staff whose promotion into the professorial cadre were held in limbo but within the space of a year and two months, we have had 95 academic staff promoted into the professorial cadre and that is because of the focus of ASSU’s leadership to ensure nobody is victimized or unjustly punished.

Ugheoke

Government should go back to the agreement they had with the union and implement it. What ASUU is talking about is not for personal purpose, it is for the betterment of the Education system.

I am yet to see any serious commitment from government in addressing this issue.

We have had challenges of uptake promotion arrears accumulated over the years and we had a deal with the current administration and we are pursuing it to a logical conclusion to ensure that these payments are made to people not on piecemeal but in whole meal.

We have always engaged the administration over every policy and decision they make to ensure that the right thing is done. Most members of our union are known to be aloof about how administrations do their thing. They wait until they finish doing what they are doing and then they go fighting the administration but I feel that we have a stake if we must have a civil academic calendar, if we

must ensure that there is peace, progress and prosperity in the system. We must not allow the administrators to make mistakes before we begin fighting them for the mistakes they have made which are avoidable.

We should put structures in place to avoid crisis from coming up and that is what we have done. That is one of our greatest achievements. Within the space of one and a half years, there has been no fight in the University of Abuja. I will not mention what I have done internally within ASUU ensuring that there is living above board in terms of ethics and standards which has given us a better image in and outside.

What is the reaction of ASUU to Federal Government’s probe of University of Abuja?

We don’t want it to look as if we are preventing the Federal Government from having an oversight through the relevant organs, but why University of Abuja? The same UniAbuja that has been pressing for the release of the white paper of the 45-man special visitation panel that was sent to this place, that sat for more than eight weeks and guzzled more than N40million of tax payers’ money and until this moment the Federal Government has failed and blatantly refused to release that white paper, yet they still have the effrontery to send in a probe panel over petitions of people who feel aggrieved over some things they wanted in the system.

It is ridiculous that they want to play over issues just because they are in power. It is their university but let them go back;

dig out the white paper if what they have been talking about did not address these things they are setting up panels to come and check again.

Have they checked the people who wrote the petition? We will see the report whether those petitions are actually credible or framed.

The Federal Government is on the verge of restructuring the education system as seen in the budget just proposed by Mr. President, what is ASUU position?

Government is the same. When President Goodluck Jonathan budgeted N1billion for feeding in Aso Rock people cried, why allocating 1.7b for feeding. It is one thing to pull a budget, it is another thing to implement the budget accordingly. Let us watch and see.

How effective is the NEEDS Assessment Project for varsities?

It has impacted positively on many universities that have been able to assess these funds including UniAbuja. We have a lot of projects that are ongoing thanks to the NEEDS assessment funds and it has transformed the face of the university; hostels are touched, lecture halls have received facelift, and some new constructions are coming up to support existing ones.

My only worry is that apart from releasing government pledge during the strike of 2013, government has not made any other release. They made promises that they were going to release billions over a period of time and they broke it down to years within a period of five years to address the needs for the time but only the first year has been released. What happens to that of 2014, 2015 and we have just stepped into 2016.

Government should go back to the agreement they had with the union and implement it. What ASUU is talking about is not for personal purpose, it is for the betterment of the Education system. I am yet to see any serious commitment from government in addressing this issue.

Your tenure is gradually coming to a close, do you nurture plans for a re-run?

ASUU’s democracy is totally different from political democracy. I am sitting on a hot seat. I employed a different approach in the running of the union which people are not too used to even in the ASUU circle and that may make it seem like as if we have compromised because we have not embarked on any strike or done those things ASUU is known for. We will see how it goes; how well they have appreciated this new approach will be shown later.

Education Times 20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Inside Campus Æ s

UNILORIN graduate is NCC prize winner A b d u l h a k e e m Abdulkareem of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has emerged winner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) nationwide essay contest. In Abuja, Abdulhakeem alongside other prize winners was recognised in grand style.

OLAWALE ODEYEMI, 400 Level History student, was there.

That the University of Ilorin has remained at the forefront of excellent performance among the comity of higher institutions in the country is no longer news. The news is that products of the institution have continued to lead excellently by example among their contemporaries the world over.

By the success of her own product, AbdulHakeem AbdulKareem at the just concluded Nigerian Communications Commissions (NCC) nationwide essay contest, the University of Ilorin has undoubtedly added another cap to her gallery of medals.

AbdulHakeem AbdulKareem, a product of the University of Ilorin is 1st runner up prize winner at the keenly contested essay. He is currently undergoing the one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exercise

NCC executives flanked by all Essay contest winners (on suits squatting) at the ceremony in Abuja recently.

in the Northern part of Nigeria having completed his four years undergraduate course from the department of History and International Relations, University of Ilorin.

To commemorate the prize giving day which was staged at the NCC Conference center, NCC Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, a summary presentation of the essay was granted to each of the

3 major prize winners which was on the topic: ‘BROADBAND; A CATALYST FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT’.

In his presentation, AbdulHakeem Abdulkareem attempted to define broadband beyond the general clinch that sees it as ordinary internet experience where users can access the most demanding contents in real time at a minimum of 1.5bits/s. He

analyzed how broadband services can help improve ways of life of developing countries of the world while using Africa as his case study.

For another of the prize winners, Chijioke, “The chief problem of Nigeria’s economy at the moment is large-scale unemployment. Broadband has the capacity of solving unemployment problem of the country.

UNILAG VC advises new SUG leaders The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Rahmon Bello, has advised Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders to be tolerant and show spirit of sportsmanship during their tenure.

The VC said the students’ leaders must conduct their affairs with justice and ensure orderliness in the school, saying: “Don’t make UNILAG to look like a jungle where there is no justice and order.”

Bello spoke at the swearing-in ceremony of the union leaders recently. The event, held at the Multipurpose Hall, was attended by the top management officials of the school.

The VC said: “As students’ leaders, we want you to graduate and go with the image of an institution that knows what it is doing. When you create an image of a university that does not know the right from the left, it is going to affect you when you go out to look for jobs.

The Principal Assistant Registrar for Legal Service, Mrs. Olufunke Akinsode, administered the oath on the union leaders led by Mohammed Olaniyan, a student of Faculty of Business Administration.

Students march against corruption Mass Communication students of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) have held a campaign against corruption on the institution’s Ikorodu campus. MICHAEL ORODARE (HND II Mass Communication) reports.

Activities on the Ikorodu campus of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) were halted last Wednesday by students of the Department of Mass Communication campaigning against corruption.

The rally, held to mark the department’s yearly Costume Day, was tagged: Against corruption together: Stop corruption on campuses now.

Cross section of students during the rally

The campaign, according to the organising committee, was aimed at ending brain drain and mediocrity in the nation’s educa-

tion. The committee added that the theme of the event was borne out of the need to stop vices and

corrupt practices, which, it said, had eaten deep into the nation’s education.

The students, led by their course lecturer, Steven Adesemoye, started the rally at the department and moved to other faculties, including the Rector’s office, before returning to their department. At the School of Environmental Studies and School of Engineering, the campaigners were joined by students, who abandoned their lectures to support the cause.

During the campaign, the students spoke to their colleagues and lecturers on why they needed to join hands to kick out corruption on campuses.

Adesemoye said that corruption was not limited to the tertiary institutions, but that the vice became rampant because of eroding family values. He advocated a proper upbringing and enlightenment of students, saying the nation would rid its education of corrupt practices if policymakers led by example.

He said: “We are not looking for saints; we only need those who are ready to change and help stop bad habits that are turning our society to a jungle.”

A participant, Temitope Olowe, said the campaign was timely in addressing the malaise affecting education.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Timessearch e-mail: oyin_K@yahoo.com 08055103156

Has Osun govt stopped paying for students WAEC fees?

Sarah ODEDE

Is it true that NYSC has banned wearing of long Hijab?

It would be a great relief if the TIMESEARCH could help shed more light on the issue of Muslim Corps members being criticised by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps.

My name is Alhaji Raji Animashaun. I am a Muslim and a devoted one at that, but I have a problem which I know that only the TIMESEARCH could help me out of it.

I would want to know if really it is true that the National Youth Service Corps criticises the use of long hijab by Muslim youth corps members.

My daughter would at any time from now commence with her service year and I wonder how she could cope if really the wearing of long hijab is not approved by the National Youth Service Corps.

I want to know more about this issue as it is bordering me and giving me sleepless nights.

God bless the TIMESEARCH for us as well as the Daily Times that is sponsoring this humanitarian page. I say more grease to your elbows.

Alhaji Raji Animashaun 122, Afariogun Street Agege, Lagos.

At the National Youth Service Corps Headquarters Abuja, the enquiry of Alhaji Raji Animashaun was taken up with one of the top officials who craved anonymity on hearing the nature of the enquiry.

He did not hesitate to tell the TIMESEARCH that it was true the National Youth Service

Corps is really against the wearing of the long hijab.

He said: “Sometime in November 2015, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corp, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, insisted that female Muslim corps members will not wear long hijab during the 21- day orientation camp due to security reasons.”

This pronouncement was made during the swearing-in of the scheme 2nd Batch B Corps members at Kubwa orientation camp in Abuja whereby he made the pronouncement that the ban on long black hijab stays.

According to the official, a protest was staged by a group of Muslim youths under the aegis of Muslim Youths in Da’wah some few weeks ago at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja on the hijab ban where the DirectorGeneral made it known to all and sundry that the NYSC was not is existence to ban people or corps members, but “here to protect Nigerians and render stewardship. We only kick against long black hijab not short or white. We are doing this to protect ourselves because we all know the security challenges we are facing now.”

“I want to tell Nigerians that NYSC is not banning any corps members. As you can see some of the corps members putting on the hijab are participating in all orientation exercises,” he added.

According to the official, the Director-General further said: “Under my leadership, the

What’s the role of Nigeria School of Health Association?

So much has been said on the Nigerian School of Health Association as to how health education can be included in the school curriculum.

Little was heard about this issue to date, and one begins to wonder why this should be so, because in our days, there was a subject known as “Hygiene” which was a subject on its own, and had a separate teacher for it.

It is a surprise that today, there is nothing like that in all schools, until when I learnt of the existence

21

Olawumi

NYSC will accord respect to every corps member, irrespective of tribe and religion.

The incident in Benue State was caused by the use of long hijab.”

Concluding however, it was gathered that the DG of the NYSC made it known that the security situation in the country is tough and that there is danger of somebody wearing hijab for other reasons.

“There have been cases where young girls put on hijab and eventually turn to suicide bombers,” he added.

As you can see, the NYSC did not maliciously ban the use of long black hijab as Alhaji Animashaun sounded in his letter to the press.

Every move we make is for security reasons, and nothing else.

of the Nigerian School Health Association.

Please, I would want to know the importance of the association in question, and of what help are they to the education sector.

What is their impact in the health education in schools?

Please educate me and many other Nigerians who are eager to know the impact of this association on the society.

Mr. Kenchor Oliyeme 69, Alisomor Street Ozar Nogo-go, Edo State

I would be grateful if the TIMESEARCH could help find out from the appropriate quarters if it is true that the Osun State Government has stopped paying for students WAEC fees and if so, since when was this?

I am curious about this matter because I have a daughter who is still in a secondary school in Modakeke, Osun State. Apart from this, I am an indigene of Ile-Ife in Osun State.

My daughter is yet to write the WAEC examination, but I was shocked when I heard from some quarters that the state has stopped paying for WAEC fees as such parents were preparing for the payment of their children’s WAEC examination fees.

I later contacted a friend who works in the Governor’s office in Osun State but he could not give me a satisfactory reply.

At this juncture, I was referred to the TIMESEARCH of the Daily Times Newspapers to please help unravel the issue and let me know how true the information is.

Mr. Olasunmbo Oyelade P.O. Box 3392 Ile-Ife, Osun State Investigation into the issue of Mr. Oyelade revealed that it was true the Osun State government said it could no longer bear the burden of full payment of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for students in public schools.

According to one of the officials in the Osun State Liaison Office, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, made the aforementioned pronouncement in November 2015 when the House of Assembly Committee on Educa-

TIMESEARCH was at the Edo State State Ministry of Education and Health over the enquiry of Mr. Oliyeme from where it was gathered that in mid-November last year, the Nigerian School Health Association (NSHA) had advocated for compulsory and effective teaching of health education in schools and communities to fast-track the attainment an sustainability of health-related Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, in the country.

An official who was referred to, as the only authentic source of comment told the TIMESEARCH that the above

Aregbesola

tion paid her a visit.

It was revealed that the Deputy Governor said the state government would pay half of the WAEC fees, while parents would pay the remaining.

As to why this was so, the official who preferred anonymous told the TIMESEARCH that the Deputy Governor said the state government spent over N500 million on WAEC fees for students per annum, and that it could no longer bear the cost due to lack of fund.

According to her, the state government is yet to complete the payment of 2014 WAEC fees and this is causing delay in the release of the students’ results.

“Because of this reason, the deputy governor said that the promotion of teachers will no longer be automatic but would be based on performance of students in external examinations”, the official added.

The enquirer was meant to understand that the Osun State government would only pay half of the WAEC fees leaving the rest to parents to take care of.

The official however refused to disclose the percentage of the payment by both the state government and parents. All he said was that the state would no longer take full responsibilities of the WAEC fees.

Over to you Mr. Oyelade.

information I gathered from the Ministry was made known in a communiqué issued at the end of NSHAs 25th Annual Conference held recently at the College of Education, Warri Delta State.

It was also gathered that the keynote and lead papers presented at the conference focused on attainment and sustainability of health related MDGs as well as the roles of federal and state ministries of Education and Health in the implementation of school health programme in educational institutions.

22 Public Notice LOSS OF DOCUMENT

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CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTIVE LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT INT’L

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SIGNED: BARR. ZHASI JESSE DANIEL 08175463849

DREAM STARS SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CLUB This is to inform the general public that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under the part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1,1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named church Ministries has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under the part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1,1990.

TRUSTEES1- ABUBAKARE ABDUL RAHMON ABOLORE 2- ABDUL RAHMON AIRAT OLUWATOYIN 3- BAKARE ADILA ADENIYI 4- ABUBAKARE ABDUL GANIY KEHINDE 5- BAKARE SHAKIRATU

THE TRUSTEE ARE: 1. Edafe Frank Ufuoma …………………………. Chairman 2. Edafe Patience Nkiruka ……………………… Vice Chairman 3. Adih Gabriel Ejuma ………………………….. Secretary 4. Emele- Emmanuel Joseph ……………………. Member

AIMS1To use the instrument of sports, education to shape people’s orientation towards a responsible life style 2- To foster new approaches to issus affecting youth development & management.

3- To promote and inspire long-life learning and encourage young people to address the critical stages of sportmanship in schools and communities.

Any objection to the above mentioned removal should be forwarded to the Registrar General of Corporate Affairs Commission within 28 days of this publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SOLUTION LAND GLOBAL MINISTRIES

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To Win Souls, Heal and Liberate those bind by Satan 2. To Train and reactivate the lost gift through the power of holy Ghost 3. The Ministry shall be non-profit making private membership organization 4. The Ministry shall strive to cooperate with and contribution towards charitable and other such organization aimed at helping the needy and less fortune in the society.

5. The Ministry shall foster unity and common purpose by encouraging members on wealth creation.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, within w28days of this publication.

OLUWAFUNMILAYO KHAFASAT FASHINA FOUNDATION The General Public is hereby notified that the trustee named below is hereby removed as a trustee of OluwafunmilayoKhafasatFashina Foundation: •Mr.OlaniyiSholanke The resolution for removal was approved by the Board of Trustees at a duly convened general meeting held on 20th November, 2012. The following persons have been re-appointed as trustees of OluwafunmilayoKhafasatFashina Foundation: 1. JibadeFashina 2. DamilolaFashina 3. OlumideOlayinka 4. AnuEso 5. OlukemiOnabanjo 6. Anthony Risha 7. Lola AiratFashina Any objection to the above mentioned removal should be forwarded to the Registrar General of Corporate Affairs Commission within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Signed: Anthony Nwami Esq. Attorney to the Ministry 07065271960

LIVING EPISTLES FAMILY CHURCH

AKANDE TIMOTHY OLUFUNSO MEDIA MINISTRY

GRACE ABODE FOUNDATION

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

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

This is to inform the general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘’C’’ Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) Aroyehun Babatunde Idowu (2) Aroyehun Adenike Oyeronke (3) Olabanji Sylva Olalowo (4) Adeoti Adebayo Opeyemi

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) Prophet akande timothy olufunso ( 2) Evangelist mrs akande adeoti adejoke (3) Akande Ologbenla omolara Gladys

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FOLARIN BUKOLA THERESA 2. MR. FOLARIN KEHINDE ADEYINKA 3. MR. FOLARIN TAIWO ADEWUNMI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) To embark on passionate and aggressive evangelism and mission campaign to the sinners, unchurched, ungodly and backsliders in Nigeria and globally.

(2) Providing spiritual growth and maturity to the new creation believers through sound preaching of unadulterated word of God

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

(2) To carry out missionary work and give also to the needy.

(3) To deliver the oppressed, heal and sick, and set the captive free.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To support widows build their self esteem, confidence and live dignified life.

2. To help women fight poverty and remove both self imposed marginalization or societal marginalization.

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

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

Signed: CHAIRMAN

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 twenty eight (28)days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

23 News

MURIC launches online appeal for convicted soldiers Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏA

non-governmental organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Tuesday, launched an online campaign seeking presidential pardon for the 66 soldiers who bagged ten years’ jail each after their death sentences were commuted.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The online petition,

which was launched at ipetition, with the title “Pardon the 66 Soldiers”, reads, “William Shakespeare was right when he said, ‘Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall. Some run from brakes of vice and answer none, while some are convicted for a fault alone.’

“66 Nigerian soldiers who had earlier been sentenced to death in December 2014 had their sentences commuted to ten years imprisonment each in December 2015 by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tu-

kur Buratai. We thank the COAS for showing mercy on them.

“12 among the 66 soldiers committed a separate offence. They were accused of making an attempt on the life of their commander. The remaining 54 were those who asked to be properly armed before advancing on the enemy.

“Nigerians will recall that Nigerian soldiers were fleeing from Boko Haram insurgents due to lack of adequate weaponry. It was after President Muham-

madu Buhari became president that he took steps to provide the necessary equipment for the soldiers.

“The pendulum has since swung as Nigeria’s gallant soldiers have liberated territories hitherto occupied by the terrorists.

“The on-going probe into allegations of diversion of huge funds meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military has opened the eyes of Nigerians.

“They have seen how many corrupt politicians pocketed the funds thereby

causing the death of thousands of civilians and soldiers, the abduction of over 200 Chibok girls and the destruction of the homes and properties of thousands who have now been turned into internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their own country.

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), now convinced that there was actually an acute shortage of weaponry for the soldiers fighting the insurgents and that some callous and greedy politicians were re-

sponsible for the shortage, concluded that meting out any punishment to the convicted soldiers would be a miscarriage of justice.

“Based on this conclusion, MURIC hereby appeals to the good people of Nigeria to sign a petition requesting President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to compassionately exercise the prerogative of mercy by granting presidential pardon to the aforementioned soldiers.

Saraki mourns Abdul Atta ÏÏÏSenate President, Dr.

Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, expressed sadness over the demise of the former Permanent Secretary in the Northern Region’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdul Atta, and described him as a physician who practiced his trade with absolute dexterity, great compassion and dedication to duty.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki said that the deceased left a worthy legacy during his life time having rendered invaluable medical and

Sympathisers at the scene of a burnt shopping complex in Ado-Ekiti… on Tuesday.

administrative services as Personal Physician to the Sardauna of Sokoto, Permanent Secretary in the then Northern Region’s Ministry of Health as well as the old North Central State.

He commiserated with the immediate family, the government and people of Kogi State over the loss of “an illustrious personality, who leveraged his extensive medical knowledge to ensure that quality healthcare services were delivered to the people of the North in particular and Nigeria in general during his active years.”

Ambode signs N25bn Employment Trust Fund Bill ÏÏÏIn

fulfillment of his electoral promise, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, signed the N25billion Employment Trust Fund Bill into law, just as he promised to work hard to address unemployment and promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development.

The Governor, who also signed the Lagos State University Bill into law, described the two bills as very significant and crucial to

the realisation of his administration’s policy objectives.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Ambode said the establishment of the Employment Trust Fund was in line with the promise he made to the people during the electioneering.

He said: “One of our campaign promises was to establish an Employment Trust Fund. Today, we are fulfilling this promise with the official signing of the Bill formally establishing the Employment Trust

Fund.

“This bill will address the challenge of unemployment and promote wealthcreation through entrepreneurial development.

As I sign this Bill today, an annual contribution of N6.25billion will be injected into the Fund by the State Government for four years totalling N25billion,” Ambode also said that a Board of Trustees made up of core professionals would be announced in due course to manage the Fund, adding that more information on

the operations of the Fund would be unveiled later.

He said the LASU Bill was also a demonstration of his commitment to actualise the dream of the founding fathers of the institution, adding that he remained committed to raising the standard of academic excellence to a level comparable to other citadels of learning in the world.

While appreciating members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the favourable consideration of the two Bills and their

JAMB increases UNILORIN’s admission quota to 9, 000 ÏÏÏProf.

AbdulGaniyu Ambali, the Vice- Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, (Unilorin) in Kwara State, on Monday, said that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had increased the university’s admission quota from 7,800

to 9,000.

Ambali who disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Ilorin.

He also said that the university’s management had acquired additional laboratory equipment that would ensure an enabling learning condition for its students.

“We are looking forward in 2016 to re-emphasise and concentrate our efforts to sustain the feats the university had achieved in the previous years as the best,” he said.

Ambali, however, dismissed the agitation from some quarters of passing

into law the “banking of JAMB results”.

This would afford a candidate the opportunity to use the same result obtained at one sitting of JAMB’s entrance examination to seek admission into the university for two years instead of writing it annually.

speedy passage, Ambode said the desire of his administration was to see LASU develop and churn out young professionals who would lead Nigeria to greater heights in the near future.

Gov. Ambode

Carpenter in court for beating wife Kehinde Akinpelu I lorin

ÏÏÏA 45-year-old carpen-

ter, Olapade of Omoniyepe area. Omu-Aran, in Kwara State, has appeared before an Ilorin Magistrate Court, for allegedly beating his wife. Olapade appeared in court on a one-count charge of causing hurt contrary to Section 253 of the Penal Code Law. Olapade was arrested by the police on December 18, 2015 following a report at Anti-Human Traffick-

ing (Women and Children Protection Unit) State Criminal and Intelligence Department, Ilorin, by his wife Catherine Olapade.

According to her she was severely beaten by her husband when she went to the pack her property from the accused house, in the course of which she was injured on her private part.

The trial magistrate, Mrs. Idowu J. Bamigboye, released the accused on bail on the sum of N70, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

24 News

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Court adjourns ruling on ex-PDP Chair, son Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏA Federal High Court

in Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned the ruling on a bail application by a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Mohammed Bello and his son Abba Mohammed.

Haliru Mohammed Bello and his son Abba Mohammed. Mohammed are facing a four-count charge against them by the EFCC

bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust.

The presiding judge, Ahmed Mohammed, in his ruling adjourned the matter to Thursday, January 7.

He also ordered that Bello remain on admission under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, while his son, Abba, be remanded in Kuje prison custody in Abuja.

Mohammed also said

that the attention of the IGP will be drawn to the matter by the chief registrar of the court immediately.

On assumption of hearing on Tuesdy, while lawyers and all others seated including security operatives waited for the judge to appear, Bello praying the “tsebe” (Muslim prayer beads) was wheeled into the courtroom by a female hospital attendant.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them.

But at the end of the last

charge and pleas taking, the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Yusuf, told the court that he has just been informed that Bello needed to answer the call of nature.

While apologising, Yusuf prayed the court to permit the ex-PDP chairman to leave the courtroom for this purpose.

On the judge’s approval, at 11.45am, the former PDP chairman was wheeled out of the court. With the help of the hospital attendant, he was brought back after

10 minutes but another case was already being heard by the court.

Rounding the up with the new case, the judge called for the continuation of Bello’s case.

On resumption of the case, the prosecuting counsel prayed that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending their trial.

But the counsel to the first defendant, A. Osoka, asked the court not to oblige to the prayer to remand the

Kogi NSCDC arrests 130 vandals, thieves in 2015

FETHI promotes 1,649 workers Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

Ibrahim Obansa, Lokoja

ÏÏÏThe

ÏÏÏThe Kogi State Com-

mand of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said that, in 2015, it arrested 130 suspected vandals and thieves.

In a 2016 press briefing in Lokoja, on Tuesday, aimed at reviewing the 2015 operations of the Command, the Commandant Mr. Ochogwu Michael, said the command under his leadership had intensified adequate protection of critical national assets and infrastructure located in the state, adding that out of the 130 suspects apprehended for vandalism and theft, 19 were charged to court , saying that 4 cases were concluded and 15 are still pending in court.

Michael noted that exhibits recovered from the suspects were illegal products, vehicles, pumping machine, communication cables and drum, stressing that the frequency of transformer vandalism that characterised the first quarter of 2015, in the state, had been reduced remarkably.

accused in prison.

Also, Abdullaziz Ibrahim, standing for the third defendant urged the court not to remand him in prison but grant him bail.

“My lord, I confirm that we were charged with a motion for bail for the first and third defendants,” Yusuf said.

After 20 minutes adjournment, hearing on the bail application began.

L-R: Members of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission, Dr. Omogbai Omo-Eboh; Mrs. Sola Williams; Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN), Mr. Ademola Sadiq and Mrs. Tola Akinsanya, during the inauguration by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Conference room, Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos… on Tuesday.

…As Kwara command arrests 45 vandals Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin.

ÏÏÏNo fewer than 45 suspected oil pipeline vandals have been arrested by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Speaking with journalists on the activities of the anti-vandalism drive of the Command for 2015, in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the State Commandant, Augustine Obiekwe, said that not less than five of the suspects were sentenced to three years’ jail term each, add-

ing that 40 others were being prosecuted at various courts.

He said that the achievements were recorded through pro-active action of his men in intercepting vandals, while in the act and through stop-andsearch measures that were

aimed at discouraging oil products diversion.

He also said that some of the suspected vandals were caught through routine surveillance and monitoring of the Nigerian National Petro0leaum Corporation (NNPC) right of way.

Management of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, has keyed into the Treasury Single Account introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari, as part of efforts to curtail financial recklessness in the hospital.

Making the disclosure in Ido Ekiti, on Tuesday, the Chief Medical Director , Dr. Majekodunmi Ayodele, also said that a total of 1,649 workers had been promoted in the last three years by the hospital’s board.

He said further that outstanding November and December salaries, which had caused some unrest in the hospital, as well as arrears of allowances of 2014 and 2015 had been paid.

He said that a total of 971 and 678 senior and junior staff, respectively, had been promoted since he assumed office.

IPMAN urges FG to compel tank farm owners to comply with pump price Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏThe

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), in Enugu, has called on Federal Government that rather than forcing marketers to sell at N86.50k it should first enforce the N77.66k on tank farm owners.

The Enugu depot chair-

man, Chief Ikechukwu Nwankwo, also told the Daily Times that due to non-allocation of the product at Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), his members had been sourcing for products through other means with attendant cost.

He said no marketer in the state would sell below the cost price adding that

he himself bought petrol in Warri, Delta State, at N108 per litre, on Tuesday.

“The present cost of fuel per litre in Enugu is between N125 and N130 because the landing cost per litre is between N115.00 and N120.00.

“Tell me how one can sell at N86.50 if the landing cost to the state is N130.

“With this you will

agree with me that it will be impossible to sell Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at N86.50”, he said.

Nwankwo advised the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to direct its energy at ensuring that private tank farm owners sell petrol to marketers at N77.66k federal government approved price.

He assured that if mar-

keters get petrol at regulated price that his members would not hesitate to sell at N86.50.

“Marketers are not responsible for the high cost of petroleum product. Government must first regulate the illegal activities of private farm owners and stop them from exploiting us before we can sell at the approved price”, he stressed.

Kachikwu

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

25 Opinion

Customs and Habits

ÏÏÏ I get off the bed.

Look through the window - no traffic. Strange. I look at the bedside clock.

The long hand’s moving towards 12 while the small one is on 7. No traffic on a working day! It can’t be possible.

I then put on the transistor radio. It’s almost time for the news analysis which comes on at 7a.m.

I go to the kitchen, make myself a cup of tea. Take the teacup back to the bedroom and position myself on the bed, the radio beside me. IK Dairo’s song, ‘Angelina’ comes on, I move to it. Then Orlando Owoh’s ‘E se réré’ is played. The story in the song always fascinates me.

It usually sends me into a trance.

Suddenly I get my senses back. No news analysis today?

I glance at the clock again. The time is 10 minutes after seven. This is very unusual. They’re never this late. Let me go on Twitter to complain and demand an apology.

As I press the ‘tweet’ button, I realise it’s Saturday.

Which brings me to the story of a gentleman who had just lost his wife.

There in the study he sat waiting for his usual cup of coffee. No other person but his wife made him the early morning cup of

coffee. She would bring it to him in the study while he was going through the morning papers. He sat there waiting for the matinal cuppa. There one of the children found him.

- It’s taking your mother too long to make my coffee.

- I’ll make it for you Papa. Just like Mama used to.

And there’s an elderly friend of mine who said that once while she was out of the country, she dressed to go out. She stood on the doorstep waiting for her driver to bring up the car. She suddenly realised that she wasn’t in her usual habitat. Our minds, our habits!

May we never see those ‘wetie’ days anymore in this nation - days of political turbulence when some politicians’ houses were doused in petrol and torched. A widow relative came from Akure to live with us during that period.

She had with her a toddler whom we young ones nicknamed ‘Handbag’ for wherever the mother went there or not far away he was.

Their house in Akure was besieged by thugs.

Their landlord belonged to the opposition party, the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) - ‘Demo’. The ruling party in the then Western

Awolowo

Region of Nigeria was the Action Group of Obafemi Awolowo from which ‘Demo’ of Samuel Ladoke Akintola broke away. That fateful morning she was at home with the child when the kerfuffle began. The landlord ran away. The tenants picked valuables and ran for dear life. My relative saw tongues of flames. She grabbed something and started running far away from the torched house. Suddenly she stopped. She realised that ‘what’ she had grabbed wasn’t moving or making any sound. She looked, it was a big piece of yam.

She threw it down and ran back to the burning house.

- Don’t enter, it’s burning!

- Are you mad? Can’t you see the house is burning?

She kept pointing at the house. No words came out of her mouth.

- Where’s your child?

She pointed at the house.

Obilè - Land of our

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ancestors!

Then someone appeared behind the crowd carrying the child who stretched his hands towards his mother.

She let out a shrill sound.

- Take your child and find your way.

She went to the garage and took a Peugeot stationwagon en route to Lagos.

The mind can be so mischievous. The tricks it often plays on us. Do we control the mind or does the mind control us?

With the mind comes imagination with which we programme the mind.

We’re nudged to follow that programme we create in the mind. Or is it in the head? We get up and follow the programme. Even when we take a nap at 4p.m. and the nap turns to a sleep and we wake up at 11p.m., we automatically follow the habit we’re programmed to follow till a look at the clock regulates us.

The early days of sum-

mer in the Western hemisphere can be very long.

10p.m. there will seem like our 6p.m. I was a brighteyed 19 year-old spending holidays with my uncle and his family in the United Kingdom. Uncle got me a job as a chambermaid in one of the hotels in Bayswater, London. It was the first time I would earn money so I took the job seriously. It was an 8a.m. - 2p.m. job. When I finished job I would take a bus to Oxford Street and walked from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road.

It is a long stretch but I’d nip inside shops along the way, walk around and come out. I also did some window-shopping. I would still have to come back to Oxford Street to take the Victoria Line underground train to Brixton, my destination. I’d exit the station and leg it to Barnwell Rd, uncle’s house.

If there was nobody at home, I’d eat and take a nap. I’d be woken up by voices whenever people started returning from work one by one.

This day, I heard nothing. So I slept and slept.

When I woke up it was still daylight. I ran to the bathroom and had a shower. I quickly dressed.

As I was about to go out, Uncle came out of his room.

- Hello young girl.

- Hello uncle.

I couldn’t understand why he was still in his casuals.

- Where’re you off to?

- I’m going to work, uncle.

- Work ke! Nibo?

I couldn’t understand why my uncle wouldn’t believe me.

- At the hotel, Uncle.

- Which hotel?

- Where you got me a job?

- They asked you to do night shift?

- O ti o.

- Then why are you going to work at 10 p.m.?

Habits or Customs Like a sore thumb it keeps turning up. In the past eight weeks the reconstruction of the United Nations (UN) building in Abuja that was bombed

by Boko Haram in August 2011 has crept up twice in very sensitive documents.

Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman and Publisher of ThisDay newspapers first mentioned it in his explanation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the N670m he received from the embattled ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. Obaigbena wrote, ‘... The bombing of ThisDay offices followed the Abuja United Nations Building for which the Federal Government has so far spent N3billion for reconstruction and much more earmarked for furnishing...’ The item popped up again in the breakdown of the Federal Capital Territory Authority budget where N3b is allocated for re-building none other but the bombed UN complex. The UN building reconstruction keeps gulping up N3b each year.

Samuel Osaze, I can still smell the ‘Aroma of the Burning Bush’. Thanks.

There must be a story in the flickering embers of the burning bush.

Happy birthday to Susan Gumel who’s forever young.

O’Yemi Afolabi can be reached at: oyemiajike@ gmail.com; @oyemiajike

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Features 26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

COMBATING CORRUPTION AND QUACKERY:

Why Buhari must not fail Nigerians

By GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR with agency reports.

The expectation is high. Perhaps much too high for a mortal being…and the task enormous, but the embattled Nigerian electorate so thirsted for a change deep and thorough that they voted President Muhammadu Buhari into office as the last credible man standing in the long list of recycled wastrels called politicians.

Someone mentioned that Buhari is the best of the extremely bad bunch of former leaders, but he has the people’s confidence and mandate, nevertheless.

The decay of the Nigerian psyche is so deep that few remnants that still consider the fear of God and sanctity for honest and upright living are perplexed.

Just how the leaders and the led sunk so deep is a question no one alive is likely ever to answer with any degree of certainty.

When the current governor of Kaduna state, El Rufai scribbled a note to his friend, Pst Tunde Bakare, stating that corruption in Nigeria has sunk so deep that it is beyond any human capacity to cure, the decay in high and sensitive places unfolding every single day is proving the governor’s assertion an understatement.

The statistics are mindboggling; where would President Muhhamadu Buhari start from?

Fake drugs, fake doctors How do one salvage a nation already conditioned to influx of imported fake drugs, to the knowledge of and connivance by government agencies charged to check such menace - not to mention drugs being adulterated and repackaged in the country also to the knowledge of neighbours and family members of the perpetrators?

Nigerians have not recovered from the shock of the arrest by security operatives in Abuja mid last year of one Martins Okpeh, a 44-year-old secondary school certificate holder who stole the credentials of his childhood friend, Dr. George Davidson, a practising medical doctor in Jos. That is not the shock: Okpeh was found to have adopted the identity of Dr Davidson and used the doctor’s medical papers to secure employment

Quacks in IT A writer for the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Ogunshola recently reported an infiltration of quacks in the Information Technology sector.

In his report, Ogunshola quoted Prof.

Vincent Asor, President, Council of Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria who expressed concern about the rate of increase of quacks in Information Technology.

President Buhari

The direct side effects of quackery, especially in sensitive regions like healthcare and medicine is deliberate deception with its consequence as extreme as death. You wouldn’t know what dilemma you face when you have a health condition and a fake doctor administers fake drugs on you. Allowing that loophole on the citizenry is the height of irresponsibility on the part any government – stakeholders in the Federal Ministry of Health and, believe this: the ordinary secondary school leaver successfully impersonated the medical doctor in

the nation’s medical body for all of nine years.

Before his arrest, the fake doctor had even risen to become the chairman of a branch of the Nigerian Medical Association! (NMA). How bad can a system get, even a sensitive one like a healthcare delivery organ of the nation?

Fake lawyers Also in the same year, a former VicePresident of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Akintokunbo Oluwole at a special court sitting to mark the opening of the 2015/2016 Legal Year in Akure, announced that the NBA discovered some 1,000 fake lawyers through the association’s stamp policy inaugurated on April 15 2015.

“It was a rude shock, an affront to the hallowed judicial structure and a shame to the nation, to say the least,” said a thoroughly vexed Barrister Peace Akpabio.

While not defending the affront, Oluwole noted that quackery had eaten deep into the fabric of the legal profession and vowed that the ugly trend must be addressed immediately.

According to him, fake lawyers have even devised various means to scuttle the implementation of stamp policy without success.

The many faces of quackery Revealing the many forms of quackery, Professor Asor classified the first category as people who are true professionals but still engage in the act of quackery.

“Then we have people who are not professionals, but claim to be professionals and engage in the act of quackery.

“Next we have those people who are not anywhere and they come to learn the trade and, because of their intelligence, they engage in the act of quackery,” Asor said.

Corroborating Asor’s analysis, civil engineer, Friday Chukwu, confirmed that there are such categories of people described by the Professor in building industry, regretting that the activities of such quacks have led to cases of building collapse in many parts of the country.

“In Lagos alone, more than 140 building collapse cases have been reported over the past seven years; an average of 20 reported cases per year,” he said.

He cautioned the public not to assume that every person handling building tools at construction sites is an engineer.

Mr. Chukwu revealed that the issue of premature loading was largely responsible for building collapse in some cases.

“Premature loading is when an engineer does not allow a casting to dry to the specified period to gain the required strength before laying another structure on it,” he said and added that no professional builder who went through the course would make such blunder.

Quacks in the media It would be recalled that Mr. AbdulWaheed Odusile, during the campaign preceding his election as President of

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Continued from page 26 Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), stressed the need for leaders in all media houses to fight quackery.

Odusile at the time said that it was necessary for the leadership of NUJ to be credible, noting that prospective members of the union should be properly screened to avoid quackery.

He vowed however that he would flush out quacks from the profession and appealed to stakeholders to help in that regard.

“The NUJ would need the support of government, especially the lawmakers, in making a legislation to deal with the menace of quackery in the profession,” Odusile said.

The problem is the Nigerian The real cause of quackery in professional bodies in the country was revealed by the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Prof. Peter Nwilo who indicted the Nigerian society for contributing largely to the prevalence of quackery in most professions in the country.

Speaking in Abuja recently, Prof.

Nwilo said, “The habit of craving for and patronising cheap things encourages quackery because Nigerians just love to price professional services low.

“Those who accept to do professional jobs at cheap rates turn out to be nonprofessionals who pretend to offer professional services but cannot be held responsible since they are not registered by the appropriate authorities,’’ Nwilo said.

Sealing the cracks For all it is worth, Alhaji Bello Mahmud, the Registrar General of Corporation Affairs Commission, in a statement on the quackery situation in professional bodies said that the commission would collaborate with other regulatory and professional bodies to check the activities of quacks.

With its grievous effects on the society, the NMA says it will sponsor an anti-quackery bill that will give legal backing to the fight against it in the medical profession.

With so little coming too late in the ministry of health, Mr. Osahon Enabulele, President of the Nigerian Medical Association acknowledged the grievous effects of quacks in the body and promised he will come up with programmes that would enable it to declare war on quackery ‘soon’.

Observing that the effects of quackery on the society were enormous and often caused untold hardship to the citizenry, Enebule said “Part of the programme would be to sponsor an anti-quackery bill in the National Assembly to get legal backing for the fight against quackery.

Also waking up to the call, Registrar of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, Mr. Winston Ayeni, informed that the council has been making efforts with some agencies and state governments to check the high prevalence of

27 Features

Quackery has eaten deep into the legal profession — Fmr NBA President

NAFDAC officials destroying expired frozen chickens

quackery by moderating the fees charged by professionals.

Stakeholders and analysts alike are far from impressed at these needle-andthread moves to stitch holes that have become too wide and far too many.

“The direct and possible side effects of quackery, especially in sensitive regions like healthcare and medicine is deliberate deception with its consequence as extreme as death,” said a source that spoke in confidence.

“You wouldn’t know what dilemma you face when you have a health condition and a fake doctor administers

In Lagos alone, more than 140 building collapse cases have been reported over the past seven years; an average of 20 reported cases per year. The public should not assume that every person handling building tools at construction sites is an engineer – Engr Friday Chukwu

Fake doctor, Martins Okpeh

fake drugs on you. Allowing that loophole on the citizenry is the height of irresponsibility on the part any government,” the source lamented.

The direct side effects of quackery, especially in sensitive regions like healthcare and medicine is deliberate deception with its consequence as extreme as death. You wouldn’t know what dilemma you face when you have a health condition and a fake doctor administers fake drugs on you.

Allowing that loophole on the citizenry is the height of irresponsibility on the part any government – stakeholders When the current governor of

Kaduna state, El Rufai scribbled a note to his friend, Pst Tunde Bakare, stating that corruption in Nigeria has sunk so deep that it is beyond any human capacity to cure, the decay in high and sensitive places unfolding every single day is proving the governor’s assertion an understatement.

In Lagos alone, more than 140 building collapse cases have been reported over the past seven years; an average of 20 reported cases per year.

The public should not assume that every person handling building tools at construction sites is an engineer – Engr Friday Chukwu

Enyimba yet to seal Efugh deal

N Efugh

igerian champions, Enyimba, are yet to complete the signing of Chinedu Efugh from rivals, Heartland.

Efugh has become of the top players on the wishlist of the Peoples Elephant following the potential departure of Markson Ojobo from Aba. Ojobo has been linked with a move to Sunshine Stars.

However, the deal to bring Efugh to Aba is still pending as Enyimba are still locked in discussion with

their southeast rivals, Heartland.

A reliable source revealed that Efugh is keen to make the move across from Owerri to Aba-based on the lure of featuring in the CAF Champions League.

“Nothing is done yet on signing him. Talks are still on,” said an official of Enyimba.

Enyimba are currently preparing for the 2016 CAF Champions League and are camped in the southwest town of Otta in Nigeria.

Page 28

Akas promises Nigeria CHAN crown

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Pillars fire 10 players

Home-based

Eagles

T

stun PSL side 3-0 in test game T unde Adeniji scored twice as Super Eagles ‘B’ defeated University of Pretoria 3-0 in a test game on Tuesday morning as part of their preparations for the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda.

“It was a beautiful game and the third goal

by Adeniji was great as it was from a beautiful combination play,” reported an official, who watched the game.

Adeniji opened scoring from the penalty spot, before midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew fired a cracker of a goal from the top of the

box.

Sunshine Stars striker Adeniji then completed his brace with a beautifully worked team goal.

The Eagles will face fellow CHAN-bound Angola at the Tuks University Stadium in Pretoria on Wednesday in another warm-up game.

They will also tackle another CHAN-bound team Cote d’Ivoire on January 11, before they depart for Rwanda on January 15.

League hotshot,

Victor Namo (left) on the prowl for Nasarawa three seasons ago.

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: ANDREW EKEJIUBA

returns to Nasarawa Utd ne-time Nigeria league hotshot Victor Namo has returned to Nasarawa United after he ended his contract at Libyan club Al Ittihad.

Namo was top scorer in the league three seasons ago when he scored 17 goals.

He will subsequently sign a lucrative deal in oil-rich Libya.

His experience of playing international

Midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew scored the second goal for CHAN Eagles.

he management of Kano Pillars Football Club has fired 10 of its players ahead of the 2015/2016 Glo Premier League season.

Idris Malikawa, Media Officer of the club made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano.

Malikawa said the 10 players were sacked based on medical ground and poor performance.

“The management of the club felt the only way to make headway in the plan to have a good season in the NPFL is to weed out 10 aged and unproductive players.

“This is to make way for new boys that will strengthen the team,” Malikawa said.

The media officer disclosed that the club would recruit new players “to beef up the team in some critical areas.”

He said the team had already resumed training ahead of this year’s campaign, assuring that the transfer formalities would be completed on time.

Nigeria athletes eye national record, Olympic qualification

Namo O

g 29

football with both Al ittihad and Kano Pillars will come in handy when Nasarawa begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign in February.

The Lafia club face Generation Foot from Senegal in the preliminary round of the competition.

N

igerian athletes participating in the February 6, 2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon are not just looking at the prize money, but they are aiming at new national record and qualification for Rio 2016 Olympics Games.

One of them is Jos-born long distance runner, Emmanuel Gyang who has stated that he will gunning for another national record.

A star-cast of athlete across the world is expected to grace the maiden Lagos City Marathon and for Gyan; running alongside the big guns from Kenya, Ethiopia and other parts of the world should help him lower the 42km National record which currently stands at 2:16:06secs set by Mohammed Abass for almost three decades.

“I have already started my training and

by God’s grace I want to set a new record

in my first big outing in a full marathon,” Gyan declared from his base in Jos, Plateau state.

Gyan who on, December 7, 2013 set a new national record of 1:04:18secs in the 21km at the Nanning International race in China says Lagos has always been a good hunting ground for him and he hopes it will be same when he lines out to compete in the much-anticipated February 6 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

“I have always done well when I come to Lagos to run; actually I was the backto-back champion at the Lagos Beach Marathon (a 10km-race)” Gyan boasted.

Gyan who also emerged as the top Nigerian at the last edition of the annual 10-kilometre Okpekpe race also said it is heartwarming that Nigeria through Lagos State and Access Bank is finally situating itself properly on the world marathon map.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

EXTRATIME

Ebere battles

Siasia plans Euro

Skipper Chima Akas (right) in action for CHAN Eagles.

Cameroun stars for CAF Women’s Award

friendlies for U-23 Eagles

P

aris Saint-Germain defender Ngozi Ebere faces a tough battle against Cameroun’s Gabrielle Onguene and Gaelle Enganamouit as well as the Ghanaian Portia Boakye for the CAF Women’s Player of 2015 Award on Thursday.

The Nigeria defender’s main threat in this contest is Cameroun striker Gaelle Engananouit, who netted a hat-trick at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in a 6-0 thrashing of Ecuador.

The 23-year-old midfielder also finished as top scorer in the Swedish league in 2015 while playing for Eskilstuna United.

Falcons ace Ebere is a top quality defender who showed class at the 2015 World Cup after winning all the major local honours with Rivers Angels.

Ebere

s a k A promises

Nigeria CHAN crown

S

uper Eagles skipper to the 2016 CHAN, Chima Akas, has promised to lead Nigeria to a first-ever trophy in Rwanda.

This year’s CHAN, which is reserved for players who feature in their respective home leagues, begins on January 16 and Nigeria are drawn in Group C along with Tunisia, Niger and Guinea.

They open their campaign on January 18 against next-door neighbours Niger, who they defeated 2-0 late last year in a friendly in Port Harcourt.

Akas, who has been capped at full international level by Nigeria, has assumed the CHAN Eagles captaincy in the absence of Gbolahan Salami, who

29

has opted to stay out of the competition so as to finalise a move abroad.

“We want to go to Rwanda and win the cup. We have worked hard and hope our efforts are so crowned,” said Akas, who has recovered from a knee injury and a bout of malaria.

“We finished third at the 2014 CHAN and we now hope to win it. That is what Nigerians expect,” added midfielder Bartholomew Ibenegbu.

The Eagles will battle fellow CHANbound teams Angola and Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday and January 11 respectively in friendlies, before they fly out to Kigali, Rwanda, on January 15.

N

igeria U-23 coach Samson Siasia has said he plans Europe training camps and test matches as part of his team’s preparations for the Rio Olympics in August.

Nigeria will be in Rio as African U-23 champions after they last featured at the Olympics in 2008.

The former Super Eagles manager revealed that the African champions will commence preparations for the Rio Olympics in the first week of February.

Siasia, who also led the U-20 boys to the African title and runner-up position at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in The Netherlands in 2005, stated that he intends to utilize all the FIFA windows available to him and his assistants to see other players at close quarters.

“For now my plans are to utilize fully all the FIFA windows beginning with the one in March, with the hope of taking players selected to an accessible country in Europe where all the overseas -based players can come with ease, play one or two friendly games and then have them return to their respective clubsides,” he said.

Siasia said he plans to use the February camping in Abuja to see any new player who could add value to the team who won the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal last month.

“Since we qualified for the football event of the Rio Olympics, a lot of players both at home and abroad have been calling me that they want to play for the country, so myself and my assistants intend to use the first week of camping to see these players who will bear the cost of their trip to the camp and accommodate themselves,” he said.

“Any of them selected will now be added to the players who made us proud in Senegal for a full camping. Mind you, no player is yet guaranteed a shirt in the team, as I have always said only the best legs will make it to Rio de Janeiro.

“For now, time is not on our hands and as such, we need to start work in a bid to present a team that will make Nigerians proud in Brazil.”

30

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

EXTRATIME

Smalling

Smalling:

Transfer window spurs us on!

C

hris Smalling says Manchester United’s players will be ‘on their toes’ this month because of the potential for new arrivals to threaten their place in the team.

United are being linked with a whole host of players from around the world, though there have been no arrivals since the January transfer window opened on January 2.

Boss Louis van Gaal has been disrupted by a series of injuries to defenders, and Smalling says reports that United could bring in reinforcements this month has an effect.

“It does spur you on. When you come to Manchester United, in every transfer window - whether the team is doing well or badly - there are always players linked with the club because this club is always linked with the best players,” Smalling said.

“It keeps you on your toes and spurs you on. You can’t rest on six months of good performances because as soon as you have a blip, there is always another player to take your place.”

Smalling, 26, has been in hugely impressive form this season and he is hoping to continue his development in 2016.

“I have stayed relatively injury-free and have been able to play games, build up and keep learning. I take a lot of positives from that,” Smalling added.”

Chelsea relaxed under

H i d d i n k — C

Wilkins

helsea’s dressing room will be a much more relaxed environment under Guus Hiddink compared to predecessor Jose Mourinho, says Ray Wilkins.

Hiddink returned to Stamford Bridge for a second interim spell in charge following the sacking of Mourinho in December.

Wilkins, a former player, coach and assistant manager at the club, who worked as Hiddink’s assistant in 2009, believes the Dutchman’s more “jovial” approach would be

in contrast to Mourinho’s intensity.

“I never worked with Jose Mourinho, but having had the pleasure of working with Guus, if the atmosphere was intense under Jose it will be completely the opposite with Guus,” Wilkins told reporters.

“He will demand they train well and demand they play to a very high standard but the training will be of a very jovial fashion.

“I think you have seen him interviewed on numerous occasions and he’s made it quite

RoonWey

Pellegrini S provides

Aguero fitness boost

clear he wants them to work extremely hard and if they don’t have the application then go and have a conversation with him and it will be a short conversation. Straight away, he wants them to work hard but it will be fun all the way with Guus.”

Hiddink has been appointed until the end of the season, as he was in 2009 following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, and Wilkins believes Chelsea’s Champions League progress could play a big part in whether the 69-year-old decides to stay at Stamford Bridge beyond the current campaign.

voted England’s best

ayne Rooney has been named England Player of the Year for the second year running.

Rooney may have struggled in front of goal for Manchester United this season, but the 30-year-old enjoyed a recordbreaking campaign on the international scene.

The United striker scored five times in eight England appearances to overtake Sir Bobby Charlton as the country’s all-time top scorer with 50 goals.

He also captained Roy Hodgson’s men to European Championship qualification with a 100 per cent record - just the sixth side to ever do so.

Rooney

ergio Aguero is fit enough to play a third match in eight days when Manchester City visit Everton in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final today, according to Manuel Pellegrini.

Argentine striker Aguero is yet to complete 90 minutes since returning from a heel injury that had kept him out for three weeks and he has struggled for form during the festive run of fixtures.

However, with a calf problem likely to see Wilfried Bony join Vincent Kompany and Samir Nasri on the sidelines for the Aguero

Hiddink

Rooney received 37 per cent of the votes from the England Supporters Club members to claim the award for the fourth time in his career.

Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland was named their U-21 Player of the Year with 54 per cent of the votes after his performances in captaining the side in the Euro Championship finals in the Czech Republic last June.

Butland stepped into the senior squad towards the end of the year and will be presented with the award alongside Rooney when England continue their build-up to the summer showpiece in March.

trip to Goodison Park, the manager believes Aguero who scored an 84th-minute winner against Watford on Saturday - is in good enough shape to feature from the start again.

“Bony has a kick in his calf so maybe he’s not fit for today. In a few days more he should be fine to come back,” Pellegrini said.

“Sergio played three games in a week which was no problem for this moment. The last injury was not a muscle injury, just a pain in his heel.

“He’s fit and the best way for him to recover his best performance is to play games.”

Everton have conceded 29 goals in the Premier League so far this season but Pellegrini is not expecting that record to offer his team a simple passage to the final at Wembley Stadium next month.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

EXTRATIME

Zidane promises ´beautiful football´ at Real

Zidane

R

eal Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has promised the club’s fans “beautiful football” after being appointed on a two-anda-half year deal at the Santiago

BRIEFS Neymar chants were not racist, says Collet

E

spanyol president Joan Collet has reiterated the chants directed at Neymar in Saturday’s clash against Barcelona were in no way racist. Barca captain Andres Iniesta said after the game Neymar was the subject of racist taunts during the clash with their local rivals at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat, which ended scoreless. Collet rubbished the claims afterwards, and has reassured everyone that even Cristiano Ronaldo cops the same treatment.

Bale ‘unhappy’ at Benitez sacking

G

areth Bale is among a group of Real Madrid players who are upset that Rafael Benitez has been sacked. Benitez was fired on Monday evening, with Zinedine Zidane immediately installed as his replacement on a two-anda-half year contract. Bale is said to be ‘devastated’ and is seeking reassurances about where he figures in Zidane’s plans for the team.

Boateng returns to AC Milan

A

C Milan have re-signed midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on a six-month contract, the club have confirmed. The former Tottenham and Portsmouth player left the San Siro to join Schalke in August 2013 but was suspended indefinitely by the Bundesliga club last May for a “lack of mutual trust”. Following his release by Schalke in December he has opted to rejoin the Rossoneri, with the sixth-placed Serie A side on Tuesday morning announcing his return on a deal running until the end of the season.

Bernabeu.

Club great Zidane was promoted from coaching the Castilla side to replace Rafael Benitez on Monday after the Spaniard was dismissed following a mixed seven months

in charge in the capital.

The World Cup-winning former midfielder took training for the first time on Tuesday and, at his first news conference, promised

J

uan Cuadrado is confident Juventus have what it takes to spring a surprise against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Bundesliga champions are regarded as one of the favourites to win the competition, but Cuadrado has stressed Juventus, beaten finalists at the hands of Barcelona last season, will do everything within their power to eliminate Pep Guardiola’s men when they meet in the round of 16 next month.

“Playing Bayern is certainly a challenge, but any team can be beaten,” Cuadrado said.

“We have to approach the matches with great intelligence and planning, as if the event were a World Cup final.

“We’ve plenty of time to prepare for

to stick to Madrid’s traditional attacking brand of football.

“Good football is always very important at Madrid - to play beautiful football - and I will continue with that line,” he told reporters.

“It has to be offensive, balanced and nothing else. We’re going to work hard to be the best we can - that is the message.

“I have seen a focused team who are happy and switched on.

We’re all happy.

“I want to play, as we can, from the back and to play in opposition half and have possession of the ball. That is my idea of football.

“I want to communicate this as a coach and make sure that the players enjoy themselves on the pitch, as they did for sure with Rafa Benitez.

“I want to take this opportunity I have at the best club in the world. I just want to win trophies with this team.”

it all and we hope that we’ll be completely on top of our game when the time arrives to face them.”

Juventus came close to winning the treble last campaign, only for Barca to prove too strong in the Champions League decider, winning 3-1 in Berlin, and Cuadrado is desperate for more silverware in 2015-16, even if he realises it will not be easy for Massimiliano Allegri’s men to repeat last term’s successes.

Cuadrado

o d a r d Cuaayern upset plots B

K

arim Benzema’s request for a face-to-face meeting with France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena has been denied by the judge investigating their blackmail case.

Real Madrid striker Benzema is facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion scam over a sex tape involving Valbuena.

Benze§ma denies a Valbuen meeting

Benzema

31

Vidal, Arda set for Barca debuts

L

uis Enrique has confirmed Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan will make their Barcelona debuts in today’s Copa del Rey match against Espanyol.

Arda joined Barca from Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, while Vidal made his way to Camp Nou from Sevilla, but the Catalans’ transfer ban has prevented either from playing so far this season.

The duo were registered on Monday, though, and are now raring to go after spending the first half of the season on the sidelines.

“Arda and Vidal will both be involved today,” Luis Enrique said at a news conference. “I do not know yet how many minutes they will play, but they are both in great shape and excited to make their debut.

“They are both very versatile players who could play in a number of positions. Aleix can play as a wing-back, a winger and even in midfield. They are both more than capable of doing well. They have remarkable individual quality and can give us a lot defensively as well.”

The Barcelona coach also had his say on Neymar’s performances this season and hailed the progress the Brazil captain has made since his arrival at Camp Nou in 2013. “ N e y m a r ’ s development has been amazing,” Luis Enrique added.

“He was still very young when he arrived at Barcelona, but he has made a lot of progress and has developed incredibly fast.”

Benzema’s lawyers hoped a meeting between the two players might ease tensions but Judge Nathalie Boutard ruled that the forward has no right to meet the Lyon midfielder.

The case is not expected to be dealt with until at least March and Benzema has been deemed “unselectable” by the French Football Federation until it is resolved, after French Prime Minister Manuel Valls joined calls for him to be banned from the national team.

Federation president Noel Le Graet said the period in which

he will not be chosen would include the 2016 European Championships to be held in France, starting June 10, unless the case was settled before the tournament.

Le Great said: “I have decided that Benzema is not available for selection.

“I have decided, it’s a decision from the president of the French federation and not from the executive committee or the ethics committee that Karim Benzema cannot play for France until the situation evolves.”

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WEdnESdaY, JanuaRY 6, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.17

Price: n150

Zidane

Rooney

promises ´beautiful g 31 football´ at Real

g

voted England’s 30 best

More n i s e l b u tro

!

A F I F

Ethics Committee wants nine-year Valcke ban

T

he investigatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee has called for suspended general secretary Jerome Valcke to be banned for nine years over allegations of corruption.

Valcke has been linked to a scheme that intended to sell tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at above their face value prior to the contract being cancelled before any were sold.

Valcke – the right-hand man to

suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter since 2007 – denies the allegations made by former Israeli footballer and tickets and hospitality consultant Benny Alon.

The investigatory chamber initially handed Valcke a 90-day ban, which is due to expire on Tuesday, but committee chairman Cornel Borbely called on that suspension to be extended by 45 days.

Borbely also recommended a

Valcke

nine-year ban and a fine when the investigation concludes.

“In his final report, the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee recommended imposing a sanction of a nine-year ban and a fine of CHF 100,000 on Mr Valcke,” read a FIFA statement.

“Until a formal decision is taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, Mr Valcke is presumed innocent.”

SERIE A FIXTURES Today’s Matches Udinese v Atalanta 12:30 AC Milan v Bologna 15:00 ChievoVerona v Ro ma 15:00 Juventus v Hellas Verona 15:00 Lazio v Carpi 15:00 Palermo v Fiorentina 15:00 Sassuolo v Frosinone 15:00 Empoli v Inter 18:00 SSC Napoli v Torino 20:45 COPA DE REY FIXTU RES (SPAIN) Today’s Matches Athletic Bilbao v Vil larreal 12:00 Mirandes v Dep/La Coruna 16 :00 Valencia v Granada 16:00 Real Betis v Sevilla 18:15 Barcelona v Espanyol 20:30 Rayo Vallecano v At letico Madrid 22:05 Thursday, January 7, 2016 Cadiz v Celta Vigo 20:30 Eibar v Las Palmas 20:30

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

CBN to ease pressure at Forex market, sells $10,000 each to BDCs today Page B3

Refineries produce 7m litres of petrol daily – NNPC Page B2

Bridging metering gap will create more employment — Fashola

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Joy Ekeke

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), signing the Employment Trust Fund (ETF) Bill and Lagos State University (LASU) Bill into laws, while Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left); Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun (2nd right) and Special Adviser on Civic Engagement to the Governor, Mr. Kehinde Joseph (right), looks on at the Conference room, Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos… on Tuesday.

Zero tariff, ban on 41 items:

Massive job cuts likely in pharmaceuticals, food sector Charles Okonji and Joy Ekeke Massive job cuts is looming in the pharmaceutical and food processing industries of the economy following the introduction of zero tariff on imported drugs into the country as well as the ban of 41 items from having official access to foreign exchange by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

About one million jobs and N400 billion investments may be affected in the pharmaceutical industry while about 1,000 em-

Kaigama

NSE stock index falls by 0.95% Page B4

Only PPPRA can formulate new petrol pricing template, says NLC

Opeoluwani Akintayo Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has said the Federal Government’s policy on bridging metering gap as quickly as possible would have maximum impact on local manufacturing which would in turn boost employment potentials in the country.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

ployees are likely to be laid off in the food processing industry because of the ban on 41 items.

In an interview a pharmaceutical expert expressed fears that the country was about to experience another labour crisis as about one million employees were at risk of losing their jobs while over N400 billion investments were on the verge of collapse.

Okey Akpa, MD, SKG Pharmaceuticals and the Chairman, Pharmaceutical Group of MAN (PMGMAN) stated this yesterday

TUC warns FG against IMF

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has flayed the Minister of state for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu for bypassing the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in the fixing of a new pump price for petrol.

According to a statement by the Union, the statutory responsibility of formulating new petrol pricing template for the country lies with the PPPRA and not with the Ministry.

A statement issued by the NLC Secretary General, Comrade Peter Ozo-Esoti in Abuja stressed that the union would resist such move by the government to fix the new pricing and removal of subsidy.

Ozo-Eson said it is ironic that those who vehemently opposed the previous administration’s attempt of subsidy removal by their tacit overt and covert support and encouragement of the massive protests against subsidy removal in 2012 are now preaching the inevitability of such subsidy removal.

The statement said “the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, first announced that come next year, the price of

in a chart with our reporter.

He explained that the zero tariff placed on finished imported drugs and five to 10 percent import tariff on raw materials and packaging for the pharmaceutical industry in the recent ECOWAS Common External Tariff policy (CET), which took effect from last April has remained a threat to the national growth of the indigenous manufacturers.

He noted that since the association registered its protest and position on the issue to the Federal Government, PMGMAN has not

felt any sign of relief as the FG has not reverted its decision.

He stated that “The CET policy and National Drug Distribution (NDDG) threatened to annihilate the industry leading to dependence on the imported medicines and reversal of gains made in the fight against fake drugs.”

He noted that the policy would challenge the already troubled local pharmaceutical industry, stressing that imported medicines would become far cheaper CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Joy Ekeke

of the Fund, Ms Christine Lagarde, for a four-day working visit during which she is scheduled to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss some of the challenges facing the nation’s economy.

“This warning is informed by our bitter past experience with the financial body. Our country is already in dire state and cannot cope with the IMF’s characteristic shylock conditionalities attached to its credit facilities, and must not accept same if that is what the visit is about.

“For the umpteenth time, we

wonder aloud: Can’t we solve our challenges as a nation without foreign intervention? Must the Brettonwood institutions be the ones to always determine and tell us when our economy is doing well and when to devalue the naira? Why must they suggest to us how our economy can be fixed, whereas their recipe has consistently tended to end up impoverishing more Nigerians than ever before? Why has it become so difficult to produce good and quality rice and other local products for domestic and

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has advised the Federal Government to beware of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Congress stated this in a statement jointly signed by its president, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and secretary general, Comrade (Barr.) Musa Lawal in Lagos yesterday.

According to the statement, we say this in view of media reports of Monday’s arrival at Abuja of Managing Director

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Massive job cuts likely in pharmaceuticals, food sector

TUC warns FG against IMF CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

export needs? Since when did it become rocket science for our once functional refineries to produce at more than 30 percent of installed capacity and make petroleum products available?

Etc..

“Instances abound of countries that were hitherto nowhere in terms of development in the 1970s/80s but have successfully transformed into giants and premium net exporters of goods and services. Instead

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

than the locally produced ones.

According to him, CET situation will further complicate manufacturer mayhem, warning that it will lead to loss of one million jobs and over N400 billion in previous and current investments in the sector.

He also stated that four out of 150 pharmaceutical manufacturers have complied with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) good manufacturing practices.

In a related development, indications have emerged that about 1,000 people may lose their jobs as a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) foreign exchange restriction policy, affecting the imports of 41 items including triple the cost of concentrate tomato paste, labour has said.

Officials of labour unions in some of the local tomato processing companies have called on the presidency to prevail on CBN to review the forex policy, as the inability of the firms to import tomato concentrate which is the main raw materials used in their production process had drastically affected them.

According to the President of National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), Lateef Oyelekan, the companies involved should be given the latitude to plan for backward integration as one of the downside of the policy is that it could lead to massive job losses, as an estimated 1,000 jobs are likely to be lost in the tomato process manufacturing sector.

“The jobs of the workers are at stake unless the ban is reversed, and that the opportunity for backward integration would be lost by the affected companies.” According to Oyelekan, the quantity of the produce being cultivated presently in the country is not enough for local consumption and the quality is not good enough to be processed into paste. He pointed out that it would take years for the planting, harvesting and processing of the produce into concentrate, adding that most of the companies had run out of stock.

Oyelekan explained that the volatility factor inherent in tomato farming is often a product of seasonal variations, which is itself a function of the variables of weather, agronomy, water, seed, fertilizer, market, storage, transportation, and numerous other agro-allied business dynamics.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Refinery

Refineries produce 7m litres of petrol daily – NNPC Augustine Okezie Abuja and Opeoluwani Akintayo

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has announced that the nation’s three refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri have attained a combined daily production of over 6.76 million litres of petrol per day which is projected to increase to over 10 million litres per day by the end of January 2016.

A press statement by the NNPC which was signed by its Group General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Ohi Alegbe and made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, gave a breakdown of the premium motor spirit (PMS) from the plants indicating that while Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed a week earlier is producing some 4.09 million li-

Bridging metering gap will create more employment — Fashola

tres, the Kaduna Refinery is contributing some 1.29 million litres and Warri which was re-streamed recently is posting a yield of some 1.38 million litres.

The Corporation also confirmed that the PMS volumes from the refineries which are currently operating at an appreciable percentage of their nameplate capacities will help stabilize the fuel supply and distribution situation in the country. ’’It is hoped that Nigerians who had been reeling from the pains of fuel scarcity in recent months that crippled socio-economic activities and were just heaving sighs of relieve with the normalization of supplies and the new year reduction in pump price, will certainly be gladdened by this development’’, the press statement further added.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

He stated this on Monday during a meeting with local manufacturers of electricity meters. The meeting was focused on the need to rapidly roll-out meters in order to ensure distribution companies, charge electricity consumers only for energy they consume.

According to the report submitted to the meeting, there are

petrol would revert to N97 per litre and that subsidy would be phased out. Two days after, he denied this and stated that what he said was that the price would operate within a band of N87 to N97 and that this did not mean removing subsidy. The same minister now says that the price of petrol will now be N85 in January 2016 signifying the deregulation of the sector.”

The NLC statement further explained that “those vacillations and flips-slops are, in NLC view, designed to confuse Nigerians and pave the way for deregulation of petrol prices through the back door.”

The labour movement said Kachikwu had bypassed the PPPRA in its statutory responsibility, stressing that “by law, the board of PPPRA is made up of stakeholders. None of the contradictory prices the minister is throwing up is a product of the agency”.

NLC emphasised that any price unilaterally determined and announced by the minister is in violation of the law setting up the PPPRA as the agency has the statutory responsibility to examine and agree on a new pricing template based on the realities in the country today.

The labour union leadership urged the government to promote domestic refining before any contemplation of subsidy removal. Stressing that as far as the nation continues to depend on purported refined products, deregulation and the abandonment of a subsidy scheme will estimated more than three million unmetered customers nationwide.

Fashola joined by the Minister of State, Hon, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, challenged the local meter manufacturers to think outside of the box through innovations so as to reap bountifully in the fledging electricity industry.

The forum deliberated on issues of concern to government

of exploring its other natural resources, our country has stayed glued to its blasé identity as a monocultural oil-based economy. Conversely India, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Indonesia, etc. are all doing well today because they looked inward to all their potentials.

Meanwhile the biggest buyer of our oil, the United States, has become a large exporter of the same product, clogging the market and causing our economy to gasp for air.

Only PPPRA can formulate new petrol pricing template, says NLC unleash hardship on Nigerians.

The NLC statement restated its adopted opposition at the union’s central working committee emergency meeting of December 22, 2015 to the effect that any attempt by the government to increase the price of or remove subsidy on petrol would be resisted.

The union further reiterated that affiliate unions and state councils and other stakeholders have been directed to commence the process of mobilization prior to a meeting of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) to be convened by January 2016.

Kachikwu

and the local manufacturers, to include the need for distribution companies to more aggressively patronize locally manufactured meters.

On their concerns, the representative of the Group, Engr. Kola Balogun said that access to and cost of credit was a major impediment to the growth of their production capacity in meeting present and future demand for meters.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Stories by Motolani Oseni Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it would sell $10,000 each to the 2,699 licensed BDCs at the first dollar sales of the year today, even as the value of the naira strengthened on Tuesday to N262 from the N265 it sold the previous day.

CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu stated this in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, contrary to reports that the apex bank have stopped sales of foreign exchange to BDCs. As a result of this development, the greenback which sold at N265 on Monday gained N3.00 yesterday to close at N262 as demand for forex dropped.

The apex bank last week published a list of 2,699 BDCs whose licenses had been confirmed following the introduction of new requirements by the apex bank in a bid to correct observed deficiencies in the operation of BDCs in the country.

CBN had reviewed the mandatory cautionary deposit for BDCs to N35 million while the application fee was raised to N100,000, licensing fee to N1 million, and the annual renewal

Forex scarcity: Heritage Bank boss urges Nigerians to patronise local products NIBOR as @ Jan. 5, 2016 FAQs Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

O/N

0.875

-0.13 ?

1M

8.3335

-0.62 ?

3M

10.237

-0.44 ?

6M

11.9738

-0.79

B3 Money Market

CBN to ease pressure at FX market, sells $10,000 each to BDCs today

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule ( middle)with some members of the State Executive Council and Stakeholders in the energy sector , comprising of representatives of distribution companies (DiSCOS), Transmission Companies , Generating Companies, (GENCOS) and Gas Companies at a meeting on improving the power supply to the state at the Round House , Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos...on Tuesday.

fee for the forex dealers was also increased to N250,000.

The CBN recently published revised guidelines for the op-

erations of BDCs which ordered BDCs to close all branches within 90 days, saying branch operations is no longer allowed in the

sub-sector.

Meanwhile the acting President of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of

Nigeria (ABCON) told our correspondent in Lagos yesterday that its members have begun to pay up the N250,000 renewal fee.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Ifie Sekibo has advised Nigerians to always patronise locally made products and services so as to stimulate growth in the economy and preserve foreign exchange (FX).

Sekibo, said this during the presentation of the Gold Sponsorship award for 2015 to Heritage Bank by the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) at the bank’s head office in Lagos recently.

He stressed the need for FICAN members to drive the conversation for Nigerians to change their lifestyles.

According to him, we can’t grow an economy where all we want to spend on are dollar-denominated and foreign goods.

Left for Nigerians, they want to be doing all their spending on

dollars, forgetting that dollar is not our local currency. Everything they do with dollar gives employment to somebody in another country and not in Nigeria.

So, we must continue to have that conversation and it must be robust.

He added: “It is important as a people to begin to educate our fellow Nigerians on these things and it is the financial correspondents that must drive this, because this is a very serious issue and if we don’t, we would all regret it. You have members in print, electronic and online, if with 100 people on your platform alone, you can drive this change.”

Commenting on the award by FICAN, he said: “We are still very young in our development as an organisation. We didn’t step out to support FICAN with the inten-

tion of getting this award. People send all kinds of letters to us saying we have been awarded this and that but we have been turning them down.

“We deliberately turned down all kinds of awards, but this one from FICAN is very special and I can’t say no to it. We didn’t ask for it and it came to us as a surprise, which is why we value it so much.

“So, we will continue on that to ensure that we improve on the ability of journalists to report the industry. This award will spur us to do more. This is an encouragement for us to engage more with you, especially when we begin to discuss financial inclusion and expanding the space of excluded people,” Sekibo said.

He, however, explained that the ball is shifting from the days when only the formal sector Gross Liquid Blocked should un28,978,207,412 28,274,280,057 703,927,355 derstand

finance. Everybody should begin to understand finance.

They should understand how they spend their money, why we need to save and we need to teach our children why they need to save from now.

External Reserves

CBN Exchange Rates Date

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central(NGN)

Selling(NGN)

Date

1/5/16

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

1/4/16

POUNDS STERLING

289.59

290.3288

291.0675

2.43%

EURO

213.8164

214.3619

214.9073

12/31/15

SWISS FRANC

196.1569

196.6573

197.1577

2.43%

YEN

1.6484

1.6526

1.6569

12/30/15

CFA

0.3056

0.3156

0.3256

2.43%

WAUA

270.7026

271.3931

272.0837

12/29/15

YUAN/RENMINBI

29.9823

30.0592

30.1361

2.43%

RIYAL

52.2318

52.3651

52.4983

12/23/15

DANISH KRONA

28.6499

28.723

28.7961

2.41%

SDR

271.9696

272.6634

273.3572

12/22/15

29,069,779,152

28,364,062,911

705,716,241

29,101,401,156

28,395,277,402

706,123,754

29,131,697,234 29,309,588,933 29,341,608,255

28,425,240,980 28,601,798,906 28,633,526,445

706,456,254 707,790,027 708,081,810

Sekibo

Inter-Bank Rates 1/4/16

OBB Rate

0.5000 - 0.5000%

12/31/15

Call Rate

0.5000 - 0.5000%

12/30/15

Call Rate

1.0000 - 1.0000%

OBB Rate

0.5000 - 0.5000%

12/22/15

OBB Rate

0.5000 - 0.7500%

12/21/15

Call Rate

1.0000 - 1.0000%

OBB Rate

1.0000 - 1.0000%

12/18/15

OBB Rate

0.7500 - 0.7500%

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Stock Market Report

NSE stock index falls by 0.95% The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSE ASI) and market capitalization decreased by 0.95%, while the Year-to-Date return stood at -1.89%.

The All Share Index closed at 28,102.14 against the previous close of 28,370.32 while market capitalization closed at N9.665 trillion against previous close of N9.757 trillion.

The volume of shares traded increased by 98.02 percent from 98.966 million to 195.969 million while the total value of stock traded increased by 170.11 percent from N0.701 billion to N1.892 billion in 2,975 deals.

The financial services sector led the activity chart with 172.762 million shares exchanged for N1.214 billion. Conglomerates came next with 12.511 million shares traded for N0.035 billion, Consumer Goods, Oil And Gas, Services sectors followed in that order on the activity chart.

Custodian Insurance, Guaranty, UBA, Access and Zenith Bank were the most active stocks by volume. ETI, Fidelity bank, Livestock, African Prudential Insurance and CCNN emerged the highest price gainers on the chart, while Stanbic, Unity Bank, Mobil, NB and PZ topped the losers chart.

Summary of activities on NSE on January 5, 2015 ASI

28,102.14

DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

2,975.00 195,969,167.00 1,892,189,685.84 9,664,850,357,205.98

Flour Mills appoints new company secretary

Board of Directors of Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC (FMN) has announced the retirement of Alhaji Olalekan Saliu, as Company Secretary with effect from December 31, 2015 but he will remain on the board as a non-executive director.

The company has also announced its Board of Directors approval of the appointment of Mr. Joseph Odion Umolu as new Company Secretary with effect from January 1, 2016 who was the company Head of Legal Services until the recent appointment.

Mr. Umolu holds an Upper Second Class Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy of the University of Ibadan and an Upper Second Class Honours Degree in Law of the University of Lagos. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in October, 2000 and subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Lagos.

Mr. Umolu’s career in corporate legal practice cuts across both the private and public sectors. He served as a counsel in Gocuz Chambers where he was the Managing Counsel before joining the Nigerian Civil Avia-

tion Authority as Senior Legal Officer in 2003. Joseph proceeded to the Legal Department of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc where he rose to the position of a Manager.

He began his career with Flour Mills as a manager, Legal Services in January 2012 and was elevated to head the Group’s Legal Department. In addition, he also assisted the company secretary and served as the Group’s Compliance Officer. Whilst noting the Board’s recognition of Alhaji Olalekan Saliu’s meritorious service and outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, FMN’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Paul Gbededo stated that, “The Board wishes to express appreciation to the outgoing Company Secretary.”

He further said “We welcome Joseph Umolu, a professional with sound knowledge and wide experience as our new Company Secretary. We believe he brings in great potentials to support the growth of our company, enhance corporate governance practices as well as the effectiveness of our company’s secretarial functions.”

L-R: Mr. Babajide Komolafe,President Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria[FICAN]/Deputy Business Editor Vanguard Newspaper;Mrs Mary Akpobome,Executive Director,Heritage Bank Limited and Mr. Ifie Sekibo,Managing Director/CEO Heritage Bank Limited at the official presentation of Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria[FICAN] Gold Award to Management of Heritage Bank at the held office of the bank in Lagos... recently.

NSE appoints new chairman for Investors Protection Fund Stories by Friday Atufe Board of Trustees of the Investors’ Protection Fund of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (“The Exchange”) has appointed Mr. Lawrence Anga as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees following the demise of its previous Chairman, Mr. Gamaliel Onosode.

The NSE said in a statement yesterday that the board would continue to remember Mr. Onosode for his exceptional leadership, invaluable contribution, wealth of knowledge and excellent service to the Investors’ Protection Fund (IPF).

Mr. Anga, a partner at AELEX, a leading commercial and litigation law firm, joined the IPF Board of Trustees in September 2012. He has a strong multi-disciplinary background in law, economics, management and fiscal policy and is qualified to practice law in Nigeria, England and Wales and in Ghana.

Mr. Anga was a contributor to the chapter on Nigeria for the Harvard Securities Project and Chairman of the CBN SMIES policy guidelines review committee. He is a past Chairman of the Capital Market Solicitors Association and a member of various ad-hoc committees established by the Ministry of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Com-

mission. He was a past member of the Presidential Policy Advisory Committee where he was a member of the sub-committee on finance and investment. He appears as counsel before all superior courts of record in Nigeria and Ghana and has acted as a party appointed Arbitrator on several arbitration panels. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Commenting on the appointment of Mr. Anga, Chief Executive Officer of The Nigerian Stock Exchange said “I very much look forward to continuing the excellent working relationship between the new Chairperson and other Trustees of the IPF Board with the Exchange in our collective quest to promote strong corporate governance in our market whilst stepping up to compensate investors in our market when the need arises.

“I am strongly convinced that having been part of the development of the IPF and its compensation framework, the Chairperson will be able to provide quality leadership and steer towards the realisation of the fund’s objectives to the delight of investors who continue to repose confidence in the capital market despite the challenging times.”

Accepting the appointment, Mr. Anga said, “I am honoured to have been asked to take this role,

and excited about the possibilities that lie in future for the capital markets in Nigeria. Having crossed the hurdle of paying first set of claimants under the fund, we now have learning to rely on in the speedy but thorough examination of claims to compensate investors for pecuniary losses suffered by them as a result of wrong doing by certain dealing member firms of The Exchange. The Board will continue to do its best to move the fund forward.

The IPF is a statutory fund established by The Nigerian Stock Exchange pursuant to Section 197 of the Investment and Securities Act to compensate investors who suffer pecuniary loss arising from: The revocation or cancellation of the registration of a dealing member firm by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); The insolvency, bankruptcy or negligence of a dealing member firm of The Exchange; Defalcation committed by a dealing member firm or any of its directors, officers, employees or representatives in relation to securities, money or any property entrusted to, or received or deemed received by the dealing member firm in the course of its business as a dealing member firm.

The IPF recently paid out about N24 million for settlement of 103 claims.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

B5 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 05-01-2016

Maritime B6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

CTN has come to stay — NPCC Stories by Babajide Okeowo Nigerian Port Consultative Council (NPCC) has said that despite the agitation against the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN), the policy has come to stay while urging port operators to comply as it is aimed at ensuring the safety of cargoes and make Nigerian Ports more attractive to shippers.

According to the chairman of the council, Chief Kunle Folarin, CTN is a must; if anybody is gaining from it un-

ethically, we shall expose that person, we shall expose that organization,” he said Speaking further, Folarin urged government agencies to prevent dangerous cargoes from entering the county by ensuring that every cargo that comes into the country is properly vetted in line with their legitimate duties. ``Can you go to Britain and they will say they do not know what is coming into their country or can you do it in United Arab Emirates, he asked He posited that the CTN

would curb and ensure that dangerous cargoes did not come into Nigeria. ``I am supporting NPA because they are the owner of the ports; they must know what is coming into their ports, I am also supporting Shippers’ Council because they are protector of the cargoes; I am supporting NIMASA because they are the body controlling the labour and the environment of the port; they must know what cargo is coming” ``The Customs must also know what cargo is to be exam-

Shake up in Customs, 69 Comptrollers redeployed Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali has approved the redeployment of 69 Comptrollers serving at various commands, headquarters Abuja and zones of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Some of the affected Comptrollers includes Comptroller Jubrin Zakari formerly in charge of Tin can Island Port to the Excise unit at the Customs headquarters while Comptroller Willy Egbudin moves from Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection unit at the Customs headquarters to Apapa Area Command while Victor Dimka who was in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C moves to the Enforcement, Investigation & Inspection unit.

Comptroller Bashir Yusuf moves from ICT unit to head Tin Can Island Port Command while Usman Kankara Bello moves from Post Clearance Audit at the Customs headquarters to take over the Import & Export unit from Jubrin M who has been redeployed to FOU Zone A, Lagos.

Similarly, Comptroller Isah Talatu moves from PTML Command to Customs Staff College, Gwagwalada while Olubiyi R.O formerly in charge of Lilypond command takes over as Controller of PTML Command.

Comptroller Madugu Sanni moves from Customs Training College, Ikeja to Sokoto/Kebbi/ Zamfara Command; Allanah F.A

moves from Tariff and Trade, Customs headquarters to Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command; Haruna Mamudu moves from Ogun State Command to FOU Zone C, Owerri while Maikarfi Y.I moves from World Customs Organisation unit at Customs Headquarters to Seme Area Command.

Others are Tajudeen Olanrewaju who has been redeployed as Controller of Port Harcourt Area 1 Command from Customs headquarters; Dalhatu M.A moves from Human Resource Department to Lilypond Command and Multafa W.J from FOU Zone D, Bauchi to head the Ogun State Command.

ined; if they want to examine.

Supposing it is explosive, they won’t just walk in there.”

It will be recalled that Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) was introduced by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the ports economic regulator in November 2015.

It is a bold attempt to end decades of trade malpractices in which the Federal Government lost billions of naira annually.

CTN has the backing of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) under the International Ship and Port Facility

Security (ISPS) Code of 2004.

It also has the backing of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and has been introduced in some West and Central African countries.

It came up following the September. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. The CTN was introduced in Nigeria in 2009 but later suspended because of some high charges imposed on shippers but has now been re-introduced by the Shippers’ Council of Nigeria.

Growth in container shipping demand is at its lowest level since 2009 with volumes at the world’s top 30 container ports shrinking by 0.8 percent in the third quarter according to Alphaliner, a worldwide reference in liner shipping.

Year-on-year growth at the top 30 ports has slowed significantly as the year has progressed with the first quarter seeing 5.1 percent growth in volumes, the second quarter 0.6 percent and slipping in negative territory in the third quarter with a 0.8 percent drop. It is the first time container volumes have fallen since 2009.

Full year was forecast for the top 30 ports was forecast to be just 0.8 percent as the market weakened in the second half of

Global container volume suffers decline in third quarter the year.

“The absence of any peak season demand surge in 2015 has had significant repercussions in the market, as carriers struggled to fill ships amidst a record number of vessel deliveries,” Alphaliner said.

During 2015 some 212 new container ships have been delivered with a combined capacity of 1.71million TEU, The twentyfoot equivalent unit.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

B7 ICT

Gionee S plus launched in Nigeria Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Gionee, a Chinese largest mobile manufacturer has introduced a new phone into the Nigerian market.

The new phone, Gionee S plus aligns with the aspirations of consumers to own a phone that provides tailor made solutions.

The new brand is a very sleek and unique brand in a class of its own. It comes after the Gionee EliteS5.1 which is a slim smartphone.

Mr. Frank Chenlei, director of Africa region for Gionee said that the brand is a major output of a research and consistent consumer engagement and is poised to not only meet but also surpass consumer expectations.

The designs, he said are unique and they would resonate with the Nigerian audience who love innovative and unique mobile de-

Microsoft’s Windows 10 running on 200m devices

Nadella, Microsoft CEO

Microsoft Corporation said its latest operating system, Windows 10, is running on 200 million devices in what the company described as the fastest adoption rate of any of its oper-

vices.

The arrival of the Gionee S Plus is a product of ingenious progressive brand d eve l o p m e n t t h a t started 5 ye a r s a g o a n d by 2014, Gionee was the slimmest smar tphone in the world with the Gionee Elife S5.1 whose body is only 5.1mm thick.

“Gionee S plus is aimed at simplifying communication for consumers who are con-

ating systems.

Windows 10, which the company released as a free download in July, powers both personal computers and devices like phones. It replaced Windows 8, the heavily criticized system dating from 2012.

Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said just over two months ago that 110 million devices were running Windows 10, meaning the system is now on almost double the number of phones and PCs compared to before the holiday season.

“I will characterize this as white hot adoption out of the gate,” Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets, who has an “outperform” rating on the stock said.

The company said much of the growth comes from retail consumers, with devices such as Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console helping drive adoption of Windows 10, adding that Xbox’s busiest day ever was Dec. 28.

But the ultimate success of Windows 10, the company said will be judged by the take-up rate among businesses, adding that about three-quarters of Microsoft’s enterprise customers are testing Windows 10.

Microsoft also needs more mobile developers to build apps for Windows 10 to help catch up with players like Apple and its popular iPhone and iPad devices.

It reported some progress in that area recently, citing more visits to its Windows Store for apps such as video service Netflix and music service Pandora.

tinuously on the go. Gionee S Plus is elitist in design and a classical fashion statement for mobile users. It is indeed a true work of art as it performs functions beyond the Android phone.

“Its aesthetic design makes it a distinct phone in its class.

The phone also aligns with the lifestyle of phone users as it is sleek and de-

fines the social status of the user through its innovative designs and mobile functions,” Chenlei said.

Gionee Plus comes equipped with a new feature that is safer and more convenient then pattern and digit password.

A major feature of the sleek device is the Face Recognition that identifies the users face and can also be used to unlock the phone.

Gionee S Plus is powered by an Octa-core processor, and it comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage which can be expanded up to 128GB via a micro SD card, Gionee S plus features a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and 5MP front selfie camera. 13MP rear camera with PDAF technology, imitates the human eye.

Chenlei, explained further that the shutter can shoot a picture with only 0.25 second. GiONEE

HID Global, Botosoft to validate WEAC students

Eguridu, WAEC Head of National Office Lagos.

HID Global, a worldwide leader in secure identity solutions, said it has successfully launched a mobile student ID system in collaboration with Botosoft, the leading provider of technologies in Africa, to help the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) combat student identity fraud in Nigeria.

Every year, more than 2.2 million students register online and receive machine-readable genuine HID smartcards.

The new mobile reader will validate new student ID cards instantly.

Mr. Charles Eguridu, WAEC

Head of National Office Lagos said in statement that “The implementation of this real-time identification and monitoring system helps bring to life our vision of being a world-class examinations body.

“We turned to Botosoft and HID Global to develop an electronic student ID card programme that could address the high-volume issuance requirements of WAEC in a very aggressive time frame as well as our overall need to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the annual exams in a bid to facilitate improvements in the annual examinations.

Splus also comes with the latest Android USB Type C port, which allows for reversible plug orientation.

You also don’t need to worry about plugging it in upside down.

“The phone is powered by a 3150mAh removable big battery which when fully charged under 1hour 30 minutes takes users more than a day.

“Amazingly, 5minutes charging gives the phone two hours of phone call time. The GIONEE S Plus also comes with a 5.5 inch Super AMOLED Screen to give a colorful and vivid visual experience, while its smart power consumption system helps save 30 percent power consumption than normal screens,” he added.

The screen is made with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the toughest panel glass in the world which protects your phone against scratches.

“WAEC teamed up with a Lagos-based Botosoft and HID Global to assist with the development and deployment of a secure card issuance and mobile student ID system, ultimately allowing WAEC to meet and exceed its security needs on budget.”

The statement said the use of hand held mobile readers eliminates identity fraud, allows examiners to verify student attendance and enables them to manage challenges around examination rules violations in real-time.

The mobile reader application also saves hundreds of hours of manual data entry and eliminates errors.

The time saved allows the examiners to concentrate on the importance of the day as they can be confident that students are already authenticated for the exam in question.

Our goal is to make the lives of the Nigerian people better.

By partnering with HID Global, we have been able to help WAEC achieve its goal to maintain the integrity of the examinations process. In 2014, we helped register and validate more than 2.2 million students at examination centers across Nigeria using 15,000 custom mobile readers,” Babatope Agbeyo, chairman, Botosoft said.

HID Global leveraged its government ID expertise and offerings to deliver a customized solution to accept the raw data from the WAEC online enrollment process, validate the information and prepare it for use in personalizing the cards in Botosoft’s facility.

Aviation B8 Dana Air deepens CSR support for youth with Dare 2 Dream

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Dana Air is partnering with Kinabuti Fashion House and Pulse.ng to help youth particularly models across the country to achieve their dreams by providing them with a plat-

form to showcase their talents through Dare 2 Dream season 2.

Dare 2 Dream, a brainchild of Kinabuti Fashion House, is a motivational modeling contest with a strong element of youth

empowerment that is aimed at discovering budding talents as well as helping to nurture them.

Dana Air on the other hand, has always been responsive to

year.

According to NBS, the lower number of air travellers in the second largely resulted in the overall decline in air passenger traffic which stood at 3,423,077 passengers in the second quarter compared to 3,710,618 passengers in the previous quarter.

For third quarter, passenger traffic stood at 3.8 million while fourth quarter report is yet to be released. The fourth quarter traffic could be as high as four million going by the huge travel demands in the yuletide.

The number of departures, according to the global aviation regulatory body reached approximately 34 million glob-

ally, and world passenger traffic, expressed in terms of total scheduled revenue passengerkilometres (RPKs), posted an increase of 6.8 percent with approximately 6,562 billion RPKs being performed.

It stated that the aviation industry, composed of some 1,400 commercial airlines, 4,130 airports and 173 Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs), continued to play a critical role over 2015 in fostering the growth of tourism and trade.

According to ICAO, over half of the world’s 1.1 billion tourists are transported by air today, while aircraft carry 35 percent of world trade by value.

International scheduled passenger traffic expressed in terms of RPKs grew by 6.7 percent in 2015, up from the 6.0 percent recorded in 2014.

According to the report, European traffic increased by 5.5 percent and accounted for the largest share of international RPKs at 37 percent. The Asia/Pacific, meanwhile, had the second largest share with 28 per cent and grew by 8.2 percent.

The Middle East region moved 14 per cent of world RPKs and recorded growth of 12.1 percent compared to 2014, while North America, also with a 14 percent RPK share, recorded 3.3 percent growth.

Carriers in Latin America and the Caribbean managed four percent of world RPK traffic and recorded 7.9 percent growth, and Africa, with a 3 percent share, grew at a rate of 0.6 percent.

In terms of domestic scheduled air services, overall markets grew by 6.9 percent in 2015.

North America, the world’s largest domestic market with 43 percent share of the world domestic scheduled traffic, experienced around 4.7 percent growth in 2015.

The Asia/Pacific region, which accounted for 39 percent of world domestic scheduled traffic, grew strongly by 10.3 percent in 2015 – mainly due to strong double digit growth in India and China.

ICAO further stated that Lowcost carriers (LCCs) carried more than 950 million passengers in 2015, approximately 28 percent of total scheduled passengers. LCCs in Asia/Pacific represented 31 percent of total LCC passengers carried, followed by Europe with 30 percent and North America with 26 percent.

The increasing presence of LCCs in emerging economies is considered to have been an important contributing factor to overall growth in passenger traffic.

“Despite sluggish economic growth in advanced economies and most emerging markets, global passenger traffic (RPK) growth in 2015 still increased by around one percentage point compared to the previous year.

A nearly 40 percent decline in the average 2015 jet fuel price gave air carriers some flexibility to lower air fares and help stimulate this increase,” the report said.

Aiding indigenous airlines to acquire dollars at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchange rate as well as reducing the price of Jet A1 also known as aviation fuel are two key areas that airlines are asking the Federal Government to intervene if the airline industry is to grow further.

An Executive Director, Technical Services, Med-View Airline, Engr. Lookman Animashaun made this known while taking questions from the media during the airline’s inaugural flight to

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia explaining that both factors mentioned have had an adverse effect on the airlines.

Animashaun who represented the Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole at the flag-off of the route was emphatic on the way the help for both challenges should come, empathizing that the airline understand the situation government is in but stated that airlines should be treated exclusively too in the sourcing for funds.

According to him, the airline

business is riddled with a lot of costs and all of them are dollar based from buying parts to other essential services, remarking that despite the skyrocketing of the dollar ticket prices have not increased and airlines are feeling the brunt. “ One of our major problems in the industry is dollar based, all the spares we procure are done in dollars and we bring them in on a daily basis and we also have to source for dollar to fund these things, it has not been easy.”

Aliu, ICAO President

L-R: Head, Business Development, Med-View Airline, Mr. Na’Allah Isiaq, Station Manager, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs. Blessing Amiandamen, Head of Engineering, Engr. Lookman Animashaun, and Head, Flight Operations, Capt. Godfrey Ogbogu during the airline inaugural flight from Lagos-Kano-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos...recently.

Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has said that preliminary figures compiled by its team and released recently showed the total number of passengers carried on scheduled services rose to 3.5 billion in 2015, a 6.4 percent increase over last year.

Out of this enormous figure, Nigeria contributed little over 15 million to the traffic.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) a total of 3,710,618 passengers travelled through Nigeria’s airports in the opening quarter of 2015, representing a decline of 453,144 passengers or 10.88 per cent from the preceding quarter, bucking the upward trend observed throughout 2014. The series peaked in the fourth of 2014, with 4,163,762 passengers travelling, up 227,744 or 5.59 percent from the third of the same

Medview boss tasks FG on dollar sourcing, Jet A1

the cause of youth empowerment as evident in its drive to always support credible initiatives that support the younger population in their chosen careers.

Nigeria contributes 15m to 4b global traffic

Life&

TIMES Wednesday, January 6, 2016

CDQ:

On career, fashion and collabos

L2

P

Celebrity Style L2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

My competitors are not my challenges

— CDQ

Yussuf Abubakar Sodiq popularly known as CDQ is a hip hop Nigerian

artiste who is currently under the record label of General records owned by Mastercraft. The Kwara State-born artiste has done a lot of popular songs like Ogini, Indomie, Salaro amongst others. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI and ABIMBOLA OBATAYO, CDQ talks about his career, collaborations and his love for fashion. Excerpts: How did you come about the name CDQ? When I was in secondary school, I was one of the social directors then and I was so familiar and close to the Abokis so they said every artiste do have a stage name, so let’s create one for you. My name CDQ was carved out from my name Sodiq and along the line when I met Banky W, because he happened to be the patron in the music industry, so he gave full meaning of the name. He said when you go to the market to purchase a CD in the olden days and the music in the CD is good, you will say the CD is quality. So CDQ also means CD quality at the same time.

How has the journey been so far?

The journey has not been easy.

You know the first thing that almost all upcoming artistes face is capital problem, it wasn’t that easy.

So thanks to my label, General records, for being supportive right from when I got signed in. My first video, Godfather, was shot in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was subtitled featured Mastercraft. So, I think that was when the whole recognition really started but when Olamide tweeted the whole lines of the song on twitter, I got recognised by Davido and he told me he wanted me to join HKN but unfortunately I am already under a record label, so I couldn’t go.

Life &

T E A M

Would you say that there are still challenging moments for you?

The time of challenge for me is

over. I think the time of challenges has gone. The time of challenge was when I started, when there was no capital. But now, people will say my competitors in the game will be my challenges but I don’t see them as one because we all have our own different sound. There is a way I sound and people like it and another artiste will also have a particular sound that people will also like, so I don’t have any challenge.

someone is wearing, you can easily say that this person is like this or like that.

How can you describe your personal style?

Well, with my music, I am just street with my bandana tied to my head.

Does your personal style influence your choice of music?

Yes, because I am a soul rapper.

The industry is blessed with If you listen to my music, you will reseveral female musicians; do alise that I am very skilful. My kind you have a crush on any of of music can be picked out from my person. them?

Well like you said, the industry Who is your fashion icon? is presently blessed with lots of Jay Z female talents and talking about crush, I wouldn’t mind being close Now has fashion influenced to Niyola because she is beautiful and I love her voice. Sometimes, your perspective towards art and I can’t do without listening to her music?

I will say yes, somehow. songs every day. I love her physique but my mind got busier along What are the major items you the line because of the pressure of work. In simplicity, I love her per- cannot do without on stage?

My woosss! Whenever I am on sonality. stage, I must say woosss and I canAre there plans to work with not do without my bandana. any female artiste?

What is your most sentimenDefinitely, I have worked with Olasunkanmi on the song Marry tal garment so far in your music Joana; I look forward to working journey?

I don’t have any one. with divas like Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage and Niyola in the nearest What is your fitness secret? future.

I go to the gym.

Do you have a particular fashion In your words, what do you unstyle for your choice of woman? derstand as fashion?

Basically anything good so far Fashion is a lifestyle depending on how you see it, but to me, it’s she looks beautiful in it. I don’t a lifestyle. That’s how we express have any particular fashion style for who we are. Merely looking at what women.

Movie & Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

L3 Global fashion and Style

Mutiat Alli

Damilola Attoh rocks chic look in Wana Sambo collection Wana Sambo presents its Holiday 2016 collection with the Wana Sambo Woman‘s tailored wardrobe.

And it features one of Nollywood’s sweethearts – Damilola Attoh.

Featuring chic, sleek and fab pieces, the collection also showcases the Wana Sambo brand’s new offering of sandals – “The Wana Sambo Holiday Flats” made with soft leather in 2 colours – white and navy blue.

According to the brand, the Wana Sambo Woman is strong, sexy and exotic. This means she’s interested in how her look makes her feel, and she knows that dressing right, as is the mantra at Wana Sambo, affords her the confidence of being a #WanaSamboWoman.

“I feel like I know my customer now, what she wants from me, how she likes to dress, and the fact that she is constantly evolving just as the brand is.”

Speaking on their decision to work with Damilola, the brand said: “We chose to work with Nigerian Actress and TV darling, Damilola Attoh, because she’s such a wonderful, young, talented woman. She represents the Wana Sambo Woman as well as she is a young mom and wife who is works hard and is a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian Movie Industry. We absolutely love Dami!”

Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith unveiled as new face of Louis Vuitton’s Latest SS 2016 Damilola Attoh

Louis Vuitton’s artistic director, Nicolas Ghesquière, has revealed via his Instagram that Jaden Smith will be the face of the label’s latest Spring/Summer 2016

campaign. Rumours purporting that Smith was selected for the high-profile role were circulating around last month, and this latest photo finally confirms them as true.

Miranda Kerr

new Wonder dazzle in

bra ad

Australian top model, Miranda Kerr, flaunts her famous body in sexy pieces for top intimate brand; wonder bra, as she fronts spring 2016 campaign.

Flaunting major cleavage, Kerr, who made a debut campaign for wonder bra in 2015, chose different push up styles from the brand wearing a wrap dress over a revealing lingerie look in an image taking a sit pose on a floor and in another, she chose the same look while posing provocatively.

The former Victoria’s Secret Angel also showed off her derrière in a two piece showing off her perfect body wearing her hair in soft bouncy curls while she chose a white boyfriend shirt over black matching lingerie look in another.

Miranda

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

L5

BMW 6 SERIES

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Fashion score sheet L6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Iconic fashion statement from Headies awards It was a night of glitz and glamour at the just concluded Headies Awards held at the Landmark Event Centre, Oniru, Lagos, where the august event was attended by the crème de crème in the showbiz world. Life &Times brings to you fashion statements from the Headies red carpet moment.

Adekunle Gold, Clad in his usual traditional attire, Orente Crooner sure made us whoa!! He was on the red carpet rocking his complete Adire attire with a touch of it on his shoes. For this iconic look, it’s a 10/10

Ill Bliss, D’ Igbo boy looked good in his printed Ankara trouser complimenting his look with a snap back. It’s a 7/10.

Alex Ekubo, He is known for that seductive look and guess what, Alex sure seduced us on the red carpet with his simple but classic outfit. It’s a 8/10.

Bryan Okwara, He has got swag on Fliptyce, Music producer Fliptyce the red carpet at all times and sure rocked that dapper look of a blue he did not disappoint with his hooded blazer. It’s a 8/10. outfit and ripped jean. It’s a 8/10.

Tee Y Mix 1, Aside been a producer, Yemi Alade, Mama Africa rocked TY Mix sure knows the appropriate a simple but gorgeous look to the combinations to events from his event. It’s definitely 8/10.

Black blazer to his complimented sneakers and top. It’s a 9/10.

DJ Cuppy, It’s not just about being a disc jockey but complimenting it at events as Cuppy rocked stylish look to the Headies in Ankara attire. It’s a 8/10

Segun Arinze, Sure simple and looking nice in it, Arinze rocked a casual look!! It’s a 7/10.

Kaffy, Not everybody knew queen of dance could look this fabulous but sure she nailed it rocking a two coloured flowing gown. It’s a 8/10.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

L7 Fashion

Mutiat Alli

Akpororo

Ayo Makun

Funny Bone

Sexy Steel

Nosa

Faces at the Ali Baba Jan 1 Concert It was a star studded event at the prestigious Convection Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites venue of the January 1, 2016 concert by the biggest and most experienced comedian in Nigeria, Alibaba. From music stars, comic juggernauts, Nollywood divas and hunks to captains of industries, it was indeed all about glitz and glamour on the red carpet.

Chigul

DJ Nana

Lolo

RMD

Rita Dominic

Cobhams

Oc Ukeje

Bunmi Davies

Lala Akinroju

Television L8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

125 FOX Channel

107 M-Net Movie Romance

02:10

02:15

Wed, 6 Jan | 13SL

Wed, 6 Jan | 16SNL

‘S3/E4 - Full Moon Fever’. Bobby falls for Travis’ photography professor, but Travis refuses to introduce them. Laurie falls for a guy she’s never met when she begins a romance via Twitter.

In this introspective film, a young man has everything one could possibly want, but still isn’t happy. When he meets a woman from his past, he wonders if she is the missing piece. Rachael Taylor, Josh Lawson. (2012) Rob Sitch.

101 M-Net West

118 Telemundo

120 BBC Entertainment

128 SONY MAX

00:00 New Worlds 01:00 Time Of Death 02:05 Hours 04:00 MasterChef Australia 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Goldbergs 06:30 Mysteries Of Laura 07:30 Grey’s Anatomy 08:30 Stranded In Paradise 10:30 Mike & Molly 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 NCIS: Los Angeles 14:00 Elementary 15:00 Chicago Fire 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Middle 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 Modern Family 19:00 Two And A Half Men 19:30 The Blacklist 20:30 CSI: Cyber 21:30 NCIS: Los Angeles 22:30 Gotham 23:00 Twelve Monkeys

00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Labour Of Love 03:00 Part Of Me 03:50 Queen Of Hearts 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love 23:05 QI 23:35 Top Gear

00:20 Most Shocking 01:10 Kenny vs Spenny 11:00 My Family

01:40 Freakshow

00:25 The Weakest Link

11:30 Hell’s Kitchen USA

02:10 Poorman’s Bikini Beach

01:15 Silent Witness

12:20 Top Gear

02:40 Upload With Shaquille O’Neal

02:10 Total Wipeout UK

13:15 Come Dine With Me

03:10 Hip Hop Squares

03:05 EastEnders

14:15 Hell’s Kitchen USA

03:40 Most Shocking

03:35 QI

15:05 The Weakest Link

04:30 South Beach Tow

04:05 Top Gear

16:00 EastEnders

05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak

05:00 Spy

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

05:30 Exposed

05:25 QI

17:10 The Cube

05:55 Exposed

06:00 The Thin Blue Line

18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

06:20 Video Zonkers

06:30 EastEnders

19:00 Dragons’ Den

06:45 Repo Games

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

20:05 Top Gear

07:10 World’s Wildest Police Videos

07:55 The Weakest Link

21:05 Hell’s Kitchen USA

08:45 The Cube 09:30 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

22:10 Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow

08:10 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol

10:20 Deal Or No Deal

23:45 So You Think You’d Survive?

155 AfricaMagic World

154 Africa Magic Family

00:00 Tinsel 00:30 Living With Trisha 01:30 Family Ties 02:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Music Block 05:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Evanescent 08:35 Living With Trisha 09:25 The African Child 10:00 Good Morning Africa

11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 14:00 Prem 14:30 Jara 15:00 Family Ties 15:30 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:30 Living With Trisha 17:30 Comfort Zone 18:00 Meet The Adebanjos 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 20:00 Airtel Touching Lives 20:35 Evanescent 22:00 Tyme Out With Tee-A 23:35 53 Extra

00:05 Noose Of Gold 00:35 Good Morning Africa 01:40 The Dzigbordi Show 02:30 Good Morning Africa 03:30 Good Morning Africa 04:30 Prem 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 Johnbull And Rosekate 08:35 Prem

09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Lies That Bind 11:30 Lies That Bind 12:00 Jara 12:30 Jara 13:00 Series TBA 14:00 53 Extra 14:30 53 Extra 15:00 Kakibe Ki 15:30 Noose Of Gold 16:00 Foot Print 16:30 Lies That Bind 17:00 Lies That Bind 17:30 Star Gist 18:00 Star Gist 18:30 Star Gist 19:00 Prem 19:30 So Wrong So Wright 20:00 Market Sellers 22:25 Series TBA 23:30 The Tracker

09:10 South Beach Tow 09:40 Most Shocking 10:40 Most Shocking 11:40 Video Zonkers 12:10 Repo Games 12:40 World’s Wildest Police Videos 13:40 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:40 South Beach Tow 15:10 Exposed 15:40 Criss Angel Mindfreak 16:10 1000 Ways To Die 16:40 Video Zonkers 17:05 Repo Games 17:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne 20:30 Impractical Jokers 21:00 Freakshow 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Kenny vs Spenny 22:30 Tool Academy 23:20 The Real