Dtn 9 12 15

FG budgets N500b for school feeding, post-NYSC grants, others in 2016 Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÎÎÎPresident Muhammadu Buhari

on Tuesday submitted a three-year, Medium Term Expenditure Frame-

work (MTEF) to the Senate, proposing a budget of N6.04 trillion for the fiscal year of 2016.

The Framework by Buhari indicated the preparedness of his gov-

ernment to fund a social welfare programme to the tune of N500 billion to the benefit of needy Nigerians.

The amount, as indicated in the Framework is to cover school feed-

ing programme initiatives, conditional cash transfer to the most vulnerable and post National Youths Continued on page 6

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 VOL. 1. NO. 248

GAINERS

N150

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 8th December 2015.

MOBIL

126.11

132.41

6.3 %

GUINNESS

123.15

124.9

1.75%

FO

248.65

235.9

-12.75%

WAPCO

92

90.01

-1.99%

UNILEVER

42

45.5

3.5%

TOTAL

147

148.01

1.01%

NB

115.5

113

-2.5%

7UP

183

181.1

-1.9%

Toll gates, 17,760 flats coming, says Fashola Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Minister of Power, Works

and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday unveiled the blueprint of the Buhari administration on infrastructural development for Nigeria, announc-

ing that the Federal Government would re-introduce highway tolling to raise additional funds to finance road maintenance, increase electricity tariff and construct 17, 760 flats nationwide to address housing deficit.

Fashola, at his first news con-

ference tagged ``Setting the Agenda for Delivering Change”, noted that electricity tariffs, particularly in populous areas and industrial clusters would increase when the new rates are unveiled.

The minister stated that the government would prioritise the

completion of ongoing power projects and would consider setting up embedded power generation stations in commercial centres in various states.

He said, “We will want state governments to help us identify and enumerate the very populous,

industrial and commercial clusters in their states where we can provide embedded power. This will make life easy for those who are involved in manufacturing, fabrication and other related acContinued on page 6

World Bank to FG: Collect all taxes, fuel subsidy cost too high gB1

Mixed g 8 feeling in PDP as it wins, loses Senate seats Again, g7 Dasuki’s trial stalled over FG multiple applications L-R: Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, MD-designate, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Mr. Bisi Onasanya, GMD/CEO, First Bank; Otunba (Mrs.)’Debola Osibogun, President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); and Chief Dr. Joseph Sanusi, former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria at the CIBN 3rd Valedictory Lecture organised in honour Mr. Onasanya in Lagos…yesterday.

Nigeria witnessing bleakest festive season under Buhari – PDP g12

Ade Bakare: The designer with Midas touch gL1

2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Announces Muhammadu Buhari GCFR,

President Federal Republic of Nigeria

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial The Senate Social Media Bill

F

or past two weeks, Nigerians have watched in suspense the attempt by the Senate to pass a controversial bill to gag the media. Tagged: “Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Matters Connected Therewith”, it seeks to gag online media by imposing a two-year jail term for an abusive statement.

The bill which was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, seeks to impose a jail term or N2 million fine or both if a person spread false information about a public servant through the social media.

Like every other Nigerian, we are indeed scandalised over this bill, which seeks to abridge free speech that is a fundamental right of all citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution of 1999 (as amended). Much as we are at sea at knowing the motive of the Senate in proposing this bill, it is also imperative to ask what purpose the bill would serve in the current fight against corruption.

We believe the exercise does not augur well for the image of the Senate. It is painful that anyone could bring propose such bill, and even more painful that it was allowed to pass through the first reading.

Definitely, the draft bill is simply unnecessary, especially when it is glaring that the offenses it seeks to criminalise already exist under the country’s laws including those on treason, defamation, and libel.

We see the bill as primitive and its passage would affect the rights of more than 16 million Nigerians using the social media not to mention

the high numbers who send text messages.

The Senate’s single mindedness in pursuing the bill is not only alienating the Red Chamber from the goodwill it enjoys, the move shows that Nigerian Senators are anti-people and non-democrats. There is no gainsaying the fact that if passed into law, it will restrict freedom of expression and a free press that are protected under Section 39 of the Nigerian constitution.

It bears repeating that freedom of speech is one of those things Nigerians take for granted. Without that right, the country would quickly be on a downward trajectory.

In addition, limiting freedom of expression is not just censorship; it is also an assault on human nature.

We advise that all those holding public offices in trust must be mindful of the temptation of seeing themselves as being above the people.

That is why the position of President Muhammadu Buhari on this issue is heartwarming, as he has vowed not to assent to it. Senators should know they were not elected to muzzle non-violent expressions of genuine dissent and criticism.We therefore call on the Senate to focus on more pressing issues of terrorism by Boko Haram, youth unemployment, increasing destitution, communal violence, corruption and rising crimes in the country.

How the Buhari administration handles the issue would determine its democratic credentials or not.

It is imperative to restate that for Nigeria to stay in line with international and African human rights standards, the country should be seen to be decriminalising defamation and not creating new similar crimes.

Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

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

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

ÏÏÏ

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recently disclosed that all refineries in the country produced nothing in the month of October, 2015, making many wonder why the nation should continue to commit scare financial resources to revamp them.

The NNPC, which stated this in its financial operation monthly report for October 2015, also said that despite producing at zero percent capacity, the refineries generated a loss of N1.45bn in October, falling from N8.84bn in September.

Fact is that these refineries have all along been a

sore on the nation’s development. Aside when they were commissioned, it is doubtful if there has ever been a time in recent history when these refineries operated on full installed capacity. Rather, they have over the years turned out to be a ‘bottomless pit’ guzzling billions of Naira in unending Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) exercises. At best such TAM exercises only brought back the refineries to produce at levels far below their installed capacities.

Sadly, successive administrations even where they were aware that the refineries had become a drain pipe on the nation’s economy, lacked the political will to end the haemorrhage.

Even when an attempt was made to privatize them in the twilight of the administration of former Presi-

Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Group Head Accounts & Control Samson Abiodun

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dent Olusegun Obasanjo, his successor, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, bowing to pressure by some powerful interests, reversed the exercise. Since then, the refineries have continued to be wholly owned by government, run by its appointees and have continued to be a burden on the nation’s economy.

This haemorrhage on Nigeria’s economy should not continue. And the way to do this is for government to wholly privatize the refineries or reduce her stake to a minimal level. Thereafter, government should concentrate on providing the enabling environment which will encourage investors to add to the nation’s stock of refineries. This is what is needed to end the intermittent scarcity of petroleum products in the country, especially petrol.

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Words On Marble :

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye

Refineries: Needless haemorrhage on Nigeria’s economy

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Olusegun Mimiko

Orji Uzor Kalu

Ogbonnaya Onu

“It is evident that implementation of the 2014 Confab Report has the potential to liberate every part of Nigeria and ultimately, open up the political space”.

“It is a wrong strategy hearing people saying that we will quench it (pro-Biafra protest) by force. We cannot quench anything by force because it is their right to ask for self- determination”.

“The Igbos need Nigeria just as Nigeria needs the Igbos.

We must assure the youths of the South-East that the administration of President Buhari meant well for them”.

44

Daily Times Nigeria Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Friday, November 13, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

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5

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Toll gates, 17,760 flats coming, says Fashola Continued from page 1 tivities.

“Perhaps the tariffs here, honestly, may be slightly higher than what is obtained, but the truth is that there will be a significant improvement on what we have and we will need the collaboration of Discos to achieve this.”

He explained that Gencos and Discos are focused on producing power and distributing it while government was now a regulator through the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

He said that the Federal Government would strengthen this part of its responsibility so that it could hold the Gencos and Discos to their contracts with citizens.

He reiterated that government must play its role of providing gas and expanding the transmission network.

He said the ministry of petroleum had indicated interest to build pipelines to transport gas to power plants that would add another 2,000 mw to power stock within 12-15 months.

According to him, government has identified 142 projects of which 45 are at 50 per cent completion and about 22 can be completed within a year.

He explained that government would expand the carrying capacity of TCN, Gencos and the Discos, so that in future there would be capacity to carry whatever power was generated.

He assured the investors that government would

maintain its credibility with them, adding that the surest way not to have power was to oppose the implementation of the Tariff Order.

Fashola said government would meet with NERC to ensure that both consumers and investors would not be cheated.

On housing, he said that 480 flats would be built per state.

He said that the ministry would collaborate with state governors to provide

land of between five and 10 hectares with title documents and access roads to the project sites. ``In the housing sector, if we complete our ongoing projects, and we get land from state governors and the FCT, using the Lagos Homes model, we should start 40 blocks of housing in each state and FCT. ``We see this leading to potential delivery of 12 flats (homes) per block and 480 flats (homes) per state, and 17,760 flats (homes) nation-

wide, for a start. ``These figures are only examples and not fixed in definition and they are subject first to budgetary approvals and availability of finance.’’

Fashola said that the projects would create job opportunities for many Nigerians, especially the youth.

On works and the reintroduction of tolling, the Minister said that adequate funding of the nation’s road infrastructure would generate job opportunities and

reduce unemployment in the country. ``Maintenance would be our watchword. We are setting up a robust maintenance regime to keep our highways in good shape. ``This shows that tolling is necessary to support government funding. So, it will not be too much if we ask every road user to pay little to augment government funding for road maintenance.

Continued on page 12

FG budgets N500b for school feeding, post-NYSC grants, others in 2016 Continued from page 1 Service Corps grants.

According to Buhari, the intervention on social welfare programme will start as a pilot scheme while the government is expected to work towards securing the support of donor agencies and Nigeria’s development partners in order to minimize the potential risks.

The 2016 Budget as proposed by President Buhari is to run on oil bench mark of $38 trillion and a projected deficit of N2.22 trillion.

The 2016 Budget which would be tabled before the National Assembly after the final approval of the MTEF is projected on an average growth of 4.3 percent with envisaged increase of growth 10 percent by 2017.

Buhari said 2016 Budget would be funded through collections from the Nigerian Customs, Company Income Tax, Value added Tax as well as revenue from oil.

He said his government had hoped to diversify the economy as a means of lowering Nigeria’s over dependence on oil.

He said the hope on economy diversification is high on the part of his government, given the outcome of the GDP rebasing exercise

which, according to him indicates that the structure of the Nigerian economy is now more diversified The MTEF indicates that the government has adopted the implementation of a zero based budgeting system in which case only projects and programmes of the government which are development policy compliant would enjoy the maximum focus of the government.

39th Miss Nigeria, Lessi Peter-Vigboro (right) and others during a workshop in Atlanta, U.S.A recently.

No stone ‘ll be left unturned for safe return of Chibok girls – FG Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Federal government on Tuesday lamented that the massive looting of public funds perpetrated by some officials of government under the immediate past administration is seriously affecting the operations of government, just as it assured that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls.

Consequently, the government has vowed that nobody, among those who contributed to the present mess that Nigeria currently finds herself, will go unpunished.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated this on Tuesday at a press conference in Abuja.

The Minister equally said that the government is seriously concerned about the safe return of the over 200 secondary school girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State over 600 days ago.

Alhaji Mohammed thus assured that no stone will be left unturned by the soldiers in the North Eastern part of the country to ensure that the kidnapped girls are rescued and returned safely to their people.

According to him, “the military is leaving no stone unturned to get them (the Chibok girls). The government is very concerned about the safe return of the Chibok girls. There are so many things that the soldiers are doing underground that cannot be exposed to the public. For security reason, we can not disclose certain information.

On the issue of the ongoing agitation for Biafra Republic by some people in the South Eastern part of the country, Alhaji Mohammed pointed out that the Federal government was do-

ing everything to tame the agitation.

The Minister added however that such agitation has to be subtle.

His words, “The federal government is doing everything to tame the agitation, but such has to be subtle.

Government is concerned and is taking it seriously.

We can’t be revealing everything we are doing”.

Speaking on the deadline (December 31st, 2015) given

by President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to wipe out Boko Haram insurgents from the country, the Minister said optimistically that the military has largely

won the war.

Mohammed, who recently embarked on the tour of some communities liberated by the military from the Boko Haram captivity in Borno State, was optimistic that by the end of this year, they (the Boko Haram insurgents) would no longer be able to launch the kind of attacks that were witnessed in the past in the country.

According to him, the Boko Haram insurgents have been heavily decimated and dislodged as they no longer enjoy the type of cohesion they used to.

Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Again, Dasuki’s trial stalled over FG multiple applications Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎProceedings in the trial

of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Mohammed Dasuki (rtd), over alleged unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering, on Tuesday, stalled due to Dasuki’s response to federal government multiple applications.

The federal government said on Tuesday when Dasuki’s trial for unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering came up before Justice Adeniyi Ade-

mola that it needed time to response to issues raised by Dasuki in his objection.

Federal government prosecution counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyitan (SAN) told the court that the government had two applications pending before the court.

One of them, a motion seeking to revoke the bail granted to the accused by the court and the second, an application seeking a stay of further execution of an order directing the release of Dasuki’s International Passport.

He said that although the

applications were ripe for hearing, the defendant’s counsel had served him a preliminary objection in court that challenged court jurisdiction among others.

Okpeseyitan (SAN) said that Dasuki’s application contained serious averments which the federal government must respond to in the interest of justice.

In his response, the defense counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN) said he was not oppose to the prosecution request for an adjournment if that will enable him respond to the ob-

jections.

Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Ademola, with the consent of the counsel, adjourned the matter to January 20, 2016.

In his application which has little to do with the five count charges before the court, the federal government had asked the court to stay the order made on November 3 that modified Dasuki’s bail conditions, the release of his International passport and permission to travel abroad for medical care.

7 News

Lagos saves N98b, loses N16b property to inferno

Ambode

Benjamin Omoike

ÎÎÎLagos

State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Seye Oladejo, has said that the state government is concerned about the menace which petrol tankers and other articulated vehicles have become on Lagos roads.

Oladejo, who was briefing newsmen at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa secretariat, Ikeja, on Tuesday, said more worri-

some was the incessant fire incidents and needless road traffic and accidents which have led to loss of lives and property.

The Commissioner stressed that the men of the Lagos State Fire Service, Emergency Response Team of LASEMA and other first responders, had effectively responded to over 42 emergency calls through the Toll Free 767/ 112 emergency number of the State in the first week of December this year alone. He stated that a total of 1,667 emergency calls had been responded to from January 1 till date.

Consequent upon these, the Commissioner said it is estimated that over N98.28 billion worth of property was salvaged, while about N16.38 billion worth of property was lost to various fire incidents in the State this year alone.

Wada sets up transition committee Ibrahim Obansa, Lokoja

ÎÎÎThe outgoing governor

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) welcoming President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to the Presidential Villa in Abuja… on Tuesday.

Senate wants Nigeria’s foreign policy to attract economic benefits Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Senate, on Tuesday,

called for a review of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives for more constructive engagements by Nigeria with other countries while advancing the cause of Nigerian investors, most especially in friendly countries.

The Senate, in essence, is canvassing for Nigeria’s economic interest to take the centre stage in its foreign policy, most especially in countries where it assisted to restore security, peace, stability and

democracy.

The Senate took this position after adopting a motion proposed by Senator Stella Oduah (PDP- Anambra North) titled “The Urgent Need to Re-Assess Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Objectives in Line with Emerging Economic Realities”.

Leading debate on the motion, Oduah said since independence, Nigeria has been acting as ‘Father Christmas’ to friendly countries with its foreign policy objectives, which she noted was “invented by the government of

Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa.”

She noted that Nigeria has made huge sacrifices for many countries, starting with contribution of troops to the United Nations for Peacekeeping operations around the world.

The Senator noted, in addition to a memorable role Nigeria played in the UN peacekeeping operations in Congo, the country has also assisted in ending civil war, colonialism, and Apartheid in various African countries, including the Gambia, South Africa, Si-

erra Leone and Liberia.

She said notwithstanding the sacrifices made by Nigeria in African countries and the world at large, citizens of the country have not been accorded respect even in the countries Nigeria had assisted.

Said she: “So many of our nationals are being killed or maimed for reasons that are despicable. The xenophobic attack by South-Africans against Nigerians who live and conduct legitimate businesses in their midst, is still fresh in our minds.”

of Kogi state has set up a transition committee to drive the process of handing over to a new government in the state, even as he said that he will challenge the outcome of the governorship election.

Wada was defeated by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Yahaya Bello in last Saturday’s supplementary governorship election, held in the state.

The governor, equally gave very strong indication that he will challenge the result of the November 21 governorship election in

court.

The defeated governor made this known while addressing stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a meeting in Lokoja, to evaluate the outcome of the governorship election.

Wada said the decision to challenge the result of the election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election, is to seek proper interpretation of the law and relevant sections of the constitution and the Electoral Act in connection with the election.

Ekiti lawmaker fetes constituents Gbenga Sodeide, Ado-Ekiti

ÎÎÎMember of Ekiti State

House of Assembly, Hon. Sunday Akinniyi, has reiterated his willingness to always contribute to the educational development of younger ones in the ancient Ikere Ekiti community, in Ekiti state.

Akinniyi, who represents Ikere Ekiti Constituency II, described education as a key to self actualisation and growth

of any society, saying, “It empowers one to be selfreliant and be able to contribute to societal development”.

The lawmaker who spoke in Ikere Ekiti at a programme he organised to encourage the 20 indigent students he had chosen to cater for their educational needs, said that it has been part of him to always assist people in need particularly in the area of education, even when he was nobody.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Politics The political expedience of removing fuel subsidy now,

by Don

Æs

Director, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, University of Ibadan, Professor Adeola Adenikinju, has given reasons why fuel subsidy must be removed in the country immediately.

According to him, Nigeria has earned a whopping sum of $12.9trillion from oil with no corresponding development in the nation’s body polity so far.

This came as Governors of Oyo and Osun States, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Comrade Rauf Aregbesola respectively warned that

28 states might be on the brink of bankruptcy owing to critical lack of funds and employment.

To this end, Adenikinju called for the removal of Petroleum subsidy and passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Adenikinju in his lecture “Nigeria and the Oil Question: Balancing Our Development Path’’ said that non –removal of subsidy was an effort of caring for the rich at the expense of the poor.

“Nigeria must pass the Petroleum Industry Bill. We must turn around the National Oil Compa-

ny. Subsidy must go to salvage the downstream sector, so that our depots, pipelines are back.

“Nigeria will no longer need to develop on tankers for moving of petroleum products across the country.

“Our fate will no longer be in the hands of Oliver Twist petroleum traders. We would no longer continue to take care of the rich at the expense of the poor,’’ he said.

He said that the nation needed to vertically and horizontally CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Mixed feelings in PDP as it wins, loses senate seats

Oduah It was a feeling of sadness and joy for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between Monday and Tuesday when it retained two Senate seats and lost one at the Appeal Court.

The Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Stella Odua, Tuesday, had her election to the 8th Senate which she won by over 30, 000 votes, upheld after an appeal against her victory was thrown out by the Court of Appeal in Enugu.

Oduah, a former Minister of Aviation under the past administration, had been dragged to the election tribunal sitting in Awka, the State capital in October, by the candidate of the All

Mark Progressives Grand Alliance , (APGA), Dubem Obaze, who cited electoral malpractices in the elections which held in March.

Oduah and her party, PDP, had good reason to celebrate, after witnessing the Appeal Court threw out another Senator voted under the party’s umbrella, Uche Ekwunife.

Before Ekwunife’s loss, former Senate President, David Mark, had his own victory nullified by the Appeal Court.

Monday had begun on a sad note for the former ruling party when the Appeal Court sitting in Enugu, Enugu State nullified the election of Senator, Mrs Uche Ekwunife, who represented Anambra Central Senatorial District of Anambra State.

Ekwunife Her sack followed an appeal filed by Chief Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The judgment, as read by Justice Datijo Yahaya indicated that the election of Mrs Ekwunife on March 28, 2015 did not meet the prescription of the electoral act and therefore ordered a rerun in the Anambra Central Senatorial District within 90 days.

But later in the day, the sadness within the PDP camp gave way to smile when Prince Buruji Kashamu was declared winner of the Ogun East Senatorial District by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan.

The Court of Appeal upturned the October 9, 2015 judgment of the National and State Assembly

Elections Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta to reaffirmed and returned Kashamu as the validly elected senator for the district.

The appellate court in a unanimous decision held that Kashamu’s appeal is meritorious and therefore succeeds, consequently, the three-man panel set aside the ruling of the elections tribunal and affirmed as well as returned Senator Kashamu as the winner of the March 28, 2015 senatorial election in Ogun East Senatorial district While reading the lead judgment, justice M.L Shuaib held that the tribunal erred and was partisan, adding that it descended into the arena and scouted for CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Adenikinju

Social Media Bill, invitation to chaos and anarchy - Group As reactions continue to trail the proposed anti-media bill of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator, Bala Ibn Na’allah, a human rights activist and chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman has warned the APC against returning the country to the dark days of Military era.

In a statement, he urged Nigerians not to sleep with their two eyes closed over the proposed bill which threatens freedom of expression and speech and likened it to the years of Muhammadu Buhari’s military government.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Saraki

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

9 Politics

Mixed feelings in PDP as it wins, loses senate seats

Marafa CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

evidence to nullify Kashamu’s election and truncate his victory.

He added that it was curious, illogical and perverse of the tribunal to place so much reliance on the evidence of a prosecution witness labeled as PW 44 and further admit as evidence documents that were clearly inadmissible under the law and also act on such evidence to truncate Kashamu’s victory.

According to the panel, PW 44 who posed as a forensic expert had discredited himself during cross examination when he stated that anyone with prerequisite

The political expedience of removing fuel subsidy now,

by Don

Mark

Secondus

Kashamu

knowledge could do what he did and added that he had no degree in statistics.

“PW 44 sold himself out and the tribunal should not have held that he was an expert when he himself had agreed anyone could do what he did. No expert opinion is needed in this case since PW44 stated that anyone, even a layman could do what he did and he has no degree in statistics.

“There is no certification of the admitted print out by the said forensic expert so it is not an exhibit and he also sold himself out when he stated that the Appendix A, B and C which was

his report was printed from a computer but the tribunal held that it was PW44’s statement on oath and not a print out,” the panel stated.

The three man panel further held that the case of Prince Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressive Congress is a non issue as the material used to nullify the results of elections in some polling units and order re-election is inadmissible in law.

“The case of the first and second respondents (Abiodun and APC) in this appeal collapses like a pack of cards as the respondents fail to lay necessary foundation for the admissibility

of the annexes. Exhibits A, B and C are expunged as inadmissible “PW44 was a hatchet man brought to truncate the appellant’s victory and since his testimony is that he thoroughly analyzed some documents from INEC’s register and used a computer to draw a table and print it out, the annexes are indeed a printout.

“It is wrong of the tribunal to place so much reliance on the evidence of a discredited witness and use an inadmissible document to arrive at its judgment.”

The three man panel comprising of Justices A.G Msheila,

diversify in order to optimally manage the economy, adding that diversification had been at fore front policy objective of successive government since 1970s.

Adenikinju said that the failure to pass the PIB and the current cloudy weather hanging over the global oil market was negatively affecting new exploration efforts.

The professor of economics posited that Nigeria ranked among the largest oil producing countries in the world spanning up till 50 years and gas for 100 years.

He said that the petroleum sector would still continue to be relevant in decades to come, adding

that the problem was not diversification but how the country managed its oil.

“Many countries like Saudi Arabia, Norway, UAE, Malaysia, Canada, Kuwait and Trinidad and Tobago have used oil successfully to transform their economy.

“Since 1960, Nigeria has earned over 12.9trillion dollars from oil,’’ he said.

Adenikinju said that the nation Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was higher than that of India, China Korea when the nation depended much on Agriculture saying that minimum inequality when Agriculture was the main source of income and foreign

earnings.

“If we had maintained the policies and leadership we had at independence, the country would not have been in this mess.

“Nigeria must protect her real exchange rate, develop strong institutions to contain excesses of oil and its operators, must develop infrastructures and future savings from oil earnings.

“The nation must make oil land owners partake in oil profit, integrate oil sector with the rest of the economy, must not allow foreigners to dominate the oil sector, protect oil producing environCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

M.L Shuaib and Ignatius Agube also adopted the same judgment for the cross petition filed by Prince Adedapo Abiodun.

Last month, the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, annulled the election of the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark also of the PDP. The Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh elections in the Benue South senatorial district within 90 days.

Mark’s victory at the March 28th., 2015 National Assembly CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Adenikinju

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Social Media Bill, invitation to chaos and anarchy- Group CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

He alleged that the APC had a hand in the proposed anti-media bill in order to bring the Decree 4 that was used to gag the Press during Buhari’s Military Head of State in 1984 and 1985 when media practitioners were clamped into detention without trial.

He rejected the position of President Buhari, dissociating himself from the anti-media bill, adding that Mr. President should tell his party APC Senators who are behind the bill to throw it into the dustbin, saying that Mr. President would not assent to any bill was inconsistence with the provision of the

amended 1999 Constitution.

He warned the APC Senators who were behind the bill to drop the idea, saying the bill was an invitation to chaos and anarchy.

He reiterated that the Section 22 and 39(1) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guaranteed the freedom of speech and expression to the citizens as an antidote to the deepening of the Country democratic experiment, noting that any law contrary to the General Provision part 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, was null and void.

He described the proposed anti-media bill as curious, undemocratic, evil, ungodly,

anathema, abomination, antimasses and aberration which should not be allowed to stand, explaining that all the efforts of the ruling party to suppress opposition against its mal-administration would fail, adding that media was the only institution that has been the voice of voiceless in the country.

It would be recalled that Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah sponsored a bill entitled: ”Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other matters Therewith”, seeking to gag online media by imposing a two-year jail term or N2m fine or both ,for an abusive statement or spreading false information about a public office holders.

Saraki

NaAllah

Mixed feelings in PDP as it wins, loses senate seats CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

elections, was challenged by Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), who petitioned the Benue state Legislative Houses elections tribunal asking for the cancellation of the election and an order detailing INEC to conduct fresh election in the district.

The Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu led trial panel had on October 7th, 2015 dismissed Onjeh’s petition on the ground that evidences tendered before the tribunal were documentary hearsay evidences.

However, in a unanimous judgment read by Justice Peter Ige, the appellate court dismissed the judgment of the tribunal and upheld the plea of the appellant that Mark’s election failed substantially to meet with the provisions of paragraphs 39 and 40 of the INEC approved electoral guidelines and sections 73 and 74 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

The panel of jurists also questioned the failure of the trial court to admit evidences tendered by the appellant to canvass his case and in another instance refer to the same evidence to arrive at its decision.

Justice Ige thus held that, “the lower tribunal cannot be seen to blow hot and cold at the same time. The appellant has estab-

Ekwunife lished his case on the balance of probability. It is our considered view that the appellant’s appeal is meritorious.

“The appellant showed by oral evidence that collation of results was still ongoing a day after the declaration of results of the election in seven local government areas of the district.

“The judgment of Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu led tribunal of October 7th, 2015 dismissing the petition is nullified. Therefore the election of Senator David

Oduah Mark is hereby set aside”.

Earlier, the PDP had suffered another electoral setback in Taraba State as the Court of Appeal sitting in Yola upheld a tribunal’s ruling, sacking Bashir Marafa as senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District.

On September 30, the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Taraba State, nullified the election of Mr. Marafa and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission

to issue Certificate of Return to APC candidate, Yusuf Abubakar.

Delivering the September 30 judgement, one of the members of the tribunal, Suleiman Yusuf, said the petitioners in case, the APC, and its candidate, had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.

The tribunal had held the election of Mr. Marafa could not stand as he did not score the lawful majority votes in the March 28 election.

The tribunal therefore ordered INEC to return Mr. Abubakar as the candidate that scored the majority lawful votes during the polls. Following the ruling, Mr. Marafa appealed the tribunal’s decision.

But in their separate judgments , the three judges, Jummai Sankey, Duobele Abraham and Ridwan Maiwada of the Court of Appeal, unanimously agreed the appeal lacked merit and was therefore dismissed.

Only last week, in a dramatic twist of events, two of the three senators of the APC in Kogi State had their elections nullified.

THE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division was the cynosure of many political stakeholders from Kogi State last week when the court gave judgment on all the three appeals on the Senate contests in Kogi State.

All three APC senators who were declared winners of the election by INEC had been dragged to the tribunal on the common ground that the party did not conduct primaries prior to the 2015 general elections as against the grains of the law.

While the case against Senator Dino Melaye, Kogi West was dismissed at the lower tribunal, the duo of Mohammed Ohiare and Abdulrahman Abubakar suffered defeats at the lower triCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

11 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Subsidy caring only for the rich - Don CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ment,’’ he listed.

He added that the nation must also embrace the principles of transparency, accountability, openness and efficiency in the management of oil revenue.

Adenikinju canvassed the use of natural gas in powering than flaring, saying natural gas could effectively drive industrialisation.

“Petroleum ought to be a blessing with high profits to enhance economic development. Oil came with its own diseases but the nation failed to prevent the diseases,’’ he said.

He said that Nigerians must be truly ready to change in order to deliver a proper and well balanced nation to her children.

Also, Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, raised the alarm that about 28 states in the country might have gone technically bankrupt due to biting deficits.

Expressing similar sentiments, his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, also said that the country was sitting on a tinderbox with its army of unemployed youths.

The governors bared their minds at the 7th annual Lateef Femi Okunnu lecture, delivered

by Ajimobi and titled “State financing and over-dependence on oil: issues and challenge,” at the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe. The event was put together by the Muslim Law students of

Adenikinju OAU, during when Okunnu, SAN, a former federal commissioner of works, was honoured with a distinguished award.

Apart from the much discussed overdependence on oil revenue, Ajimobi said that penchant for tax evasion by citizens, public and corporate entities, as well as corruption and disrespect for the rule of law were besetting the states.

To get out of the doldrums, he

Mixed feelings in PDP as it wins, loses senate seats CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

bunal.

With the prevailing breeze of unease, the December 2 judgments were expected to decide the fate of all three embattled Senators. The election that produced Sen. Abdulrahman (Railway) of Kogi East was finally nullified and another election was ordered by the Appeal Court within 90 days. Remarkably, APC was disqualified from contesting the bye election as its candidate ab initio was improperly nominated. The same judgment was delivered between Sen. Ohiare and Hon. Ogembe of the PDP. Coming to Kogi West, the tide changed, as Melaye was declared

to have been the winner of the Kogi West contest, a situation that has puzzled political pundits and judicial record keepers.

The decision of the Court of Appeal to nullify the election of the two other senators elected on the same basis has now raised focus on the judgments.

The Dino escape is, however, not the only one. It is on record that a number of House of Assembly members who won elections on the platform of the APC had their elections nullified by the Election Tribunals in Lokoja. Some of the APC legislators who scaled the Lokoja hurdles are currently facing the heat at the Appellate Tribunal in Abuja over the same issue.

Buhari again reminded the country that agriculture value chain was a neglected potential cash cow that must be revisited.

Besides, the governors said that the country’s fortune could be turned around if the opportunities in solid minerals, information and communication technology, services, manufacturing and others were explored.

Ajimobi said: “Our attitude is antithetical to development. We

need to change our attitudes completely about payment of taxes and levies if we must avert the impending economic doom.

“As I speak, I can conveniently say that 28 states are technically bankrupt. The jaundiced view that taxes and levies might be embezzled if paid is an anathema.

Public office holders are supposed to hold in trust public treasury. To do otherwise is to court the wrath of the law after leaving

office.

“To the youths, I challenge you to imbibe positive leadership qualities such as you have found in our honoree and among other distinguished personalities you have seen or read about.

“You must join the moving train of development and explore information technology positively to advance in the current and future world.”

On his part, Aregbesola was confident that an estimated N625bn and more than N7tr could be injected into the economy on a monthly and annual basis respectively if the 25m youths said to be unemployed are gainfully employed.

The Osun helmsman noted that the creative energy of the citizens, especially the youth, would be activated and unleashed if the states and the country were to respond to the pervading challenges appropriately.

He said, “This will lead to increased productivity and wealth creation on a scale that we have never witnessed before.

“If the 25m youths said to unemployed by the National Bureau of Statistics today decide that they want to work and decently earnN25,000 every monthly it means N625bn new money will enter into the Nigeria economy.

“Here we need to separate between earning and collecting. If the youths decide to work like bulls then we will be talking about more than N7tr new money annually entering into the Nigerian economy”.

Bayelsa Poll: PDP, APC bicker over cancellation of result As controversy continued to trail the inconclusive Bayelsa election, supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are still at each other’s throats over alleged inconsistencies in the results announced so far by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

Aggrieved youth leaders from Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are calling for the cancellation of the election in the area due to alleged irregularities during the election and the inconsistencies in the result announced by INEC for the governorship election in the area.

They lamented that in spite of the series of official complaints by genuine voters and the APC in the local government, officials of the commission choose to look the other way.

The State Youth Leader of the APC, Edison Sorgwe and a chieftain of the party, Alaowei Opukeme-Jonah, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved voters of the area, said the result announced by the INEC’s collation officer for the PDP, APC and other political parties are inconsistent with the number of rejected votes and cancelled votes.

Condemning the cancellation of Southern Ijaw election they said, “We have lost confidence in

the ability of the Resident Electoral Commissioner to conduct election in the state.”

They demanded that the commission in its review of the conduct of the election should cancel the elections in Sagbama, Yenagoa, Ekeremor and Nembe due to verifiable cases of fraud and violence by the ruling party.

Besides, the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation has said, “It is surprising to note that even when Governor Dickson claims to be leading in six out of the seven (local government for which results have been) so far released, he is still the one complaining and calling for protests as well as civil disobedience.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Nigeria witnessing bleakest festive season under Buhari – PDP Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) on Tuesday told President Muhammadu Buhari that his policies and lack of ‘viable’ economic initiatives are currently inflicting hardship on Nigerians.

The PDP said this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary,

Chief Olisa Metuh in Abuja.

The opposition PDP stated that it was disheartening that the Buhari administration has remained insensitive and unresponsive to the groaning of Nigerians occasioned by the apparent lack of competent hands in the management of the economy.

According to the Party,

“Rather than evolving economic initiatives to improve the lot of the citizens, this administration has in the last seven months churned out policies that stifle productivity in the formal and informal sectors, thereby inflicting hardship on them.

This has resulted in the semi-destruction of the longstanding extended family

system in our society.

“It is a statement of fact that under President Buhari’s watch, the nation has witnessed the gloomiest festive season. Under this government, Nigerians have had the worst Sallah celebration and by all indications, this Christmas season is going to be the bleakest ever.

“More worrisome is the

L-R: Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Shauri; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), and Permanent Secretary for Works, Mr. Abubakar Magaji, during the ministerial briefing by Fashola in Abuja… on Tuesday.

No stone ‘ll be left unturned for safe return of Chibok girls – FG Continued from page 6 He added that by the end of this year, the members of the insurgent group would no longer be in a position to hold any territory as they had done in the past.

The Minister was however quick to point out that the support of the civilian populace is required by the military in the area of providing information in the war against terrorism in the country.

His words, “Let me say, without mincing words, that all of us, Nigerians, owe a debt of gratitude to our men and women in uniform for their patriotism, sacrifice and service. I say this because what I saw during my trip to Maiduguri, Konduga, Kaure and Bama last Saturday left me, and indeed all members of my entourage, in awe of the commitment

and loyalty of the military to our country’s peace and unity.

“From Maiduguri, where the Command and Control Centre, as well as the headquarters of the 7 Division are situated, what we saw are committed men and women in uniform, starting from the highest echelon of the military to the lowest rung of the ladder.

“The morale of the troops is quite high, and they are well equipped, from what we saw even though I must say that the provision of platforms for the military is a continuous process.

“The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, himself briefed me at the Command and Control Centre at the Maimalari Cantonment, and he was very categorical in saying and I quote ‘The reality on the ground is that we are

winning the war.’ He also said the military is working very hard to meet the December deadline. That is very reassuring.

“What we saw on the ground ourselves corroborated the statement made by the General.

“In the entire stretch from Maiduguri to Bama through Konduga, a very important corridor that leads all the way to Banki and then to Cameroon and indeed the entire Central Africa, our troops stood ready day and night to prevent any further attacks on the communities along the way.

“These are communities that bore the brunt of the deadly attacks by Boko Haram, with Konduga in particular being attacked about 28 times!

“It is a tribute to the ruggedness, professionalism, determination and loyalty

to country of our gallant soldiers that those communities, especially Bama and Konduga, are now free from the Boko Haram death-grip.

“At Bama, from where Boko Haram once declared a Caliphate, we were astounded at the level of destruction and devastation. Not a single building was unaffected by the activities of the terrorists, and no building is being occupied by its original resident. Even the Emir’s Palace was not spared by the terrorists. But thanks to our heroic military, the town has been retaken from Boko Haram.

“Another bright side is that the clean up of the town, as well as of Konduga and Kaure, has started. The Government of Borno has also kick-started the reconstruction efforts being spearheaded by the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

fact that there is no indication that the government has any plan for ameliorating the hardship of the people.

“Instead, the situation may get worse as this administration, in its lack of economic initiatives, is now rolling up its sleeves to introduce some stringent tax policies, in addition to completely removing the social palliatives Nigerians benefit from.

“On the issue of the persisting fuel queues across the country, we demand that the government come clean.

Is it market driven or a product of government conspiracy? Our take is that if indeed it is true that the government has a hand in this fuel crisis, then they should have a rethink and show pity on innocent Nigerians.

“We therefore align with

the people in declaring that this administration is unprepared for governance.

President Buhari and his party came to power on propaganda, deceit and falsehood and the government has now shown lack of initiatives and the required competence to successfully move the nation forward”, it said.

The party said that it is saddening that a government that came to power on a mantra of CHANGE now seeks to CHAIN the ways and means of the very people that they deceived into voting for them.

The PDP therefore advised the government to note that any attempt to increase taxes and duties will overstretch the lean income of ordinary Nigerians and gradually inflict intolerable poverty in the land.

Toll gates, 17,760 flats coming, says Fashola Continued from page 6 “It is eminent commonsense for us to find that money. We will use technology; so if we don’t pay cash, you will pay by tokens or tickets and the money is accountable and it will go to the right place.

“We will manage that fund properly and we will hold those who we put there to account.”

He said that as a shortterm strategy, the ministry would start with quick completion of ongoing interstate roads in order to facilitate connectivity, before working on those that bear heavy traffic. ``We commit all our skills, energies, and collective integrity unreservedly to playing our part, but how much success we deliver is dependent also on the citizens’ commitment to their own part.’’

The minister observed that lack of funding had caused many construction companies to retrench their workers due to the huge debts owed them by the var-

ious tiers of government.

He said that with adequate budgetary allocations, the three ministries have an enormous role to play in repositioning the economy and creating jobs. ``Clearly, good roads will help reposition and grow our economy, reduce travel time, cost of transportation of goods and services, and restore jobs that have been lost to transport-dependent services. ``Some of the numbers from only four construction companies that were sampled, suggest that at least 5,150 workers have been laid off as at March 11, 2015. ``If each contractor has only 100 employees at each of the 200 contract sites, it means at least that 20,000 people who lost their jobs can return to work, if the right budget is put in place and funded for contractors to get paid. ``The possibility to return those who have just lost their jobs back to work is the kind of change that we expect to see by this short-term strategy.’’

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Biafra: Kalu asks court to quash detention order Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏThe founder of the Radio Bi-

afra and the Director General of the Indigenous people of Biafran Republic (IPoB), Nnamdi Kalu, has asked a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, to set aside its earlier order that permitted the Department of Stats Security (DSS) to detain him for 90 days.

The DSS, on November 10, secured the order to detain him for 90 days, in order to enable investigation of alleged terrorism acts levelled against him by the Federal Government.

In a motion brought under Sections 35 (1); 35(4) and 35(5) of the 1999 Constitution, Kalu further also asked the court to strike out a criminal charge with reference no FHC/ABJ/CS/873/2015 brought

against him by the DSS. Arguing the motion, on Tuesday, before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, the suspect counsel , Egechukwu Obetta, also applied for an order of the court admitting him to bail and a further order directing the DSS to obey an order of the Chief Magistrate Court which had earlier granted him bail.

The applicant claimed that the order of the Federal High court that permitted the DSS to detain him for 90 days pending the investigation of terrorism allegations against him was obtained fraudulently by the DSS. The grounds of Kanu’s application was, among others, that the exparte motion dated and filed on October 26 by the DSS and upon which the permission to detain him was granted was an abuse of

court process brought in bad faith.

The detained Biafran leader alleged that the DSS did not reveal to the Federal High Court the fact of the pendency of a criminal charge already brought against him by the DSS in the Abuja Chief Magistrate Court.

He also claimed that the DSS suppressed the facts of the active pendency of the criminal action that the Chief Magistrate Court had granted him bail but which the DSS had deliberately refused to comply with.

Kanu also claimed that the magistrate where he was arraigned by DSS was a creation of statute and recognised under the law and that all his decisions and proceedings ought to be binding on all parties until set aside on appeal.

The Biafran leader also claimed

that the allegations of sponsoring and financing terrorism against him was a mere allegation and not supported with any trade of evidence that he was preparing to take up arms against the Nigerian nation.

Kanu further claimed that his continued detention, in spite of the order of the magistrate that released him on bail, was a trespass and in violation of his basic freedom as guarantee by the 1999 Constitution. He, therefore, urged the court to set aside the order that he be detained for 90days on the ground that Section 27 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2003, and any other provision which empowered the court to make order for his detention or any other person beyond 24 hours without trial was against the constitution.

NCAA embarks on aggressive debt recovery Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe Nigerian Civil Aviation

Authority (NCAA) has put in the place a debt recovery drive that would not disrupt the airlines operations.

Its Director-General, Captain Usman Muhtar, said this, on Tuesday, when members of aviation unions under Joint Action Congress paid a solidarity visit to the management.

Muhtar, who was represented by the Director of Finance (NCAA) Alhaji Nuhu Ozigi, explained that airlines’ indebtedness, in the face of government’s policy of change, would be recovered.

On the autonomy of NCAA, Ozigi was of the view that the agency was not, in any way, restricted in its regulatory oversight responsibilities.

He promised that the management would look into the issue of DANA Air requesting to start operations from the MMA2 critically before taking a decision on it.

Ozigi noted that some technical staff from the critical sections of NCAA were currently at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) undergoing various relevant local training in line with International Civil Aviation Or-

NGO trains journalists on social media Lara Adejoro

ÏÏÏNo fewer than nine journalists from both print and electronic media houses have been trained by

13 News Fire disaster averted at NET building Babajide Okeowo

ÏÏÏA

tragedy of monumental proportion was averted, on Tuesday, when a part of high-rise NITEL Building located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, went up briefly in flame.

According to an eyewitness, Mr. Oluwafemi Mathew, who works nearby, the fire outbreak occurred on the 32nd floor of the building about 5.20 p.m., due to a power surge.

“We were working as labourers at the next building when we noticed a thick cloud of smoke billowing into the sky and we raised the alarm,” he told the Daily Times.

The workers later swung into action and swiftly put out the fire before the arrival of fire-fighters.

Air Peace commits N200m to Miss Nigeria

ganisation’s (ICAO) recommendations.

He disclosed that, while pensions and gratuities were not owed to any staff, modalities had been fashioned out on how to liquidate pending staff claims on a monthly basis, even though it might seem to be going fairly slowly.

Leading the Joint Action Congress (JAC) to all the aviation parastatals offices before they rounded at Aviation House was the Deputy President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) , Comrade Williams Ukah.

He listed items for management attention as issues of training for technical staff, autonomy, staff claims, airlines’ indebtedness to NCAA and the DANA Airlines request to commence a regional flight operations from the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 The unions urged the NACA not to accede to DANA request, so as not to incur the wrath of labour in the sector.

The unions hinged their position on the ground that the request negated aviation security at the terminal and the agreement between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the operator of the terminal.

NET House, Marina, Lagos in flames… on Tuesday. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

its commitment towards peaceful co-existence in the country, Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace, in fulfillment of its promise, has invested a sum of N200 million into the Miss Nigeria training scheme, a plan to further make her knowledgeable and acquire the necessary skills needed to carry on all through her reign as queen.

Leesi Peter-Vigboro, who was crowned at the end of a keen contest, recently, left the shores of the country for Atlanta, United States of America, for a two-week special training course on non-violence conflict resolution at the Emory University, Atlanta.

Speaking from her training centre, Leesi disclosed that she was excited that the training commenced at a time when she needed to show her impact in the fight against violence amongst youths. She said: “I am currently on day two at the training centre and I must say that it has been work all the way. I want to say a big thank you to the organisers of the pageant and equally to Air-Peace for their sponsorship towards making some of the project I intend doing easy”.

the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) on multimedia and social media training for networking and environmental reporting.

Participants were directed by a team of experts who took them on hands-on trainings on how to use social media platforms like twitter, facebook, instagram, Youtube etc.

The two-day training was funded by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Speaking on Nigeria’s persistent environmental challenges, the ERA/FoEN Deputy Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said some of the challenges were desertification, deforestation, erosion, climate change, marine pollution, domestic

port news of the environment fast.

One of the resource persons at the training, Dr. Tunde Akanni said, “media houses must reckon that with the dimension of immediacy that comes with the internet comes with the challenges of training and re-training for all cadre of editorial staffers, especially with regards to digital technology.”

Mutiat Alli

ÏÏÏAs part of

waste, auto-emissions, among others. Oluwafemi said that “journalists should take interest on climate change issues. Those who have stayed in Lagos for over ten years would tell you that the harmattan season is usually a day experience, but now, the season stays longer.”

He urged journalists to make use of the social media platforms to re-

News14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

How ex-Gov Suswam swindled Benue govt N3.1b - EFCC Andrew Orolua

Abuja An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Junaidu Sa'id, on Tuesday, gave the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, details of how former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, and his Ex- Finance Commissioner, Omadachi Okolobia, swindled the Benue state government of over N3.1 billion.

Mr. Sa’id probed allegations of fraud levelled against exgovernor Suswam involv-

ing the total sum of over N9billion that was realised from the sale of companies’ shares belonging to Benue state government, while he also tendered six document that exposed the fraud.

Testifying as a prosecution witness at the resumed trial on Tuesday, Sa’id told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that his team investigated the petition dated July 14, 2015 against Suswam and his finance commissioner.

He said the investigation revealed that former governor requested that shares

owned by the Benue state government be sold for the sum of N10 billion.

Consequent upon that, Elixir Investment Partners was appointed as stockbrokers to carry out the sales of the shares, of which over N9 billion was realised from the sales of the shares.

Elixir Investment Partners, the witness said was thereafter instructed to pay the N9 billion realised from the sales of the shares into three different bank accounts.

Another instruction was given for the payment of N1

billion to Benue Investment Properties Company's account, while the balance of N8 billion was paid into two separate accounts with the name of Benue state ministry of finance.

However, when Elixir attempted to pay into the two separate accounts of Benue state ministry of finance as was directed, it was discovered that one of the account do not belong to Benue state ministry of finance but belongs to one Fanffash Resources.

Sa'id stated further that

L-R: Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei; Commissioner for Transport, Edo State, Mr. Isimeme Iriogbe; Zonal Commanding Officer, FRSC RS5, Benin, Mr. Shehu Zaki and Government Services & Alcohol in Society Manager, Guinness Nigeria, Mrs. Nkiru Ogburuche at the flag-off of Guinness Nigeria’s Operation Sanity during the Ember months campaign launch in Benin, Edo State… on Tuesday.

Benin Republic pledges 800 men to war against Boko Haram Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident

of Benin Republic, Mr. Boni Yayi, on Tuesday, said his country was ready to contribute 800 men to join Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

According to him, the men that would soon be deployed were already spoiling for action.

The Benin Republic President disclosed this to newsmen in an address after a

bilateral talk with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said during a one-day state visit that his country would remain on the side of Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and corruption.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said: "President Buhari took over the mantle of government at a time terrorism occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram is high.

"To fight terrorism, Benin

is ready to send about 800 men to join the men that are already prepared to fight terrorism. The team is battle ready for deployment.

"The will power is there and Benin is committed to deploying the men. Benin will always remain on the side of Nigeria in its trying times.

"The sub region is also going through serious problems of development. Fighting Boko Haram is becoming difficult because OPEC countries are

going through oil crises.

"We will always stand beside Buhari in his fight against corruption."

Responding, Buhari said for security and economic reasons, it was in Nigeria's best interest to maintain good relationship with its neighbours.

The Nigerian leader also disclosed that the country, in demonstration of its commitment to the course of the West African sub region, would be hosting the Economic Community of West Africa States in just a few days to come.

Stakeholders unite to revive transport sector Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏIn an effort to reposition and ensure efficiency in the Nigerian transportation industry, stakeholders in the industry, under the ageis of The Corporate Council On

Africa, has shown keen interest in collaborating with the new leadership to restore lost glory in the sector.

This was revealed on Tuesday, when a 17- member representatives from the consulting firms paid a courtesy

call to the Minister of Transport, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

While showcasing the group’s intentions to bring into use a universally accepted means of transportation, Mr. Mansur Ahmed of

Dangote Group, on behalf of the stakeholders, said that they have collectively come to know from government in the area of needed collaboration that will bring the needed Change in the industry for economic boost.

upon this discovery, Elixir sought clarification from the then commissioner for finance (2nd Defendant), who gave him the go-ahead that the payment should be made in the name of Fanffash Resources.

Investigation revealed that N5 billion was paid into the account of Benue state ministry of finance by Elixir Investment Partners, while a total sum of N3.1 billion was paid into Fanffash Resources account.

The witness said the owner of Fanfash Resources,

Ogun lawmaker lauds Amosun’s style Oguntade ismaila

ÏÏÏA

member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, representing Ifo Constituency 02, Hon. Ganiyu Oyedeji has assured the people of its constituency on the multifaceted road project from Sango Ijoko to Ojodu Berger that linked to Ibadan Express- way since 2003, will be completed before the end of this tenure.

He gave the assurance last weekend at the end of the year and award ceremony of Baale Akinosi Community Development Council, in Akute Ajuwon area of Ogun State. He said the con-

Suswam Abubakar Umar was invited by the EFCC, who confirmed that he received N3.1 billion and converted same to dollar equivalent, amounting to $15.8 million and that he delivered same in cash to former governor Suswam at his Maitama Residence in Abuja. tractor have resumed work on site since last month to ensure that the road is completed as promised by the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Oyedeji, also stated further that the present administration is fully committed to embark on rural infrastructure in the state, so as to enable the people at the rural area enjoy the dividend of democracy.

Also speaking at the event, the Director of Community Development, Mrs. Gbadamosi Muibat, representing the Commissioner for Community Development and Co-operative as Chairman of the occasion, said community play a major role in the developmental activities in the state as grassroots government.

Boko Haram: N’East Senators parley FG on reconstruction Olufemi Samuel Abuja

ÏÏÏThe North East caucus

of the Senate is to hold a crucial meeting with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to hasten the rebuilding of the zone.

The meeting between Presidency and Senators from the northeast zone is to ensure the speedy passage of a law the zone is proposing on North East Development

Further speaking, Mr. Munsur pointed that members of the group, has in the past invested heavily to revamp the industry to enable it have easy access for the transportation of its products to the last consumer.

Commission.

The Chairman of the caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje disclosed this to newsmen during a briefing, stating that members are to meet the government through Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on plans to reconstruct the zone following intense devastation through the activities of insurgents.

Goje told newsmen that the efforts by the Senators were to attract global attention to the Northeast zone and the need to ensure reconstruction following the destruction of many areas by Boko Haram.

He said the essence of a meeting with the Vice President was to intimate him with plans by stakeholders on reconstruction and rebuilding of areas so far destroyed by Boko Haram.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

15 Opinion

Grading the Akinwunmi Ambode administration

I Rasak Musbau

nstantly comfortable and highly skilled at the hardest job in the world — proving his supporters’ argument that all the traits that made him a candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) would serve him well in the Lagos House.

Akinwunmi Ambode has been directing the attention of Lagosians and the country as a whole since assumption of office six month ago toward the issues that should top the state’s agenda: fiscal innovation and stability, civic engagement, security, environmental sustainability, better schools and reenergizing of the state-local government relationship in delivering dividend of democracy.

Ambode appreciate that while it may be possible to duplicate masterpieces using technology, leadership episodes are often unique, making it difficult, if not impossible, to replicate in its entirety. He knows that leaders do not have the luxury of repeating a leadership episode; much less repeat a mistake, in order to learn from it.

This explains why he is anchoring his administration on instilling in the state’ public servants positive culture and value that would yield long-term result. To him, love and compassion are not mere private virtues but a guide in managing people’s affairs.

To the enlightened and open-minded, the power of democracy is inherent in its propensity to openly allow issues to be critically analysed before implemention. As someone conversant with tenet of democracy, Ambode has so far used this as a guide in parley with stakeholders. This also informed his decision to replace the previous 100 days in office ceremony with the town hall meeting. This is not a condemnation but an upgrade as dictated by need for a new template of engagement.

The first town hall meeting of Ambode government at Abesan (Lagos West Senatorial District) and outcome/impact of the meeting attested that it was a bold move.

The question is six month enough to grade anyone a great or clueless governor. Not. So far, indication point to the fact that Ambode would be adjudged as the best governor in Nigeria at the end of his tenure. A great governor, is one that makes improvement that will outlast him.

It is not news that the economy of the country is facing heightened risk because of macro-economic pressures, including unstable exchange rates and falling oil prices. But available records has shown that in six months, Ambode has challenged failure to a duel by ensuring that state finances is in shape.

He had focused on improving the state

economy and establishing his capacity to work and end with AA+ grade.

The state economy remains strong because Ambode has vast knowledge and experience in financial management. He has restructured the public service for optimal performance.

Though it was another thing to the cynics, Ambode has achieved reduction in the cost of running government by pragmatically blocking leakages and tightening up weak structures..

The bold move of relocating government agencies on rented apartment with bogus yearly rent payment to the state secretariat is another shrewd move.

Making the establishment of Ministry of Wealth Creation one of the first step upon assumption of office also testified to his preparedness for the task. The ministry is now planning an employment trust fund to finance young entrepreneurs where they can have access to low-interest loans. The logic in this is that Ambode would have breached a gap once these youths are more or less engaged, because the ultimate goal for any growing economy is to create jobs.

Ambode should also get credit for creating Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment to drive foreign investment into the state.

Ambode has an excellent grade in

payment of workers’ salaries and can be given excellent rating for payment of N11bn in pensions to those neglected since 2010. This was done at a time other states are finding it difficult to offset salaries.

The Ambode administration has established a new, infectious atmosphere of optimism with what he calls Operation Zero Tolerance for potholes on all roads including Federal Government roads. In the last six months, over 280 roads have been rehabilitated.

To underscore the Ambode’s administration seriousness in ensuring the security of lives and property, the governor has inaugurated some security equipment to rebrand and reposition the state’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS). The equipment handed over to RRS included three helicopters, two patrol boats, 100 motorcycles, 13 BM power bikes, 60 ford salon cars, 55 Ford Rangers, 40 Toyota Land cruiser SUVs, 31 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as well as police uniforms and other kits.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has continued to maintain and demonstrate his commitment to tackle the tough challenges of governing the state.

Musbau is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy.

Not Biafra but religious intolerance will end Nigeria

A

E.O. EKE

s the agitation for Biafra grows, it would seem that the threat to the existence of Nigeria is the people protesting marginalisation.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that the peaceful protest for Biafra by the Igbo youth, have borne the consequence of marginalisation and discrimination, does not threaten the existence of Nigeria. What the Igbo say loud and clear is that they can no longer accept the status quo that limits their rights.

It is up to the government to offer a coherent and acceptable responses.

A good, sensitive and honest government can easily take the oxygen out of the Biafran protest by addressing the marginalisation and implementing a development agenda, that removes institutionalised discrimination.

What really threatens the Nigerian nation is corruption and criminality of the ruling elites and, religious extremism of the type prevalent in North Nigeria, which has given rise to Sharia.

While the government can deal with the danger the Biafran protest presents, it cannot do so with extreme Islam, which seeks to impose Islamic law and introduce Islamic education in our schools. More so, some people in

important position share the dream of an Islamic Nigeria and are complacent in the attempt to actualise it. Therefore, the ball is squarely in Buhari’s court and it is up to him to produce a coherent and reasonable response.

What imperils the unity of Nigeria are:The continued effort by Saudi Arabia to export Sunni Wahab Islam to Nigeria.Terrorist activities of Boko Haram group.Continued refusal of the Nigerian state to expose those behind Boko Haram. Apparent inability of the Nigerian government to fight corruption across board by institutional reforms and selective targeting of corrupt politicians. Corrupt and morally bankrupt judiciary.

The above will only embolden militant and extreme Islam, which would become more intransigent and determined to impose its sectarian and primitive ideology on Nigeria as a cure for endemic corruption.

Therefore, Nigeria is a fertile ground for an Iraq type disintegration that has left its north in the hands of the Kurds and the rest of the country split between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

It is such sectarian and nasty type of Islam that will imperil the future of Nigeria. Sadly, the government continues to support the overt and convert Islamisation of Nigeria and protects some corrupt politicians because they

are in the ruling party.

Why would any leader enlightened on nation building and multiethnic democracy, scheme to impose Islamic way of life on the entire country?

How can a leader claim to be honest when his associates are some of the most corrupt and morally bankrupt.

One cannot help noticing the double standard which the government prosecutes its war against corruption.

Why should any reasonable person think that imposing Islamic dress code in schools would enhance encompassing Nigerian identity, deepen democratic values and serve the cause of unity?

Why would Buhari think that shooting unarmed Biafran protesters would bring peace and unity?

Nigerians need to wake up to the dangers of extreme Islam being propagated in northern Nigeria and extolled

by ISIS and Boko Haram. It provides a narrative for terror, discrimination and inhuman treatment of others. It is this extreme form of intolerant Islam, that will bring an end to Nigeria.

Without confronting extreme Islam and exposing its ignorance, prejudice, aggression,intolerance, and use of subterfuge, Nigeria country will fall apart under its strain.

All religions are problematic, especially, when they seek to use either political power or violence to achieve

their objectives.

Today, Islam presents the greatest danger to free societies because of its rejection of gender equality, intolerance of difference and determination to dominate. It teaches and justifies violence against others in the name of Allah. It also gives adherents a narrative to justify brutality.

Yet it claims to be a religion of peace.

It ascribed to itself the superior position of holding the truth and advocates inhuman and barbaric punishments, without redemptive value to those who break its laws.

In extreme Islam of the type prevalent in Saudi Arabia and North Nigeria, which provides the orthodoxy for extremists, God does not believe in equality of men and women and, liberty of all.

In addition, Nigerians should worry that corruption, criminality and aggression have taken deep root in very strata of the society. The Nigerian society is in a melt down and cannot survive, unless it gets a leadership that is fit for purpose.

Nigeria is a ship taking water and will go down unless holes in the hull are plugged. Those whose responsibility it is to keep the ship afloat must realise they may not make it to the life boat, if they allow the crisis to reach point of no return.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Dambazau charges Nigerians to change perception about police Henry Omunu Abuja

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The Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), on Tuesday, in Abuja, said the ministry was committed to repositioning the police and advised Nigerians to change their perception of the service to encourage officers to be more effective

in service delivery.

He said this in an interactive session with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, and expressed confidence in a reformed police that would attract goodwill from Nigerians.

While reiterating a need for Nigerians to change their perception of the

police, Dambazau added that without changing the perception the police could not be effective.

“Generally people look at the police as being brutal, as being corrupt, as being unfriendly and as being inefficient. So, we thought that policing is not just a matter of arrest and prosecution; it also involves community service.

We want to see how we can change that perception,” Dambazau said.

The minister also restated the ministry’s commitment towards ensuring professionalism in the police through improved training, good recruitment, and stressed a need for the police to be better equipped, in order to properly tackle the security

challenges confronting the country.

The Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Rep. Haliru Jika (Bauchi-APC), said that the committee was committed to quality legislation for the actualisation of policies of government to improve policing in the country.

He said that “as par-

liamentarians, our focus will be the provision of adequate legislative impetus for the actualisation of the policies of government as it affects the police. The committee will address the perennial problems facing the police through positive interaction with these bodies in order to make for effective policing in the country.”

Kogi election:

FCT minister moves against land speculators

From Ibrahim Obansa Lokoja

Idu Jude Abuj

Group hails Bello’s emergence

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The election of Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All progressive congress, (APC), in the governorship election in Kogi State has been described as a fresh air that was destined by God to restore the state to the path of development and progress.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Abdanis Ibrahim and Secretary, Ilyas Badanga, and the nine Chairmen of the State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), which was made available to journalists, on Tuesday, in Lokoja.

The statement urged the well-meaning people of the state to support the Bello administration, which, it said, was an intervention

by God to rescue the state from under- development The CNNP noted that the late Prince Abubakar Audu, who was adjudged to be the founding father of Kogi State would have died in vain had Bello was not been elected , calling on the people across all divides to bury the hatchet for the progress of the state.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

L-R: Representative of Lafargeholcim, Mr. Pierre De lcroix; Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye and his counterpart in Forestry, Kolawole Lawal at a meeting discussing the re-energising of 108,000 hectares of land in Ogun State, held in France... recently.

CNPP tells NASS to halt anti-media Bill Moses Oyediran Enugu

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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, (CNPP), has asked the National Assembly to scrap its plan to gag social media users now that it was apparent that Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, are opposed to the ill-conceived legislation.

The conference further demanded that the federal lawmakers apologise to Nigerians for wasting public funds in pursuit of a Social Media Bill meant to shield their dirty dealings from public knowledge.

In a statement issued, on Tuesday, which was made available to the Daily Times, the Secretary-General of CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu said that since the obnoxious legislation first surfaced it had proven that the members of National Assembly were desperate to gag Nigerians who were,

increasingly, taking active interest in governance with the increased access to the internet, mobile technology and social media.

The statement said that the true intent of the legislation was exposed given revelations on social media about the shady histories of those driving the bill.

The CNPP charged the National Assembly to kill the bill now that Buhari, in tune with the stand of Nigerians, had openly declared that he would not assent to a law that could engender dictatorship.

It noted that “people, worldwide, are already grappling with terrorism induced restrictions on liberty and unwarranted surveillance such that no country’s nationals deserve to also lose the basic right of freedom of expression. What the bill seeks to achieve is not obtainable even in the most repressive countries of the world.”

The CNPP said the National Assembly should rather amend the Evidence Act to cater for the digital reality of the contemporary world, instead of trying to criminalise criticisms on social media, which should be a civil suit for anyone who felt offended.

It challenged the federal lawmakers to first pass a legislation that made corruption a capital offence before trying to secure perpetual immunity for themselves using the Social Media Bill as a cover.

“The Senators and House of Representatives members should first make corruption or stealing of public funds attract death sentence. They should introduce a strict law on asset forfeiture for persons who corruptly and criminally enrich themselves. They should make a law that bars persons indicted or convicted for corruption from ever holding public of-

fice.They should legislate to blacklist any politician or political party that engage in electoral fraud. For us, in the CNPP, we have a long shopping list of legislations that can take up the time of the law-makers instead of wasting time on this nonsense.”

The group threw its weight behind the civil and activist groups protesting the planned law saying that other Nigerians would swell the ranks of the protesters if the National Assembly pressed its anti-people bill.

It warned that the bill was obviously testing the waters ahead of other draconian acts that would reduce Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship of a corrupt few. “The law-makers have, definitely, sensed that many Nigerians will use social media for whistle-blowing to strengthen the anti-corruption fight and have become desperate to block the

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed that, henceforth, all staff of the FCT Administration should wear their identification cards within the office premises for easy recognition.

He gave this directive, on Monday, while receiving briefs from the management team of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) in his office.

Bello insisted that all the staff of the FCT Administration must wear their ID Cards and, therefore, directed the Department of Security Services (DSS) to enforce the directive.

His words: “All staff of FCTA/FCDA must wear their staff identification cards at all times to distinguish between the real staff and visitors to the premises”.

Lagos launches On-line platform for state laws Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏ

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to ensure that the laws of the state were obeyed by the residents. In light of this, the government has perfected plans to launch an On-line platform, where people all over the world, could access the laws enacted by the state since 1967, till date.

Education Times Æ s ASUU urges FG to Investigate Michael Okpara varsity VC

Augustine Okezie, Abuja

The Academic staff Union of Nigerian universities (ASUU), Abuja zonal chapter, has called on the Federal Government and the regulatory authorities in the education sector to investigate the activities of the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Professor Hillary Edoga, over what it described as ‘’litany of gross impunity perpetrated by him in the management of the affairs of the university’’.

Abuja zonal Chairman of ASUU, Professor Suleiman, who made the call on Tuesday, in Abuja while addressing newsmen, said the union had made several representations to the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) and that they were only told by these authorities that the matter is being ‘’looked into’’.

He said: ‘’We are therefore calling on President Muhammed Buhari to as a s a matter of urgency and in the spirit of the on-going war against corruption to investigate and call Professor Edoga to order. ‘’It is the belief of this association that a presidential intervention and investigation will help unravel the illicit deals and maladministration of Prof. Edoga and reverse these academic terrorism’’.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

17

FG seeks law on minimum qualification for teachers

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left); Managing Director, Thomson Reuters Africa, Sneha Shah; State Chief Judge, Justice, Olufunmilayo Atilade and Chairman, House Committee on Judicial Commission, Hon. Olufumilayo Tejuosho, during the unveiling the Lagos State Laws held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja...on Tuesday.

Henry Omunu, Abuja The President Muhammadu Buhari administration is seeking the enactment of a legislation by the National Assembly that will legalise the minimum academic requirement for teachers at all levels in the country.

Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education.

Prof. Onwuka said that while

there exists a policy on the minimum academic requirement for teachers, the policy needs to be backed by the force of law to make it more effective.

“Nigeria needs a law stating the minimum requirement for teaching. Presently, the policy is not backed by law. What we’re advocating is a law stipulating a minimum of National Certificate of Education (NCE) as the base line qualification for anyone to teach at the primary school level while the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PDGE) should be for other levels.

“Our children are groaning

under the pains of poor teaching and we must address this”, the minister said.

Also, he said that the administration is working out a set of incentives to encourage teachers to take their jobs seriously, adding that there is equally the need for teachers to be assessed every four years to ensure they are up to date with the latest trends in teaching.

Furthermore, the minister revealed that the administration will pursue a policy that will encourage the teaching of skill acquisition at the primary school level, instead of the current

trend of where skill acquisition is taught at the tertiary level.

To achieve this, he said focus will be on ensuring that the primary school curriculum contains 50 per cent skill acquisition and 50 per cent academic exercise, “so that our children can learn skills early rather than teaching them skills at the university level as is the case.

“We have to make our education responsive to our needs and environment, and it becomes too late when we wait until the university level before we begin to teach our children skill acquisition”.

Amina Atiku urges NASS to pass disability bill Augustine Okezie Abuja Wife of former Vice President, Mrs. Amina Atiku, has called on the members of National Assembly to pass the proposed bill for the provision of special needs on Education and health services of children with special needs when its eventually submitted by her organisation.

Mrs. Atiku made the call in Abuja during the 10th year anniversary of Hope House Initiative and launching to build a state-of-the-art facility for Autism support school.

The former Vice President’s wife, who is also one of the directors of the school, further noted that Nigeria’s Education system is not favourable to children with disability, saying “Special needs children often are unable to fit into conventional schools because of peer discrimination and learning difficulties. These children can only progress through special education especially when coupled with training in life and vocational skills”.

She added: “If government has no school anywhere to for this category of individuals and they do not enjoy the protection and full benefit of Nigeria’s

Child Right Act as enshrined in our constitution under section 4, 13, 15 and 16 due to their inability to cope with the conventional school system, we are not going to keep our eyes open and watch these things happening and still close our hearts.”

While calling for the support of Nigerians to raise funds to construct a more conducive centre that would cater for educational well-being and vocational skill acquisition of the children, she disclosed that the centre will also serve as a training facility for teachers in special education.

In her welcome address, the

school administrator, Babel Jaji, said Hope House is on course to ensure the children’s safety and welfare and on its way to elaborate more on the course.

“Parents have trust in what we do and so many children have grown out of Hope House to receive inclusive education in mainstream schools and colleges, or have started to execute their talents in vocations of their choosing,” she said.

Jaji explained that any special needs child didn’t get the challenge or disorder like Downs or Aspergers Syndrome because of any fault of theirs or that of their parents nor any evil spirit responsible, rather nature has

taken its course and it should be accepted.

She noted that there is no difference between children with special needs, saying: “Our children are achievers in their own way. It may take a long time but achievement becomes obvious when against all odds, the child starts talking, when he starts walking, or when he reaches developmental milestones eventually.”

On the state of art facilities, she said Hope House would like to provide a more conducive shelter learning and working environment with all the needed therapies to the children.

Education Times 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

FG to deploy ICT in Education sector, says Perm Sec. Augustine Okezie, Abuja

Engr. Tola Omotayo (left) and Prof. Oluwaseun Omotayo during the Master’s Degree ceremony of Tola Omotayo at the University of Northampton, U.K ... recently.

Minister urges Nigerians, stakeholders to support Education policy Augustine Okezie, Abuja The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has urged Nigerians and relevant stakeholders to support the goals and targets of the present administration in the education sector by ensuring proper planning, efficient administration and proper use of resources.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director Basic Education, Mrs. Augusta Okonkwo, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the 14th Quarterly meeting of UBEC management and the States Chairmen of SUBEB on the theme ’’Consolidating Basic Education in Nigeria: Challenges and the way forward’’, said support government in the quest to

revamp the nation’s education is of extreme important.

He said: “Government will not turn its eyes against any untoward attitude of fund managers. I therefore charge you to be part of the change mantra.”

While charging the meeting to address the challenge of accumulated funds in the UBEC which have not been accessed by some benefitting states, the minister said “we cannot be talking of insufficient funds for basic education when billions of naira are in the vault of the bank, idling away”.

Also speaking, the Chairman Borno State Basic Education Commission, Dr. Shettima Bukar Kullima, regretted that attacks by Boko Haram insurgents has virtually afflicted basic edu-

cation delivery in the state, adding that the carnage has destroyed not less than 512 schools.

He said: ‘’When you translate this to classrooms, it is over 1000 classrooms. In addition, they also killed 350 teachers and the number of children are to be unaccounted for because the areas are under the occupation of Boko Haram and so to go and take head count of that area is quiet impossible. ‘’The state government is aggressively pursuing the construction of schools.

Apart from the state government, we are yet to get any support from anywhere particularly the previous government treated Borno State as if we were worse than conquered territory’’.

The Federal Government has expressed its readiness and commitment to ensure the development and deployment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in all sectors of the country’s economy.

This was made known in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, during the opening ceremony of the Skool Media Start-Up workshop and capacity building by the Ministry in collaboration with Skool Media and SAMSUNG. Skool Media is an ICT solution based initiative that attempts to redefine the goals of education to transform how learning is practiced each day. It also majors on expanding the range of measures in student achievement, in order to meet new demands of the 21st century.

She stated that this new development would serve as a catalyst for the attainment of meaningful and sustainable national development, especially in Education.

Dr. Yemi-Esan, who was represented by the Director Human Resources, Mohammed Umar, said the ministry is committed to fulfilling its mandate by supporting initiatives and programmes that would impact positively on the sector.

“We believe that successful contributions to the attainment of increased access to quality education are most likely to be secured through the development and deployment of ICTdriven programmes and activities in the sector”, she stated.

She said that the technology initiative is focused on some basic area like distance learning, knowledge-based network for students and training of teachers.

“We focus on increasing access through distance learning to bring educational opportunities to greater numbers of people. The Knowledge-based network for students is to facilitate timely transmission of information and knowledge.

“It encourages competitiveness of the individual, that is the teacher and the learner, to raise bar in classroom output and experience, Yemi-Esan added.

The Project Director, Skool Media, Mr. Moses Imayi, stated that Skool is the JET world providing infrastructural support to a range of educational institutions in Nigeria.

He said: “This will ensure that thorough partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and SAMSUN; we ensure that educational systems will have digitalized classroom and capacity building based on 21st century.

SSANU urges FG to improve workers’ welfare The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has called on the Federal Government to find ways of improving the working conditions for its members.

The National President of SSANU, Mr. Samson Ugwoke, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, rather than relieving workers in the system, the government should seek means of improving the living conditions in the universities.

It will be recalled that members of the association had in June, protested a circular directing Vice-Chancellors of Federal Government universities to stop accommodating their staff school teachers in their emolument structure.

The members of the association had vowed to resist plan to stop salaries of teachers in the University Demonstration Primary Schools.

Ugwoke said that teachers of these schools and other university workers were legitimate members of the university community.

He noted that payment of the association’s members was part

of the issues entrenched in the agreement it entered into with government in 2009. ``Government is a continuum and so, it does not matter which government signed the agreement or not, it must be honoured. ``When we got that circular, we said no to it and wrote several letters to government explaining why such plans should be jettisoned. ``Look at the situation in the country. There is a rise in the level of unemployment among able bodied Nigerians. ``Rather than looking for means of cushioning the effect, we are here planning how to send more people, who are bread winners of several families into the labour market. ``We have warned about the consequences of going ahead with that move and we shall not be held responsible if government refuses to listen and goes ahead with their plan,’’ he said.

Ugwoke said there was the need for the incumbent administration to step up efforts in ensuring that the country’s universities were given the much needed attention to achieve global excellence.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

19 Education Times

FG to give priority to human capacity development, says Minister

Monarch urges varsity councils to be change agents Augustine Okezie, Abuja

L-R: Prof. Attahiru Jega, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola and others during the third convocation of Afe Babalola University of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State... recently

The Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, at the weekend, said that the Federal Government would give priority to human capacity development to tackle unemployment in the country.

Adamu made the disclosure at the 23rd Convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, in Edo State.

The minister, who was represented by Dr. Hilda Onyekwere, said that human capacity development topped the agenda of the Buhari-led administration.

“The biggest challenge confronting our country today is the high level of unemployment among our youths.

“As part of its agenda in the area of education, this government places human capacity development among its top priorities.

“In this context, it is most obvious for higher educational institutions to train competent persons in human resource management, capable enough to contribute effectively to the economic, social and cultural development of the country,” he said.

Adamu said that the Federal Government was committed to supporting Technical Vocation Education and Training (TVET) for future changes in the country.

He urged heads of polytechnics and technology-based institutions to develop appropriate attitudes and give career choices that were in harmony with a person’s potential, to enable him engage in lifelong learning and development.

“I challenge the TVET sector to engage in teaching, learning and research in such new areas that will turn around the fortune of

Third ABUAD convocation: A celebration of academic excellence

this country.

“I expect the TVET sector to focus on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Energy (conventional and renewable), advance materials, railway engineering and technology, as well as aerospace technology.

“This government believes that we can break free of poverty and become truly prosperous if we accord the TVET sector its rightful place by funding it appropriately,” he said.

The minister disclosed that the federal government had given approval for the framework of National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), to formulate a national skill development policy and plan for Nigeria.

He commended the rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Philipa Idogho,for her capacity, efficiency and goal-focused administration

Anyone who did not attend Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), who was present at its 3rd Convocation ceremonies held recently, would be tempted to renounce his/her Alma-mata.

The 5-day event witnessed a myriad of excellent colourful activities which include Convocation Press Conference and Games, Film Show, Thanksgiving Service, Founder’s Interaction with the Alumni, Unveiling of the Founder’s Statue, and Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Induction/Oath Taking ceremony for ABUAD Engineering graduates, Convocation Lecture, Founder’s and Alumni Dinners, where King Sunny Ade and the Golden

since she assumed office years back.

“I want to specifically commend Dr Philipa Idogho for repositioning the polytechnic in terms of infrastructural development and raising the standard of learning in the institution.

“I commend you for a job well done; by all practical means, yours was a successful tenure and I recommend your mettle to others,” he said.

Earlier, Idogho said that a total of 2,748 students were awarded Higher National Diploma (HND) while 3,950 students awarded with National Diploma (ND).

The rector said that a total of 69 projects had been carried out and completed since she took over the leadership of the polytechnic in 2008.

Mercury of Africa performed live, among others.

The Convocation Grand Finale and Awards which held at the 7000 seat capacity magnificent, pillar less Alfa Belgore hall, witnessed the conferment of Honorary Degrees on four eminent Nigerian Scholars. They include His Royal Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Allaafin of Oyo; Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, (rtd); Prof. Attahiru Jega, immediate past chairman of INEC; and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese.

The admission to first degrees of the university witnessed ABUAD graduating students from five colleges

The traditional ruler of Abaji also known as Ona of Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji A.B. Yunusa, has urged university governing councils in the country to be the agents of change that would turn the fortunes of their institutions around for good.

He said the councils should not fold their arms and pray for change, rather they should rise to the challenges posed by the time by initiating measures that would cushion the institutions against adversities.

The royal father, who stated this when he received members of the governing council and management of the University of Abuja, who paid him a courtesy call in his palace, said the much desired change would not come to the universities until those at the helm of affairs rose to the challenge of bringing it about.

Alhaji Yunusa also commended the Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Adikwu, for restoring confidence in the university where graduates were now getting their degree certificates as at and when due.

The royal father, who is also chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs, however, urged the university to give priority to indigenes of the FCT in admission and employment quota.

Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, represented by a member of the Council, Professor Ediga Agbo, solicited the support of the traditional ruler which, he noted, was necessary if the university is to achieve one of its objectives of ensuring overall societal development.

namely Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Sciences and Social and Management Sciences.

The Department of Chemical Engineering witnessed three first class students – two males -Adeniji Rahmon Olusegun and Nwambuonwo Samson Chukwufunanya and a female- Omofoyewa Gbemisola Mufliah.

There were six first class graduands from the College of Law comprising five females and a male among others.

Almost 50 different Awards and Prizes worth millions of Naira cut across different faculties and departments were presented to deserving students.

The president and founder Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), in his speech, beaconed the graduating students to be good Ambassadors of the university. He further called on the Federal Government to assist through TETFUND in the funding of private universities in Nigeria because, as he said, the future of university education in the country is in private universities.

“Secondly, private universities are also contributing to the developmental manpower of the nation,” he added.

Each of the four distinguished Award recipients commended ABUAD and its founding father.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Inside Campus Æ s Campaign against crime and corruption berths at UNILORIN The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU), University of Ilorin chapter, has launched a sensitisation workshop to fight against crime and corruption in the Nigeria environment.

AFIS ODEYEMI, a 400 Level History student, University of Ilorin, reports.

This year’s workshop by the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU), University of Ilorin chapter, was staged at the university Multi-Purpose hall and centered on Integrity and Transparency. It was in a bid to reengineer the moral standard of the Nigerian citizens from the corrosive cancer of corruption.

The workshop had as its Chairman/Chief Host, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, the ViceChancellor, University of Ilorin and Professor A.O Ogunlela, ACTU chairman, University of Ilorin (Unilorin) as the host.

The Vice Chancellor heartily welcomed participants to the workshop particularly the invited guest lecturers- Mr. B.B Gaji from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Headquarters, Abuja, Legal luminary, Mr. J.O Baiyeshea (SAN), and Profes-

sor M.A Belewu of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin.

In an address delivered by Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali at the occasion which he titled; ‘Vanity Upon Vanity’, the Unilorin Vice Chancellor commended the university chapter of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU) for organising the workshop aimed at battling crime and corrupt practices in the country.

He pledged to support creation of more awareness on the ideals that the Unit champions, and with the very hope that the gains of the workshop will continue to endure among all.

His words: “I recall that when ACTU organised the presentation of the “Code of Ethics and Corruption Prevention Guide” on August 6, 2013, little did we know that the world was paying attention until Ambassador Walter Carrington came to deliver our 29th Convocation Lecture and made copious references to what we said on the occasion. It was then he charged Nigerians to find a cure to the corrosive cancer called ‘Corruption’ and today, we thank God that the cure is being found further.”

On the fight against corruption and corrupt practices as being witnessed globally, the Vice

Participants at the workshop.

Chancellor said: “We all know what corruption is; corruption impoverishes the people, compromises the capacity of the state to discharge its responsibilities to the people, and discourages investment in the economy in order to create new wealth and serves to discredit a nation. The summary is that corruption kills and we should all join hands to kill corruption, which is why the current anti-corruption war of the Federal Government is commendable.”

The VC insisted that emphasis must be placed on integrity and transparency as a way of realising that unjust accumulation of wealth is vanity upon vanity.

“I want to commend the thoughtfulness behind the theme of the workshop because the bane of development is corruption and corruption thrives only when there is no integrity or transpar-

ency. The last presidential election in Nigeria was keenly contested and untold lies were told about President Muhammadu Buhari and the more lies were told about him, the more millions of Nigerians supported him because of his rock-solid integrity.”

Professor Ambali thereby charged participants at the workshop to learn and re-learn from the submission of the invited speakers, saying: “As Nigerians, we all know what corruption has done to this country and we are aware that the change that Nigerians voted is actually a change from impunity and the corrupt past. It is therefore necessary that we all stand against corruption, uphold the banner of integrity, transparency and appreciate that life is vanity hence we should do what is right always.”

In his goodwill message, Barrister John Olusola Baiyeshea

Free medical service excites traders at Ejigbo Ezekiel Efeobhokhan It is a well-known fact that the epidemic of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases have skyrocketed.

During the recent World Diabetic day, about 3 million Nigerians were said to be suffering from the disease, yet that statistics is nowhere near accurate, as there are millions going about with diabetes in ignorance until its

complications arises.

With the foregoing, intern pharmacists (awaiting NYSC) showed selfless efforts in curbing this trend. They had a oneday free medical consultation and counselling service at the popular Ejigbo market, Ejigbo, Lagos.

Speaking with the coordinator, Pharmacist Emmanuel Egbroko, he stated that the target for the programme was individuals from 18 years and above,

The medical outreach team attending to a participant adding that early detection for any ailment provides a better prognosis for that condition.

“We are trying to combat the increase and prevalence of diabetes and hypertension.

Through screening, we can detect these diseases early enough and then it would be cheaper to maintain than when it has not caused many complications”.

Addressing those present,

(SAN), the first guest lecturer at the workshop thanked the gathering for turning out in their large numbers to grace the event, noting that usually in Nigeria when talks on integrity, transparency, corruption or issues around these areas is mentioned, there is usually a low turn-out of participants.

Baiyeshea spoke on the anticorruption efforts of the Nigerian Government, particularly under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime when the two anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), were set up in the year 2003.

He said: “The agency under Nuhu Ribadu addressed financial corruption by prosecution and convicting the murder of five corrupt individuals ranging from Nigeria’s former chief law enforcement officers to bank executives and the establishment and vision of the agencies was and is still to re-arrange the system for operating to the best international standard and lead the fight against economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.”

Furthermore, Barrister Baiyeshea said: “If President Muhammadu Buhari was to hunt down every corrupt official in Nigeria, there will be no one left in some ministries. Corruption has become a culture in the country; a way of life. Corruption thrives best in Nigeria than any other place in the world.

Pharmacist Andrew Saba advised that unknown to them, the hasty lifestyle in Lagos would make anyone take in junks instead of proper meal. “Accumulation of these junks overtime would lead to diabetes,” he said.

He advised them to have brisk walk daily and avoid sedentary life styles. He also called on men to avoid alcohol intake and quit smoking as these would lead to progression of the illness.

Also available was the free distribution of drugs and blood pressure check.

Appreciating the intern pharmacist’s gesture, a trader showered praises on them, stating that if every health professional were kind hearted as this, then there would not be a lot of sick people around.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

EQUAL HEALTH AND RIGHTS ACCESS ADVOCACY INITIATIVE

21 Public Notice

MECO LITTLE HELP INITIATIVE

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

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

THE TRuSTEES ARE: 1. Barr. Nelson Fadeni 2. Miss Eghaghe Osadebamwen 3. Mr. Eghaghe James O.

THE TRuSTEES ARE : 1. Njoku Emeka Joseph 2. Nnaemezie Jekwu Obi

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To advocate and lobby at both local and nation level for the rights and social development of persons affected by HIV/AIDS. 2. To promote effective research, preventing, treatment, care/support for persons affected by HIV/AIDS. Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

AImS AND ObjEcTIvE : 1. To see to the welfare of the motherless babies 2. To assist young youths by providing cheap accommodation for them and give them the opportunity monthly without passing through Agents and other fees.

3. To visit and see to the welfare of prisoner and needy.

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

SIGNED: EZEOGbuEFI F.A FOR: GAuDuIm SOLIcITORS.

ISU EZINERI INDIGENES ASSOCIATION This is to inform the General Public that the above Named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRuSTEES ARE : 1, EMEKA ANI - PRESIDENT 2, OKIKE CHINEDU - SECRETARY 3, NWIYE EMEKA 4,CHIJIOKE SUNDAY NWEKE 5 NWOKIKE CHIMA AUSTIN 6 ,AGU PROMISE MADUABUCHI AImS AND ObjEcTIvES : 1 TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY OF ISU EZINERI 2 TO PROMOTE PEACE AND GOOD RELATIONS AMONG THE PEOPLE 3 TO PROMOTE CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS AMONG MEMBERS Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED SEcRETARY

ASSOCIATION OF OSHODI TOWN INDIGENES,LAGOS STATE

DE HEPHZIBAH GLORIOUS INTERNATIONAL PRAYER MINISTRY

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

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

THE TRuSTEES ARE: 1.CHIEF AJANAKU RASAK SESAN 2.DIKO BABALOLA ADAMS 3.GBOTOLORUN RAMON NIYI 4.MACARTHY SAMUEL ADEOYE 5.BAKARE NURUDEEN DADA 6.NOAH SHAKIR BABATUNDE 7.OSENI WASIU AYINDE 8.AJANAKU WEMIMO AYINDE 9.ALMAROOF OLAMIDE ALAMU 10.OLUWO AOLAT ALARA LAMIDI.

TRuSTEE. 1. PROPHET ZINSU DANIEL JIMOH 2.MRS ZINSU SERAH MAUYON .3.MR ASHIDI JAMES GBETOHO 4. MR APARI JAMES GBEMENU 5. MRS GBEHOKEATHAN REBECCA.

THE TRuSTEES ARE: 1. REV. PASTOR AKANDE JOHN ADEWALE 2. MRS ADEBIMPE DEBORAH AKANDE 3. MR OLAWALE ISRAEL AKANDE 4. MRS ELIZABETH ADETEJU FOLAYAN 5. MRS ADEPEJU OGUNDIPE

AImS AND ObjEcTIvE: 1.To protect the interest of its member 2.To foster peace and unity among its member.

AIm & ObjEcTIvE .

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

AIm AND ObjEcTIvE: TO MINISTER TO EACH OTHER AND TO ALL THE WORLD.

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

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

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

SIGNED: SEcRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

INTERNATIONAL EVANGELICAL PASTORS ASSOCIATION

WORD HEALTH - CARE MISSION

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

FOUNTAIN OF SALVATION CHURCH ALADURA AYO IGBALA This is to inform the General Public that the above Named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

SIGNED bY SEcRETARY

SHINDONEL YOUTH MENTORING FOUNDATION

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

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

TRuSTEES ARE..

1 AYOKuNLE mOSES OLAREWAju 2 AYOKuNLE TOLuLOPE IRENE 3 LAWAL DAvID OLuWASEGuN 4 mAIjEH FuNKE 5 AHuNANYA mAbAEZE cHImEREucHEYA 6 RAY AbRAHAm IbbE

TRuSTEE ARE ..

1. DOOSHImA NELLY mbAHON ------- cHAIRmAN 2. cLEmENT TARNNGu mbAHON----------- SEcRETARY 3. ROSELINE SHIDOO mbAHON 4. TONY--TOm uZOcHuKWu 5. cHuKWu KALu

AImS AND ObjEcTIvES: 1. To unite Gospel Evangelists, Pastors And ministers.

2. To Preach And Defend The Gospel Of Our Lord jesus christ.

3. To Train missionaries, Pastors And christian Workers.

AIm&ObjEcTIvE 1 TO PROvIDE HEALTH cARE AID FOR SIcKLE cELL ANEmIA PATIENTS IN PARTIcuLAR AND THE LESS PRIvILEGE IN GENERAL.

AIm & ObjEcTIvE 1 TO ENLIGHTEEN YOuNGN PEOPLE ON HOW TO HANDLE ISSuE 2 TO mENTOR THEN ON PSYcHOLOGIcAL ASPEcTS OF LIFE 3 TO ENcOuRAGE AND EDucATE THEm ON SELF DEvELOPmENT

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

SIGNED: SEcRETARY

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

INcORPORATED TRuSTEES ARE: Stephen Cleophas Ben – Founder And President Olukoga Olusola O. –Vice President Samuel Okonji – Director Of Public Administration / P. R. O Kunle Adeleke– Director Of Events And Secretary Johnson Akinyemi– Director Of Finance / Treasurer Emmanuel Ben Okonji – Director Of National Events Chima Uzoma –Director Of State Events Celestin Musei– Director Of Logistics

ASSOCIATION OF BODY THERAPISTS HAIRDRESSERS BARBERS OF NIGERIA. This is to inform the General public that the above named Association has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990 TRUSTEES. 1. MRS LOLA OSHINWO 2. MRS. ADENIKE SHOBOWALE AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To enhance Unity and Beauty with Barber and Hairdresser 2. To provide jobs for both graduate and non-graduate 3. To take the beauty to the next level.

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

SIGNED PRESIDENT:

SINGNED SEcRETARY

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

SIGNED cHAIRmAN

O’MPA CLUB OF NIGERIA

TRUSTHOUSE OF GOD CHURCH INT’L.

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

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

TRuSTEES: 1, Mr. Orjiewulu Ambrose – Chairman 2, Mr. Ndife Okechukwu 3, Mr. Ezeamar John 4, Mr. Christian Daniels 5, Mr. Offor Fabien.

TRuSTEES: 1, Pastor Lucky E. O. Okumagba - General Overseer 2, Pastor Rosalyn Okumagba - Assistant G. O 3, Osteen Egede - Fin. Sec 4, Barbara O. Lucky - Treasurer 5, Bruno Okumagba - Secretary.

AImS & ObjEcTIvE: 1, To promote peace, unity and love among members 2, To promote the interest and well being of all members 3, To associate with people of like minds.

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

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

SIGNED: TRUSTEES.

SIGNED TRuSTEES

BEN WILLIAMS HILL OF CROSSES FOUNDATION

KWALE GAS SELLERS ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED foundation HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

TRUSTEES. 1. Benedict NgoziEnwose-Williams 2. Judy Brown Enwose-Williams 3. Divine Enwose-Williams 4. Jesse Enwose-Williams 5. Ruth Enwose-Williams 6. AnnahEnwose-Williams.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: i). MR. UGBOME IFEANYI GODWIN iii). MR. CHUKWUTEM KAKAKA

ii). MR. ONICHA PAUL iv). MR. ISAMA SAMUEL IFEANYI

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. TO CATER FOR OLD PEOPLE WIDOWS ORPHANS DISPLACE PEOPLE LESS PRIVILEDGE PEOPLE HUMANITARIAN SERVICER

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: a. TO FOSTER PEACE, PROGRESS AND UNITY AMONG GAS SELLERS IN KWALE. b. TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE VENTILATION OF IDEAS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAS SELLERS IN KWALE. c. TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. d. TO REPRESENT AND PROTECT THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT H 20, TIGRIS CRESCENT,OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT H 20, TIGRIS CRESCENT,OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGND BARR BAYO OLAWOYIN

AImS & ObjEcTIvE: 1, To publicize the importance of giving our lives to Jesus Christ 2, To organise prayer meetings and programmes that changes lives 3, To encourage people to be of good behaviour to God and the nation.

SIGNED: OKOLIE ESTHER UCHECHUKWU ESQ,

OGUNDIRAN MUTIU ARIYO

AMOS FRANSCISCA

I, formerly known and addressed as OGUNDIRAN BAYONLE ARIYO and MUTIU ARIYO BABATUNDE, now wish to be addressed as OGUNDIRAN MUTIU ARIYO. All former document remain valid.

The general public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as SAMUEL FRANSCISCA, now wish to be addressed as AMOS FRANSCISCA. All former document remain valid. The general public should please take note

BLESSING .N. ONWUCHEKWA

EHIGBOR O.B.J. IYOGHIOJIE

I formerly known and addressed as ONWUCHEKWA .U. LOVETH, now wishes to be known and addressed as BLESSING .N. ONWUCHEKWA. All former document remain valid. The

I, formerly known and addressed as ABEL AGBONYEHIMEN OSAGIE, now wish to be known and addressed as EHIGBOR O.B.J. IYOGHIOJIE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public note

general public should please take note.

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Again, Owerri boils as workers protest

Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏFew weeks to Christ-

mas, members of Imo Community Watch (ICW), a security outfit of the Imo state government, on Tuesday, embarked on a peaceful demonstration protesting non-payment of their arrears of salaries.

The protesters, who were drawn from the 27 lo-

cal government Areas of the state, barricaded the entrance of government house, owerri, preventing visitors from going in.

The protesting workers were invited from their locations to receive cheques for their salaries only to discover that government paid one month of FCMB cheque out of 12 months owed to them.

Daily Times gathered that the primary assignment of the members of

the security outfit is to protect lives and property and detect crimes in the rural areas with a view to nipping it in the bud.

According to them, they assist to checkmate the activities of criminals such as armed robbers and kidnappers in the community, stressing that rather than appreciate their efforts, the government was treating them with disdain.

Further, they said since

PTAD recovers N29bn police pension funds Henry Omunu Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Pension Transition Administrative Directorate (PTAD) revealed on Tuesday that the sum of N29 billion has so far been recovered from the police pension fund, with the recovered funds returned to governments’ coffers.

Director-general of the PTAD, Nellie Mayshak, made this known while briefing the house of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mayshak, who confirmed that the police pension was adequately funded by pre-

vious administrations, declared that previous managers of the pension fund misappropriated the funds through inclusion of ghost pensioners. she, however, said that the agency which was saddled with the responsibility of handling the old pension scheme of various federal agencies and parastatals, including the police during the last nationwide verification exercise for the police, discovered about 2,800 ghost pensioners out of the 18,000 officers on the pension payroll.

Furthermore, Mayshak added that out of the additional 16,000 names of pensioners who have never

been captured in the pension scheme as submitted to PTAD, only 3,128 appeared during the last verification exercise the directorate embarked upon.

The PTAD director-general said that pensioner from the civil service were 105,000, while pensioners from the Customs, Immigration and Prison service were 13,000.

While assuring that the endemic fraud in pension administration in Nigeria is a thing of the past, Mayshak said that the report of the authentic federal pensioners would be submitted to relevant authorities, including the National Assembly.

Faleke back for legislative duties ÏÏÏBarely 72 hours after

the conclusion of the supplementary governorship election in Kogi state, the deputy governorship candidate to the late Abubakar Audu, Abiodun Faleke, who also refused to deputise Yahaya Bello who succeeded late Audu in the election, on Tuesday,

showed up in the house of Representatives, where he took part in the legislative business of the day.

Faleke, who rejected being declared governor-elect of Kogi state after the death of his principal, Prince Audu, currently represents Ikeja Federal Constituency

in the 8th house of Representatives where he also chairs the Committee on Customs and excise.

The towering lawmaker stormed the green chamber spotting a white flowing ‘Agbada’ and a hand-made red cap, amid cheers from his colleagues in the house

the emergence of harmattan weather, they are always working to ensure the safety of persons and property, but regretted that government was being inconsiderate to their many sacrifices.

Daily Times reports that while the protest was going on outside the government house gate, governor Rochas okorocha was busy hosting Christmas party with traditional rulers in the state.

Gov Rochas

Robbers killed 25-year-old man in Imo

Val Okara Owerri

25-year-old man, Chibuzor Akalador of okwudor Mgbalagwu Autonomous Community in oguta local government Area of Imo state, was last sunday allegedly shot dead by a four man robbery gang.

According to an eyewitness report, the late Akalador was shot dead at about 3pm along orgbuofor market square, Umueze, in oguta local government Area of the state.

The deceased was said to be on his lady’s bike when he was double crossed by the armed gangsters who

shot him several times on the stomach leaving him to die in his own pool of blood.

It was gathered that more than 10 people had been killed in similar circumstance by trigger happy youths who are enmeshed in kingship dispute.

It was gathered that the villagers had deserted the community following incessant shooting and killing of innocent people. sources told Daily Times that youths from the community move about freely with guns and AK47 magazines unchallenged.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations of-

as he held a brief chat with speaker Yakubu Dogara before resuming to take his seat.

Faleke, who rejected his re-nomination as deputy governorship candidate to the eventual winner and governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has since

gone to court asking the Judiciary to declare him governor-elect instead of Yahaya Bello whose name the All Progressives Congress (APC) forwarded to the Independent National electoral Commission (INeC) as subtitute to the late Prince Audu.

ÏÏÏA

ficer (PPRo), Andrew enwerem, confirmed that the community has been restive over kingship tussle. he said the killing of the young man was not unconnected with the prolonged squabble in the community, adding that the command has been working hard to ensure that normalcy returns to the community.

“We are working to return peace to the community. The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo lakanu had assembled all the traditional rulers, youth organisations, groups in the area with a view to finding lasting solution to the dispute” enwerem stated.

Faleke

MARYAM TIJJANI

DAN UZOH MGBEODICHIMMA JCDANIELS

ANIMASHAHUN MORILIAT OLALONPE

SALAWU TAIWO OMOLARA

EDWARD ONYIKA OKORIE

SIMEON ANTHONIA CHINWE

I, formerly known and addressed as MAMMAJI ABDUlAzIz, now wish to be known and addressed as MARYAM TIJJANI . All former documents remain valid. general public please take note.

I Formerly Known And Called Daniel Uzoh Mgbeodichimma Anumaka Now Whish To Be Known And Called DAN Uzoh MgBeoDIChIMMA JCDANIels.

All Former Documents Remain Valid. general Public Take Note.

I, formerly known and addressed as seRIKI MoRIlIAT olAloNPe, now wish to be known and addressed as ANIMAshAhUN MoRIlIAT olAloNPe. All former documents remain valid. general public please take note.

I formerly known as BAMIDele TAIWo oMolARA, now wish to be known and addressed as sAlAWU TAIWo oMolARA. All former documents remains valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as eBeh sUNDAY egBe, now wish to be known and addressed as eDWARD oNYIKA oKoRIe. All former documents remain valid. general public please take note.

I formerly known as DURU DoRIs ChINWe, now wish to be known and addressed as sIMeoN ANThoNIA ChINWe. All former documents remains valid. The general public should please take note.

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

MUHAMMED OPEYEMI SHAKIRUDEEN

MRS UWANDIA LINDA IHINOSE

MRS ABDUSSALAM GLORY TEMITOPE

NWAMANNA OSONDU ERIC

I formerly known and addressed as olAWAle D ogBeRe, now wished to be Known and addressed as MUhAMMeD oPeYeMI shAKIRUDeeN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

I formerly known and addressed as MIss UWADIA lINDA MoDUPe, now wished to be Known and addressed as MRs UWANDIA lINDA IhINose. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

I formerly known and addressed as MIss gloRY TeMIToPe AIKUMegWe, now wished to be Known and addressed as MRs ABDUssAlAM gloRY TeMIToPe. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

I formerly known and addressed as osoNDU ogoChUKWU NWAMANNA, now wished to be Known and addressed as NWAMANNA osoNDU eRIC. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Osun Assembly tasks Ooni Ogunwusi on devt of Ife Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe Osun State House

of Assembly, through its Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Oyintiloye Olatunbosun, has congratulated Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on his coronation as the Ooni of Ife, while investing confidence in his ascendancy, which it affirmed would serve as a catalyst for the advancement of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba nation and the country at large.

In a statement signed by Hon. Oyintinloye, the legislators said that they are con-

vinced that the credentials and mettle of the monarch were a testimony to the ardour and tireless creativity the monarch would bring to the throne.

They commended the Ile-Ife ruling houses for the manner in which they harmoniously resolved their differences during the selection process. They also congratulated the Osun State Government, the Council of Obas, and the good people of the state, especially the descendants of Ile-Ife for the peaceful transition.

“The spontaneous enthusiasm that greeted the announcement of the new

monarch across Ile- Ife, the Osun State, and the entire nation, is a substantiation of the better days ahead,” Oyintiloye said.

In a goodwill message to the Ooni during a parliamentary session, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salam, enjoined him to give inimitable service, and surpass the worthy legacies of his predecessors. He also admonished him to work with other traditional rulers and government at all levels to inspire harmony, peace and development in the country.

The lawmakers implored the Ooni to use his posi-

tion as the custodian of the cultural heritage and traditions of Yoruba land for the service of the people.

They urged Oba Adeyeye to be a father to all, using his royal office to foster peaceful co-existence, not only in Ife and the Yoruba land, but throughout the country and beyond.

The Assembly called on the new monarch to use his wealth of experience in business to uplift the fortunes of Ile-Ife industrially, politically and socially.

They equally charged the people of the ancient town to support the new monarch in his efforts to make Ife the pride of all.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (middle) in a group photograph with some members of Eckankar, during a courtesy visit on the Governor in Port Harcourt… on Tuesday.

Family urges EFCC to charge Bafarawa, son to court Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏThe family of the embattled former governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Attahiru Bafarawa has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to charge the former governor and his son to court if it had any evidence connecting them to any crimes against Nigeria.

In a statement released, on Tuesday, in Abuja, the family, through the media aide to the former governor, Yusuf Dingyadi, posited that Bafarawa was being persecuted by the anti-corruption agency.

The family lamented that

their bread-winner and his son had been held for one and two weeks, respectively, which, according to the statement, was a violation of their fundamental human rights.

According to the statement, “It’s one week today, since Gov. Bafarawa was detained by the EFCC. And today marks two weeks that his son, Sagir Bafarawa, has been in detention. Why are they being detained without charges?

“If the EFCC has any conclusive evidence that they have committed any crimes, it should charge them to court. We had thought that

the days of detaining people while searching for evidence were over. We call on the EFCC to release them forthwith if they have nothing against them,” they said.

The statement further said that the family believed that Bafarawa and his son were being detained to have one implicate the other in a non-existent crime.

It added, “Gov. Bafarawa has insisted he received no money in the so-called $2.1billion arms contract. If there is any evidence to the contrary we challenge the EFCC to charge him to court.

“It is inhuman to hold a man and his son in deten-

tion with the hope that they would turn on each other.

Such tactics is reminiscent of the best forgotten military era. There is no place for that in a democratic system of government which we practice,” said the statement

Bafarawa

23 News

Lagos Assembly confirms Board chair nominee Alade Tasma

ÏÏÏThe Lagos State House

of Assembly, on Tuesday, confirmed Governor Akinwumi Ambode nominee for the position of the Chairman of the Board of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr. Oye Hassan Odukale.

Responding to questions from the lawmakers during the confirmation exercise, Odukale, said his nomination by the Governor came to him as a surprise.

The nominee, who is currently the Managing Director of Leadway Assurance Plc, said his top motive was

to raise money for the fund, through the private sector and that his company had contributed immensely to the fund in the past.

According to him, the board of LSSTF had eight members, and the fund was meant to equip all security agencies, such as the police, army and the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

“There must be due process with verifiable estimate. We will raise money for the fund through the private sector and the equipment must be properly managed and we will crosscheck with the users.

Uvuru community marks festival ÏÏÏAll is now set for the

annual “Uvuru Ikedinairi Bia Were Oji” cultural festival coming up on Saturday December 26, 2015 at the Uvuru Community School, Aboh-Mbaise LGA, Imo State.

Making the announcement, the Deputy PresidentGeneral of Uvuru Community Development Union, Chief David Akwitti, who represented the President General, Mr. Austin Onwubiko said all arrangements for the ceremony has already been concluded. Chief Akwitti said this year’s festival to be hosted by Isiala Uvuru autonomous community has since been inaugurated with the unveiling of the logo titled “Uvuru Bia Were Oji celebration 2015”.

Earlier in his speech, the

Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏTwo men, Kelechi Oko-

rie and Chukwuma Ikechukwu have been arraigned for an alleged involvement in armed robbery before a Lagos State Magistrate Court, presided over by Mrs. B.O. Osusanmi.

The two suspects, Kelechi (39), Chukwuma (37) were alleged to have committed the offence on October 23, 2015 at Alakija Bus Stop, on Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

Okorie and Ikechukwu were arraigned on a fivecount charge bothering on conspiracy, armed robbery and an attempt to kill.

The defendants were said to have robbed one Mr. Idris Mohammed of his unregistered Bajaj motorcycle valued at N180, 000, 00 with gun

traditional ruler of Isiala Uvuru, HRH Eze Eugene Onyenwe paid tribute to his predecessor, late Eze Peter Uduhirinwa for his pioneering, untiring and intellectual efforts in making the festival a reality He reiterated the need for every community to cherish and revive its culture in order to generate growth and development in their areas.

“A nation or community that does not cherish or protect its culture will cease to on the global map,” Eze Onyenwe added.

Dignitaries expected at the occasion are Chairman Imo State Council of Ndi Eze, His Royal Majesty, Eze Samuel Ohiri while the special guest of honour and chairman of the occasion will be Rev. Canon Isaiah Amaliri.

Two robbery suspects arraigned in court and other offensive weapons.

Okorie and Ikechukwu were further alleged to be in an unlawful possession of one Czechoslovakia-made brownie pistol no. C63119 with six rounds of live ammunition without license issued to them by the Inspector-General of Police.

The suspects were also accused of robbing Vitta Drop Pure Water Company of the sum of N250, 000, three Nokia handset phones valued at N42, 000, and two Samsung handset phone valued at N50, 000.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

IPAC backs Buhari on anti-graft drive Egena Egena Abuja ÏÏÏThe Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), on Tuesday, threw its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari's anti-corruption fight.

Led by its Chairman, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, the group which paid a courtesy visit to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it would stand solidly behind him in efforts to restore dignity, credibility and sanity to public offices in the country.

A copy of the presentation made to the President

at the closed-door meeting, which was circulated to newsmen, the IPAC said that it was already leading in the role to curtail negative influences of big money in Nigeria politics.

Ibrahim pointed out that big money politics not only diminished the power of the vote, but also perpetuated the vicious cycle of corruption in Nigeria's public life.

He said: "It is in consideration of this that IPAC totally and unequivocally supports your administration's ongoing war against corruption and further

supports Your Excellency's determination to leave no stone unturned in bringing corrupt public officers to book.

"To deal decisively with economic and financial corruption, we must simultaneously deal with political corruption as well."

The group also charged the President on the need to ensure better elections in the country based on the rule of law as a reflection of the successful March and April 2015 general elections.

IPAC, Ibrahim said, was committed to playing posi-

tive role to strengthen multiparty democracy in the country.

He also expressed the commitment of IPAC to the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria in the face of current agitations for separation by some interest groups.

Buhari

L-R: GMD/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza with winners of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, Miss. Eze Ugochinyere Golden of Living World Academy Aba (3rd prize), Miss. Emediong Uduak Uko of British Nigerian Academy (1st Prize) and Miss Enonuoya Starish of Lagoon School Lagos (2nd Prize) during the grand finale and prize giving ceremony held at UBA House in Lagos… on Monday.

Kogi/Bayelsa polls: Umeh mocks PDP

Moses Oyediran

Enugu ÏÏÏFormer National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, on Tuesday, said the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has no moral ground to be crying over any form of injustice.

He said on the contrary, the PDP, should bury its head in shame.

Addressing journalists in Enugu, Umeh said “what PDP did to Nigeria in 16 years is the greatest disservice to democracy.”

It would be re-called that the Appeal Court had on Monday nullified Senator Uche Ekwunife’s election on the account of Umeh’s petition. The court ordered a re-run within 90 days.

The APGA chieftain

maintained that even though he won the election, the PDP manipulated the process with impunity and used the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Ekwunife the winner.

While mocking the PDP over its complaints on the outcome of the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship polls, Umeh said “even though the All Progressives Congress (APC), has not been brutal as they were, the PDP members are now weeping.

“PDP promoted electoral banditry in this country, so, I am surprised that they are now crying wolf. They are made up of hypocrites, the PDP’s time has just ended, it is a political party that should be dismantled.

“I am happy that the present government is cleaning the rot; the PDP

promoted corruption, why are they afraid? Look at the revelations coming now, PDP should bury its head in shame. PDP should be banned from speaking because Nigerians hold them in great contempt for the way they desecrated democracy” Umeh added.

He expressed confidence that he would win the rerun, as according to him, “the number of people who had reached me ever since this judgement was delivered is overwhelming. I have used it to gauge the mood of the people; they are so excited.

“Besides, we are very hopeful this time that the votes of the people will count; there will be no godmother, god-father and the use of presidential might to suppress the will of the people.

“The PDP that has been

using that has fallen from the federal power; the PDP is now like fish out of water.”

Umeh added that “APC came with a posturing of change in Nigeria. I do not expect that they would want to muzzle the electoral process. APC has a moral burden not to repeat what the PDP did to opposition parties”.

Umeh

Akor Ejumene

Abuja ÏÏÏAs part of efforts to reduce the spate of unemployment in the country, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has affirmed Federal Government’s determination to establish more skills acquisition centres across the country.

Ngige said the skills acquisition centres will provide vocational training to unemployed youths.

The Minister stated this in Abuja when he received in audience a delegation from the Ngige Mandate Movement, Abuja branch.

According to him, “the federal government will soon establish more skills

Labour minister tasks youths on vocational skills acquisition centres across the country to train unemployed youths in different vocational skills through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) project.”

Ngige said that given the alarming rate of unemployment in the country, Nigerians should de-emphasise the quest for white-collar jobs and explore other alternatives citing skills in building construction, such as plumbing, tile laying, plaster of paris, screeding, and painting among others, as viable means of livelihood.

Ugwuanyi charges Nigerians on fight against corruption Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏGovernor

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Tuesday, called on all Nigerians to join forces with anti-corruption agencies to rid the country of corruption.

Governor Ugwuanyi lamented over the endemic of corruption in all sector of the economy describing the situation as a canker worm that has bedeviled the country.

The governor, in a speech when the Zonal Commissioner of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), South East zone, Prince Hassan Muhammed led officers of his team on a

courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Enugu, noted that it was high time for the nation to rise up to checkmate all avenues of leakage in the economy, especially in this period of dwindling economy In his words, “corruption is a canker worm that retard economic development, I urge all Nigerians including Enugu State to support ICPC on effort to rid the country of corruption.”

The governor promised that his administration will support ICPC in all spheres to discharge their duties in order to bring a positive change in the economic development of the country.

NLC urges Senate to back down on anti-media Bill Akor Ejumene

Abuja ÏÏÏNigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, described the bill sponsored by Senator Ibn Na’Allah of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, titled, ‘Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Related Matters Bill’, which seek not only to gag freedom of the citizen to express themselves but to commit violators to a minimum of two years jail term as completely anti-democracy.

The congress said in a statement that the proposed bill violated Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, maintaining that the bill was coming

at a time the nation expect the legislators and indeed, all Nigerians to recommit themselves to actions and legislations that can contribute to deepening democracy, as well as fight against corruption in the country.

The bill, which proposed an option of N4 million as fine for those claimed to have made false newspaper, radio or television statements and N2 million for those claimed to have made false phone text messages or statements on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, or WhatsApp, the congress said is a sad reminder of the military era when journalists were mindlessly hurled into jail for writing what the military junta considered spiteful.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

25 Opinion

Count the Blessings

There’s therefore an urgency to unlock this agricultural potential which PMB claims is vital to the national security.

Agricultural policies like Operation Feed the Nation and the Green Revolution did not change Nigeria’s dependence on oil due to poor implementation.

For the exercise to be successful this time around, it is suggested that agricultural policy should be de-politicised. The agricultural programme should work outside the political timelines so that it could be regularly revised. But standing in the way is the dearth of infrastructural facilities like power, road, water, insecurity and the ‘capo di tutti’ of all - corruption.

Farmers should have access to loans and grants.

The N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) government disbursed to farmers at a 9% interest rate is an encouragement towards food security for the country, employment creation and boosting foreign exchange.

But the farmers should be made to understand that these loans and grants

Soja goo, soja come o They marched up and down Our nation Only imprints they left Were those of their boots Social policies, they left none Political policies, they left none Nothing for the future Only the imprints of their Boots they left For generations yet unborn Men in agbada Also came They walked the Length and breadth Of the nation What they left Is what you meet Empty treasury Empty tables Empty stomachs For all to see

ÏÏÏWe knew it would hap-

pen. When, we didn’t know.

But it did happen. ‘Buyers shun Nigerian crude’ the headline screamed. China has turned its back, India also has deserted, not to talk of the US. E no matter o. President Buhari (PMB) seems keen on diversifying the economy. So he’s targeting agriculture and solid minerals to achieve his goal.

Agriculture experts tell us that Nigeria is endowed with huge agricultural potential with over 84 million hectares of arable land of which only 40% is cultivated. It’s also reported that some of the richest natural resources for agricultural production worldwide are found here.

Buhari

disbursed to them are meant to be paid back so that other farmers all over the country could also benefit. I’m sure this would’ve been part of what PMB said in Hausa to the farmers in Kebbi a fortnight ago.

In the primary school we were taught a poem: Iwe kiko lasi oko at ada, ko i pe o, ko i pe o. Ise agbe nise ile wa, eni ko sise a ma jale. - education without hoe and cutlass isn’t complete, farming is our traditional work, s/he who doesn’t farm will surely steal.

Why did they drum this into our little heads then?

For more than a decade, Nigeria’s being requested to diversify its economy from dependence on oil. So PMB isn’t saying anything new when he declared that increased investments in the agricultural sector would curb the country’s depen-

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dence on oil. But his call for ‘growing our own food, processing our produce, becoming competitive in export markets and creating jobs’ rhymed with what Mrs. Adeoun, the Minister of Finance, said before the Senate at her screening (see Aurora, October 14, 2015).

The black gold price keeps going down. And Providence is telling us ‘count your blessings, name them one by one’. For we have discovered another revenue-generating wonder - our solid minerals. The situation looked hopeless but as hope was dimming, news broke that 44 mineral deposits were discovered in 500 locations in the country. Some of these minerals could be used for industrial and domestic needs e.g. copper, coal, granite, kaolin, platinum and gold. We shouldn’t forget the bitumen deposits in Ondo

State. Those clamouring for regional development say that when each region is developed with that with which it is blessed, no state would look across the boundary and say that the neighbouring state is being developed more generously.

Even when agriculture is developed, will our roads be in a good state to transport the farm produce to the urban areas? At the investiture of Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, Obi of Onitsha as the 7th Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the Obi said, ‘road construction in Nigeria is more expensive than (in) most parts of the world, yet our roads are breaking down faster than we build them because the traditional mode for heavy haulage namely railways, pipelines and waterways are comatose ...’

Nigerian state governors are ‘concerned about the poor condition of the Federal Government roads’ which they believe need ‘urgent intervention’. All of us are. But roads within the states are just as bad if not worse. Many of these governors had included in their campaign promises rural development and provision of basic social amenities for their ‘people’ - good roads, water and electricity. Would they keep their word? Or would they keep speaking of ‘financial constraints’?

Even salaries aren’t paid as at or when due. Lack of good roads to link communities to each other has grounded rural trading and development within these states.

Poor infrastructure in state hinders the socio-economic growth relationship between communities. Some states are talking of completing on-going road projects and

building new ones. ‘New roads with socio-economic importance to our ‘people’ have been identified’, says a south-west Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure. But we all know that the purse is very lean. So don’t bite more than you can chew. No state should be encouraged to identify or construct new roads without rehabilitating the old bad roads. Urban renewal should be continuous yes but complete the road works already started and rehabilitate existing bad roads.

Nigeria might have needed to experience the current fall in oil prices for her to know it was time to diversify her economy. We wouldn’t have been here if past leaders hadn’t been myopic where the economy was concerned. Even if they were coaxed into ruling us, as some of them claimed, one would’ve expected them to have lived up to their pledge to Nigeria, their country. And redeeming such a pledge would have saved them hours and days of writing their jeremiad.

Let the truth be told, you didn’t do a good job there.

Those jeremiads can even be taken as your indirect ‘mea culpa’. Louis XIV, the Sun King of France, said, ‘L’etat c’est moi’ - I am the state.

He was ego-centric but he was also an art lover and he encouraged different forms of art in his time. Tourists still flock to Versailles to look at his legacy. During his reign was founded that most prestigious institution, L’Académie française, to moderate the French language by determining standards of acceptable grammar and vocabulary.

So for what would you be remembered Nigerian statesmen and women?

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26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Features Æ s

THE THRIVING BEGGARLY TRADE IN LAGOS:

Ambode moves to prohibit street begging In spite of Lagos government’s efforts to control the activities of beggars through legislation, the everyday cash business has curiously continued to win more practitioners, writes BABAJIDE OKEOWO. As early as 7 O’ clock in the morning, some group of women in their forties dressed in white native attires of the Yoruba buba and iro, occupy the ever busy Ketu Bus Stop, a suburb of Lagos State.

These women count among what has become commonly known as corporate beggars, today.

Yet they won’t agree. Instead, they prefer to be addressed and known as Iya Osun; the worshippers of Osun, which ironically is the Yoruba goddess of love and wealth.

Everyday around markets, these women are seen in pairs, mixing without restraint with the crowd; with a calabash cover, white cloth and small bells in hand, they draw the attention of potential donors and passersby.

Whenever they see a potential benefactor, they would immediately launch into a long song, chanting praises of him or her and usually, the praises go together with prayers for protection against real or imagined enemies in a manner so patronising that such a person would be forced to part with some money.

From Motor parks to major bus terminals and busy markets, they roam, soliciting for alms. History holds that these worshippers of Osun deity are revered and patronised by people who believe in its potent astral powers derived

A set of ‘yeye osun’ on Lagos street

from the water.

In an interview, one of the worshippers, who identified herself as Orisa Funmi, told Daily Times that they were out to cause blessing on people; to the benevolent.

“We are not beggars as most people think. We are not out to rip off the people, but to invoke the protection and blessing of the goddess on them,” she revealed.

She continued: “We don’t collect money for collecting sake, but to ask the goddess to protect and bless them. The money is a sign of appreciation to the goddess,” she stated.

However, Chief Adesegun Elegushi, who is also the head of all Osun worshippers in Lagos,

We are not beggars as most people may think. We are not out to rip off the people and we don’t collect money for collecting sake. It is to invoke the protection and blessing of the goddess on people; we ask the goddess to protect and bless them.

The money is a sign of appreciation to the goddess — Iya Oshun strongly disagrees.

According to him, the act of street begging among worship-

pers of the deity is not acceptable to him.

“Nobody begs for the gods.

Osun is always in white clothes and this is not in any way related to poverty,” he said; “We have banned those who take to begging on the streets and have directed the police to go after them.

“Nobody that is abarameji (witch/wizard) can come near Osun and as a worshipper of the goddess, you dare not engage in evil or she will expose you.”

Another set of beggars known as ‘big boy beggars’ are regularly found hanging around crowded and busy places, such as motor parks and bus stops. They are usually well dressed, confident, fluent and courteous.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Over 600 teachers end crash programme in Lagos The quest for quality teachers received a boost recently as a group of UK educationists under the aegis of The Taylor Partnership visited and trained over 600 teachers across public and private schools. ISMAILA OGUNTADE reports experiences of participants and facilitators at the grand finale.

For teachers that participated in a week long seminar by edu-

cationists from the United Kingdom, the experience would linger in their memories for a long time to come. Reason; the event, aside comprising participants from public and private schools in Nigeria were exposed to the best teaching practice in various aspects including class management, gifted children, and mass literacy, among others.

The free training which was a partnership between ALTS Consulting and The Taylor Partner-

ship UK, ended on Saturday at Hallifield Schools, Maryland with over 600 participants all through the exercise.

The Taylor Partnership is an initiative of seven leading schools in the UK and which also draws its pool of students from Nigerian.

However, beside the desire for a cross budding of ideas, the platform was also for the The Taylor Partnership to give back to teachers in Nigeria, said ALTS

Managing Partner Mrs Anthonia Sawyer.

“The Taylor Partnership has been working with some of the schools and felt lets have this seminar since we draw a pool of our children from Nigeria,” Sawyer who firm helps in facilitating schools for Nigerian students that want to study abroad, told Daily Times She explained that some of the schools already in partnership with Taylor Partnership in La-

gos and Abuja were earmarked as venues for the seminar which also cover seven topics and run four times in a day.

“This means every participant would have attended four topics during the seminar she said.

“This initiative is about skill sharing between UK and Nigerian teachers. Eight member delegations from UK have trained 600 teachers in schools in Abuja and Lagos. The school accommodates CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

27 Features

Initiative is about skill sharing between UK and Nigerian teachers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

teachers from other schools and also provides feeding facilities.

James Davis who represented The Taylor Partnership, described their experience with Nigerian teachers as awesome.

Though admitting the rigour involved in the everyday task, he noted that his observation, alongside his colleagues, show that the average Nigerian teacher is willing to unleash their talents, if given the right platform.

“I think the average Nigerian teacher wants to do better. They want to improve themselves (through training) but it can be

difficult because there is a lot of work to do. There is so much pressure on them to get to the work in the classroom.

“We sensed that the level and access of teacher training for some teachers can quite be difficult. This free training we have for them have been engaging and we hope it will have an impact on the children when they eventually return to the classrooms,” he said Furthermore, Davies admonished government and private operators to allow teachers express themselves more. Many of them have great ideas but lack the op-

A cross section of teachers in the classroom for the traning

portunity to share them,” he added. Director Hallifield Schools, Mrs. Halima Oke is optimistic that participants at the training would excel.

She said: “The topics the facilitators have taught are simply wonderful because they touched on different areas that concern teaching; and when a teacher masters these areas, he or she

would be on top of their game.

“It’s an honour, because, not only did our others teachers learn, we also brought in our own teachers. I am sure the teachers would take something from this for the improvement of their various schools.

One of the participants Abidemi Balogun Saheed, Head of School, Gradehill Academy, Oko

Nobody begs for the gods - Elegushi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Most of the time, they carefully and quietly walk up to unsuspecting people to solicit for alms.

They seem to have repackaged the act of surviving in the city in the face of increasing and appealingly overwhelming odds.

Other classes of beggars are those who neither beg for alms directly nor preach the gospel as a cover. They are tidy, well dressed and speak smooth English. They lurk around busy places, patiently waiting for whoever they deem capable of parting with some cash.

When they finally spot their target, they move toward him quietly and in compelling voice, recount a series of misfortunes that have befallen them in order to win empathy.

These crafty beggars act as if to avoid the subject at first by telling implausible stories of sorrow, often exaggerated with a brief account of how they got trapped in a particular place.

Then they tell their victim how much money they would need to continue on their journey and express regret for troubling him with their problems.

In his response to the subject of begging by other means, Mr. John Adesola describes those who indulge in it as very indolent. Adesola, who works in Marina, says he has no respect for anyone that begs for a living.

“Such people are just lazy and

Chief Adesegun Elegushi President of Association of African Traditional Religion, Nigeria & Overseas (AATREN)

Beggars

often lack shame. I encounter them every day on my way to work. But, after falling for their tricks initially, I have vowed never to give them anything again.

“A few years ago, I met a gentleman in a bus on my way from Ojodu-Berger to Lagos Island.

His knowledge of the holy Bible was vast and his spoken English impeccable. As he was distributing tracts, he tucked in envelopes and without even asking us for money, most of the passengers put something in the envelopes.

“A few days later, I met the same person on the same route.

As a Christian, I listened to what he said, but I did not fall for the

envelope stuff again. I began to wonder why such a young man would choose to live by begging indirectly. Since then, I have refused to give money to anyone who thinks he can exploit me to live, not again.”

Another resident of Lagos, Patrick Adewole, says he gives alms only to the physically challenged and those who genuinely need financial assistance.

“I am sure those women in white must have wondered what kind of man I am. There is nothing they have not said to flatter me, but I have not been moved to give them anything. Those who give them money know why they

do so. I have made up my mind never in my life to throw money away.”

Mr. Mutiu Daramola explains how a Muslim should give alms and warns that they could be held answerable for giving out money carelessly on judgment day.

He says, “My religion encourages alms giving but forbids giving money to people who spend the it in doubtful circumstances.

“As far as I am concerned, the women in white that you talked about are out of it because they indulge in idol worship. No smart guy that is supposed to look for something meaningful to do can force me to give him money to

Afo Lagos, was full of praise for the exercise. “The training has broadened my knowledge. My proprietor recently touched on ‘effective teacher’ during our first interactive seminar and when I got here today, that concept became more broadened. I see this as an elevation because I’ve acquired what I had not learned elsewhere,” he said.

support any ministry.”

Another set of beggars are mothers of multiple births who use their children to solicit for alms. They are always at the bus stops with the children begging for alms from passersby.

Some of them who spoke to Daily Times confess to financial problems as the reason for bringing their children out on the streets to beg for money.

There is yet another group consisting mainly of beggars from the northern; their male and female are seen by the road sides and on pedestrian bridges begging for alms.

In order to tackle the menace recently, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered an enforcement of law prohibiting begging in any part of the state.

Daily Times investigation around the city foresees that would be a difficult task the ‘profession’ has assumed new forms in the busy city as beggars are determined to maintain their means of livelihood.

Like the garage and motor touts law that could not be successfully enforced in Lagos state, a new law prohibiting begging in the mega city is likely to hit a brick wall as areas like Ketu, Ikorodu, Ojodu-Berger, Agege and Iyana-Ipaja, Egbeda and Oyingbo among many others are overflowing with large volume of beggars soliciting for alms at bus stops, markets and garages.

g 18

Mourinho

Guinea To Camp In S/Africa Ahead Of CHAN

G

uinea’s locally-based national team will travel to South Africa for a 10-day training camp in January, ahead of the 2016 African Nations Championship which will take place in Rwanda between January 16 and February 7.

Kanfory Lappé Bangoura’s

men have begun their preparation for the continental competition in Conakry on Monday, and will head to the rainbow nation on 4 January with possible warm-up friendlies against Côte d’Ivoire and Angola before their departure for Kigali.

The ‘Syli Local’ will kick off their African journey against

Tunisia on January 18, before facing their other two Group C opponents, Niger and Nigeria.

Their objective at Rwanda 2016 is to seal a top two finish in the first round and progress to the knockout stage of the competition.

‘Can’t Live With Defeat’ -Carvalho 30 g

Page 28

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Ibenegbu

revels in CHAN call-up W

arri Wolves attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, has said he is quite happy to be back to the senior national team, Super Eagles.

The lanky playmaker is among the 26 domestic professionals Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh named in his provisional list for the upcoming fourth African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kigali, Rwanda early next year.

The bronze winners are pitched in Group C together with Niger Republic, Tunisia and Guinea.

Ibenegbu said he will give 100% performance to ensure Nigeria emerge winners in Kigali, Rwanda.

“I’m happy to be among the players invited to camp in preparation for the African Nations Championship (CHAN ) in Rwanda.

“It’s the dream and wish of every player to play for his senior national team even though

I have been there in the past I’m still excited to be back.

“I want to believe that d i s c i p l i n e , dedication and hardwork must have played crucial role in my invitation so I have decided to give 150% this time to ensure Nigeria win the CHAN title for the first time in Kigali, Rwanda.

Ibenegbu “The last CHAN in South Africa we won bronze but we will go the extra mile to clinch the top prize.

“Yes, I was invited to captain the Super Sand Eagles in the Copa Lagos I think I will be more useful with the CHAN Eagles.

“So I’m damn ready to hit the camp on Monday to commence preparations for

Egypt

the most successful

championship in Rwanda, “ said the Nigerian and Warri Wolves midfielder.

The championship is expected to hold from January 16 - February 07 with matches billed for the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in Kigali, Rwanda.

Elections:

Warm Up For Nigeria With B/Faso Friendlies

Giwa Threatens To Oust LMC

By Mike Otanwa

E

gypt plan to play three friendlies including two against Burkina Faso as part of preparations for a crucial 2017 AFCON double header against Nigeria in March.

Egypt Football Association (EFA) executive committee member Ihab Lehita disclosed the Pharaohs will play two friendly games against Burkina Faso in Cairo on January 24 and 28.

A third game will be announced later and is expected to be against Romania or Uzbekistan in February.

Egypt are top of their AFCON qualifying group with six points from two matches, while Nigeria are second on four points.

Only the group winners will automatically qualify for the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.

Maikaba

T

Baribote

here could be another round of controversy before the start of the next Nigeria Professional Football League season as chairman of Giwa FC, Chris Giwa, has threatened that the League Management Company (LMC) cannot continue to run the league.

Speaking to a local radio station, Giwa warned that elections must hold into the league board before the new season, insisting that the LMC has no stake in the league, and therefore cannot continue to run it.

“We have to settle this issue (elections) before the league starts,” Giwa said in reference to having elections into the league board.

“If they were able to survive it this year, it is just by chance and

maybe because of the situation we found ourselves in this year.

“But the season has come and gone and honestly this issue has got to be settled. You cannot manage something you don’t have a stake in; you have to be a shareholder.

“The clubs should manage the league and the real owners of the league are these 20 clubs and certainly there should be elections and if there won’t be elections, there should be an agreement amongst the club owners, on who should manage their league,” Giwa said.

The LMC was formed in 2013 to run the league for one year initially, following the controversy that engulfed the league then, under the leadership of Victor Baribote’s Nigeria Premier League.

Maikaba Quits Wikki, Set To Join Abia Warriors

W

ikki Tourists coach, Abdu Maikaba, has quit the Bauchi club after guiding them to fourth place in the Nigeria premier league with strong indications he has agreed terms with Abia Warriors.

“Maikaba has quit Wikki and he is now strongly linked with another premier league side, Abia Warriors,” a source informed.

Former Enyimba and Kano Pillars coach Maikaba guided Wikki within whisker of playing international football next year with a bunch of rookies and a shoe-string budget.

The coach, who has also been linked with Sunshine Stars, had demanded an improved contract from Wikki.

He is now likely to replace Ladan Bosso, who quit Abia Warriors at the end of the season.

29

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

EXTRATIME

Mimiko Splashes N20m On Sunshine Queens

O

ndo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has announced a cash reward of five hundred thousand naira to each member of the victorious Women’s Federation Cup 2015 winning Sunshine Queens on Monday evening.

Sunshine Queens defeated Bayelsa Queens 3-1 on penalties to win the 2015 Federation Cup title - their first ever major domestic trophy in 39 years.

Mimiko disclosed this at a special reception held in the honour of the Akure Ladies at the Banquet Hall of the government house in Akure.

At the dinner, the governor praised the team for doing the state proud with their glorious performance and thanked the ladies for bringing them great honour.

“We want the best for Sunshine Queens. “I’m so proud of your outstanding performance and I want to thank you all for justifying the investment of the Ondo State Government in the team,” said Mimiko.

“We promised to celebrate success and that’s why we organised a state dinner for the golden Sunshine Queens. I thank the wonderful people of Ondo state for the massive support for the Sunshine Queens.” he said.

Algeria,

K

ano Pillars defensive midfielder Godspower Anefiok is most likely to start for Nigeria in place of suspended skipper Azubuike Okechukwu for today’s U23 AFCON semifinal against hosts Senegal.

Okechukwu will miss the semi-final after he was booked against Mali and Algeria.

Godspower got his first start in the final Group B match against Algeria on Wednesday, but he was played out of position as a winger.

Officials said the former Akwa United star will now stabilize the team’s rather shaky defence as he will focus more on doing his defensive shift as against Okechukwu, who preferred to join the attack.

Ofoegbu In High Spirit After Knee Surgery

South Africa Fight For Rio Berth

A

Godspower Replaces Okechukwu In CHAN Crackers Bayelsa United winger Toingoli Tonbara will also most likely get his first start in Senegal in place of the injured Stanley Dimgba.

N

igeria international left-back, Gloria Ofoegbu, underwent a successful knee operation last week, as predicted by women football sources.

It was revealed by a close pal of the overlapping Rivers Angels star that the Imo-born player has been expected to go for a medical operation to fix her knee.

According to the source, all is well with the former Nasarawa Amazons player after she went under the knife last Wednesday at the Reddington

He was a second half sub against Algeria and his mazy dribbles troubled the defence of the North Africans.

Hospital in Lagos.

“Ofoegbu went for an operation last Wednesday. The operation was successful. She is in high spirit at the moment.

“The doctors will give an update on her progress. She is expected to be out for more than ten weeks,” said the source.

Efforts to reach the ex-Falconets defender has been abortive as she didn’t pick her calls when we sought to speak to her on the success of the surgery.

lgeria and South Africa will fight for a place in the final of the 2015 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games when they meet in the second semifinal at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar today.

South Africa booked their place in final four thanks to a 1-0 win over Tunisia last Friday. This result, added to a 3-2 victory against regional rivals Zambia, saw Owen Da Gama’s side join hosts Senegal (who they lost to in the opening match of the tournament) in progressing from Group A. As for Algeria, they topped Group B thanks to a win over Mali, which was sandwiched by draws with North African rivals Egypt and the ‘Dream Team’ of Nigeria.

With the top three teams at the tournament qualifying for next year’s Games, a win in the semifinal will secure a berth at Rio de Janeiro.

A loss will see the team battle for the final qualification berth in the third-place playoff.

Gama

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

EXTRATIME

Mourinho

Leicester City Can Win EPL TitleFerguson

‘Can’t Live With Defeat’ -Carvalho

J

ose Mourinho’s former protégé, Ricardo Carvalho, believes the Chelsea manager’s current struggles are because he “can’t live with defeat,” while ex-Stamford Bridge coach Ray Wilkins insists that any other boss would have already been sacked for a similar slump.

Chelsea welcome Porto to Stamford Bridge tonight still reeling from Saturday’s shock 1-0 Premier League defeat at home to Bournemouth, and they require at least a draw to progress to the knockout phase of the

Mourinho

Proud Milestone

R

omelu Lukaku said he was ‘proud’ after marking his 100th appearance for Everton by scoring his 50th goal for the club to rescue a point against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in the Monday Night Football.

The powerful Belgian twice hit the woodwork and tormented Palace’s defence all evening with his pace and trickery.

He finally hit the

Falcao Not Ready For Chelsea Return

C

helsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has said striker Radamel Falcao is still a couple of weeks away from a return despite being back in training but that “John Terry and Ramires look fine.”

Mourinho, whose side faces

S

Champions League.

Mourinho’s immediate future has been the subject of intense speculation after an eighth defeat in 15 Premier League matches left the defending English champions 14th in the table, with reports this week claiming that he has a week to rescue his job and may be sacked even if Chelsea reach the round of 16 in Europe.

Carvalho won the Champions League as a Porto player under Mourinho before following him first to Chelsea and then Real Madrid, winning league titles under his fellow Portuguese at all three clubs.

The veteran centre-back, now at French club Monaco, thinks losing affects Mourinho to such an extent that it is having a negative impact on his work, but insists his fellow Portuguese remains capable of leading the Chelsea recovery.

u Lukak Of back of the net with a trademark header from close range in the 81st minute to level

things up at 1-1 after Scott Dann put the visitors ahead from a corner.

a crucial Champions League clash against his old club Porto at Stamford Bridge tonight, gave the update at a prematch news conference.

Falcao has not featured for Chelsea since the end of October after sustaining a muscular injury in November.

Earlier this month, sources said that Chelsea was struggling to offload Falcao and end his seasonlong loan spell at Stamford Bridge from Monaco early.

The sources said Mourinho was looking into cancelling Falcao’s loan spell in January to enable him to free up space in the squad for a new striker.

Lukaku

English Premier League Table As At 08/12/2015

Team 1.

Leicester 2.

Arsenal 3.

Man City 4.

Man Utd 5.

Tottenham 6.

Crystal Palace 7.

West Ham 8.

Liverpool 9.

Everton 10. Watford 11. Stoke 12. Southampton 13. West Brom 14. Chelsea 15. Swansea 16. Norwich 17. Bournemouth 18. Newcastle 19. Sunderland 20 Aston Villa

P 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15

W 9 9 9 8 6 7 6 6 5 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 3 3 3 1

D 5 3 2 5 8 2 5 5 7 4 4 6 4 3 5 4 4 4 3 3

L 1 3 4 2 1 6 4 4 3 5 5 4 6 8 7 8 8 8 9 11

F 32 27 30 20 25 20 25 18 28 17 13 21 14 17 14 17 18 16 17 13

A 21 13 16 10 12 15 21 17 20 16 14 18 19 24 22 27 30 30 29 28

GD 11 14 14 10 13 5 4 1 8 1 -1 3 -5 -7 -8 -10 -12 -14 -12 -15

Pts 32 30 29 29 26 23 23 23 22 22 22 21 19 15 14 13 13 13 12 6

Bony Hails City’s Bony

C

30

ote d’Ivoire and Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony has hailed the club’s facilities and says he’s settling down at the Etihad.

Although he joined from Swansea City in January for £25m, the 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations winner with the Elephants has failed to replicate his prolific goal scoring form.

ir Alex Ferguson believes Leicester City can win the English Premier League (EPL) this season - if they can get it right in the January transfer window.

The Foxes are top of the table with nine wins from 15 games, having lost only once so far this term.

Striker Jamie Vardy has scored 14 goals, breaking a Premier League record in the process, while Riyad Mahrez has 10, but the Midlands club’s squad is one of the smallest in the division.

And Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles during his famous 27-year spell in charge of Manchester United, believes Leicester must strengthen wisely to have any chance at a first ever league title of their own.

“What is the manager Claudio Ranieri saying to the owners?

Because if I were him, I’d want an investment in January, because this is a big opportunity,” said Ferguson, who was speaking with Sir Michael Moritz, the coauthor of his book ‘Leading’ at the TechCrunch Disrupt London 2015 event.

And Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles during his famous 27-year spell in charge of Manchester United, believes Leicester must strengthen wisely to have any chance at a first ever league title of their own.

“What is the manager Claudio Ranieri saying to the owners?

Because if I were him, I’d want an investment in January, because this is a big opportunity,” said Ferguson, who was speaking with Sir Michael Moritz, the coauthor of his book ‘Leading’ at the TechCrunch Disrupt London 2015 event.

Facilities He has netted only seven goals under the tutelage of Manuel Pellegrini, however, Bony insists he feels settled at the club and believes all the players are feeling the benefit of their new training ground.

Bony was speaking about the club’s £200m complex which opened in December last year and boasts unrivalled state-of-

the-art facilities.

The 80-acre site, funded by City’s owners and built in partnership with Manchester City Council includes a 7 000-seater stadium, 16 full size pitches, four-star accommodation as well as education, medical and sports science facilities.

Ferguson

31

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

EXTRATIME

Today’s UEFA Champions League fixtures Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona 11: 45 Roma v BATE 11: 45 Dinamo Zagreb v Bayern M. 11: 45 Olympiakos Piraeus v Arsenal 11: 45 Dynamo Kyiv v Mac/Tel Aviv 11: 45 Chelsea v Porto 11: 45 Valencia v O. Lyonnais 11: 45 Gent v Zenit 11: 45 Gaya

Valencia Players Ready To Follow Neville ‘To Death’

V

alencia full-back, Jose Gaya, says the team are ready to give their all for new manager Gary Neville.

Neville took charge of his first training session as the Spanish side’s head coach on Monday, with around 3000 supporters turning up at the club’s training ground to show their support for the Englishman and his side.

After observing the weekend draw with Barcelona, Neville’s tenure with Los Che gets off to a high pressure start - as the club face French side Lyon today knowing they need to win if they are to progress to the knockout stages of the

Champions League. That leaves Neville little time to impart his ideas on the squad, but Gaya is adamant the players are ready to run through walls for the former Manchester United man.

“We are full of excitement and desire to get things going with him [Neville],” Gaya said.

“The past is past and a new era is beginning.

“He wants the team to be compact, hard-working and supportive of each other and Valencia to be a tough opponent. “We have to be able to have a chance of keeping the ball as otherwise it would be impossible.

Di Maria’s Changing Role At PSG

T

he winger has failed to win over PSG boss Laurent Blanc in a wide role and has been encouraged to operate more centrally in a bid to get the most out of his talents.

He was labelled as a star when he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, but Angel Di Maria is still trying to find his feet at the Parc des Princes. Despite scoring seven goals and making seven assists in 17 matches, the Argentine must refine his position in a system that he has still not mastered.

Positioned on the right of Laurent Blanc’s favoured 4-3-3 system, Di Maria’s first task was to stretch opposing defences and stick to his touchline. But in recent weeks the coach has asked his new charge to come into the centre more often to better utilize his technical abilities. It was a decision taken after October’s home match with Saint-Etienne, when the Frenchman criticized the midfielder.

Arsenal Faces s

Olympiaco In A Do-Or-Die Clash

A

rsene Wenger’s job will not be on the line when Arsenal faces Olympiacos in a door-die fixture for their Champions League hopes tonight.

But the pressure from the supporters will once again start to weigh on Wenger if the Gunners fail to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition for a 16th season in a row.

Arsenal were supposed to stroll through this group with Bayern Munich, yet they face an unenviable task in Athens, where they arrive having lost three of their five Champions League matches so far.

The fluctuation between hope and

disappointment, expectation and infuriation, has defined Arsenal’s campaign in Europe. They suffered embarrassing defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos; they secured a historic home win over Bayern and then duly got smashed to pieces in the return game in Munich.

The north London club do not deserve to progress to the last 16 the stage at which they have been dumped out of the competition in the last five years - but they at least have a chance at the Karaiskakis Stadium.

Wenger’s side must win by two clear goals or by any margin if they score three goals or more.

L

ionel Messi may well have cemented his place as Barcelona’s greatest ever No. 10, but the Argentine talisman clearly has not forgotten about the Camp Nou star who came before him.

Messi struck up a close

It is an intimidating task against an Olympiacos side that have won all 12 of their domestic fixtures this season, have beaten Arsenal in their previous three encounters in Athens and are unbeaten in six homes Champions League ties against Premier League opposition. eIt is tempting to expect some sort of brave failure in the same manner that they beat Monaco 2-0 in the second leg of their last 16 tie last season only to be knocked out on away goals.

It would be yet more proof that the current squad, despite back-toback FA Cup triumphs, remain nearly men.

bond with former Barca No. 10 Ronaldinho after arriving in the Barca dressing room in 2004 as a 16-year-old, and has offered a gesture of gratitude to the Brazilian with a signed shirt.

The present was the focus of a Barca TV programme to be

Messi Sends

Ronaldinho Signed No.10 Shirt

shown at Christmas, focusing on the 10-year anniversary of the 3-0 win at Real Madrid which saw Ronaldinho given a standing ovation by home fans.

Ronaldinho was clearly delighted with the gift, posting a picture of the jersey on Instagram with the accompanying message: “Received a signed shirt from my friend, teammate and great player Messi. Big hug, brother.”

The pair struck up a close bond on the Camp Nou pitch 11 years ago, and it’s clear that their relationship has continued despite Ronaldinho leaving Catalonia in 2008.

Ronaldinho is currently without a club, but who knows – maybe this is Barca’s way of saying they need a replacement No. 10 in case Messi gets injured again? We can but dream.

Barca Want To Make History This Season - Alves

I

Di Maria

Wenger

Messi

t is Barcelona’s goal to create even more history this season, according to full-back Dani Alves.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves says it is the club’s challenge this season to “make history” and do “something unique”.

The Spanish giants won the treble last season – taking out La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. Barca are top of La Liga after 14 rounds and will finish first in their

group in the Champions League despite missing Lionel Messi for several weeks.

Having already won the UEFA Super Cup, Barca will also be competing in the Club World Cup as they look to win a record five trophies this season.

Dani Alves spoke on Television Espanola and explained Barca’s objectives.

“We want to return into the history of football this season,” the Brazilian said.

“That is the objective that is there.

“This year it is our challenge to make history, to do something unique.”

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VOL. 1. NO.248

Price: n150

Lukaku

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS

Paris Saint Germain Real Madrid PSV Eindhoven Wolfsburg Benfica Galatasaray Manchester City Sevilla

Proud Of Milestone

g 30

2 - 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 8 - 0 Malmoe FF 2 - 1 CSKA Moscow 3 - 2 Manchester United 1 - 2 Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 FC Astana 4 - 2 B/Moenchengladbach 1 - 0 Juventus

Ruthless Real …Hit Malmo 8 …As Man Utd crash out

No mistakes taking congress to London

-Pinnick

N

igeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has reiterated that the Federation made no mistake taking Chairmen of State Football Associations to the United Kingdom for a leadership summit, with the Chairmen themselves heaping encomiums on Pinnick and his Board for arranging the program.

The NFF boss spoke at the presentation of a paper on ‘leadership strategies – workings of the FA’, by Chairman of The Football Association, Greg Dyke, at Hilton Watford.

Dyke captivated his audience with a powerful presentation, laced with anecdotes, and immediately took up an invitation by Pinnick to visit Nigeria very soon for another presentation to

an even larger group.

“I have always believed in capacity –enhancement. Everyone needs to regularly enhance his capacity in whatever he is doing in order to grow and become better in his/her field.

Nigeria and England have incredible affinity in several areas, particularly football, and we made no mistake bringing our Congress chieftains here.

“We brought two batches of referees to England for two-week programs in the United Kingdom earlier in the year and the impact has been immediate on our League. We also bought into the PROZONE software ad trained our staff also here in the UK. Now, we have brought the custodians of grassroots football here and they are very happy with what they have seen and learnt.”

Pinnick insisted that the dream of his Board and Management is to see Nigerian Clubs quoted on the Stock Exchange, and said the FA Chairmen have great roles to play in ensuring the success of the NFF U-13 and U-15 youth programs.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Foreign airlines Page B2 seek sustainable aviation growth

threatens Investors lose AMCON delinquent N103.4 bn debtors, obligors Page B3

Page B4

FG to partner ILO on jobs for 20m IDPs

2016 Budget: Experts want government to boost IGR

Joy Ekeke

Federal Government has proposed a special partnership intervention programme with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that would cater for the training and employment of an estimated 20 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), believed to be affected by insurgency in the North East of CONTINUED ON PAGE B3

L-R Mr Sina Alimi, group executive director, Mr Chris Oshafi, GMD/CEO;chief Dolapo Atekoja, chairman, and chief/Mrs Tessa Egbe Ikimi, director, all of PanAfrican Capital Plc, at the 8th annual general meeting of the company in Lagos.

World Bank to FG: Collect all taxes, fuel subsidy cost too high The World Bank has advised Nigeria to seriously reform its tax system to address economic challenges being faced in the country.

Mr John Litwack, Lead Economist of the World Bank, gave the advice on Tuesday in Abuja at the launch of the bank’s third Nigeria Economic Report (NER).

He said the country should build a tax system that was not dependent on oil. ``A lot of the problem is tax administration and if the government is collecting all the taxes that it should be collecting, then we won’t have this type of crisis. ``So the approach is not simply

NUPENG tasks FERMA on highways ‘death-traps’ Joy Ekeke Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to move fast in fixing deplorable highways nationwide in order to forestall accidents this yuletide season.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B3

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

increase in tax rate, but bringing people under the tax net and probably using incentives to get people to pay taxes.’’

The lead economist said the bank would not influence Nigeria’s decision on the issue of fuel subsidy, adding that it could only point out the costs and benefits. ``We did not make any recommendations on fuel subsidy because precisely we don’t think it is our place to do that; we understand this is a difficult decision for Nigeria. ``There are implications that should be considered but we think Nigeria will ultimately decide; so what we are trying to do

is to inform the debate by pointing out the cost implications. ``The costs quite frankly look very high and the benefits for the ordinary Nigerian does not look that high,’’ he said.

Litwack said that although fuel subsidy appeared to have very modest benefits for the majority of Nigerians, the cost implications were quite high.

He noted that the annual spending on fuel subsidy in the country accounted for about one-fourth of all budgetary spending.

According to him, this is significantly greater than the entire federal capital budget and

greater than all federal spending on education and public health combined.

He, however, said that weak enforcement of administrative prices of petrol and kerosene had in no small measure reduced the benefits of fuel subsidies to Nigerians.

The World Bank representative noted that uncertainty about the fuel subsidy had strongly discouraged investment in domestic oil refining. ``Allegations of corruption and fraud surrounding the implementation of the fuel subsidy were costly to the reputation of the government.

Financial experts have expressed mixed reactions on the N6 trillion budget proposed by the Federal Government for the 2016 fiscal year.

The experts expressed their reactions in separate interviews with our correspondents in Lagos yesterday The 2016 budget is part of the three-year Medium-Term Expenditure Framework approved by the Federal Government last Monday.

The experts told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that government should also address revenue leakages to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2016.

Prof. Sheriffadeen Tella of the Department of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, urged government to introduce strategies that would enhance IGR in the country.

According to him, some targets in the 2016 budget would not be achieved unless government introduced strategies aimed at addressing revenue leakages to boost revenue generation.

He said that the slump in the price of crude oil in the international market demanded that government should look for other sources of revenue generation.

The professor stressed that CONTINUED ON PAGE B3

NEITI solicits support of development partners Augustine Okezie, Abuja Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has solicited the support of international development partners in a bid to strengthen its fight against corruption in the oil, gas and mining sectors.

A release made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja which was signed by the agency’s Acting Director of Communica-

tions Mrs. Obiageli Nworah said the Acting Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji told the development partners at a meeting that NEITI’s agenda was to transit from its focus on transparency through accountability to ensuring that its work results in visible impact in the lives of the citizens.

He said “By providing credible information and data on revenue generation, collection and management of extractive industries,

NEITI is encouraged that its intervention has led to increasing public demands for accountability and the on-going reforms in the oil, gas and mining industries.”

The acting Executive Secretary who further lamented the crash in global oil prices, added that the support of development partners would be helpful to complement the Federal Government’s budgetary provisions for NEITI operations.

He also identified automation of NEITI audit process, data gathering and management, capacity building for NEITI staff, the media and the civil society as well as wide dissemination of the audit reports, as major challenges.

He extolled the virtues of the former Executive Secretary, Mrs Zainab Ahmed now a Minister and assured the donors that she left behind a solid team and structure to build on her achievements.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

2 Nigerians sue NCC, MTN over reduction of fine

Overland Airways commences operation to Jalingo

Tony Nwakaegho

Two Nigerians, Messrs. Timipa Jenkins Okponipere and Gele Samuel Mathew of First Law Solicitors, Abuja, have filed an application at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the decision of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to reduce the fine imposed on MTN to reduce by 25 per cent a N1.04 trillion fine earlier imposed on MTN for not disconnecting unregistered subscribers.

The duo in a signed photocopy suit of summon titled: “Notice of application for an order for enforcement of fundamental right pursuant to the provision of the constitution of Nigeria as amended and African charter … and enforcement Act 2004, made available to the media in Abuja, yesterday, the petitioners in the suit with reference FHC/ABJ/ CS1005/2015, said the reduction of the fine by 25 per cent is a breach of: “Part X section 86-88 of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Act 2003, Section 142 (3) and (4) NCC Act 2003 Section 36 (1) 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria.”

Okponipere and Mathew, while attesting to an affidavit sworn at the court stated that the application was filed on behalf of all Nigerian citizens for the enforcement of their fundamental rights.

They averred that the original fine of N1, 040,000,000,000, imposed by NCC on MTN relating to its failure, refusal and/or negligence to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers is nonnegotiable, adding that anything otherwise constitutes a breach of section 36 (1) of the constitution as amended and Article 21(1), of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, both guaranteed by the Nigerian people.

According to them, no Nigerian institution or public office holder has the absolute power to howsoever reduce the fine, without legitimate recourse to the Nigerian people.

Akinde offers solution to unlocking marketplace potentials

Sirika

Foreign airlines seek sustainable aviation growth Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo To enhance safety standards and policies in the country’s aviation, the Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives in Nigeria (AFRAN) is to collaborate with stakeholders in the country.

Exchanging views with aviation correspondents in his office at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja, on the 3rd Safety Summit, the president of AFARN, Mr. Kingsley Nwokoma said the need to foster improved global operating standards in the country cannot be over emphasised.

Nwokoma explained that since safety formed the bedrock of aviation there was need for stakeholders to collaborate in view of recent security development in the world in order to maintain safer skies.

“Aviation is something that everybody should come together to grow it and we will all be proud of it. There are so many units

Tony Nwakaegho Mr Femi Akinde, chief executive officer, Slimtrader said that knowing how to train people for the job is the key to unlocking marketplace potentials in Nigeria.

Akinde highlighted this trend while speaking alongside other company CEOs at the Africa Technology summit

that make up the industry and collaboration is the key to move the industry forward, we want performance but we must drive safety with it.”

According to Nwokoma, various issues in the aviation sector, such as safe skies, airport reforms among others have been slated for discuss at this year’s safety summit with its theme, ‘collaboration for sustainable aviation in Nigeria, through safety to performance.’

Nwokoma decried the poor state of Port Harcourt International Airport hence it attracted worldwide condemnation, adding “If MMIA and PHIA are in this way, what will be of all the other airports in the country.

Port Harcourt is crazy because it’s a tent. That means there is a problem.”

He called on the government to address the challenges facing the aviation sector in the country in order to improve the standard of the sector.

in Ghana on a panel with the theme: ‘Marketplaces in Africa.’

He explained the importance for employers to train people in order to achieve set business goals, stressing that the major challenge for running a business in this sector is talent acquisition.

According to him, the Nigerian market doesn’t have people who are

Overland Airways, Nigeria’s leading commuter airline has commenced flight services to Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, from the airline’s hub in Abuja.

Speaking on the development, Chief Operating Officer of Overland Airways, Mrs. Aanu Benson disclosed that the airline operate current fleet of nine modern turbo-prop aircraft excellently adapted to its shortdistance operations.

According to her, Overland Airways is an outstanding economic development partner and catalyst in Nigeria creating value for remote cities and communities. Our cardinal objective is to fast-track national development especially at the hinterland level, and we have a deep sense of fulfillment each time we connect another potential economic powerhouse like Jalingo to the main economic hubs.

“Today marks the beginning of a new economic frontier for Taraba State. Overland Airways is pleased to bring air connectivity to bear on the efforts to accelerate economic development in Jalingo and Taraba State,” Benson added.

She said Overland Airways was the first-ever airline to launch flights to Jalingo airport, thus opening the state to unprecedented economic development in tourism, agribusiness, small and medium scale

industries among others.

This notable feat, she stated was one of several characteristics that single out Overland Airways as an unmatched partner in economic empowerment and development especially in hinterland regions in Nigeria.

Overland Airways is renowned for launching first-ever flights to several Nigerian secondary airports such as Asaba, Dutse, Katsina and Minna, which has effectively created an extensive web of economic development in these regions and their environs.

Speaking further, Benson said, “Overland Airways has the zeal to provide avenue for wealth creation especially in Jalingo and other remote cities in Nigeria. We are passionate about alleviating the challenges facing road commuters, and we are pleased to enhance the movement of economic developers, new investors, tourists, etc. to and from Jalingo. Residents and visitors of Jalingo and its environs will no longer have to travel to other states to catch a flight to Abuja.”

“We are humbled to see the economic impact of opening up Nigeria’s hinterland destinations; from Ilorin, Ibadan, Dutse, Bauchi to Minna among others. The benefits of Overland Airways air connectivity are remarkable. We invite you to experience Overland Airways’ on-board hospitality in Jalingo.

Boyo

equipped with the right skills for roles in this sector, bringing to fore that as a major player in the Hospitality industry, lack of talent has hindered the growth of the sector.

Slimtrader, he said, has however been able to overcome this challenge by grooming talents for the industry with a training programme in partnership with West Africa Vocational Edu-

cation (WAVE) to get Nigerian youths equipped with the right skills for jobs in the hospitality industry. With the sectors’ potential to contribute up to 5.8 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the next decade, ecommerce solutions such as SlimTrader’s MoBiashara for Hotels marketplace platform will therefore help the sector grow, giving hotels greater visibility.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

B3 Business News

AMCON threatens delinquent debtors, obligors Friday Atufe Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has reiterated its threat to publish the names of its delinquent debtors and obligors who failed to pay up their debts or come up with concrete plans to restructure them in the media.

Managing Director of AMCON, Ahmed Lawan Kuru disclosed this yesterday while addressing journalists in Lagos, adding that development has become imperative because the corporation needed to pay up its outstanding N5 trillion loans.

He said under the financing structure of the corporation, banks were supposed to provide 70 percent of its need through a sinking fund from their yearly operations while it (AMCON) generates the balance of 30 percent through loan recoveries.

Kuru explained that it might be difficult for banks to meet their obligations to the corporation because of the difficult operating environment under which they operating.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had last April granted AMCON further dispensation to publish the names of delinquent debtors and their direc-

NUPENG tasks FERMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

In a statement signed by Comrade (Dr.) Igwe Achese, NUPENG’s President, the roads are now death traps, riddled with potholes and calling for urgent attention.

NUPENG added that most of the nation’s expressways are in a state of disrepair especially Benin – Okene - Lokoja, Port Harcourt - Aba, Ilorin – Jebba - Mokwa, Sagamu - Ore, Lagos – Ibadan expressway, among others.

NUPENG appealed to the Federal Government to grant motorists and commuters reprieve by deploying FERMA to begin rehabilitation works to fill the numerous pot-holes before Christmas, stressing that it has become necessary to patch the roads because Nigerians travel both day and night.

“The union calls on the Federal Government and the Honourable Minister of works, Babatunde Fashola to begin repair works to fill the gullies, pot-holes as many travellers will use these roads during the yuletide season in order to prevent deaths and accidents.

L-R: Senior Partner, Olisa Agbakoba Legal and Chairman of the Occasion, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Principal Partner Doroty Ufot & Co. Mrs. Dorothy Ufot (SAN), & Head of department, Communication Law of Amadu Bello University Zaria Dr. R.A Agom at Investment & Securities Tribunal (IST) Stakeholders’ Public Enlightenment Workshop, held at Oriental Hotels, Lagos on Tuesday.

tors as appropriate in national newspapers under Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) circular no.

BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/08/022 of 22 April, 2015. Kuru explained that since the banks published the names of their delinquent debtors, there has been remarkable response by them to pay up their loans or restructure them.

The chief executive of AMCON also said that the corpo-

ration has a lot of tank farms, real estate properties as well as stocks listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) but because of the downturn in economic activities, their values had fallen drastically.

He said the corporation was challenged by the need to redeem its loans, the judicial system and the economy that is contending with falling oil

Experts want government to boost IGR CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

funding of the budget would be difficult with current developments in the economy, adding that he expected a smaller budget.

He commended the 30 per cent proposed for capital expenditure, noting that infrastructure development was critical to the nation’s growth and development.

Tella, however, called on government to ensure proper implementation of the budget.

“Implementation of the budget is the critical thing and it must not be business as usual,” Tella said.

Mr Harrison Owoh, the Managing Director, HJ Trust & Investment Ltd, also said that government needed to boost internally generated revenue to make the budget realistic.

Owoh said that government should stop unnecessary waivers granted to companies not contributing to the nation’s development. ``All religious waivers should be stopped and government should review tax and import duties to boost revenue generation. ``Government should also pay more attention to extract industries with less emphasis on oil.

``Government should woo back companies that had left the country due to unfriendly operating environment to boost employment generation,’’ he said.

Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, the Managing Director, Trust Yield Investment Ltd, said that funding of the budget was critical.

Yussuf said that government should cut down salaries of those in the high echelons of government in line with the current realities.

He said that 70 percent allocated to recurrent expenditure was still high.

Kemi Adeosun

prices in the international market, adding that this development has made it unrealistic to dispose of some its assets at the value it purchased them.

The managing director said the corporation would come up with a timetable when Keystone Bank Limited would be sold.

Kuru, former managing director Enterprise Bank Limited which was recently acquired by

Skye Bank Limited was recently appointed by President Muhammed Buhari as managing director of AMCON. AMCON was established pursuant to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Act no.

4, 2010 on the 19th day of July 2010, for the purpose of efficiently resolving the non-performing loans assets of banks in Nigeria.

FG to partner ILO on jobs CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Nigeria.

The initiative, according to government will also encompass a comprehensive crisis response strategy to capture most of the IDPs in the country’s social security net.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, who is currently attending the 13th African Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organisation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said the Nigerian Government was exploring ways of tackling the challenges posed by massive unemployment through the expansion of the nation’s capacity in agriculture, solid minerals and industry.

“We wish to partner the ILO in the development of a strategy to rehabilitate and train the majority of the over twenty (20) million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by insurgency in North-Eastern part of Nigeria. We need comprehensive crisis response strategies to capture them in the Social Security Net,”Ngige told

the conference.

He said President Mohammadu Buhari, administration would soon deploy sound social protection strategies to avail credit facilities to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

While emphasizing the theme of this year’s conference entitled “Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Africa through Decent Work Agenda,” the Minister said that the Federal Government was totally committed to the realization of Decent Work Agenda for Africa (DWAA).

He said so far, Nigeria has recorded significant milestones in some thematic areas through the establishment of institutions that facilitated gap closure in core skill acquisition areas.

His words, “it’s quite gratifying that the ongoing collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in the region shows a clear commitment for the achievement of political will, espoused by the African Leaders when they declared “ decent work as a central goal for economic and social policy.”

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

BGL suspension still subsists – SEC Stories by Adesola Akindele Securities and Exchange Commission (SE) has said the suspension of BGL Plc, its subsidiaries and sponsored individuals from all capital market activities still subsists.

SEC stated this in a notice posted on its website following the publication of the BGL 50 Index in a national newspaper yesterday, adding that the commission dissociates itself from the “BGL 50 Index” publication.

“The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“The Commission”) has been drawn to a “Market Index”

titled “BGL 50”, currently being sponsored by BGL Plc in Thisday Newspapers. This is to remind the general public that the suspension of BGL Plc, its subsidiaries and sponsored individuals from all capital market activities still subsists.

“The Commission hereby dissociates itself from the “BGL 50 Index” publication.

SEC in May 2015 announced the suspension of BGL Group Plc from all capital market operations. The SEC also said that Mr. Albert Okumagba, who is the Group Managing Director of BGL Group, should cease to be a registered Sponsored Individual with the commission

following the withdrawal of the registration of BGL Plc as a capital market operator.

“He is therefore no longer entitled to carryout capital market activities,” SEC declared.

According to the commission, the decision to suspend BGL was taken after the commission’s Executive Management Committee meeting held on May 19, 2015, where it considered the report of a detailed investigation into the various complaints received from investors against subsidiaries of BGL Group.

SEC directed that “BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Se-

curities Limited be suspended from all capital market activities all Sponsored Individuals of BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited whose particulars are contained in the Commission’s record as at December 2014 be suspended from performing any capital market activity.”

The commission noted that “all suspicious transactions observed in the course of the investigation have been referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation; and BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL

Securities Limited and all individuals involved in the management of the said companies have been referred to the SEC Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC) which will give all parties to the cases a fair hearing.”

The commission noted that it is empowered under Sections 13(n), 45, 303 of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 and Rule 598 of its Rules and Regulation to protect the integrity of the capital market against all forms of abuses by investigating and sanctioning persons who violate the provisions of the Act and rules and regulation thereto.

Stock Market Report Investors lose N103.4 bn Equities market segment of the Nigerian Stock Market (NSE) declined 1.08 per cent after a three day consecutive gain.

The NSE All Share Index lost 300.86 points to close at 27,533.03 points against 202.84 points gained previously to close at 27,833.89 points while Market Capitalization dropped by N103.4 billion to close at N9.47 trillion against N69.74 billion lost previously to close at N9.57 trillion. yesterday’s market closed with 16 gainers against 28 losers.

Unilever Plc topped the gainers chart with an 8.33 per cent or N3.50 gain to close at N45.50 per share followed by Mobil Plc which added 5.00 per cent or N6.30 to close at N132.41 per share, while Eterna Plc gained 4.83 per cent or 7 kobo to close at N1.52 per share.

Livestock Plc appreciated by 4.38 per cent or 6 kobo to close at

N1.43 per share while Transnational Express Plc increased by 4.04 per cent or 4 kobo to close at N1.03 per share.

On the other hand, Zenith Bank Plc topped todays 28 losers with a decline of 6.15 per cent or 94 kobo to close at N14.35 per share trailed by Forte Oil Plc which depreciated by 5.13 per cent or N12.75 to close at N235.90 per share while Transcorp Plc dropped 5.00 per cent or 8 kobo to close at N1.52 per share.

Africa Prudential Plc lost 4.92 per cent or 12 kobo to close at N2.32 per share and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc fell 4.88 per cent or 38 kobo to close at N7.40 per share.

In all, investors exchanged 485.0 million shares worth N4.45 billion in 2,785 deals against 127.82 million shares worth N2.45 billion exchanged in 2,434 deals previously.

L-R: Former President, Institute of Directors (IOD), Femi Ekundayo; President, IOD, Yemi Akeju and chairman, Keystone Bank Limited, Moyo Ajekigbe, during the Annual IOD 2015 Dinner/Award, where Ajekigbe received Director Development Award in Lagos recently.

UBAF NEC unveils 2015 overall winner Emediong Uduak Uko aged 15, of British Nigerian Academy FCT Abuja has emerged the overall winner for the 2015 edition of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition.

She clinched the first position at the grand finale, held on Monday December 7th, 2015 at the UBA House Marina Lagos, topping 12 finalist selected from 3,326 entries received by the UBA Foundation from students of senior secondary schools all over Nigeria, representing a 50% increase over 2014.

She won for herself a one million naira educational grant to study in any African university of her choice, and a laptop.

Speaking on how she felt about winning the competition, Emediong said “I am very elated, and thankful to God. I am grateful to UBA for this opportunity, and for lifting a heavy load of my parents back” The second prize was won by Starish Ugie-Oritse Ete Enonuya aged 14 of the Lagoon School taking home the prize of N750,000 educational grant along with a laptop while the third prize went to Eze Ugochinyere Golden aged 16 of Living word academy school Abia bagged for herself a N500,000 educational grant and a laptop.

Ijeoma Aso, the MD/CEO of UBA Foundation while congratu-

lating the winners praised them for them for their brilliance.

“Every student who sent in an entry is a winner. It shows that he or she is confident about his or her writing skill. For those that did not win, I will say do not be discouraged. Take it as a challenge to perfect your writing and enter for the competition again in 2016.” she said According to the MD/CEO of UBA Plc Mr. Phillips Odozua the bank is set to extend the competition across all other 19 African countries in which the bank has establish its footprints, starting with Ghana and Senegal which have currently produced 9 other winners.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

B5 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 08-12-2015

Agric B6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

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Healthy soils critical for global food production – IFAD Stories by Isaac Agber International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has called for improved soil management to help boost yields and food security for many rural poor people.

IFAD is an arm of the United Nations, saddled with the responsibility of leading multilateral investors in the livelihoods of poor rural producers in developing countries worldwide.

Its work is directed at the needs and concerns of poor smallholder farmers, agricultural labourers, pastoralists, foresters, fishers and small entrepreneurs in rural areas.

Speaking on World Soil Day, celebrated on 5th December, 2015, IFAD’s Senior Technical Specialist in Agronomy, Robert Delve, said soils are the basis for 95 per cent of the world’s food production. Yet many people are failing to connect the importance of soil with food, water, climate, biodiversity and life.

According to him, World Soil Day highlighted the vital role soils play around the world in global food and nutritional security, emphasizing that soil plays a particularly important role in IFAD’s work in developing countries.

Many of IFAD’s projects and programs focus on funding sustainable approaches that enable smallholder farmers to grow

more food and feed more people while at the same time increasing their resilience to climate change and protecting the environment.

Delve emphasized on investing in soil in order to maintain its nutrients. “You need to invest in soil to maintain its health and produce nutritious food,” he said. “The maintenance of soil as a natural non-renewable resource is essential to increasing agricultural productivity, combating climate change and to meeting global food security,” Delve added.

This year’s World Soil Day coincided with the United Nations climate change conference (COP21) held in Paris. Soil is an important part of the climate change conversation, as landuse conversions and drainage of organic soils for cultivation are now responsible for about 10 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Incidents like this have nearly doubled over the past 50 years and, without greater efforts to reduce them, they could increase an additional 30 per cent by 2050, say experts.

Studies have shown that soils can help to combat and adapt to climate change by playing a key role in the carbon cycle through carbon sequestration and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Most of the world’s organic carbon is stored in the earth’s

oceans and soils. For example, forest soils store a quantity of carbon equaling that of the global forest biomass, about 45 per cent each, according to reports.

Improved soil management can provide benefits in mitigating the increasing atmospheric concentration of CO².

The challenge, however, is that the ‘good’ soil is being depleted at alarming rate. It has been estimated that 33 per cent of global soil is moderately to highly degrade because of erosion, salinization, compaction, acidification, chemical pollution and nutrient depletion.

Delve noted that while rural people are the most affected by soil depletion, they are also the main contributors to its healthy management. Currently, more than half of the world’s 1.5 billion hectares of arable land is moderately or severely degraded, having lost either part of its structure or fertility.

“Poorest smallholder farmers who struggle to generate enough food are often forced to overuse land and can’t afford to undertake sustainable soil conservation practices,” said Delve.

Despite the world’s soils rapidly deteriorating, Delve said that this trend can be reversed provided countries take the lead in promoting sustainable management practices and the use of appropriate technologies.

In a determined bid to expand its market chain and stay above emerging competitors, PRIMLAKS Group, pioneers of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) fruits and vegetables in Nigeria, has outsourced distribution of its Sympli brand of convenience foods to Chellarams PLC, one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates, with strong capability to deepen the sale of Sympli products nationwide.

With this synergy, the fastmoving 100% locally farmed and produced Sympli products are now being sold in fifty stores serviced by Chellarams in Lagos with effect from December 1, 2015.

The range of products, which include ‘Yam Fries’, ‘Yam Cubes,’ Plantain ‘Dodo’ and ‘Plantain Chips’, are delivered in ready-to-cook state for frying, steaming or baking.

PRIMLAKS Director, Mr. Ravi Hemnani, said: “The collaboration makes perfect sense as we will leverage Chellarams’ years of distribution experience and PRIMLAKS’ expertise in food processing in Nigeria. The plan is to first ensure availability of Sympli products within Lagos and then to expand distribution to other Chellarams serviced outlets throughout the country.”

Olam recommends measures to Ǝ ƃƈƉƄ ƃƉƆƊ ƎƄ ƃ Ƅ

PRIMLAKS, CHELLARAMS join forces on distribution of Sympli brand He further explained that the collaboration will enhance PRIMLAKS’ vision to encourage people to embrace made in Nigeria food products.

Chellarams’ Director, Mr. Aditya Chellaram, said: “We are delighted by the collaboration with PRIMLAKS Group to facilitate wider distribution of the innovative Sympli brand because it builds on our strong distribution capability while at the same time supporting local content in food production.”

Meanwhile, the PRIMLAKS Group has also announced the introduction of consumerfriendly single-use Sympli 500g packs for customers who prefer smaller unit sizes for immediate consumption.

Director, Ravi Hemnani said: “The new single-use 500g packs offer sliced and diced ingredients that are ready to cook, thereby saving time for busy people, without compromising on quality and delicious taste. We believe the new pack sizes will strongly support our drive to inspire home cooking by providing convenience and opening up the market to those without deep freezers.”

Verghese

Ahead of Olam International’s participation in events surrounding COP21 in Paris this week, Sunny Verghese, CoFounder, Group Managing Director and CEO of the leading agribusiness, has called on world leaders and the agri, food and beverage sectors to take up a number of measures to tackle climate change.

In Olam’s 2°C paper, Mr. Verghese said world leaders should commit to a global carbon tax; support robust carbon off-set mechanisms; make Green Bonds attractive and cost-competitive investments; develop national land use plans; recognize the role of Public Private Partnerships in helping emerging nations, particularly in terms of mobilizing finance; and, engage non-state actors to actively contribute to national targets.

Also addressing peers in the agri, food and beverage sectors, Verghese urged companies to adopt climate smart agricultural practices and join the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) Low Carbon Technology Partnership Initiative (LCTPi) to halve agricultural emissions by 2050. He argued that collaboration, costsharing and driving consumer awareness will be key to achieving reduced emissions in sustainable supply chains.

With the challenges climate change is already bringing to the agricultural sector coupled with the ongoing decline in agricultural productivity (2.1% growth in productivity in 1970-2000 and 1.1% growth in productivity in 200-2010), Verghese highlighted the need for cooperation between public research institutions.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

B7

Thought Leadership

Five hints from the Chief Financial Officer to the Chief Information Officer on IT initiatives Joseph Tegbe (When nobody is around) In couple of decades of executing IT consulting and system implementation projects for different entities in varying economies, we have come across a particular figure (or rather a job role) that plays a crucial (and totally underappreciated) part in IT development. We are referring of course to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

In many organizations, the CFO is directly responsible for IT. In others, the roles are separated and CFO and CIO are at times, at the same level. But almost in all big implementation, any major IT change usually comes down to a “Go/No-Go” decision from the CFO – formally or informally.

A while ago our team was pitching a new brilliant (at least we were sure it was) IT idea to a CFO. With a well-developed business case and full support from the CIO and heads of business departments, we could barely get his approval. It was not the first time this happened, and probably not the last.

A simple question popped into our minds. Why do CFOs oppose or why are they skeptical (at the least) of our innovations when we are so knowledgeable and smart (IT guys boldness, you know) and our ideas are obviously very beneficial for the business?

We launch a small investigation discussing with couple of CFOs and CIOs in the past 3 years as well as numerous colleagues in consulting and we feel we are close to an answer. Let us share with you what is on the CFO’s mind about IT. 1. It is not about the ultimate quality of IT service (and never was) The CFO is a person who ends up paying for IT services, and in most cases, he may not be looking for the best quality you can provide. First of all, he is looking for stability and then, for a reasonable price to quality ratio. So if, for example, you are introducing a new intranet portal with 99.9% availability that costs $300,000 annually, and compare it with a current 98% available portal with $50,000 annual price tag, it is not an automatic buy, especially if the content and capabilities are more or less the same.

While you are convinced that the new platform and new technology will give you multiple options in the future for updating

the portal and introducing amazing features, CFOs may not appreciate why he should pay a quarter of million dollars more each year. He might even be willing to risk the old portal being down a couple of days a year. However, to convince him, you may have to present the big picture: all the benefits, all the projects to be launched on an updated intranet, and of course he will ask you about the costs for this, and that is the moment where it gets tricky. Especially, if you are discussing the full scope and not just asking for money for excessive quality, you are on a right track.

Your peers from the business departments will often back you up especially when you are offering faster connection, more computing power and cool apps. They love technology almost as much as you do, but CFOs will usually get you down to earth. The CFO must be certain that any IT investment is a necessity and real value not just a whim.

If a company has a history of failure in implementing IT solutions (and most companies do), you must be ready to convince the CFO that the business will run “as usual” no matter what. For example, imagine you are replacing an old style ODBC (Open Data Base Connector) integration with your clients’ database for a new cross-platform app. You must convince the CFO that you have a roll back plan, and if the bugs are to be found in this new app (rather when they will be found) you can get back to the old integra-

tion channel while you are fixing them.

Stability and predictable quality for a lowest price (if possible) will definitely be your catch for the CFO. 2. User satisfaction and quality of service must be results of efficiency not investment (sorry about that) The CFO is not inclined to directly finance projects that will result only in raised IT efficiency (or user satisfaction). It does not mean however, that he is not expecting IT to constantly improve, however projects like: spending some money to improve users support, data storage capability etc., are not welcome. You have to introduce an improved quality of exciting services with the budget you have on-hand. You have to constantly look at how to make your IT processes more mature and how to make your users happy with what you have. That is what the CFO is expecting. It is hard but possible. To achieve this, your improvement should be a part of a holistic IT strategy.

At the same time, when you are budgeting a next big thing that the CFO is happy to pay for, like ERP module implementation, or new WEB sales channel, do not forget to include reasonable process improvement and support costs. You, most probably, will not get funding for this separately.

3. OPEX is always better then CAPEX (but beware) Very often, for reasons that any CFO can explain much better than we, OPEX is preferable

to CAPEX. If you are comparing building your own Data Center, moving your business applications to a cloud, hiring twenty more developers or handing over support of the solution to a third party, remember, the CFO is usually for OPEX. It is so much easier to manage (and cut) operational costs particularly in a rapidly changing business environment.

But beware, if after a year your support organization announces 40% increase in charges (because you are now dependent on them and have nowhere to go), or business data volume rises drastically (so as the bills from the cloud provider), you will be held responsible. The CFO will push for OPEX, but it requires a lot of calculations and very careful risk management to ensure that you have a control over IT budget and there are no unpleasant surprises down the road.

4. I do not believe in your ROI calculations (and never will) Every experienced CFO has seen hundreds of unsuccessful investments, not necessarily in IT, however, he has to deal with sunk costs on a regular basis (hopefully, not that often), and most of the projects that ended badly have an established business case and ROI calculation.

We are not talking about projects that went terribly wrong. It is usually projects that just did not match the expectations. May be the cost rose unexpectedly; may be some of the benefits or business values were not achieved.

In this situation, unsatisfying investment is more or less a routine case for CFO. So do not be surprised when he looks at your ROI calculation very skeptically. He has a tendency not to trust it, especially if it is very optimistic or you forgot to include something (you probably did, didn’t you).

You have to show your business case, but do not hope that it will be a determining factor. Be ready with success stories, examples from international markets and concrete evidence of demand for your project results. Another helpful way is to show the CFO your ROI calculation methodology, modify it according to his comments and use this exact method for every IT project. After a while, you can get a CFO’s trust and commitment.

5. Save some money and reinvest them in IT (but not too much) Everyone knows that if you underspend your IT budget this year, you are not getting the same amount back, however, what if you find a nice way to save some money?

The CFO will not be very happy if you give him 20% of your budget back at the end of the year.

It means to him that there were some problems with planning.

So spend this money (as in hint 2 for example). To do this you have to clearly show the CFO that you are not just dragging money from one part of your budget to another, but you are reinvesting something you have saved. With this, the CFO can back up almost any reasonable project you have in mind.

However, do not overuse this hint, because if you end up with serious cash on your hand several years in a row, even if you reinvest it, you can make your CFO unhappy. He will assume you knew how to save right from the beginning and did not show it during the planning stage.

And we do not want to do that because, a happy CFO means an exciting and cutting edge IT organization which we are so eager to build.

Tegbe, Partner & Head; and Alex Smolensky, Senior Manager, Information Technology © 2015, KPMG Professional Services, a partnership registered in Nigeria and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (‘’KPMG International’’), a Swiss entity.

Maritime B8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Jigawa, Delta abandon 70 containers at Ikorodu terminal

Clearing agent docked for N4.1m fraud A 35-year-old clearing agent, Isiaka Muritala, was had been arraigned by the police before a Lagos State Magistrate’s Court, Igbosere, for obtaining N4.1million from a customer under the pretext of clearing two cars for him.

Muritala, who resides at Ketu, is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Kenneth Asibor, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on July 16, during working hours in Lagos.

He alleged that the defendant obtained the sum of N1.3 million from one Martins Eruga, under the guise of clearing two vehicles,

a Toyota Highlander and a Toyota Rav 4, which he failed to do.

The prosecutor also claimed that the accused delivered one of the vehicles to Eruga but stole the Toyota Rav 4, valued at N2.8million.

The total amount allegedly stolen was N4.1million and the offences contravened Sections 285 (1) and 312 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, Inspector Asibor told the court.

The defendant pleaded not guilty on the charges.

Section 312 (a) recommends 14 years in prison for the offence.

The magistrate, Mrs. A. O. Komolafe, granted him N500, 000

Arase

bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned to January 11, 2016 for further hearing.

The Jigawa and Delta state governments have abandoned 50 containers of tricycles (Keke NAPEP) and 20 containers of building equipment at the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, the Nigeria Customs Service has said.

The Acting Assistant Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service in charge of Zone A, Comptroller Charles Edike, said this during a visit to the terminal which is used as a warehouse for overtime cargoes.

Edike said, “The 50 containers of tricycles belong to the Jigawa State Government while 20

containers containing building equipment belong to the Delta State Government.

“There are also a lot of containers loaded with electricity equipment lying un-cleared at the terminal; they belong to the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria. These containers were deployed there from the ports.”

He added that the companies that took over the assets and liabilities of the defunct PHCN must remove the abandoned imported electricity equipment from ILT

by December 31, 2015 or forfeit them to the Federal Government.

EFCC alleges plot to frustrate Akpobolokemi’s trial Stories by Funmi Coker

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that there is a plot to frustrate the trial of a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.

He and three others were arraigned last Friday before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court.

They were accused of converting N2.6billion as well as defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N795.2million.

Their trial was billed to begin on Monday, but counsel for the third defendant, Lanre Olayinka,

Magu

was absent.

He wrote the court, saying he traveled abroad for an urgent medical treatment.

But EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said Olayinka’s absence was a ploy to delay the trial.

“My learned friend did not provide sufficient explanation.

There is nothing stating the whereabouts of other lawyers in his chambers.

“When the case was adjourned last Friday, he never mentioned that he planned to travel or that he booked a ticket.

“This is a clear manifestation of the defendant’s determination not to allow this matter to go on,” he said.

Oyedepo urged the court not to

grant an adjournment, saying he was ready to go on with the case having brought two of his witnesses.

However, Akpobolokemi’s lawyer, Joseph Nwobike (SAN), said he needed more time to discuss with his client.

“The point is that it will be difficult to represent the first defendant when I have not conferred with him,” he said.

Ruling, Justice Buba said the “days of luxury” for the judge, lawyers and defendants during trials were over.

“You cannot delay this trial.

You can take it to another court, but you cannot stall the trial in this court. If anybody is not comfortable, let me return the case file to the Chief Judge,” he said.

Customs officials, soldiers raid Lagos rice stores Some market women who sell rice at the Mile 2 Oke/Under-bridge Market, in AmuwoOdofin Local Government Area of Lagos State have accused officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, of invading their stores at about 1am on Saturday to cart away hundreds of bags of rice.

The women said the Customs officials were accompanied by soldiers.

The women, who wept uncontrollably during a protest at the market on Saturday, complained that the armed Customs men and soldiers, who drove in two trucks, carted away about 1,200 bags of rice.

Speaking through one Mrs Suwebatu Akorede, the women lamented that the Customs operatives and soldiers broke into their stores without indicating what their offences were.

Akorede said, “The armed security operatives met our workers who slept in the market, when they drove in at about 1am. During their operation, they beat our workers and even injured two of them with gun butts. They drove away with two-trailer load of bags of parboiled rice, as well as cartons of juice drinks, that we had in our stores.”

Semiu Akeem, one of the workers who alleged that he was beaten by the armed security operatives, said, “I was sleeping when the Customs officials and soldiers woke me at about 1am. After identifying myself as a worker in the market, one of the soldiers started ransacking my pockets. When I asked what the problem was, what I saw was that he used his gun’s butt to hit me on my knee. At that moment, the soldier took from me the N150, 000 that I had on me, as

well as my two phones.

“After the armed security operatives finished loading their two trucks with the bags of parboiled rice, they drove me and three of my co-workers to the Customs office at Ikeja.”

Another trader, Mrs Chi Okeke said, “We pay Customs duty to bring in our rice through the Seme border. So, we are surprised that the same Customs officials who had collected duty from us will still come to invade our stores and cart away our products.”

Chairman of the market, Idowu Akanbi, said, “We have gone to Customs office at Ikeja to bail our workers that were arrested, and they asked us to come back on Monday, to secure their release, stating that it was already weekend.”

When contacted, the spokesperson, NCS, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Uche Ejesieme confirmed the

Ali

market raid.

He said, “Sequel to an intelligence information, that large quantity of smuggled goods were kept in an open location at Mile 2, the headquarters monitoring team led by Assistant Comptroller Jatau Micah swooped on the location in an

operation that lasted between 1.30am to 3.30am of Saturday.

“The team evacuated 580 bags of suspected smuggled 50kg parboiled rice and 151 pieces of used tyres. The seized items and the suspects have been brought down to our facility in Ikeja for further investigation.

Life&

TIMES Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Ade

Bakare:

The Designer with Midas touch

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

My outfits cater for all shapes and sizes

— Ade Bakare Born in Bromsgrove (British Midlands), he graduated from Manchester University College after which he began working at the fashion houses of Victor Edelstein and Christian Stambolian, purveyors of style to the English establishment in the 80s and 90s and thereby gained his initial tailoring experience. Ade Bakare is one of the leading fashion designers and entrepreneurs in Nigeria who have made landmark achievements in the creative world. A man of many paths, Ade Bakare equally explored other parts of the fashion business when he created the perfume, Breeze, in 1998 which was inspired by his childhood days spent along the breezy West African coastal city of Lagos in Nigeria.

In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Ade Bakare explains his love the art, his bridal collections amongst others. Excerpts:

Did you ever envisage that you will be this popular when you started?

I have always liked fashion and design. From my secondary school days, I was always drawing clothes with different styles, then I studied it at design school in Manchester, England, before setting up my fashion business. Along the way, I have been fortunate in getting publicity, right from my days in college, so popularity seemed a natural progression.

and it was shown on ITV. Having spent several years abroad, how are your Nigerian clientele seeing your outfits?

Our designs studios are still in London and I commute between London and Lagos frequently. We have a boutique in Lagos on Muri Okunola, Victoria Island. Having opened now for close to 5 years, we have come to understand and appreciate the African and most especially our Nigerian clients who love attention to details and constant new designs.

As a graduate of history, why the sudden love for art, fashion to be precise?

Having studied history as my first degree at the University of Lagos in Nigeria, I always try to use African influences in my collections; from the use of Adire to my current Maasai collection, it’s an appreciation of what’s beautiful in Africa.

You are a man of plenty ideas from bridal wears to shoes, perfumes and others, how do you relax?

I find travelling relaxing; being on the plane between two fashion capitals London and Lagos. I also love visiting other countries finding inspiration.

Life &

T E A M

How did you come about your bridal range collections?

I came about bridal design when I submitted my wedding design for a competition while we were in design school. It was a national competition for all fashion design schools in England. My designs were chosen and I came second, which was a huge lift as a college design student then. The whole class gave me a standing ovation

These days fashion designers prefers the skinny model; any reason for that?

We usually use size 10 models, though the industry now favour size 8s. I feel it’s a matter of preference. Our designs are made for the fuller woman; the model simply acts as a taller and slimmer version, but we design for all shapes and heights.

There is this impression that plus-sized models are often

Movie & Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

thrown off balance on the run-way; have you tried them either?

I am not aware plus sized models get thrown off balance when walking on the runway, it’s simply a matter of training and being consistent.

Fashion business for you, how did it all start?

We started in 1991 in London with a ready to wear line which sold to shops in the UK. Then we later started the couture line starting with bridal dresses. Now, we have the day and evening wear lines plus a new line of Ankara dresses we launched at a recent show at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi-Lagos. It has been well received and lots of clients and friends have started ordering it for Christmas. They love our use of silk organza and lace with the Ankara, giving it our own signature look.

With 25 years of experience in the world of fashion, do you feel intimidated considering the new trends of designers now?

Competition is great for progress, it’s also why we started the young designers’ competition, YDCC. There are rooms for several designers to progress and stand firm on.

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

L3 Out & about

Mutiat Alli

Photos from Ade Bakare’s 2016 Maasi Presentation

Ade Bakare and FADAN President, Funmi Ajila-Ladipo

L’Avyanna Skincare holds training workshop

VANE launches premium luxury store

Odeka

The city of Lagos witnessed the launch of The VANE flagship store last Saturday. The store which is owned by celebrity stylist, Veronica Odeka, is located in the Lekki axis of Lagos State.

The launch was attended by celebrities, socialites, Fashion enthusiasts and lovers of the VANE Polish brand. Not only were the guests given full access to test the diverse colours of the nail polish, but they were able to experience the best of nail care by expert beauticians for free!

May-Ikeora

L’Avyanna Skin Naturals recently organised a two-day training workshop in Victoria Island, Lagos entitled Natural & Organic Skincare Business Master class.

According to the CEO of L’Avyanna, Dr. May Ikeora, the training was aimed at beautypreneurs looking to set up their own skincare business

through learning the ropes in the sector.

“Specifically, they learnt how to make organic and natural products as well as the natural science behind them. Our natural skincare training workshops are certified by a British leading natural skincare formulation institution called Formula Botanica. “We plan to run this skincare workshops every

month at different locations. The next one is in Abuja in January 2016 and currently discounted on Dealdey. We are excited about educating more people about honest skincare and increasingly deter more people from skin bleaching. We are also excited about the business opportunities that our trainings present to participants,” she said.

Displaying an array of pretty art decor bottles of premium luxury nail polish, the store sure provides an aura of comfort and hospitality as guests were treated to high standard customer services while enjoying a tour of the elegant store.

As expected, the guests couldn’t help but fall in love with the newly launched Brown Girl collection and the Holiday collection. The Brown Girl collection consists of four shades of Nude named after four Nigerian women (Tara, Ozi, Halima and Chi).

Speaking on the collections, Odeka said: “The Brown Girl collection is my interpretation of ethnicity. With the Christmas collection, I decided to create a different representation of Christmas by replacing the traditional colours; Green and Red with Black, White, Gold and Silver”.

The pretty, glossy nail polish come in beautiful gift packs of two, four and customized sets, making the perfect gifts for the festive season.

This event was proudly sponsored by Cointreau and Lewa Studios. Available in store is the entire lacquer line comprising of 10 core shades and 15 complimentary shades as well as Kleancolor Nail polish remover.

Fashion Score sheet L4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

FABULOUS Mutiat Alli

red carpet moment from

THE FUTURE AWARDS 2015

Yemi Casual Score: 9/10

Noble Igwe Score: 8/10

Waje Score: 7/10

Linda Ikeji Score: 7/10

Bonang Matheba Score: 8/10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

L5 Fashion Score sheet

Alex Ekubo Score: 9/10

THE BLACK GANG

Darey Alade Score: 9/10

Debola Williams Score: 9/10

Full list of Winners Ò Africa Prize in Advocacy & Activism: Queen Baboloki (Botswana) Ò Africa Prize in Education: Lily Kudzro (Ghana) Ò Africa Prize in Enterprise Support: Olufunbi Falayi (Nigeria) Ò Africa Prize in Community Action: Kelvin Mutize (Zimbabwe) Ò Africa Prize in Technology: Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza (Ghana) Ò Africa Prize in Entertainment: Olamide “Badoo” Ayodeji (Nigeria) Ò Africa Prize in Agriculture: David Asiamah (Ghana)

Aishah Ahmed Score: 9/10

Ò The Tony O. Elumelu Prize in Business: Samuel Malinga (Uganda) Ò Africa Prize in Public Service: Emmanuel N. B. Flomo (Liberia) Ò Africa Prize for Young Person of the Year: Philip Obaji Jnr. (Nigeria) Ò Ford Foundation Prize for Youth Employment Category: Ukinebo Dare

Gov. Nasir Score: 8/10

Adunni Ade Score: 8/10

Toyin Lawani Score: 5/10

Photos: Olowolagba Quadri

Men’s world L6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Izedunor Ann

Redefine your look with

full

BEARDS Full beard is a stylish trend for 2015 that looks good on all men and even better.

Having a bushy beard is a combination that works at every length. This is an extremely and exclusive type of beards. Gone are the days when being bearded was seen as not cool; fashion of having full beards is back

Mutiat Alli Belts are considered a must-have for trendy fashion men. Fashionable or not, belts are compulsory accessories for men. But much more than being a necessary accessory, a belt can be used by fashionable men to make a loud or quiet fashion statement. Elegant and quality belts with unique buckles can be combined with one or two accessories to get a versatile, clean and sexy look.

Mind you, the colour of your belt must blend with the colour of your shoes.

Matching any outfit was never made easier than a solid belt with matching shoes.

again.

For most men leaving the beard full life, much attention is paid only to the beard, growing and keeping them neat. It goes beyond just the beard; they tamed their brows too. The brow, you know, frames the face and defines the looks!

Baerds

Jibola-Dabo

Loose

Noble igwe

Having full beards is absolutely cool! It brings out this unique look and it freshens up your style. Many people underestimate this cool fashion trend, and they don’t see it as a fashion vogue, but fashion has gone wild as it brings back this full bearded fashion trend.

For guys that can’t grow a full beard or

just don’t want to, keep it short. But have it at the back of your mind that you are missing a whole lot. Full beard is the rocky fashion trend because it will transform you and it redefines your look. Having full beards boosts the freshness in men and creates this great attention.

Let your belt do the talking Belts

Chidi Mokeme

Minjin

Uti Nwachukwu

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

L7 Beauty

Stories by Patience Ekanem

Give your skin that glorious look with Lemon is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It is one of the most important antioxidants in nature.

Just as Vitamin C is important for the immune system, it is also important to the skin because it fights against radicals and also helps reduce the ageing signs of the skin. Lemon contains protein; the protein gives our skin more structure. Lemons are one of the homemade remedies used to make our skin look fabulous.

The Vitamin C in Lemons helps the skin become more firm and strong. It reduces skin redness and pimples as it brightens and lightens our skin. Its fungi and anti-bacterial properties fight pimples to build up. Lemon juice effectively removes black spot and acne (pimples). Its moisturizing and toning effect help reduce wrinkles on the skin. The Citric acid in lemons acts as a mild peel for the skin that removes the top layer of dead skin cell.

Lemon juice is very useful to the skin in so many ways namely: It serves as a clarifying moisturizer: A few drops of coconut water mixed with lemon

juice would do the magic. The coconut water will hydrate the skin while the lemon juice will clear and brighten it leaving your skin shiny and smooth.

Clears bleaches: Lemon juice helps clears all bleaches from every spot in the body, all you have to do is to rub the affected spot with half of a lemon and it clear off before you know it, it works like magic.

Lemon juice serves as blackhead treatment: Lemons are antibacterial; they are also helpful in treating acne (pimples). Just a little slice of it, will do the magic.

Squeeze the juice on your face and your blackhead will fade away like it never existed.

It brightens the skin tone: Lemons are very rich in vitamin C and Citric acid, so they can help brighten and lighten your skin when used over time. Vitamin c is a great antioxidant for neutralizing free radicals and boosting collagen production, i.e. it helps lighten dark spot, age spot, etc.

Lemon juice is very good, so if you want a delicate and fresh skin, use lemon juice.

lemon juice

Complete that glowing look with mascara Mascara is a cosmetic applied to the eyelashes. It makes the eye lashes look thicker, longer and darker. The mascara gives your eyes that wonderful and glamorous look that sends shivers into those that see it.

It is one of the oldest cosmetics that have been used; it was used by the Egyptians as early as 4,000 BC, and they used it in beautifying their faces. Putting on mascara is like having a little mini facelift; it gives your eyes definition and makes them ‘pop’, seems to lift your cheeks higher than ever before and brightens your visage all in

one (or two) swipes of a wand.

Mascara is very nice because it gives your eyes this catchy look. Mascara is a finishing touch for a perfect eye makeup and without our makeup is incomplete.

Here are some tips of how to apply your mascara to give you that catchy look: Go for catchy colours of Mascara: If you are applying the mascara for the first time, you have to try out colours that will your face that classic look. You should choose colours like purple, blue etc, but if you want to go all out, you can try colour like pink.

Moisturize your lashes: Before bed, moisturize your lashes with olive oil or any moisturizer to keep them hydrated. Just be careful not to allow anything into your eyes.

Keep your eyes open: Avoid blinking your eyes when applying your mascara, so as not to ruin your mascara during application. Open your mouth wide when applying mascara. By doing this, you’ll find it difficult to blink.

Give it a finishing touch: Give your mas-

cara the finishing touch by coating your lashes with clear mascara after application.

This will help to solidify your lashes and protect the mascara from smudging and running.

Getting the perfect mascara: There are so many types of mascaras out there, you just have to figure out the one that works for you and your lashes. Do you need to lengthen? Curl? Give volume? Whatever it is you need, there’s a mascara out there waiting for you

Television L8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Showing on

Showing on

125 FOX Channel

107 M-Net Movie Romance

02:10

02:15

Wed, 9 Dec | 13SL

Wed, 9 Dec | 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