Leadership news1

CEOConfidential

Sunday, January 11, 2015

updates

$50

59,000

Amount Brent crude oil per barrel has fallen below for the first time since May 2009.

Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

MotoRing

Rolls-Royce breaks sales record again in 2014

$5m

Worth of deal electricity providing firm, Kenya Power, has agreed with the engineering division of the Singaporean government and a syndicate of Chinese electrical firms.

47

Projected capacity Liverpool say they will begin work on Monday to increase Anfield from 45,500.

invEsting

Rhodes Food buys fruit juice maker Pacmar

Rhodes Food Group (Rhodes), last Wednesday said it will buy 100 per cent of fruit juice maker, Pacmar, for R165 million ($14 million) in cash.

Rhodes said the acquisition presented an attractive investment opportunity which is aligned with its strategy of expanding its business through lateral extensions into product categories adjacent to its current product ranges.

“Rhodes Food, with its two fruit plants situated in the Western Cape and Swaziland, respectively, produces an extensive range of fruit purees and juice concentrates which it sells to the international beverage industry,” it said last Wednesday.

tElEcommunication

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sold a record number of cars last year, breaking through the 4,000 mark for the first time in its 111-year history BBC reports.

The luxury car maker sold 4,063 cars, up 12% on last year, and marking the fifth consecutive year of record sales.

Sales in the US increased by almost a third, by 40% in Europe and in the Middle East by 20%, the firm said.

Its Wraith model and strong orders for its new Ghost Series II helped drive the strong performance.

The firm said it sold more cars worth more than €200,000 (£157,000) than any of its rivals, with demand for bespoke customisation remaining high.

“A record number of customers spent personal one-on-one time with Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke design consultants commissioning their personalised vehicles,” it said.

Chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos told the BBC’s Today programme that about 80% of its buyers were entrepreneurs and business owners, with the remainder celebrities.

He said the firm’s strong performance was helped by its emphasis on ensuring a “balanced global sales picture”, meaning overall demand remained strong.

He also said the firm was “mulling” creating a four-wheel drive SUV vehicle.

OCTA-PLUS

$2bn

Worth of dam project Ethiopia is executing to double its energy output by 2016

Zimbabwe welcomes fourth telecom operator

Powertel, a subsidiary of state-owned power company, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) Holdings, has been unveiled as the southern African country’s fourth mobile network service.

Currently, Zimbabwe, with a population of 13 million people, has three operating mobile phone and internet service providers. They include the pan-African giant Econet Wireless, Telecel and Netone.

“This has always been Powertel’s objective to offer total telecommunications solutions to Zimbabwe and Africa at large,” said Powertel’s marketing manager, Prosper Mutswiri.

EnErgy A month before the start of the financial crisis, the Bank of England was apparently unaware of impending trouble, new documents reveal.

McDonald’s apologises after a human tooth and other objects were found in its food in Japan in the last year.

SacOil begins development of oil fields in Sinai, Egypt

South Africa-based independent Africa oil and gas firm, SacOil, last Tuesday said, through its subsidiary Mena International Petroleum Company Limited (Mena), that it has started with field development operations at its 100 percent-owned Lagia oil field in Sinai, Egypt.

It said Mena had contracted Schlumberger Egypt, a global oil field services firm, to conduct an initial phase of development, which includes the hydraulic stimulation of the Lagia 6,7,8,9 and 10 wells. This should specifically target the intersected productive Nukhul geological formation, SacOil said.

tEchnology

Motorola heads back into China’s smartphone market

Motorola has announced it will re-enter the Chinese smartphone market from February with at least three products.

China is one of the world’s biggest and fastest growing smartphone markets.

Motorola’s phone business had retreated from the mainland in 2013 after it came under Google’s ownership.

HUB-WORDS

Can you work out which eight numbers correspond with the letters A-H on the Octa-Plus diagram? No two numbers are the same. Each number is a whole number and no number is less than 1 or greater than 50.

1. B minus E is either 14 or 15.

2. C is a quarter of B. 3. F is a seventh of E. 4. D is half of B. 5. G is H plus C. 6. A third of E is a whole number and odd.

7. H is a third of D. 8. A is 150 minus the sum of the other seven numbers.

How many words can you make from the letters in the wheel? Each word must contain the hub letter B. Can you find a 9-letter word and at least 20 other words of four letters or more avoiding proper nouns?

LAST Week’S SOLUTiOnS

OCTA-PLUS All the numbers are whole numbers (intro), G is an even number (clue 2) and F is an odd number (clue 7), so G minus F is 11. C is a ninth of F (5).

No number is greater than 45 (intro), so C is 1 and F is 9.

G is 20 (1 and above). E is 5 (2) and H is 4 (3). B is 45 (4).

D is 25 (6). A is 41 (8).

HUB-WORDS

9-letter word - GLADIATOR Some other words of five letters or more containing the hub letter R: agora, altar, aorta, argal, argot, aroid, artal, atria, goral, grail, griot, groat, laird (Scot), largo, radio, raita, ratio, riata, taira, tiara, trail, triad, triala, aortal, argali, atrial, lariat, latria, radial, tailor.

48 CEOConfidential

updates Compiled by Dan Udechukwu

Sunday, January 11, 2015

80%

262

Percentage of electricity consumers that are not affected by the new tariff structure, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Number of capital market operators that have complied with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) directive on recapitalisation.

Manufacturing

NAMB urges FG to formulate textile industry development policy

The National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) on Tuesday urged the federal government to formulate a policy that would enhance the development and sustained growth of the nation’s textile industry.

NAMB President, Valentine Whensu, said that such a policy would curb large scale textile dumping and smuggling in Nigeria.

He said that the increasing activities of textile smugglers were scaring numerous investors and mortgaging national effort toward expanding employment opportunities.

The NAMB boss also urged the Federal Government to overhaul the extant policies that would reinvigorate the efforts of microfinance banks in poverty alleviation nationwide.

“Although the sub-sector has received N100 billion from the Bank of Industry (BoI) through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme on cotton, textile and garments funds, those who took the loans got their fingers burnt.

“It was discovered, shortly after accessing the loan that over 80 per cent of the market has been taken over by cheap imports from Asian countries,” Whensu said.

Investing

Distress sales by politicians open fresh investment window in property market

The Nigerian property market is seeing a rush of mouth watering high brow offerings, as politicians desperate for campaign funds against next month’s general elections let go their assets in upscale areas in major cities across the country, at knocked down prices.

$17bn

Worth of goods traded between India and Nigeria, Africa’s from April 2013 to March 2014, according to Kaisar Alam, India’s Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria.

$2.7m

Amount the Central Bank of Nigeria Bequeathed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the eastern region of Nigeria.

Oil giant Shell’s long-overdue compensation pay out to a community devastated by oil spills in the Niger Delta is an important victory for the victims of corporate negligence, said Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development.

Under-fire oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell, has finally reached an agreement with the Bodo community in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, to pay $83.4m in compensation for two oil spills in 2008.

Close market watchers say that this development, which has opened a fresh investment opportunity in the market, is usually a subtle transaction involving high end properties in choice locations, emphasising that it presents investment opportunities not common in the market.

power

NERC to increase electricity tariff for residential consumers in June

Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, has said that the commission will not increase energy tariff for residential buildings until June.

NERC on December 23, 2014 approved the review of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2.1 regime with take-off date of January 1 for commercial consumers.

Amadi, who made the explanation in Abuja last Tuesday at a news conference, said the review was not expected to bring about any increase in tariff to residential customers on R2, who formed 80 per cent of electricity consumers, till June.

technology

Calabar becomes Nigeria’s first digital city

Calabar, the capital of south eastern Cross River State has become Nigeria’s first digital city following the successful installation of its metropolitan dark fibre optic network infrastructure, VenturesAfrica reports.

The smart city initiative had been championed by the Ministry of Communications Technology last year as a way to kickstart Nigeria’s evolution plan of becoming a full-fledged digital economy.

The coastal state achieved this feat via a partnership with telecommunications giant MTN. The mobile operator oversaw the laying of extensive infrastructure comprising 120km of 96 core fibre cables and open access ducts spanning the entire city of Calabar.

With this accomplishment, Calabar has become the most comprehensively wired city for voice, data and video telecommunications and various technology driven services in the country.

energy

Saudi set to price out Nigeria, Angola on crude

Nigeria and her African counterpart, Angola, are having their problems arising from the dwindling prices of crude oil further compounded, as Saudi Arabia made deep cuts to its monthly oil prices for European buyers ,while it trimmed prices for U.S. refiners and increased rates for Asia.

Almost half of Nigeria’s cargoes due to be exported in January are still available.

The backlog has pushed Nigerian oil differentials versus Brent to their lowest since at least 2009 BFO-QUA at 65 cents a barrel, down 80 percent since May, said Reuters. And it is also creating a discount frenzy between African and Gulf oil producers to Asian buyers.

EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Exhibition

Conference

exhibition

SECUREX West Africa EKO Expo Centre in Lagos; 24-25 March, 2015

Offshore West Africa VIctoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria; January 20-22, 2015

Lagos Fashion 2015 Abuja, Nigeria; February 10-12, 2015

The SECUREX West Africa event brings together specialists in the field of Security and Protection industry. The basic objective behind the organization of this event is to spread all over awareness among people regarding security and protection in order to prevent crime all around the world.

The participants will get latest information about the techniques which are being used in the field related to security and protection forums.

Offshore West Africa conference and exhibition will yet again provide a platform for technology exchange and new business development. Offshore West Africa is the region’s premier technical forum focused exclusively on West Africa’s offshore Oil and Gas market.

Providing an exclusive source of information for over 18 years, Offshore West Africa 2015 will showcase the most innovative technologies and ground-breaking solutions within the deepwater exploration and production industry.

Nigeria, with its largest population in Africa, and its fast growing and dynamic economy, is one of the future stars in the world which today attracts exporters and investors from all over the world. There is a huge demand for the fashion and ready-to-wear garment industries in the country which is unreluctant to trade all kind of products.

49

Sunday, January 11, 2015

business

NNPC mega station

Falling Oil Price: Hard Times Await Nigerians This Year As Nigeria struggles to sustain its economy in an election year marred by dwindling oil price, Bukola Idowu and Chika Izuora examine the challenges the citizenry is faced with and how the local economy will fare in the new year.

I 2015 may not be the best of times for the country, considering all its inherited troubles

t is no longer news that the dwindling price of crude oil in the international market has begun to take its toll on the oil dependent economy of Nigeria, as federal revenue allocation to states drop to leave many states in debt and unable to pay their workers.

The dwindling federal revenue is not also helped by the fact that international crude oil price which is hovering below $50 per barrel (at the point of writing this report), is expected to drop further this year which also happens to be an election year in Nigeria.

In many states, capital projects have been put on hold, businesses are cautious in their spending and foreign investors are wary of putting their funds in the Nigerian economy basket during an election period.

Instead, many foreign investors spurred by the lower value of the naira, weak fiscal buffer, and impact of the continued oil crisis on

the economy, are pulling out their funds from the country. Economists and financial analysts have projected that 2015 may not be the best of times for the country, considering all its inherited troubles.

As at October last year, gross federally collected revenue stood at N743.6 billion with oil contributing less than it had in over a year.

Oil revenue in October 2014 stood at N470 billion lower than N526.4 billion which it contributed to the federal purse in the comparable period of 2013. The revenue shortfall also resulted in a decline in the federal allocation distributed amongst the three tiers of government in November, from the year’s high of N755.95 billion in June.

Last week, civil servants in Plateau State had threatened to embark on a strike action following the non-payment of their salaries for two months. This is just one of the many cases as according to the Nigeria Labour Congress, out of the 36 states in the country, 11 had not

paid December salary as at the last working day of 2014.

Three of these 11 states, Benue, Plateau and Osun owed their workers arrears of salaries ranging from three to eight months, while some federal government employees in the ministries of education, labour and productivity, among others, are owed arrears of salaries ranging from one to three months.

Asides the civil servants, businesses are also taking a hit as government spending will be reduced drastically in the course of the year.

The 2015 budget leans more towards recurrent spending which is basically payment of salaries for politicians and federal civil servants, and for government’s administrative cost.

An aggregate expenditure of N4.358 trillion was proposed for 2015, about eight per cent less than the amount for 2014. This expenditure figure consists of N412 billion for Statutory Transfers (for National Assembly, Judiciary etc.), N943 billion for Debt Service, N2.61 trillion for Recurrent (Non-Debt) and N634 billion for Capital Expenditure (inclusive of SURE-P). The recurrent expenditure increased by about 6.5 per cent while capital expenditure declined by 43 per cent.

The N630 billion allocation for

capital items in the 2015 budget for the federal government (including SURE-P), is a far cry compared with N1.55 trillion which was allocated in the 2014 budget. With only 33 per cent of the capital vote allocated to infrastructure, the government has to focus only on what it considers critical projects.

However, this may not become effective until after the election jinx is broken and the winners sworn in.

According to analysts at Financial Derivatives Company Limited, much focus will be on winning the elections by the incumbent government, leaving the economy in a transfixed state in the first half of the year.

In its economic bulletin, FDC analysts believed that real work and full economic activity would begin after the handing over and cabinet selection. The analysts noted that the post handing over phase would be “intriguing with the selection of a new cabinet, a new congress as well as implementation of new policy agenda to fast track economic recovery. This will be supported by prospects of strong economic growth such as global economic recovery, favourable agricultural harvests and a possible boost in power supply.” ➔ CONTINUEd ON PAGE

50

50 BUSINESS

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Falling Oil Price: Hard Times Await Nigerians This Year ➔ Continued from PAGE 49

We need to buckle up.

Nigerians should be patriotic, let us depend less on importation, let us be self-sufficient. Let us embrace import substitution, if we do that, it will not matter what the exchange rate of the naira is

Before this, many Nigerians who are dependent on government funding will be in for a grim period. Chief executive of the Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA), Wale Abe, while putting into consideration the lower capital expenditure in the 2015, said a higher recurrent spending will not see any real developmental spending. Abe noted that this would affect private companies whose products and services are dependent on government spending.

FDC analysts in their report stated that policymaking would be overshadowed by political campaigns and the elections in this period. “The intensity of political activities towards the election could increase security concerns and result in the hike of consumer prices, dampen economic output as well as growth.”

Although inflation has declined in 2014, down to 7.9 per cent in November, there are predictions of a rising inflation in 2015. As an import dependent economy, prices of goods are expected to increase not just on security concerns during the election but also the reality of the naira devaluation is bound to set in.

According to head of research at Sterling Capital, Sewa Wusu, “Nigerian consumers have not really felt the impact of the devaluation because all the goods sold in November, December were already paid for at the old value. However, come 2015, the impact would be felt and price of goods and services would rise.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had last year devalued the value of the naira from N155 +/- 3% band to N168 +/5%, spurring a depreciation of the value of the local currency to around N185-N190 at the parallel market. The value of the naira is projected to further drop to N200 to the dollar in 2015.

On her own part, head of research, at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan noted that lower oil prices, the challenge of managing a more volatile currency, and an increasingly violent insurgency in the country’s north would weaken Nigerian growth in 2015.

“Elections in Nigeria are typically accompanied by some economic pump- priming. But with elections due in mid-February, it is unlikely that spending ahead of the polls will be able to lift growth substantially. Oil price volatility will reduce the resources available for spending.”

Although borrowing to fund the economy may be an option,

the coordinating minister of the economy and finance minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, last year expressed concerns over the increasing spending on debt servicing. The projection for debt service has risen from N712 billion in the 2014 budget to N943 billion, equivalent to 26 per cent of total spending. Domestic debt of the federal government as at September 2014, stands at N7.65 trillion according to latest figure provided by the Debt Management Office.

Last week the Debt Management Office (DMO) released its provisional issuance calendar for the first quarter of 2015, seeking to raise between N215 billion and N305 billion from the sale of FGN bonds. It planned to sell the existing 10year and 20-year benchmarks (14.20% Mar ‘24s and 12.15% Jul ‘34s) each month. Additionally, the DMO is set to launch a new five-year instrument in February in lieu of the current three-year paper (15.10% Apr ‘17s).

To analysts at FBN Capital, the DMO is faced with the challenge of arousing fatigued investors. In the last quarter of 2014, the debt office raised N182 billion which was way below its target of between N195 billion and N285 billion.

“The FGN’s budget proposals project a deficit of N755 billion for this year, and a contribution from net domestic borrowing (essentially the DMO) of N570 billion. We are not convinced that it would be able to raise the balance from proposed sales of property, privatization, signature bonuses and drawings from the excess crude account”, the FBN Capital analysts stated.

With a reduction in the trickle of oil money, the federal government decided to concentrate on an area it has not paid so much attention to in times past; taxation. As part of austerity measures and to provide soft landing from the reduced income from oil, revenue target of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had been increased from the N75 billion 2014 target to N160 billion in 2015.

Aside this, the minister of finance in her austerity message had announced the proposal to tax luxury goods. Some of the items being compiled for heavy taxation included private jets, yachts, alcohol, beverages, cars, choice properties and a host of others.

To analysts at PWC Nigeria, there is a projected increase in campaigns against tax evasion in the course of the year and the possibility of an increase in value added tax.

“In our view, the government

Jonathan

Okonjo-Iweala

Alison-Madueke

may explore a VAT rate of 10 per cent to 15 per cent not only to raise revenue but also to align with the VAT rates of other West African countries (and make it easier to implement the Common External Tariffs).”

Luxury goods owners would also have to give more to the so-

ciety as the FIRS clamps down on them to raise up to N10 billion in 2015. A breakdown of the levies on luxury goods by PWC show that purchase of new Private Jets will be subject to a 10 per cent import surcharge to yield about N3.7 billion, purchase of luxury Yachts will be subject to a 39 per cent import surcharge which is estimated to raise N1.6 billion.

Also, purchase of luxury cars will be subject to a five per cent import surcharge which is estimated to yield about N2.6 billion of additional revenues, while purchase of champagnes, wines and spirits will be subject to a three per cent luxury surcharge which should generate about N2.3 billion during the year. Business and first class fliers will also be surcharged while there will be a one per cent FCT Mansion Tax on residential properties with value of N300 million and above to yield additional N360 million.

Despite all the downsides to the economy, Nigeria still has the potential of overcoming the nemesis of dwindling oil price. FMDA chief executive, Wale Abe stressed the need for Nigeria to look inward at other sectors aside oil and gas that could generate more foreign exchange for the country.

Particularly, he emphasised that agriculture and creative industry should receive more focus in this year, noting that the dwindling oil price will be a major challenge for the economy, he said the lower capital expenditure in the 2015 and a higher recurrent spending will not be helpful as there will not be any real developmental spending. Abe further said that this would affect private companies whose products and services are dependent on government spending.

Also, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Tunde Lemo, said Nigerians would have to depend on import substitution and increase export drive to be able to scale through 2015. “We need to buckle up. Nigerians should be patriotic, let us depend less on importation, let us be selfsufficient. Let us embrace import substitution, if we do that, it will not matter what the exchange rate of the naira is.

“The CBN has done its best, there is nothing it can do now other than to devalue because our economic mainstay is petro-dollar and if it is not coming in the quantum it was coming before, the only way like Russia did, is to devalue but we Nigerians can take advantage of that, if we embark on export drive, we will be more competitive, not only that, if we do import substitution we will depend less on importation,”Lemo stated.

51

nollywood Sunday, January 11, 2015

Sexy Thespians To Watch Out For In 2015 The Nigerian movie industry is possibly going to take a new turn this year as more upcoming thespians take the centre stage. In this report, SAMUEL ABULUDE and PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA, profile the actresses that may make waves this year and why they are hot!

T

he movie industry tagged Nollywood has proved to be a revenue generating industry, and should spin money if the government and stakeholders seek ways of how the opportunities can be greater explored. Because of the immense human resources in the movie industry, it keeps churning new faces. The following are the beautiful and brainy actresses to watch out for in 2015.

Funke Akindele Gone are the days when comedy was exclusive to actors. In recent years, brave and talented divas have taken over the game. One of these outstanding stars is Funke Akindele, who is popularly known as “Jenifa”.

Funke Akindele who started her acting career as far back as late 90s in the family television series, “I Need To Know” as Bisi, has carved a niche for herself, especially with her comic character. She is today identified as one of the few actresses who can compete favourably with the likes of Nkem Owoh when it comes to comedy.

The actress who is also a producer grabbed attention and clinched a lot of fans for her role in the movie “Jenifa”. She has since clinched several awards as well as endorsement deals. Funke is undoubtedly one of the actresses to look out for this year.

Ivie Okujaiye With her movie, Make A Movie nominated for more than two awards at the AMVCA 2015 and other works she featured in, Ivie Okujaiye is one of the shining lights of Nollywood. The AMBO star won herself the Best Of Nollywood BON 2014 award for the Best Actress in a leading role (English) for her role in the movie, Black Silhouette.

The University of Abuja graduate is hardworking and allows her works to make the noise.

Ijeoma Grace Agu The actress has featured in TV soaps like David’s Fall, Catwalk and About to Wed. She was nominated in the Best Rising Star Category at the Nollywood Movies Award 2013.

Bellinda Effah Bellinda Effah is a star in the making. The actress who has been nominated for several awards for her role interpretation skills in various movies like Kokoma, She was part of the success story of the award winning movie, Apaye. Also, her imprint in other good movies bear her talent and diligence in do-

Belinda Effah

Damilola Adegbite

Queen Nwokoye

ing more works that will finally earn her the credit she yearned for. Belinda has registered her skills in the movies Kokoma, Apaye, Mrs Somebody, Alanpoza, Esquire and ongoing TV series, Tales of Eve and The Room.

Belinda Effah made her first television debut in the 2005 TV series Shallow Waters. Afterwards, she took a break from the series to feature in the reality show Next Movie Star and the gorgeous actress finished fifth. Watch out for Belinda.

Kemi Lala Akindoju She can be referred to as the queen of stage play productions.

Kemi Lala Akindoju is a talented actress who has featured in major productions and lately Tunde Kelani movie, Dazzling Mirage.

The master’s degree holder in Media and Communication from the Pan African University started acting professionally in 2005, and her first appearance was in the play, All

Ivie Okujaiye

Seyi Asekun

I Want For Christmas. Kemi for obvious reasons prefers stage plays.

For the first five years of her acting career, she concentrated exclusively on stage performances and the actress was part of the team that started Theatre @ Terra– a theatre initiative supported by the cultural centre, Terra Kulture in Lagos.

She has appeared in over 70 stage productions, playing roles such as Amope in Wole Soyinka’s Trials of Brother Jero, Ojuola in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods are not to Blame, Sizwe in Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is Dead, and Iyaloja in Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman. Kemi Lala Akindoju in 2010 won the award for Actor of the Year at The Future Awards. She played the character, Sheila Monroe on the MNet soap,Tinsel. She featured in Alanpoza – a Charles Novia film.

Queen Nwokoye She is a known face in the indus-

Kemi Lala Akindoju

Funke Akindele

try. Queen Nwokoye was one of the busiest actresses at the Asaba version of Nollywood, becoming a beehive of activities as movie makers carry their works to the capital city of Delta State perhaps due to high cost of production in Enugu and Lagos. Ask any director, most will agree that Queen was one of the most sought after actress at Nollywood Asaba featuring in movies like Chetanwa and others.

Seyi Ashekun Seyi Ashekun arguably can be said to be the shining light of Yoruba movie industry. With the industry contributing many new faces, her role in Fifehanmi earned her the award of BON 2014 Award for Best actress in a leading role (Yoruba). Seyi Ashekun of the Bayo Tijani caucus has paid her dues having been in the industry since 2011.

Because of the immense human resources in the movie industry, it keeps churning new faces

52

Sunday, January 11, 2015, 2014

zonal watch

NIGER STATE KWARA STATE KOGI STATE BENUE STATE NASARAWA STATE PLATEAU STATE FCT ABUJA

Ex-NLC Boss Calls For Vibrant Civil Service stories by AbdullAhi olesin, Ilorin

The former chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State, Comrade Emmanuel Ayeoribe, has tasked the federal government and stakeholders in the year 2015 to work towards making the civil service the engine room for moving the government forward.

Ayeoribe said this has become necessary because a very sound, well

structured and strong civil service is the necessary ingredient for moving the government forward at any level forward.

According to him, “Anywhere across the world, wherever you find a government that is moving forward in all aspects of human endeavours, it is the handiwork of a work force that is strengthened, well structured.

So, I want to admonish the federal government and the other two tiers

of governments in collaboration with the stakeholders to work towards strengthening our civil service to make it the engine room of moving our governments forward’’.

He recalled that in the 70s the civil service was the engine room of our governments because the technocrats were given free hand to design and execute policies that were capable of moving the governments forward.

HeADS FROM THe ZONe

Kwara State governor, Alh. AbdulFatah Ahmed The diplomaawarding Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, Ilorin has commenced degree programmes with the matriculation of 70

Kogi state governor, Capt.

Idris Wada has reminded the PDP supporters in the state that the only way to ensure victory for the party in the coming elections is to eschew bitterness and close rank among themselves.

the member representing Asa/ilorin West constituency in the house of representatives, hon. Mashood Mustapha (4th left) presenting food items as new year’s gift to his constituents in ilorin, Kwara state.

Kwara College Of Legal Studies Matriculates 70 Students

The Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS) has commenced degree progrmames with the matriculation of 70 students to run degree programmes in Arabic and Islamic studies.

Speaking at the epoch making ceremony, the acting provost of CAILS, Dr. Bilikis Amoloye, said the college is running the degree programme in affiliation with Bayero University, Kano.

Amoloye, who stated that the degree programme

introduced by the college was originally set up to award Diploma certificate was to bridge the gap created by inadequate space in the nation’s higher institutions. She advised the newly admitted students to shun practices that could jeopardise their stay in the college.

“I am glad to inform the entire matriculants that the running of the Degree programmes in Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal studies is a golden opportunity to all and

sundry particularly those who aspire for university education in Arabic and Islamic Studies, considering the multi-dimensional problems of admissions into Nigeria Universities, the financial problems of sponsorship and security challenges all over the world.

“It is obvious that the approval to run degree programmes by this college is like bringing the university education to the threshold of the desiring individuals”.

NSCDC Intercepts Buses Laden With Adulterated Products The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State has seized two buses laden with 280 pieces 25 litre gallons suspected to be adulterated products.

The state commandant of the Corp, Augustine Obiekwe, said that on January 3, at about 11pm, men of the command’s anti-vandals unit, on their normal 24 hours NNPC

pipeline surveillance, patrolling along Afon, Otte and Gambari in Asa local government area of the state, busted an attempted vandalization of petroleum pipeline.

“As our men were coming out of the pipeline, they saw two vehicles approaching the pipeline.

Immediately the suspect saw our men, they opened fire on our men and we retaliated.

“Sensing the superiority of our arms, they abandoned their vehicles with registration number OYO AME 60 XA blue and LAGOS DB 732 FST white carrying 140 jerry cans each”.

Obiekwe said.

He added that investigation is still ongoing and called on the general public to assist the command with useful information to effectively combat pipeline vandals.

Losers In Kwara PDP Guber Primary Appointed Jonathan’s Campaigners In what looks like a consolation, the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Campaign Organisation has appointed two former gubernatorial aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Professor Oba Shuaib Abdulraheem and Senator Rukayyat Gbemisola Saraki as members of the president’s campaign team.

AbdulRaheem and Saraki, who lost out at PDP’s gubernatorial primaries in December last year, are to serve as members of contact and mobilisation committee and women mobilization committee respectively.

Other politicians, who made the list from the state, include the minister of the National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman to serve as the deputy chairman of the Administration and Logistics committee and Hajia Muinat Sagaya who is to serve on the Finance committee.

Also appointed are serving lawmakers in the state, Abdulfatai Saleeman Baakini and Iliasu Ibrahim as member Planning, Research and Strategy, and Media/Publicity respectively. Others are; Sulaiman A. Musa and Ben Duntoye (youth Mobilisation committee) as well as Princess Bola Ogundiran(Civil Society and Support Groups).

At the directorate cadre are: Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (Security and Intelligence), Abubakar Abdulrazaq Jiddah(Officer II) and Prince Dantshoo Mohammed (Officer I) who are both to serve in the Directorate of Planning and Research.

Speaking in a statement shortly after the appointment, the minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman said, “The task before us is challenging but not insurmountable. I can assure you that by the grace of God, with the caliber of people appointed by the organization coupled with the support of the good people of this country, we shall make it Nshallah”.

Kwara To Construct Afon-AbotoOyo State Boundary Road Kwara State government is to construct AfonAboto-Oyo state boundary road to facilitate socioeconomic development of Asa local government area of the state.

The state commissioner for Tertiary Education, Alh. Wahab Opakunle, gave the assurance in Afon while speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Afon constituency.

Opakunle, who described the road as strategic, said the road project had been tabled at the state executive council and the governor, according to him, had given his commitment towards constructing it.

In his remarks, a member representing Afon constituency in the state House of Assembly, Alh. Hamidu Giwa Afolabi, attributed the delay in the take off of the road project to the dwindling allocation from the federation account and called on the people of Afon constituency in particular and Asa local government to vote massively for the ruling APC in the state to ensure continuity of good governance in the state.

Afolabi disclosed that over 3,500 decampees from the PDP in Afon constituency had indicated interest to join the APC and would be formally received by the party at a date to be announced later.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

zonal watch (North-Central) 53

news behind the news

Capt Idris Wada

News Behind The News Koton Karfe prison after the jail break

Eschew Bitterness, Wada Urges PDP Members

How Mission To Free ‘Osama’ Brought Mayhem On Kogi

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

S

unday, November 2, 2014, has come and gone but the memory of the day will continue to linger, at least, as far as jailbreak is concerned.

The people of Kogi State, who had always enjoyed peaceful environment, especially, the residents of Koton Karfe, will continue to have this day indelible in their mind. They kept vigil throughout the night of the Sunday following the forceful takeover by hoodlums as they hear gunshots all over. The mobs suspected to be a terrorist group granted freedom to 144 inmates as they forcefully freed some of their members kept in the federal prisons at Koton karfe which was established in 1935 with the capacity of containing only 55 inmates.

The operation, according to residents, started a few minutes after 10pm that fateful Sunday and lasted for two hours without any challenge from any quarter of the security force like the armed prison officials, DSS and even the soldiers who were a few kilometres away from the spot.

The front window leading into the prison was completely shattered with explosives from the attackers to gain access into the prison and

consequently, caused chaos within the ancient city.

Residents living near the prison yard, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday said the attackers numbering about 20 came to Koton karfe with two unmarked Toyota buses.

They said while some entered the prison, other members took position at strategic areas in the community, literally holding the whole community to a hostage.

As the attackers gained access into the prison, some residents around the prison said they started shouting Osama, who was allegedly put behind bars for oil bunkering.

They added that the attackers used the buses to move away some of the inmates. The terrorists capitalised on the porous nature of the prison to wreak unspeakable havoc.

LEADERSHIP Sunday investigation revealed that there was a criminal called Osama in the prison yard whose matter has been in court for some time now without proper investigation by the police and which was holding him down there against the wish of his partners. It was gathered that the suspect, who was arrested in Okene for oil bunkering, was known for criminality.

Following the attack, residents of Koton karfe took to the streets calling

for the relocation of the prison from the heart of the town. They asked the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, relocate the prison which has brought sorrow and tears as each time the attackers came, they were held hostage. This was the second time in less than three years that the prison and the community witnessed heavy bombardment from the insurgents. The last attack was in February 2012 where a prison warder was killed and the community was put into confusion.

The inefficiency of the federal government in taking proper action in matters that affect lives was responsible for the attack. A resident of Koton karfe said a new site for the prison which has been under construction since 1978 has not been completed, adding that the nature of Nigeria prisons will further harden criminals rather than reforming them.

The prison condition has made the governor of Kogi State, Capt Idris Wada, when he visited the place, after the criminal attack, to announce donation of mattresses to cushion the sufferings of the inmates. He equally promised a face-lift for the prison in view of its historic importance to the history of Kogi and Nigeria as a tourist centre.

By SAM EGWU, Lokoja

As the attackers gained access into the prison, some residents around the prison said they started shouting Osama, who was allegedly put behind bars for oil bunkering

Kogi State governor, Capt Idris Wada, has called on the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to burry their differences so as to ensure the victory of the party in the coming elections.

Wada made the call during a meeting with some aggrieved members of the party over the crisis that arose from the last PDP primaries in the state.

The governor reiterated his commitment to ensuring victory for the party in the forth coming elections, saying that all members should work as a team on the strategies and approaches for the success of the party at the general elections.

Wada also restated his unwavering commitment and support for the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that Kogi has never failed to deliver when it matters most.

“We are prepared and determined to surpass the previous record in the forth coming elections. That is why we do not want anything that will cause disaffection among our people before the elections.

“We appeal to all members of the party at the state and national levels to ensure that nothing untoward happens to violate and distort the collective aspirations of our people as expressed at the primary”, he added.

54 zonal watch (North-Central)

Sunday, January 11, 2015

project report

Al-Makura Transforms Lives Through Healthcare Projects

By Donatus Nadi, Lafia

T

Today, government in pursuit of the Drug Revolving Fund Scheme has completed the multi million Naira Central Medical Store

he sensitivity of the provision and availability of healthcare services can best be explained by the immediate past governor of Nasarawa state, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, whose closure of health facilities in the state in months leading through to election led to massive protest vote against his administration.

Since coming on board, the health sector has been one of the pivotal points of the Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura led administration in Nasarawa State hinged on the belief that a healthy citizenry produces wealth for the State and as well reduces the disease burden. This explains why Governor Almakura makes the provision of portable healthcare delivery a top priority of his administration.

On assumption of office in May 2011, Governor Almakura met a paralyzed health care system as the state health workers including doctors were on Strike over salary issues. This, the Governor swiftly addressed, thereby restoring the peoples’ confidence in the sector.

Besides recalling doctors and other categories of workers from strike, Governor Almakura first renovated the Awe General Hospital at the cost of twenty million Naira (N20, 000,000.00). Subsequently, government awarded contract for the sum of N50, 000,000.00 for the remodeling and rehabilitation of the hospital.

Other hospitals that benefited from the State Government’s quick win gesture in the award of construction and renovation work are General Hospital Toto, Akwanga and Karu at the total cost of N28.783,224.69k, N 9,000,000.00 and N26,268,992.42k respectively.

Added to this, the administration of Governor Almakura also awarded contract for the construction of X-Ray and Scanning Unit of the same Akwanga General Hospital at the cost of N7, 950,000.00.

Governor Almakura completed the building of the permanent site of the school of Nursing and Midwifery, Lafia and saw to the movement of students to the site along Shandam Road, Lafia. This is in addition to recruiting staff to man the institution as well as stocking the library of the school with relevant books to promote learning.

He also provided water and linked the school to the National grid for constant power supply.

That is not all, the APC government in the state determined to end the out-of-stock syndrome in drug supply in the State, government provided drugs

Gov. Almakura inspecting medical supplies at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia

worth N53, 281,182.00 under the Healthcare Delivery Drug Revolving Fund.

Today, government in pursuit of the Drug Revolving Fund Scheme has completed the multi million Naira Central Medical Store along Road, Lafia which houses the state’s medical store and distribution point.

And in his bid to provide quality health care delivery to the doorstep of the ordinary people, Almakura is currently building three model hospital in the three senatorial zone of the state, namely: Lafia, with 160 bed space for the southern district, 60 bed space specialist Hospital in Akwanga for the Northern District and same in Nasarawa for the Western Senatorial District Almakura, said the construction became imperative at this moment, considering the increasing demands for healthcare services as a result of the ever-increasing population in the urban centers, especially in Lafia, the State capital.

He explained that Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, DASH, which is the only public hospital rendering both secondary and tertiary healthcare services within Lafia metropolis, has become overstretched.

According to him, “you would recall that last year, I made a solemn commitment to construct three model hospitals, one each in the three senatorial zones of the State.

These hospitals, when completed, will be furnished with state-of-theart equipment”.

“The Hospitals which has the capacity of 160 Beds for Lafia zone, 60 for Akwanga and Keffi zones are designed to provide specialized health services as apex referral hospitals to the people. Accordingly, professional doctors and other health workers who are specialists in specific medical fields will be

recruited to serve our people better”, the governor added.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe said the new hospital was designed to accommodate 21 departments and each of the departments would have professionals to man them.

Other subsectors of health care services have equally received adequate attention from the State government in the past three and a half years. For instant the State is being reckoned as one of the front line states in the campaign to eradicate the six children killer diseases, particularly polio.

Government has also scale up prevention campaign of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT) in the state as part of effort to reduce prevalence rate especially among children.

The state government has also constructed the Safinatu Buhari diabetes centre for cure and management of diabetes in the state and from beyond. This is aside the provision of free medical services to children under five and aged above seventy years. Other health programmers include the provision of free medical services to people especially during the early days of the administration in conjunction with foreign non-governmental organizations.

Today, the State government is focused on preventive healthcare delivery service. This is being achieved through the Primary Health Care Development Agency which is not only community driven, it is aimed at ensuring that rural people imbibe basic principles of hygiene.

In this way the state government believes it can prevent most of the disease from occurring thus reducing the disease burden on both the sufferer and government.

The State Primary Health Agency which is the health version of UBEC is

a tripartite arrangement between the three tiers of Government to reach rural communities with healthcare services without much hindrance.

Currently the Agency is working in partnership with the World Bank and other Health Organizations to achieve Health for All by the year 2015. The State government is also partnering MDGs in the provision of health care delivery service to the people of Nasarawa State.

Consequently, MDGs has built, renovated and equipped a number of primary health care centers across the State.

Nasarawa state government has also acquired four ultra modern life saving ambulances in its effort to enhance healthcare delivery services and to provide life saving measures in cases of emergency before reaching hospital.

Governor Almakura said they were parts of the state government’s desire to enhance the health sector as well to avert the spread of deadly diseases like Ebola, Lassa fever and other highly contagious illnesses, adding that they are part of the state governments plan towards providing the best health care services for the citizens of the state.

The ambulances have been stationed one each in the three senatorial districts of the state with one to be stationed at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia and the Government House for use in very special cases.

The state commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Akaabe said the ones acquired by the state are the most sophisticated ambulances around as they had many life saving features such as blood testers, 4 dimensional (4d) heart scanners, ventilators, oxygen tanks, 4 types of stretchers , heart zappers, transfusion kits and almost everything needed to try to save a patient and transport victims of contagious diseases.

sunday e-train 55

Sunday, January 11, 2015

e-train

I Want To Do Good Music And Shine ­– Falz

Falz is a Hip hop singer and he dropped the video for his track, Marry Me featuring Yemi Alade recently. The young lad happens to be the only son of legal luminary, Femi Falana; like father like son, Folarin Falana (his real name) can’t help but speak about social issues confronting the nation as in his ‘How Far’ single and ‘Senator’ from his ‘Watz Up Guy’ album. In this chat with SAMUEL ABULUDE, the law graduate speaks on his foray into the music industry

More shows are up for Watzup Guy. How was it doing ‘O Pari’ with Olamide?

It was dope! Working with Olamide was delightful. He is full of fun. I was with Olamide for an hour in the studio and Olamide killed the song. O Pari is a great song.

Your dad is an activist, do you do social conscious music?

Yes I do and It depends on the mood. I have done social conscious music too like ‘How far’ and ‘Senator’. How Far featuring Sir Dauda has a social conscious message. And it talks about the degenerative state of the country, how things got bad and is going worse. A lot of things are going wrong and our leaders are not proffering solutions. The country is in a bad shape and we the youths are the greatest recipient of it.

So, like my father, I’m expressing my anguish through music and the vehicle is rap genre.

What have you been up to?

I have been singing and dropping new singles. Falz just released a video for his hit single titled ’Marry Me’ which features Yemi Alade and Poe. The video was shot by the award winning director Mex at a location in Lagos. The video has cameos from 2 shotz, Lami Phillips, ShowDemCamp and many more.

What of Senator?

Senator is a political song. It’s natural that music should be a weapon for the revolution we desire. We want change and no one wants to force it. Senator talks about the issues we are facing in Nigeria.

How long have you been singing?

I have been singing for years now precisely while I was studying law at the University of Reading in the UK. While still studying, I released a mix tape titled Shakara. Before then, I have released great songs. Songs like ‘O Pari ft Olamide, High Class, Jessica, Currency among others. They are all in my debut album I released last year under my record label, Bahd Guys Record. In the areas of videos being released, apart from ‘Marry Me’ ft Yemi Alade which is being aired on stations now, I have released ‘Toyin Tomato’ and ‘How Far ‘ft Sir Dauda.

Why the name Falz the Bahd Guy?

Falz is coined out from my surname, Falana. The name sounds tush and I went along with it. The other, ‘Bahd Guy’ is a title I picked up. Bahd connotes Brilliant And High Distinct Guy.

Do you do controversial songs too?

Falz How has it been as an artiste in this industry of ours?

My entrance into the industry has been eventful. I started music fully in 2009. I was in University of Reading when I did my ‘Shakara’ mix tape.

It’s been challenging but I’ve been enjoying every moment since that is what I chose to do. Meeting with other artistes and networking has been great.

I’m bringing my brand of hip hop music, my flavour or rap, R&B, African rhythms. My songs are a blend of Hip hop with a mix of old school indigenous Nigerian sound. I call it

‘Watzup music’.

Which one are you better at, singing or rapping?

Rap music. It goes down well with me. I started rapping as a youth. I actually started rapping before I delved into singing. I can express myself more through rap. I want to be able to touch lives through music.

You must have been getting shows now, which ones have you performed?

Yes I have. I have performed in a couple of campus shows.

I have performed in One mic Naija concert at Ember Creek.

I don’t just jump into the bandwagon. I want to be able to touch lives through music. As regards bad or immoral music, you mean, It depends on the message that is passed across. It depends on the imagery being projected. But for me, I want to strike a balance, do good music and shine.

What’s your take on the entertainment industry?

The industry in 2014 was eventful. The industry is bubbling now and full of activities and noise. I have been studying trends and positioning myself to do more in 2015. I feel that music should be expressed without any boundaries.

How was your upbringing like?

It was cool and full of fun. I grew up in Lagos. I’m the third born from a family of five.

I don’t just jump into the bandwagon. I want to be able to touch lives through music... for me, I want to strike a balance, do good music and shine

56

business

news

Nigeria’s Oil Output Capacity To Hit 200,000 b/d By Q4 2017

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

Nigeria’s oil production capacity is expected to rise by additional 200,000 barrels daily (b/d) by the fourth quarter of 2017.

This will become possible when two major deepwater fields will have come on stream, amid local and international challenges facing the oil industry. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said.

The increased production will come from ExxonMobil’s Erha North field and Total’s Egina oil field, whose investment decisions were taken in 2014. Jonathan Okeh, general manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), the investment arm of the NNPC, said.

“At the beginning of 2014, amidst global economic uncertainties, we

set ambitious and laudable targets for ourselves. Investment decisions for other deep-water projects like Egina and Erha North have been taken with expected production of 200,000 b/d in the fourth quarter of 2017”, Okeh said.

The Erha North field is located in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 133 with reserves estimated at 177 million barrels, while the Egina field is located in OML 130 near the Akpo field.

Okeh said that despite the challenges that were heightened by the slump in global oil prices, new fields had been put on stream in Nigeria in 2014, including Shell’s Bonga North deepwater field, which added 50,000 b/d to output capacity and Chevron’s Escravos gas-to-liquid plant in the Niger Delta.

However, he said continued sabotage in the form of attacks on pipe-

lines and crude theft combined to limit Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production to an average of 2.037 million b/d in 2014, compared with the targeted level of 2.38 million b/d, but marginally higher than the 2013 average of 2.029 million b/d.

Nigeria’s oil reserves have fallen as ageing fields pass peak production and investment in new projects slows after Nigeria continued to dither in implementing promised reforms as contained in the long delayed Petroleum Industry Bill.

Oil industry officials said widespread corruption and risks associated with oil theft and piracy are also making investing less attractive. Beside robbing the country of an estimated $6 billion/year in lost revenue, oil theft causes pipeline shutdowns since thieves often sabotage lines before tapping the crude.

Managing director, Procter and Gamble (P&G), Mr George Nassar (2nd - L) and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, exchanging a signed MoU on the growing Girls and Women In Nigeria (G-win) campaign in Abuja on Thursday night. With them are country director of Unesco, Prof. Hassana Alidou (R) and assistant director, government relations, Sub-Saharan Africa, P&G, Mrs Temitope Iluyemi.Photo By Nan.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Customs Misses Revenue Target By 19%, Rakes In N977bn In 2014

By Samson Echenim, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) narrowly missed its N1.2 trillion revenue target for 2014 by 19 per cent, as it raked in N977 billion into the federal government coffers last year Customs’ revenue data for 2014 released in Abuja showed an increase of N143.79 billion over the N833.4 billion collected by the revenue collection agency in 2013, indicating an increase of about 15 per cent. Expectedly, the revenue came from import and excise duties, levies and other fees.

A breakdown of the figures showed that N511.6 billion was collected from import, N8.6 billion from import duties, while about N40 billion was collected from fees. Also, N203.4 billion was collected from levies, as Value Added Tax (VAT) yielded N186.8 billion, while the Common External Tariff (CET) levy accounted for N24.6 billion.

On remittance differentiations, the breakdown showed that about N587 billion out of the amount collected was remitted to the federation account while N390.2 was remitted to non-federation account during the year.

Collection on quarterly basis showed that the first quarter yielded N197.8 billion, with the second, third and fourth quarters yielding N265.8 billion, N249.3 billion and N264 billion respectively.

Meanwhile, the Apapa Area 1 command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N301 billion in 2014 up from N250 billion it recorded in 2013. The command’s Comptroller, Mr Charles Edike has disclosed.

“About N36 billion was generated from duty on rice imports, while N265 billion was earned as revenue from other commodities”, he said.

The report also indicated that import duty accounted for the lion share of the revenue with a total of N15.1billion.

Fees collected amounted to N56.4 million, while the Common External Tariffs (CET) fetched N625.3 million.

The command also collected N1.8 billion from wheat grain, N21.9 million from iron levy and N18.4 million from cigarette levy.

Edike said from Negotiable Duty Credit Certificates (NDCC) for payment of duty on raw materials the command generated N600 million.

Fund Manager Reviews Vetiva ETF Composition

By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Following the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s (NSE’s) review of its indices, Vetiva Fund Managers Limited, managers of the Vetiva Griffin 30 ETF (VG30 ETF) has reviewed its portfolio to reflect the changes made to the NSE 30 Index.

The NSE 30 Index was adjusted by the NSE Index Committee in line with its regular review of the market indices. At the end of the review, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc and Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc were included in the NSE 30 Index.

Conversely, Glaxosmithkline Consumer Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Ashaka Cement Plc were removed.

Vetiva Fund Managers said as the investment objective of the VG 30, ETF is to track the price and yield performance of the NSE-30 Index, any change to the NSE-30 Index would require the VG30 ETF Trust to make corresponding adjustments to its portfolio on re-balancing.

“Further to the above, Vetiva Fund Managers Limited will re-bal-

ance the VG30 ETF Portfolio in line with the changes to the NSE 30 Index,” it said.

The NSE-30 Index is a modified market capitalisation index with the numbers of included stocks fixed at 30. The stocks are selected based on market capitalisation from the most liquid sectors and liquidity is based on the number of times the stock is traded during the preceding two quarters.

Apart from the NSE 30 Index that was reviewed, the banking index also saw some changes. For instance, Unity Bank Plc and Wema Bank Plc joined the banking index, while Skye Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank exited the index. For The NSE Insurance Index , Unity Kapital Assurance Plc exited while Linkage Assurance Plc was included.

Avon Crowncaps & Containers Nigeria Plc was included in the NSE Industrial Index, while Paints & Coatings Manufacturers Plc was removed. Seplat displaced Eterna Plc to be included in the NSE Oil and Gas Index.

Managing director of Afrinvest Asset Management Limited, Ola Belgore, said that the high rating of the NIDF by GCR is testament to the firm’s professionalism and adherence to global best practices, as well as its commitment to providing value for clients’ investments.

Belgore also reiterated, “NIDF offers investors safety, capital preservation, steady returns, diversification and value, and has a consis-

tent dividend history making it quite attractive for both individual and institutional investors such as Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), insurance companies, asset managers and gratuity funds.”

The NIDF is a privately managed, collective investment scheme, mandated to invest in a collection of domestic (federal or state government issued) fixed interest securities.

Afrinvest’s Nidf Gets ‘A’ Rating

By Bukola Idowu, Lagos

The Nigeria International Debt Fund (NIDF), an NSE listed mutual fund that invests in fixed income securities of federal and state governments, has been rated “A”

by Global Credit Rating Company (GCR). This rating by one of the leading global rating agencies is among the best for mutual funds in the market today.

In rating the NIDF, cognisance was taken of the management quality of the asset manager, Afrinvest Asset Management Limited, as well as the consistency of the team of individuals managing the fund, says a report prepared by GCR. According to the report, “The fund’s three year performance track record, in terms of return on investment, to 31 December 2013

is considered satisfactory, averaging 12 per cent annualised, which compared favourably with the minimum return expectation of 10 per cent.”

The report also noted that the accorded rating reflects the credit quality of the fund’s assets, comprising mainly high investment grade rated sovereign and municipal bonds as at full year ended 2013.

sunday e-train 57

e-train foreign Sunday, January 11, 2015

Latest Movies PADDINGTON

A kindly clan take in a talking bear named Paddington (Ben Whishaw), and protect him from a museum taxidermist in this endearing adventure for the whole family.

In theatres by January 16, 2015.

Production company: Studio Canal, Hayday Films.

Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkings Julie Walters Written and Directed: Paul King Duration: 95 minutes

Justin Bieber Fans Threaten Calvin Klein Model Lara Stone The model who caressed Justin Bieber during his Calvin Klein shoot is getting death threats.

Lara Stone dared to get handsy with Bieber, and some of J.B.’s fans have gone off the deep end.

One girl was direct, tweeting, “I’ll kill that girl.” In case it was too subtle, the chick followed the threat up with emojis of 3 guns and a knife, and a collage, featuring a girl bran-

dishing a gun.

Another girl was just as crazy, saying, “hi girl, I hate u. touch Justin’s testicles again and I will kill you I am not joking.”

And there’s this ... “back off or I’ll kill you, please and thanks. no pressure :).

We reached out to Lara to find out if she’s taking the threats serious. So far, no word back.

Drake Bell May Never Play Guitar Again Drake Bell’s run-in with the bottom of a swimming pool is why his music career is now in jeopardy.

We now know why Drake came out this week and said doctors have given him the bad news ... he’ll never play guitar again.

TMZ gathered that Drake was at his brother’s house for a birthday party in November, horsing around in the pool when he dove in, not realising the bottom was closer than he thought. Drake’s wrist slammed into the concrete, shattering it.

Doctors performed surgery and rejiggered his wrist with plates and screws, and then put it in a cast.

The cast was removed last week and after eyeballing the results

As reported by TMZ, Luda abruptly proposed to GF Eudoxie during the XMAS holidays and married her the very same day.

Tamika thinks it was all just a ploy.

Luda is gunning to win full custody of their 1-year-old daughter Cai. He claims he’s a better parent and has the means to provide her with a better life.

Tamika thinks it’s a crass ploy to avoid paying $7,000 a month in child support.

The courtroom fireworks begin later this month.

Drake Bell

Drake’s doctors told him he will never be able to play guitar again. Shredding is way too taxing for his limited mobility.

went out to dinner and he ordered a shot of vodka for her. After that she became disoriented.

Neal claims Cosby took her pants off and began having sex with her and says Cosby talked about an orgasm being like a thermostat building up pressure.

The third accuser, Kacey, says she met Cosby while working at William Morris for Cosby’s personal appearance manager. She says their professional relationship soon became personal.

Kacey claims they were at lunch in his bungalow at the Bel Air Hotel and he insisted she take a pill. She did, and claims she passed out and woke up in bed with Cosby, who was naked.

The statute of limitations has run, so the end game is unclear.

Recently Tity Boi announced a new mixtape, keeping in line with his ‘TRU’ (The Real University) movement, the project is called TRU Jack City. The mixtape won’t only highlight records from 2 Chainz, but will also give some shine to Atlanta rappers on the rise, including Bankroll Fresh, Young Dolph, Travis Porter, Peewee Longway, Cap 1, Skooly, and Fresh aka Short Dogg. “It’s my mixtape, but it’s for up-and-coming rappers in Atlanta,” Chainz said of the tape.

Today we begin the TRU Jack City roll out, with the premiere of the mixtape’s first hard-hitting leak, “Trap House Stalkin’”. What else?

Going forward, you can expect the Hair Weave Killa to release new pieces of content each Tuesday, as part of a new TRUsday series.

Last time Eskeerdo was on HNHH, it was with his Don Cannon hosted mixtape 31 Days back in April of last year. Now, he’s back with a banger from his partner in crime Infamous.

The piano key pattern and hard hitting bass provide an uptempo-vibe that match the energy provided by Eskeerdo.

While Eskeerdo may not currently be a household name, his work is well known. Eskeerdo is a multi-platinum, Grammy award winning songwriter working with the likes of Diddy, Rihanna, Flo-Rida, Big Sean, Meek Mill, T.I., Selena Gomez and Trina among others.

Feeling this track? Check out Eskeerdo’s last project, 31 Days and keep your eyes peeled on HNHH for more updates on his music.

Quotable Lyrics Cuz I can’t take a piss Bitch get off my dick Like my blessings ain’t worthy Shit I can’t sneeze without somebody tryna curse me Now they all on m back, like my Jesus hair Watch em’ turn into Judas, like Jesus here But I ain’t never turned water into wine Just some lines into rhymes and yo bitch into mine

Ludacris

Bill Cosby Gets 3 More Accusers Attorney Gloria Allred trotted out three new Bill Cosby accusers and they all told the same tale ... of allegedly being drugged and sexually assaulted.

Linda Kirkpatrick says she met Cosby in 1981 when she was 25. She claims she met Cosby playing tennis at a club in Vegas, and Cosby invited her to a party in his hotel room ... and Captain & Tennille were also there!

She claims he gave her a drink and she woke up a short time later to find Cosby on top of her, kissing her. Kirkpatrick remembers a bracelet with Camille’s name on it.

She claims Cosby apologised the next day ... she went to his hotel room again and he tried to hug and kiss her.

Lynn Neal claims she met Cosby in her 20s, also at a tennis club. She says the two

2 Chainz - Trap House Stalkin’ Feat. Young Dolph (January 8)

Eskeerdo - Hurting Feelings (January 8)

Ludacris’s Baby Mama Cries Out Ludacris’ hastily arranged marriage is a cheap trick in his attempt to gain full custody of his daughter ... so says a source close to his baby mama.

We’re told Luda’s baby mama, Tamika Fuller, thinks Luda wants to show the judge in their custody fight that he now has a stable, loving household ... more conducive to child-rearing than the home of single mom Tamika. She fears a Georgia judge could actually buy what Luda’s selling.

Latest Music

Lil Durk - Rollin & Leanin Feat. Broadway (Jan 8) Lil Durk warned us that 2015 was going to be his year, and so far he’s off to the right start. Following last week’s remix to “What You Do To Me” with Dej Loaf, we get another new Lil Durk track that surfaced during the week called “Rollin & Leanin” featuring Broadway.

With production from DJ Breeze, Durk breaks out the auto-tune and delivers a new party cut for the streets that finds him praising the lifestyle of drinking leanin and driving. Like most of Durk’s releases, there’s no word as for where this might end up.

Take a listen and let us know what ya think! While you’re at it, check out Durk’s other newly-released banger “Broke No Mo”.

Bill Cosby

Quotable Lyrics Diamonds all in my Rollie, these bad bitches they on me I got your main bitch and she rollin’ That molly got the bitch zonin’ Got everybody on me, the whole party on me Its me and Broadway B, these bitches all on me – Durk Compiled by Aderibigbe Tolulope

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Menace Of Baby-sitters: Need For Childcare Regulations

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While maids and nannies take the blame for torturing the kids, the employers of such category of people share a greater part of the blame

hen Nnenna Ugwu (not real name) was picked up in her remote village in Enugu State to work as a house help to Mrs Ifeoma Uwakwe in her 3-bedroom apartment in the Coal city, little did she envision that she would end up baby-sitting her madam’s only son without going to school.

However, trouble started when Ugwu, 15 who was a school drop-out discovered that the madam who is a teacher in one of the best schools in the city refused to send her to school as agreed with her parents. Rather, Ugwu wakes up early to do house chores and also take care of the madam’s son when she (the madam) was out of the home.

Apart from Ugwu baby-sitting the child, she hardly feeds well since Mrs Uwakwe whose husband is a bank manager in one of the famous financial institutions in Enugu is very stingy.

Narrating her ordeal to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, Ugwu described Madam Uwakwe as a stingy religious fanatic who shared her luxury with her church members alone but fails to take care of her immediate family.

According to her, “My madam deceived my parents that she will enroll me in a school but six months after, I was not registered in a school but ended up baby-sitting Peter and doing the larger part of the house chores.

“Though my madam has the entire luxury at her beck and call, she prefers to store the foodstuffs except when she wants to prepare a meal that her husband would eat before I and the husband’s siblings living with her would enjoy a delicious meal.”

She said, “to make matters worse, she has big storage for different kinds of foodstuffs and her deep freezer is usually stocked with assorted meat but she will never allow you to eat it except if her family would partake in the meal.

“She gives us anything she likes for breakfast and for lunch, she will tell us to prepare abacha (African salad) with a stern warning that nobody should touch her crayfish. If I prepare the African salad with just oil, maggi, salt and pepper without crayfish, won’t it be tasteless, “she inquired.

Ugwu said though her madam doesn’t spank her, she chose to transfer the aggression to Peter by beating him up at the slightest provocation and eating his meals to serve as deterrent to the parents.

When asked what type of provocation, she added, “If he mistakenly defecates on the chair when I’m changing his diaper or vomits after eating, I will beat him up since Mr Uwakwe doesn’t caution the wife “, she concluded.

The bubble however bursted when Uwakwe discovered that Ugwu tortures the 8-month old Peter in her absence and also eats the child’s food.

Describing torture as having long term psychological trauma, Akpan also cautioned parents to desist from maltreating maids and nannies who are capable of transferring the aggression to innocent kids in their absence.

Nigerian maids baby-stting children in kids area inside a shopping mall. Photo by Google.com

Stories of assault and abuse of children by their caregivers abound but have reached a frightening dimension recently. CHIKA OKEKE writes on the need for effective childcare regulations to guard against undue torture of children Following this, Ugwu was sent back to her parents in the village.

Uwakwe’s predicament is synonymous with that of over 1 million working class nursing mothers whose kids are at the mercy of baby-sitters or nannies.

While maids and nannies take the blame for torturing the kids, the employers of such category of people share a greater part of the blame as they prefer to nurture their kids alone, without considering the welfare of the maids.

Ugandan Maid Saga Though Ugwu was fortunate to leave the house untortured, a Ugandan maid, Jolly Tumuhiirwe who assaulted a toddler in her custody was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment by a trial judge recently.

When Mr Eric Kamanzi, noticed that his daughter, 18- month- old Aneela Kamanzi, left under the care of Tumuhiirwe was bruised and limping, instead of confronting the maid, Kamanzi installed cameras in the family home in Nakawa.

The video footage showed Tumuhirwe dragging Aneela onto the floor before beating her with a torch and then kicking and standing on her after she vomited while eating dinner.

As Kamanzi finished watching the video, he descended on Tumuhirwe ruthlessly to such an extent that the nanny reported the assault to police and Kamanzi was arrested after admitting he had attacked her.

But after showing police the security tapes of the assault on Aneela,

the charges against the father who works for an NGO in Kampala were dropped.

Sentencing Tumuhirwe, Chief Magistrate Lillian Buchan said the nanny had committed an unjustifiable and inexcusable crime adding that the four-year sentence reflected the ruthlessness exhibited on an innocent helpless child.

Psychologists Respond As baby-sitters continue to torture toddlers unjustifiably, a cross-section of psychologists that spoke to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY suggested the need for the federal government to establish special unit that would handle issues related to torture even as they advocated for effective childcare regulations.

A psychologist in Abuja, Mrs Josephine Ogundipe said that the regulation of childcare activities would enable the parents especially the working class keep an eye on their children instead of their jobs.

She said that torture often has psychological impact on the toddlers who most times yell on hearing the slightest noise around the house or within their immediate environment.

Another psychologist, Mr Dennis Akpan, added that there was need for the federal government to establish special units just like the special antirobbery squad whose sole function would be to monitor the activities of nannies or maids, saying that they should also be empowered to try offenders in their special courts.

Parents Reaction As the torture against toddlers rages, Mrs Queen Eze, a mother of three spoke intensely when she admitted that both parties share in the blame, maintaining that some wicked parents neglect the welfare of the maid while some maids are possessed and naturally wicked despite the luxury at their disposal.

Explaining her encounter with her maid, she said, “after my first child, I decided to pick a maid from the village to enable me meet up with my career but little did I know that I was doomed.

“The girl who was 10 years old lived in our private residence but one month after, I noticed that my 4 months old child was always sick.

Even neighbours complained to me that the child was always crying mysteriously whenever I was away from home, an allegation that my maid denied several times.

Continuing she added, “one of my neighbours advised me to monitor the maid carefully because she had noticed some strange things about her but I waved it off saying that she was only ten years. But after some months, I decided to give it a second thought since we were always taking my boy to the hospital and my husband only comes home on weekends.

“One day I left for work as usual but little did my house-help know that I will come home earlier than usual. When I got to the house, I noticed that my son was weeping mysteriously and when I knocked at the door, I discovered that it wasn’t locked, so I rushed inside.”

She added, “to my greatest surprise, I saw a big snake beside my boy, so I raised the alarm and at that period, my maid was nowhere near the sitting room. As neigbours tried to kill the snake, it spat uncontrollably that people tried to avoid it, so it vanished.

“It was the shout of Holy Ghost fire that brought back my maid who pretended that she only went outside to buy something, though she came back with a biscuit. As neighbours fired intense prayers in the house, my maid started confessing how she was always turning into a snake to suck the blood of my son. The next day, as early as 5am we were set and took her back to the village”, she concluded She further pleaded with parents to take their maids to church for deliverance before enjoying their services even as she called on the federal government to consider the plight of nursing mothers by giving them enough time to take care of their children.

M

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

ost cities in Nigeria are fast developing into slums and this has been attributed to lack of effective planning and massive migration to cities and urban centres in Nigeria. This has resulted in the proliferation of slums brought about by overcrowding, flooding, dilapidated structures, stagnant waste water and unhygienic environments. In many instances, such places are usually uninhabitable for human beings.

The reasons for the rapid spread of slums in urban centres are obvious. Mrs. Grace Ajumugu, a trader and mother of five, who lives in Apo Mechanic village, Abuja stated: “We don’t have money to pay the kind of rent they charge in Abuja. Where I am living, i pay just N30,000 a year. We share toilets with other tenants and cook outside in a makeshift kitchen. Of course, we are not comfortable but what can we do? My husband is a poor mason and there are times he does’nt get jobs, so, I sell ogiri (local food) to augment our income. We don’t have any other place to stay”, she said.

Another person who lives in Mararaba, a suburb of the FCT in Nasarawa State is Onyediwe Chukwemeka, a mechanic. He said, “who wants to live here? It is because I cannot afford to rent a house in choice areas like Maitama or Asokoro. Life is not easy for the poor people; the most annoying thing is that most of the big houses are empty, yet, they won’t reduce the cost of renting them so that people like us can afford. The government has also refused to build houses for poor people; it is not easy to pay house rents, even here where I live, I pay N70,000 every year for the two rooms I am occupying. I know the place is dirty, and the roads are bad, but what can we do? We don’t have a choice. We cannot move out of here unless we have a better house somewhere”, he said.

Mr Isaac Dozie, an estate developer and consultant spoke to LEADERSHIP Sunday on some of the causes of slums. According to him, “cities are turning to slums because of congestion, scarcity of land, negligence on the part of building regulators and environmental specialists. Also closely linked is the problem of poverty and illiteracy, use of sub-standard building materials, lack of proper sanitation, and a number of other factors. I blame the government for the rise in slums in our urban cities because we don’t enforce laws. Many houses in Nigerian urban cites do not have good sanitary system. We must not ignore the major cause which is poverty that has led to massive migration form rural areas to urban centres. because of this, facilities in urban areas are overstretched. Government and the people mandated with the responsibility don’t enforce existing laws. In developed nations, well -planned neighbourhoods are constructed with open spaces for recreation and leisure as well as drainage lines to

Slums such as this exist on the fringes and sometimes heart of urban cities

Dealing With Slums In Urban Centres

Many urban settlements are gradually turning into slums even with the determined efforts of the government at pulling down such structures.Ruth Choji reports that the reason for the continued growth of slums in our modern cities is associated with the what is called policy summersaults. prevent flooding. Government, through the right agencies, must take drastic measures to check the emergence of slums in our cities by providing affordable land for the urban poor with guides on design and rules in building houses. For places like Mararaba and other localities that have turned into slums, we can improve their situation by providing the basic amenities they need like water, assess road, light and primary health care. But to sanitise the cities and ensure that standards are maintained, slums should be demolished and low cost housing systems be developed for the poor”, he maintained.

Edwin Chibuzo, a resident of Masaka, another settlement outside Abuja city centre also stated: “Nobody wants to live in a dirty and unorganised place like this, but we don’t have a choice”. We cannot afford to pay what house owners charge in the city centre. I am just a petty trader and barely manage to feed my family. So, if I don’t live here, where else can I live? I can’t go to my village because it is worse. Living here ensures we are closer to the seat of power. People at home think we are living in Abuja, until they come here before they will know that we live in slums. This house you are looking at has no toilet, we are lucky it is close to that small river where we usually throw human wastes. We hardly

see electricity, so most of us have this small generator they call ‘I pass my neighbor’ which helps us to watch television. We suffer during the hot seasons because the houses have no space and the windows are so small. Most of us spread mate outside and sleep during such seasons. I pray that my son will get a good job so that we can move to a better house, but I don’t see myself moving out of here in the next 10 years because I can’t afford a better accommodation”, he concludes.

Mrs. Agnes Zakaria, a widow and mother of three who resides in Aso-pada, a slum within Mararaba also said: “We live in this place because we have nowhere else to go. I also do not like it because of the bad things that happen here. I know the place is not good for my children, but I am just a poor widow who doesn’t have a better means of providing comfort for my children. The school in which I teach is close to my house and that saves me the cost of transportation, otherwise it would have been worse than this.What we want government to do is to bring roads, hospitals and light for us. If we can have this, we will manage where we are now. It is not that bad after all, the Bible says ‘you will always have the poor with you’. So, if the government can make living a bit better for us, we will remain here”, she said.

Henry Abulu, an estate agent also stated that “You don’t blame people when they live in slums.

Houses are very expensive especially in state capitals and the FCT. A two bedroom flat in maitama goes for about N2m and more while the same flat goes for N600,000 in places like karu and Nyanya. How do you expect somebody that earns less than N20,000 to rent a place like that or an artisan to pay that kind of money? I doesn’t blame or look down on people who live in slums because they have no option. Besides, the rich cannot live without the poor. If the government don’t want to see the slums, they should provide low cost housing for the masses. Former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, did it and so I don’t see why we cannot do it now when we have the money and resources. We have been hearing of the public private initiative but even if they build one million houses, the poor will still not be able to afford because the rich will hijack it and rent it out at very expensive rates. Continuous demolition will not solve the problem of slums until the government step up and constructs low cost housing for Nigeria. All we can do for now is to enlighten the masses on the dangers of poor sanitation on their health and the need for an improved healthy environment.

On his part, the chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Sen.

Bukar Abbba Ibrahim, said, “the National Housing Policy is all about maximising the construction of houses for the benefit of the masses, particularly the unemployed and even the middle class. It is to increase the construction of houses so that the teeming million people that are homeless will have shelter over their eads. Look at banks with billions and trillion of naira looking for customers. If they can maximise this fund and put them into the construction of houses for the masses, the issue of slums will be eradicated after all, America and other developed countries have succeeded in developing their housing sector. When there was crises in that sector in the US, the government was almost brought down on its knees before they were able to recover. We have the resources, it is just harnessing it that is our problem. Our problem is just leadership that will change things for the betters.

Most cities in Nigeria are fast developing into slums and this has been attributed to lack of effective planning and massive migration

60 kiddies

Sunday, January 11, 2015

MAze

kiddies kingdom

By Chika mefor

08156719304 (SMS only)

Isa And Hassan, The Boys Who Did It It started just like a dream, two boys in the village of Iku. A village so little that no one heard about it. But the two friends will make the village heard. They will make history happen. They will become people that will turn the life of the villagers around and bring hope to the ‘Talakas’ of the village. They did it. They were called Hassan and Isa, listen to their story.

The two boys came from a very poor family who hardly saw what to eat. They had no money to send their children to school so the boys where left to roam around the street looking for odd jobs to do in order to make ends meet.

They clean up people’s houses, wash people’s cars, and even scavenge for objects in the village bola (dump site).

Surprisingly, in the street they learnt who they wanted to become. Amazingly, in the street, the boys learnt how to read and write. They picked up newspapers from the houses of people they cleaned or even from the bola.

They were anxious to read anything readable. They were so insatiable for knowledge even when they could not go to school. In the street ,Hassan knew he wanted to be an engineer, Isa wanted to be a doctor. The people they met in the street became their teacher. The people they encountered while doing their odd jobs told them things they had never heard

Puzzle

of. They were not tired of asking questions. They came to know that there was another world and a better chance out there for them and they wanted to reach there no matter what. The faith and hope they had was amazing.

The other villagers, rich and famous saw them as wayward children who will amount to nothing but Isa and Hassan proved them wrong. One day, a wealthy man named Ibrahim Mohammed came to see their village Sarki. Because the road to the village was bad and muddy, his car was messy when he got to the Sarki’s house. He complained and Isa and Hassan were called to follow him out of the village with some cans full of water to clean up the messy car when it got to a better road.

The two boys gladly jumped

into the air conditioned car. And there, they struck a conversation with the wealthy man. Mohammed was very surprised at what came out of the boys’ mouth. They even told him news of what he hadn’t heard before. “Their teacher or their parents will be very intelligent,” he thought but was surprised to hear that the two friends had never been to the four walls of a school. There and then a decision was made. He decided to help them.

He took them back to the village, spoke to the Sarki and the kids’ parents and took the children back to town. He enrolled them into a school. Isa and Hassan’s dreams were fulfilled; they worked hard and became the first doctor and engineer from a people described as the Talakawas.

HAPPY BIrTHdAY

SPOT THe dIfference

Muhammed Shamsudeen Isa celebrated his one year birthday on December 30, 2014. Kiddies Kingdom wishes him many more happy years ahead.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

photo news 61

L-R; The groom, Simeon and the bride, Inebharapu; President Goodluck Jonathan; First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan; wife of the Senate President Helen Mark; Bishop Enoch Adejare Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo; and Senate President David Mark, during the wedding ceremony between Mr Simeon Onyemaechi and Miss Inebharapu Paul at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

Campaign manager to APC’s Geyeke Oriade constituency candidate for Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Tajudeen Busari (r), presenting a petition for the omission of their candidate in the INEC list to APC Lagos chapter secretary, Mrs Olajumoke Mustapha (left), at the party secretariat in Ogba, Lagos. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA

L-R: Senator Chris Ngige; Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo at Apc campaign in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday. Photo By Nan

Kaduna State Governor, Ramalan Yero welcoming Vice President Namadi Sambo to the 40th anniversary of the reign of the Emir of Zazzau, hrh, Alhaji Shehu Idris, at the Emir’s palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, yesterday. PHOTO BY STATE HOUSE

A hawker displaying her wares on a wheelbarrow around Mararaba area of Nasarawa State, yesterday. PHOTO BY DELE DAMISA

62 news across the states

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Kidnappers Dump Corpse Of Abducted Businessman On Street

by SOLOMON AYADO, Makurdi

There was confusion in Makurdi, Benue State yesterday when the corpse of a businessman that was abducted by kidnappers was dumped on a major Street in the agrarian state capital.

The deceased, identified as Edward Okechwukwu is the owner of Our Choice table water established in Makurdi and was report-

ed to have been kidnapped last Wednesday near his residence along Iorkyaa Ako street, High Level, Makurdi.

The police public relations officer, (PPRO), DSP John Bako, had confirmed the incident to newsmen and said the police immediately commenced investigation into the matter. He said that the men of the command were yet to establish contact with the kidnap-

pers.

However, there was pandemonium in the town yesterday when residents of Wurukum area of Makurdi woke up to discover the lifeless body of the business mogul on the road near the roundabout. It was said that the corpse was found on the street at about 3am.

There are wide spread reports that the abductors demanded a

ransom of N20m from the family of the deceased and that after a serious bargain, the kidnappers resolved that if a sum of N7m was released, they would free the victim.

It was further gathered from sources that the family members had quickly raised the sum of N1.7m which was about to be paid to the kidnappers pending when the total sum would be realised.

Katsina Budget: ‘Overhead Cost For Priority Sectors Inadequate’ The Katsina Budget Awareness Initiative (KBAI) an unmbrella body of civil society organisations, has faulted the 2015 budgetary allocations to priority sectors in the state.

In a position paper signed by its chairman and secretary, AbdurRahman Abdullahi Dutsinma and Armaya’u Abdulhamid respectively, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, KBAI said overhead costs proposed for key ministries like Health and Education were inadequate considering their activities and personnel.

The group decried lack of regards for procurement procedure as enshrined in the Procurement Act even as it faulted the idea of having an opening balance of N20.50billion in the face of pending gratuities in the 2014 fiscal year that could have engulfed part of the idle money”.

By Muazu Elazeh Katsina

Ortom To Supporters: Put Behind Nomination Saga For APC Win In Benue

A traffic warden running after a motorist who in a bid to beat the lights, rammed into another car in Abuja, yesterday. Photo By dele damisa

Rivers: Coalition Of Aspiring Lawmakers Reject Wike’s Gubernatorial Candidacy

by Anayo Onukwugha, P/Harcourt

A coalition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants for the Rivers State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives have rejected Barr. Nyesom Wike as the PDP governorship flag bearer of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed today by four members of the coalition including Mr Eyaalada Akari, Mr Nature Kieghe, Engr. Francis Ibarakun-

ye, and Mr Iheanyichukwu Paul.

The statement noted that the coalition does not recognise any gubernatorial candidate in the state due to flaws in the last primary elections.

“Several members of the coalition received invitations via SMS to a meeting scheduled for 11 am on Tuesday 06/01/2015 with an aspirant purporting to be the ‘governorship candidate’ of the party and state chairman of the PDP”, it said.

“In the said SMS,” it added,

“Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike is paraded as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Rivers State.

“Having met at an emergency session, we wish to reiterate the fact that to the best of our knowledge, the PDP in Rivers State does not yet have a gubernatorial candidate or any candidate for any other elective offices except the presidency following gross fundamental flaws with all other primaries,” it further stated.

To this end, the statement added, the coalition has dissociated

itself from the said meeting. It urges the national leadership of the party to timely resolve complaints regarding the PDP primaries in the state as this would have grave consequences at the polls as the state would be ignorantly handed over to the APC and make Mr. President worry about River State in his tough re-election battle because his brothers and sisters in the state sold their rights for a pot of porridge which may not really taste as it looks.

Don’t Alter Election Timetable, CLO Tells INEC

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to heed the call by some persons on it to shift the general election by any guise.

The CLO said any attempt to do that will be tantamount to tenure elongation for the present administration and added that security challenges should not be used as excuse for truncating the elector-

al process.

The Organisation also warned government that it will no longer tolerate abuse of office, looting of public treasury and non regard to rule of law which are major characteristics of the present administration.

The CLO said it will mobilise the masses to protest lack of transparency, collapse of social infrastructure, extra-judicial execution of innocent Nigerians by the police, unemployment, abject poverty, de-

cay of social institutions and persistent security challenges.

‘The organisation has watched with agony, how some politicians have, without conscience, plundered our patrimony and squandered our resources. Agents of global imperialism and neo-liberalism preside over the siphoning of our common resources to serve the interest of both local and international capitalism. As one of the richest countries in the world, Nigeria parades some of the poorest and hungriest

citizens in the globe today with lack of social services, including persistent inability to supply basic energy and potable water. Comrade Igho Akeregha, interim president of the organisation said in a text of speech he delivered in Lagos.

Akeregha, who addressed the media on the state of the nation, observed that in the last 15 years, Nigeria and her citizens have been subjected to mass unemployment, shameless looting and rampant corruption.

The flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, yesterday urged supporters of the opposition party in the state to put behind the controversies that erupted during the nomination process, saying the major concern is to ensure that APC wins all positions in the forthcoming election.

Ortom assured that, if elected, he will turn the fortunes of the state around for the better to ensure total development of the agrarian communities and to justify the confidence the people reposed in him.

The former minister of State for Trade and Investment stated this in Makurdi during a meeting with stakeholders of the opposition party. He said he will carry everyone along by abiding strictly to the implementation of the party’s manifesto.

By Solomon Ayado, Makurdi

Over 500 Youth Groups Pledge To Support Sen. GNS Pwajok Over 500 Plateau youths yesterday stormed the campaign office of Senator GNS Pwajok, PDP governorship candidate of the state to declare their support for the youth-friendly governorship hopeful.

They also pledged to mobilise and support him with over one million votes at the polls.

The director of Volunteering Services of the Greater Together Youth Campaign team of Senator Pwajok, Gad Shamaki, said over 500 youths groups of the state gathered to endorse Pwajok as their candidate in the forthcoming elections.

By Achor Abimaje, Jos

news across the states 63

Sunday, January 11, 2015

I Will Make Nigeria Work – Buhari

By OKECHUKWU OBETA, Awka

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidate in next month’s presidential election, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), has identified insecurity and lack of employment opportunities as the major problems facing the nation.

Buhari, who addressed APC members and his admirers at a rally at Emmaus House field, Awka, the Anambra State capital yesterday accompanied by his running mate, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, APC national chairman, chief John Oyegun, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Rochas Okorocha of Rivers

and Imo states respectively, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, Senator Osita Izunaso and Chief George Muoghalu, stated that corruption had eaten too deep into the Nigerian system and pledged that, if elected president, he would make Nigeria work.

His administration, he pledged, would revolutionise the agricultural sector, provide infrastructure, improve the standard of education and establish vital institutions that would drive the socioeconomic and technological development policies and programmes that would turn-around the decay in the country.

He stated that if the country

had a leadership that is visionary and has the interest of the masses at heart, there would not have been the current insurgency in the North-east, kidnapping and armed robbery in the Eastern Nigeria and the level of hunger and infrastructural decay prevailing across the country.

He urged every registered voter in Nigeria to ensure that they procure their Permanent Voters Cards, (PVC) and make sure as well that they cast their votes during the election and insist on the vote being counted.

Earlier in his speech Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State urged Ndigbo to discountenance

the propaganda that Buhari would Islamise Nigeria if elected president, insisting that those behind the propaganda are simply those afraid that if Buhari becomes president, he would not only send to jail all those who have perpetrated corruption in the country but stamp out the malaise totally.

Okorocha stated that the choice of Buhari as presidential candidate was made after a critical and painstaking search and assessment of antecedents, conducts and character of the various persons who indicated interest stating that Buhari has the capacity to give Nigeria the quality leadership that would re-write her current woes.

Vice president Namadi Sambo discussing with Emir of Zazzau, hrh Alh. Shehu Idris, during the 40th anniversary of the Emir on the throne, held at the Emir’s Palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, yesterday. photo by state house

2015: Beware Of Prophets Of Doom, ECWA President Warns

By ISAIAH BENJAMIN, JKaduna

President, Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Reverend Jeremiah Gado, yesterday called on Nigerians to beware of prophets of doom who are prophesying bloodshed in the forth coming general elections.

This is just as he called on the Enugu-based Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, to restrain himself from being a prophet of doom over his statement on the 2015 general elections.

It would be recalled that Father

Mbaka had, in a recent statement, dismissed President Goodluck Jonathan as the possible winner in the forthcoming presidential election, saying that even if Jonathan is elected, the country would be plunged into turmoil.

However, fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the inauguration of newly elected officials of ECWA Kaduna Central DCC, Reverend Gado added that God is never interested in bloodshed, and as such men of God should strive to be prophets of hope over the gen-

eral elections and other national issues.

Reverend Gado said: “We pray that what Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka said does not come to be true because God is not interested in bloodshed, and so I am not going to contest with Father Mbaka to say what he said. If what he said is from the Lord, we will see it, but if it is not from the Lord, it will not come to pass, that is my comment on that. We should not be prophets of doom; we should be prophets of hope. When somebody says, thus

say the Lord, you leave it to God because if he is saying God told him this and that, well, the test is going to be, whether or not it comes”.

Also, the newly installed chairman, ECWA, Kaduna Central DCC, Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, spoke to newsmen, saying, “I feel happy, and I’m grateful to God, this installation is a landmark achievement because it is the Grace of God that has brought us to this place. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to assume the duty of chairman of our district”.

Rivers: Peterside Seeks Upgrading Of Oil And Gas Polytechnic To Varsity

By ISAIAH BENJAMIN, JKaduna

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said if elected governor of the state, his administration would work with the federal government to ensure the upgrading of the Federal Oil and Gas Polytechnic, Bonny, to a university.

The governorship hopeful said his government would work with the joint industrial committee of the state, to set up the Bonny King-

dom Development Foundation to fast-track the development of strategic island.

Peterside spoke yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit on the Amanayabo of Grand Bonny, King Edward Asimini William, in Bonny, headquarters of Bonny local government area of the state “The federal government initiated the Oil and Gas Polytechnic, Your Majesty, we will explore that process and work closely with the federal government and push that the polytechnic be converted to Oil

and Gas university.

“Your majesty, there will be no justification not to convert the Oil and Gas Polytechnic into a university because we have all the necessary ingredients and factors here that will support our agitation for the conversion of the polytechnic to Oil and Gas university”.

The APC governorship candidate stated that Bonny Kingdom will have a special place in the efforts of his administration, if elected on February 28, 2015, to expand the economic opportunities for all

our people, which will be the main focus of his administration.

“The focus of this in-coming government from May 29, will be on growing the economy, expanding economic opportunities for all our people and our focus area, Bonny, will occupy a special place. We will look at the economy of Bonny.

We will work with the joint industrial committee to activate the Bonny Kingdom Development Foundation, so that we can bring all development efforts under one basket.

KDSG To Spend 12bn On Roads In Southern Kaduna - Bajoga Kaduna State government has pledged to complete the construction of 16 road projects in Southern Kaduna in 2015 worth over N12 billion.

The deputy governor, Amb. Nuhu Audu Bajoga, who made the pledge yesterday in Kafanchan at the 14th edition of the Southern Kaduna National Prayer Summit, thanked the people for their prayers in the last two years for the administration.

Bajoga stated that the road projects, which were awarded by previous administrations in the state but still ongoing, will be completed this year by the Mukhtar Ramalan Yero government. “ I wish to assure all of you today that in 2015, our administration is determined to complete all the 16 roads projects in Southern Kaduna awarded by previous administrations worth 12.8 billion Naira”.

The deputy governor urged the people of the zone to vote wisely in 2015 for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as they have always done saying it is the only party that would guaranty their development.

By Midat Joseph, Kaduna

APC Is Willing To Receive BafarawaMaigari Dingyadi Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the director general, Sokoto 2015 All Progressive Congress (APC) campaign has called on his former boss, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, to have a rethink towards his political stand.

Dingyadi, who was the anointed governorship candiate of former governor, Attahiru Bafarawa in 2007, was with him politically until recently when he defected to join incumbent governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, in APC after Bafarawa left for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Talking to LEADERSHIP Sunday on why they went separate ways after being together all these while, Dingyadi said: “Politically, we are not together but socially, we are together. Bafarawa is still my boss and I respect him. But in politics, we follow the wish of the people.

Bafarawa knows politics but I want to remind him that he should have a rethink hence APC is willing to accommodate him and the people of the state will be willing to receive him too”.

Dingyadi, who further stressed that people defect from PDP to APC in sokoto almost everyday, also said, the chances of APC winning both the presidency and other elective positions in the forthcoming general elections is high.

By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

64 news across the states

Sunday, January 11, 2015

2 PDP Campaign Buses Set Ablaze In Jos

By ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

Two buses belonging to President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation were yesterday set ablaze in Jos, the Plateau State capital by angry youths.

LEADERSHIP Sunday

gathered that the buses were stopped and set ablaze by irate youths around Mango street and Bauchi road in Jos north local government area yesterday evening.

According to sources, occupants of the vehicle were however set free by the youths

who were chanting “bamu son Jonathan” in Hausa, meaning we don’t want Jonathan.

An eye witness told newsmen at Bauchi road that the driver of the bus had attracted attention when he nearly hit a young lady as a result of over speeding.

Sokoto 2015: Tambuwal Flags Off Guber Campaign Today The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal will today officially flag off his campaign for the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state.

A statement by the director general of his campaign organisation, Alhaji Maigari Muhammadu Dingyadi, said the national chairman of the party, Chieff John Odigie-Oyegun is expected as the special guest

during the flag-off.

Other dignitaries expected at the occasion include, Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola and his Kwara state counterpart, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

2015: Katsina South Residents Call For Violence-free Elections

By BODE GBADEBO, Abuja

Ahead of February 2015 general elections in the country, a non-governmental organisation, Funtua Consultative Forum in Katsina South senatorial zone, has organised a one-day stakeholders’ meeting at the weekend where participants unanimously called on the government at all levels and the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that people’s rights to political participation and security are respected to forestall any postelection violence.

The meeting, which was themed “Election In Volatile Times: ‘Exploring Strategies Against The Outbreak Of PostElection Violence’’ was attended by over 300 participants comprising religious leaders, politicians, community leaders, security agents, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders from the area.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the forum, Shamsuddeen Sani Babajo, informed the gathering that the meeting was timely, especially when the nation is heading for the 2015 general elections, adding that the essence of the interac-

tion among various stakeholders was to ensure violence-free elections, peace and stability during and after the elections.

For his part, the guest speaker at the event, Dr. Aliyu Muktar Katsina from Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, in paper presentation to espoused the theme of the event, outlined the issues that may influenced election violence as including the nature of elections in Nigeria, commitment and sincerity of political leaders, neutrality of the electoral umpire, impartiality of the judiciary and the professionalism of security agents, among other drivers.

By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

foreign

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

news ➋➏

➍

➌

➊ North Korea Offers Nuclear Tests Deal the nuclear tests and military exercises were separate issues.

“The DPRK statement that inappropriately links routine US-ROK exercises to the possibility of a nuclear test

by North Korea is an implicit threat,” Psaki told reporters travelling with Secretary of State John Kerry in Europe.

The United States and South Korea have carried out the joint military exercises for roughly 40 years, she added.

Psaki said the United States remained open to dialogue with North Korea and urged Pyongyang to “immediately cease all threats, reduce tensions, and take the necessary steps toward denuclearisation needed to resume credible negotiations.”

He told Haaretz newspaper that “when it comes to war crimes, we have quite a bit of ammunition”.

“It is the Palestinian Authority - which is in a unity government with Hamas, an avowed terrorist organisation that, like ISIS [Islamic State], perpetrates war crimes - that needs to be concerned about the [ICC],” he said.

➋ Kerry, Off To India, Sees Oman’s Ailing Ruler In Germany MUNICH, Germany - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stopped briefly in Germany yesterday to meet with the ailing ruler of Oman, the Mideast country that’s served an important intermediary role in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Kerry, headed to India for an international conference, met for about 90 minutes with Sultan Qaboos bin Said, 74, who has been receiving medical

Colombo, Sri-Lanka - New President Maithripala Sirisena invited exiled dissidents back to Sri Lanka and promised to end censorship yesterday as he began to turn the page on the authoritarian rule of his toppled predecessor.

A day after his shock victory over veteran incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse, Sirisena began assembling a cabinet to deliver his pledges to repair the war-scarred nation’s diplomatic standing and implement a raft of reforms.

Sirisena, who was sworn in Friday evening after ending Rajapakse’s decade-long rule, was trying to form a “national unity” cabinet that would include

members from a cross section of parties, an aide said.

“He will name some ministers next week and the balance after the pope’s visit,” from January 13 to 15, said Sirisena’s top aide Rajitha Senaratne, who is tipped to become health minister.

He said that Sirisena has ordered the immediate lifting of censorship on dissident websites, an end to phone tapping, surveillance of journalists and politicians, and the establishment of a right to information law.

There was also an invitation to dozens of Sri Lankan journalists and other dissidents who have fled the country fearing attack from the

previous administration to “come back immediately”.

“From now on, you have the freedom to criticise us. We will take strong action against anyone who tries to undermine media freedom,” Senaratne told reporters in Colombo.

Although there was no word from the new president himself on yesterday, Sirisena is expected to make an address to the nation from the historic hill resort of Kandy today.

Shortly after being sworn in, Sirisena appointed parliamentary opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as his prime minister.

➍ Pakistani Taliban Claim Attack On Shiite Mosque

➊ ➎

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea said yesterday it was willing to suspend nuclear tests if the United States agreed to call off annual military drills held jointly with South Korea, but Washington rejected the proposal as a veiled threat.

The offer, which the North’s official KCNA news agency said was conveyed to Washington on Friday through “a relevant channel”, follows an often repeated demand by Pyongyang for an end to the large-scale defensive drills by the allies.

“The message proposed (that) the U.S. contribute to easing tension on the Korean peninsula by temporarily suspending joint military exercises in South Korea and its vicinity this year,” KCNA said in a report. “(The message) said that in this case the DPRK is ready to take such a responsive step as temporarily suspending the nuclear test over which the U.S. is concerned,” KCNA said, using the short form for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said

➌ Sri Lanka’s New President Welcomes Dissidents Home

treatment in Germany since November, 2014.

After the 90-minute meeting, Kerry tweeted that he was “grateful for strong friendship” with the sultan.

Among the topics they covered were the Iran talks, which are set to resume this week in Switzerland, the situation in Yemen, the Syrian civil war, the terrorist attacks in Paris and tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - A faction of the Pakistani Taliban yesterday claimed responsibility for an apparent suicide attack on a Shiite mosque in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, which killed seven people and wounded 15 others.

The powerful explosion on Friday night in the city in northern Punjab state triggered chaos as dozens of minority Shiite Muslims gathered in the mosque to distribute alms to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.

“We claim responsibility of the attack on the Shiite mosque and vow to continue such attacks against enemies of Islam,” spokesman of Jamatul-Ahrar faction of Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ehsanullah Ehsan, said in an email.

“We want to make it clear to these infidel rulers that we will not be impressed by any of their laws or hangings,” he added.

Pakistan has strengthened its own offensive against the Taliban since their attack on a military-run school on December 16 killed 150 people, 134 of them children.

Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn wood outside a hospital where victims were treated after a blast in Rawalpindi on Friday.

The country ended its sixyear-old moratorium on the death penalty in terror cases last month in the wake of the massacre.

To further boost its efforts, the government on Friday announced it was setting up nine military courts to hear terrorism-related cases.

➎Crashed AirAsia Plane’s Tail Hoisted From Sea, But No Black Box Found

JAKARTA, Indonesia - The tail of the crashed AirAsia jet was lifted from the Java Sea yesterday but it did not contain the “black box” flight recorders that are crucial to helping investigators determine why the jet went down two weeks ago.

“The tail has been secured,” Indonesian armed forces chief Gen. Moeldoko told reporters.

The 30-foot-long chunk, still mostly intact and emblazoned with AirAsia’s red and white logo, is the largest piece of the Airbus A320’s fuselage to be retrieved by search crews battling stormy waters off Borneo island.

The rear of the aircraft is where the black boxes are stored, making the tail one of the most crucial clues to emerge from the search.

Crews used inflatable balloons to hoist the tail 100 feet from the sea floor. A crane then lowered it onto the deck of a ship.

Search operations director Air Commodore Suryadi Supriyadi said crews closely examined the wreckage.

Although search teams have detected large objects on the sea floor that they believe could be the plane’s fuselage, crews have not been able to reach them due to difficult weather conditions

and poor visibility underwater.

Officials believe that most of the 162 passengers and crew members aboard Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501, which crashed in a thunderstorm during a twohour flight on December 28, are entombed in the main cabin of the aircraft, lying somewhere on the sea floor.

Ships equipped with sonar equipment heard a “fairly strong” signal coming from an object about half a mile from where the tail was found, but officials said they did not know if the pinging sound was coming from the black boxes or another object.

66 FOREIGN NEWS

Sunday, January 11, 2015

To Host Libya Peace Talks In ➊ UN Geneva This Week Libya/Geneva - The United Nations announced yesterday a new round of peace talks in Geneva this week between Libya’s warring factions, as the European Union warned the country was at a “crucial juncture”.

It came as fighting between troops and Islamist militia killed 13 people in eastern Libya.

“This dialogue is an important opportunity for the Libyans to restore stability and prevent the country’s slide towards deeper conflict and economic collapse that should not be missed,” the UN mission in Libya said.

UN envoy Bernardino Leon has proposed a freeze in military operations for a few days “in order to create a conducive environment for the dialogue,” the UN statement said.

Leon had earlier urged a resumption of talks “before it is too late”.

The talks are aimed at reaching an agreement on the formation of a unity government and to create “a stable environment” for the adoption of a new permanent constitution, the statement said.

It did not give a specific date for the talks.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro during the latter’s visit to Iran

➌ Iran, Venezuela Vow To Stabalise Falling Oil Prices TEHRAN, Iran - Iran and Venezuela vowed yesterday to work together to stabilise falling global oil prices as Iran’s supreme leader accused “enemies” of using crude prices as a political weapon.

With Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by his side, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged OPEC members to “neutralise schemes by some powers against OPEC and help stabilises an acceptable oil price in 2015.” Maduro also

Libyan factions to meet next week

called for OPEC’s cooperation in stabilising oil prices.

Both Iran and Venezuela rely on oil prices to boost their respective economies.

Oil prices have plunged more than 55 per cent since June to less than $50 a barrel, placing a severe strain on the two countries.

Maduro is touring several OPEC nations to drum up support for a production cut to boost prices. He is to visit Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, to discuss

the oil market slump.

“We are making efforts to create a consensus among OPEC members and other oil-producing states, including Russia, to cooperate and use novel mechanisms to reverse the oil price to an acceptable level,” Maduro was quoted

by Iranian state television as saying.

Maduro later met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who blamed the freefall in oil prices on “enemies.”

➋ Pope’s Asia Trip To Address Poverty, ➍ Search On For France’s Most Wanted Woman Dialogue, Climate Change PARIS, France - Police are Coulibaly, 32, and the Kouachi ROME, Italy - Pope Francis returns to Asia for the second time in less than six months, traveling to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in coming days to underscore his concern for inter-religious dialogue, poverty and the environment.

Security will be a main issue in both countries, particularly in the Philippines, Asia’s only majority Catholic country, where up to six million people are expected to attend an outdoor Mass on Jan. 18.

Up to 40,000 police, troops and reservists will take part in what military chief General Gregorio Catapang has called the country’s biggest ever security operation.

“There will be soldiers rappelling up and down helicopters to rescue the pope in case he will be pinned down by a sea of people. We may airlift or use naval boats to bring the pope to safety if necessary,” he said.

When Pope John Paul visited Manila in 1995, security perimeters were breached and he had to be taken by helicopter to a Mass site because his car could not get through a sea of some 5 million people.

One theme of the January 12-19 trip will be climate

change. During his stay in the Philippines he will visit Tacloban, where Typhoon Haiyan killed 6,300 people in 2013.

Sri Lanka is among the Asian countries experts say will see sea level rises likely to displace people and adversely affect tourism and fisheries.

The Vatican says Francis, who is preparing an encyclical on the environment, will speak about the issue several times.

While Pope John Paul made a number of trips to Asia visiting both countries in 1995 Francis’ immediate predecessor Benedict, who resigned in 2013, made none to a region the Vatican sees as a potential growth area.

“We have to recover the presence of a pope in this preponderant area of humanity,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said. Only about 3 percent of people in the region are Catholic.

“This continent in many ways represents a frontier for the Church,” said Father Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Italian Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica.

“Inter-religious dialogue is tested every day and young Churches there are growing”.

hunting for the girlfriend of one of the three gunmen who brought three days of terror to France, saying she may be “armed and dangerous”.

Hayat Boumeddiene, a suspect in the murder of a Paris policewoman on Thursday, is on the run after her partner Amedy Coulibaly was killed when armed officers brought his kosher supermarket siege to a violent end.

The 26-year-old could hold the key to the ongoing terror investigation, as police admit they could be dealing with a larger extremist cell and al Qaeda threaten more attacks.

Hayat Boumeddiene

Details are emerging of the young woman of Algerian descent and the links between

brothers, who were killed two days after murdering 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Boumeddiene and the wife of one of the brothers exchanged more than 500 phone calls in 2014, according to Paris prosecutor Francois Molins.

She reportedly started wearing a niqab in May 2009 after meeting Coulibaly and was sacked from her job as a cashier.

Later that year, they were married in a religious ceremony but were not wed under French law, which requires a civil ceremony.

➎Radical Cleric, Abu Hamza Jailed For Life By US Court

NEW YORK, U.S.A - Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza alMasri has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in New York for supporting terrorism.

He was convicted in May of multiple charges, including hostage-taking and plotting to set up a terrorism training camp in the US. His trial followed a lengthy extradition process from the UK.

During the sentencing, his lawyers asked the judge to take into account his missing hands and eye.

They also argued a plan to imprison Abu Hamza in Colorado’s Supermax federal prison would violate assurances the US made to judges in London to secure his 2012 extradition.

Prosecutors argued on Friday that the US government had never made such a promise to

the UK and life in prison was the only appropriate sentence.

Judge Katherine Forrest called Abu Hamza’s actions “barbaric” and “misguided” and said she was sentencing him to life because she could not think of a time when it would be safe to release him.

She added she would leave the decision where he would spend his imprisonment to federal prison officials.

FOREIGN FEATURE 67

Sunday, January 11, 2015

France’s Most-wanted Woman: Hayat Boumeddiene

A

crossbow in her hands and covered top-totoe in a black Islamic headwear and robe that leaves only her eyes visible -- that is the image now circulating of France’s most-wanted woman: Hayat Boumeddiene.

The 26-year-old is partner to Amedy Coulibaly, one of the three gunmen shot dead by police after three days of mayhem in France.

The photo, first published by Le Monde newspaper, contrasts with the one French police issued in its public appeal to locate her following Friday’s bloody drama, in which Coulibaly was killed by police commandos after he took hostages in a Jewish supermarket in Paris.

The mugshot provided by the police shows a sleepy-eyed young woman, her face and brown hair showing, whom they had questioned in 2010 about Coulibaly.

The police notice, however, warns that she is considered “armed and dangerous”.

She is suspected of being Coulibaly’s accomplice in the murder of a policewoman in southern Paris on Thursday, during a massive manhunt for

two brothers who a day earlier massacred 12 people at the offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

Police also suspect she might have had a hand in Coulibaly’s supermarket hostage-taking, though she was not identified among the dead or wounded.

Coulibaly was a 32-year-old longtime criminal who apparently became a radical Muslim during one of his frequent stints in prison.

He claimed in a brief phone call to French television station BFMTV midway through the supermarket siege that he belonged to the Islamic State jihadist group.

Coulibaly also said he had coordinated his hostage-taking with the other two gunmen, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, who claimed separately to BFMTV that they belonged to another fundamentalist group, Al-Qaeda in Yemen.

- ‘Married’ in 2009 Cherif Kouachi, a 32-yearold Frenchman of Algerian descent, was said to have pushed Coulibaly, also a French citizen, towards extreme Islam while the two were in prison together.

There was “constant and

Hayat

sustained” communication between Boumeddiene and the girlfriend of Cherif Kouachi, according to Paris’s chief prosecutor François Molins, who said “more than 500 calls” were made between the two women in 2014.

Investigators are now going through telephone records and wiretaps, and other material seized during searches, to determine the extent of the complicity and anyone else who might be connected to the gunmen.

But the focus right now is on Boumeddiene.

Coulibaly moved back in with her in May last year when he was released from his last period behind bars.

One of seven children to a mother who died when she was six, Boumeddiene was put into foster care with her young siblings because her father, a delivery man, was unable to take care of them.

She had a religious ceremony in 2009 to “marry” Coulibaly, though such unions are not recognised in France unless preceded by a civil ceremony conducted by local officials, and the couple lived in a modest apartment in the poor suburb south of Paris.

Le Parisien newspaper said she lost her job as a cashier because she insisted on wearing the topto-toe Islamic wear known as a niqab.

Boumeddiene accompanied Coulibaly several times to a forest in central southern France to fire a crossbow. Le Monde published several photos of the couple holding up the weapon, with Boumeddiene wearing her niqab.

The latest news about her say she has sneaked out of France into Turkey.

– Sourc: AFP

Escape From Boko Haram: ‘I Kept Stepping On Dead Bodies’ Yanaye Grema hid for three days between a wall and his neighbours’ house, as Boko Haram fighters ransacked his hometown of Baga on the shore of Lake Chad in Nigeria’s far northeast.

The 38-year-old fisherman already knew the attack was serious: he joined civilian vigilantes to defend the town but their simple weapons were no match for the Islamists’ superior firepower.

“People fled into the bush while some shut themselves indoors,” he said of last Saturday’s attack.

“The gunmen pursued fleeing residents into the bush, shooting them dead,” he told AFP from the Borno State capital, Maiduguri.

But it was only after breaking cover on Tuesday night that he realised the true scale of the attack, which it is feared may be one of the worst in the six-year insurgency.

“For five kilometres (three miles), I kept stepping on dead bodies until I reached Malam Karanti village, which was also deserted and burnt,” he said.

Local officials this week said the attack forced at least 20,000 people from Baga and other settlements in and around Lake Chad to flee, many of them across the border.

Nearly 600 others had been stranded on an island on the lake without food, water or shelter.

The attack wasn’t the first on Baga. Nearly 200 people were killed in April 2013, when militants stormed the town and set much of it on fire, prompting fierce fighting with the Nigerian military.

This time, the Islamists met less resistance and were able to take over the town and overrun the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which is based there.

At least 16 towns and villages in the area were razed.

Security analysts believe the targets of last weekend’s attack were the civilian vigilantes helping the military in the counterinsurgency.

Hiding from view between the wall and the house, behind a roadside stall and the cover of a thick neem tree, Grema said the rampaging Islamists unleashed mayhem.

“All I could hear were ceaseless gunshots, explosions, screams from people and chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is the greatest) from the Boko Haram gunmen,” he added.

“I remained in my hiding place until Tuesday evening.

“Every night when it was dark, I would furtively scale the fence into my house to quickly eat garri (processed cassava granules) and drink water and go back to my hideout.”

His family was not at home. They were in Kukawa, 40 kilometres (25 miles) away, paying their respects after Boko Haram killed his wife’s cousin about two months ago.

“Some of the Boko Haram gunmen camped outside the Baga main market just 700 metres from my hideout,” he explained.

“At night I could see lights from the power generator they ran. I could also hear their cheering and laughter.

“Luckily on Monday some of the gunmen withdrew while others stayed in the town. This reduced their number, which made it difficult for them to patrol the whole town. It worked to my advantage.

“On Tuesday they began looting the market and every home in the town... Around 6pm (1700 GMT) they set fire to the market and began burning homes. I decided it was time I leave before they turn in my direction.

“Around 7:30pm I ventured out of my hiding and started to walk away from the noise coming from the gunmen. It was dark, so no-one could see me.”

Nomad herdsman In the bush, Grema chanced upon an old man at a nomadic Fulani herdsmen’s settlement, who advised him to move west to avoid running into the militants.

“His warning frightened me but made me more determined to get away. I thanked him and moved on,” he said.

“I quickened my pace. I soon caught up with... four women. One of them was carrying a baby on her back.

“They told me they were among hundreds of women that were arrested by Boko Haram and detained in the home of the district head which Boko Haram had converted into a women’s detention centre.”

Three of the women had been separated from their children, he added.

Grema said he pushed out on his own, as the women were “too slow”, running and walking throughout the night, before arriving at Kekeno village near Monguno, 65km away, the following morning.

On Thursday, he took a bus from Monguno to Maiduguri.

“I will never forget this experience and I will forever be grateful to the old Fulani nomad for his life-saving advice,” he added.

Culled from AFP

68 sports

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

YSFON Reinstates Mudashir As FCT Chairman

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) has endorsed the reinstatement of Alhaji Abdulrahaman-Olusi Mudashir as chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of YSFON. The body in a letter dated December 11, 2014 to the secretary of FCT chapter of YSFON, Mr Felix Okoli and signed by the national secretary of YSFON, Patrick Okpavuerhe said that, “Following the recommenda-

tion of the executive committee of FCT Chapter of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and national president approval, I wish to inform you of reinstatement Abdulrahaman-Olusi Mudashir as the chairman of the FCT chapter with immediate effect.”

YSFON in the letter, thanked Mudashir immense his contribution to the development of sports at the grassroots.

Meanwhile, Mudashir who was the pioneer YSFON chairman in FCT, has reiterated his

Mudashir

commitment to reinvigorate YSFCON in the FCT and assured that his administration will run an open-door policy for the development of sports at the grassroots.

NPFL: NFF To Inaugurate LMC Board Ahead Of New Season

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said that the new board of the League Management Company (LMC) will be inaugurated before the commencement of the 2015 Nigeria Professional Football League

(NPFL) season in March.

Speaking at the end of the NFF Executive Committee meeting in Lagos on Thursday, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande clarified that there is no affirmation or ratification yet on who are the members of

the new LMC Board.

“In line with the decision of the Congress at the General Assembly held in Lagos on November 23, 2014, the Selection Committee has met and come up with a list.

“However, it is important to make it clear that the list has not

been ratified. We will finalise on the list very soon and I can assure, on behalf of the NFF Executive Committee, that the Board of League Management Company will be inaugurated before the commencement of the new season, which has been set for March 7.”

Pinnick

Siasia Eyes Turkey For Training Tour Nigeria’s U-23 coach Samson Siasia who returned to the country on Friday from his vacation in the United States of America has requested for a training tour of Turkey.

The coach was expected to hit town on Tuesday but couldn’t make it as a result of flight hitches due to poor weather conditions.

Siasia had submitted his programmes to the Nigeria Football Federation and strongly requested for a training tour possibly in Turkey where he can concentrate fully and work on the players he had already picked for the All African Games qualifying match against Gabon in February.

“We need to camp in a place where the team will not be distracted and will be able to face our programmes fully without any hindrances and hitches.

I will really appreciate if the NFF can make it possible for us to camp in Turkey where I hope to put out training in full gear without distractions,” he said.

“This will also make it possible for the invited foreign-based players to join us without experiencing Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team’s second goal the rigours of having to travel down to Abuja. But everything depends on the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation,” Siasia disclosed.

Siasia later said that he would resume camping this Sunday since time is not on the team’s side.

Chelsea went two points clear at the top Oscar, and his brilliant touch put Costa Fabio Borini’s through ball deflected of the Premier League by beating New- in space and the striker fired home his into his path. Sunderland - booed off at castle 2-0, with title rivals Manchester 15th of the season. half-time after failing to muster a shot City held to a 1-1 draw at Everton.

Manchester City had most of the pos- on goal - were reduced to 10 men on 49 Elsewhere, Liverpool beat Sunderland session at Goodison Park, but it took minutes when Liam Bridcutt picked up 1-0 and Andy Carroll scored a goal-of- them 74 minutes to make the break- a second yellow card.

There was no doubt about the goal of the-season contender in West Ham’s 1-1 through. David Silva’s deflected shot draw at Swansea. At the bottom Burnley lobbed up for Fernandinho whose head- the afternoon in the top flight. Andy beat QPR 2-1 in a relegation six-pointer, er had just enough power to beat Sea- Carroll scored with an absolutely stunLeicester kept pace with them by beat- mus Coleman’s despairing lunge on the ning strike in West Ham’s 1-1 draw at Swansea, The striker chested the ball ing Aston Villa 1-0, and West Brom beat line.

Hull City by the same score.

But the lead lasted just four minutes, down, muscled his way past a couple of Oscar and Diego Costa scored the Steven Naismith nodding in from Leigh- white shirts and unleashed a left-foot goals at Stamford Bridge. United had ton Baines’ fizzing free-kick. screamer into the top corner. The Swans been the better team until Chelsea Yesterday’s early game at the Stadi- levelled on 70 - Bafetimbi Gomis’ headscored the opener on 43. Willian found um of Light, Lazar Markovic scored his er from a corner hit the post, then the Branislav Ivanovic with a short corner, first Premier League goal as Liverpool luckless Mark Noble, and went it. and the defender’s cut-back was tapped claimed a deserved 1-0 victory over 10There were some crucial games in the in by the Brazilian at the far post. man Sunderland. bottom half of the table too and BurnCosta scored the second on 59 after The Serbia international fired home ley won arguably the most important of a superb team move. Cesc Fabregas fed from close range on nine minutes when them by beating QPR 2-1.

Siasia

EPL: Chelsea Move 2 Points Clear As Man City Held

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Flying Eagles Coach Demands More Nigeria’s Flying Eagles assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade has said he expects more from his team despite a 5-0 demolition of NYSC FC on Friday in Kaduna.

“We can do a lot better than this,” said Ugbade, who stood in for the absent Manu Garba.

“We created 13 chances but converted only two in the second half when we should have finished off most of them. We have

to improve on our finishing and also our tactical awareness.”

It was an even affair for most of this test game, but the Nigeria youth team were more purposeful against a side, who fell 5-2 to the country’s ‘B’ team last week.

Flying Eagles led 3-0 by half time courtesy of a brace by Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Bernard Bulbwa.

Sweden-based striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Sun-

shine Stars Prince Aggrey completed the rout with goals in the second half.

Man of the match Ifeanyi Ifeanyi from Nigeria National League side MFM FC Lagos put the Junior Eagles in front in the 21st minute from a free kick.

He doubled the lead from the penalty spot after a goal-bound Awoniyi was fouled on his way to goal in the 28th minute.

Ifeanyi Ifeanyi provid-

West Brom To Offload Ideye

Brown Ideye of West Bromwich moves away from Jake Wright during the Capital One Cup

Reports have emerged that English club, West Bromwich Albion, are ready to part ways with their record signing, Brown Ideye.

The West Midlands club are prepared to listen to offers for the Nigerian striker in the ongoing

transfer window following a disappointing start to his time in England.

West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, is reportedly hoping to overhaul his playing personnel with Ideye among the players facing the exit door at The Hawthorns.

However reports in England now suggest that West Brom could farm out Ideye on loan at first and then allow the Nigerian to leave the West Midlands club on a permanent deal.

Pulis is now said to be looking to prise away English striker, Peter Crouch from Stoke City as replacement for Ideye should he leave West Brom.

Former West Brom manager, Alan Irvine, signed Ideye in the summer for a club record fee of £10 million from Dynamo Kiev.

Already, Ideye has been linked with Hull City, Newcastle and Sunderland.

Ideye has managed just one goal in 10 Premier League matches since joining West Brom last year.

ed the assist for the Flying Eagles third goal in the 44th when his chip was finished off superbly by Bulbwa.

In the 53rd minute, Awoniyi cashed in on a defensive mix-up in the NYSC defence to make it 4-0.

NYSC failed to convert a penalty in the 67th minute after a Flying Eagles defender pushed an opponent inside the vital area.

NFF Clears Eduok For Super Eagles The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered for the return of Dolphins’ striker, Emem Eduok to the Super Eagles after the investigation conducted on the transfer dealings of the young forward cleared him of any blame, the Football House has announced.

This was among important decision-taken by the NFF at the end of its executive committee meeting held in Lagos.

NFF Boss, Amaju Pinnick had earlier asked the former U-20 international to vacate the Eagles camp but the decision was overturned after the Chairman, NFF Technical and Development Committee Felix Anyansi Agwu’s investigation cleared the player of any wrong-

World Cup: ‘Oshoala’s Achievement Will Boost Falcons’ Nigeria women national team defender, Onome Ebi is confident that Asisat Oshoala’s success will propel the Super Falcons towards a brilliant outing at the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Oshoala, was named Africa’s best following her incredible exploits for country and club side during the Glo/Caf award gala held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre in Lagos on Thursday.

The Minsk of Belarus defender, whose side won the Belarusian Women League and Super Cup title last season said she knew Oshoala would win following her sensational exploits last year.

“I’m very happy and very delighted. I knew she

was going to win. I believe in her,” Ebi told Goal.

“Everybody believes in what she is doing. We only waited for them to announce it since we knew she was going to take it.

We thank God for everything.

“This is going to motivate our players. It is going to boost their moral to go further and do more.

We know if we can be African champions and also produce the best player in Africa, we can do well at the World Cup.” Ebi, who was part of the 2014 African Women Championship team said early preparation and quality friendly matches will boost the Super Falcons’ successful outing in Canada.

“I think we deserve more. I believe going to the World Cup, we are going to surprise many people,” she said.

“I just want to urge the NFF not to look down on our preparations; they should come out with clear programmes. We don’t just want to go the World Cup as mere participants but want to come back home with something.

“I think with the availability of international friendly games in Africa and outside the continent.

We even have qualifiers in March and other tournaments ahead too.

“So we just need early preparation, camping and hope we resume camp anytime soon.”

Manu

Oshoala

Eduok

doings.

The NFF nonetheless referred the case to the Committee on Ethics and Fair play for prompt and decisive action but pending the outcome of that committee’s deliberation, the Football House lifted the blanket ban on the player for any of the national teams asking him

to return to camp immediately.

The country’s football ruling body also made other important decisions bothering on the report of the majority of the members of the NFF 2014 electoral Appeals which upheld the elections of September 30, 2014 among others.

70 sports

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Bale, James Get Madrid Back On Track

Bale

Gareth Bale and James Rodridguez both scored to help Real Madrid arrest a worrying dip in form as they dispatched Espanyol 3-0 yesterday.

Karim Benzema struck the post on 10 minutes but the home side didn’t have to wait long for an opener, as James converted Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass.

The Ballon d’Or nominee then watched on as Bale doubled Real’s lead with a fine free-kick in the 28th minute.

But when Coentrao received a red card following a nasty collision with Jose Canas shortly after halftime, Madrid were forced into an enforced reshuffle.

Thankfully for Car-

lo Ancelotti’s men, Espanyol struggled to make the most of their advantage and substitute Nacho Fernandez, added a third to move the leaders four points clear of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who meet on Sunday.

Espanyol started the contest brightly and created two chances inside the first three minutes, Felipe Caicedo scuffing wide after a clever run and Sergio Garcia firing straight at Iker Casillas from 20 yards.

Madrid soon clicked into gear, though, and Benzema went extremely close in the 10th minute, striking the post with a fierce half-volley.

The goal frame failed to

save Espanyol a few moments later as the home side took a deserved lead through James, who steered home after receiving Ronaldo’s well-placed cut-back.

The Champions League winners continued to dominate after taking the lead and, although Raphael Varane headed a presentable chance wide in the 16th minute, a second goal soon arrived.

Bale stepped up ahead of usual free-kick taker Ronaldo just before the halfhour mark and sent an unstoppable effort in off the right-hand post from 30 yards, leaving goalkeeper Kiko Casilla helpless.

Madrid were not given an ideal start to the second half as Coentrao was controversially dismissed after Canas and the Portugal international had crashed into each other with 53 minutes on the clock.

However, the sending off had little impact and Ronaldo almost netted his side’s third shortly after, shooting narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner from the edge of the area.

The capital club did wrap things up eventually, as Nacho - introduced in response to Coentrao’s red card - slammed a halfvolley past Casilla following Alvaro Arbeloa’s dinked cross 14 minutes from time.

Victory sees Madrid provide the response Ancelotti had demanded following the defeats to Valencia and Atletico, while also putting the pressure back on Barca ahead of their showdown with the La Liga champions on Sunday.

Maikaba

Wikki Tourists To Unveil Maikaba As New Coach Bauchi side Wikki Tourists have picked the former Enyimba coach as the manager to lead their premier league chase and they will present him to the players and management on Saturday Wikki Tourists are set to unveil former Kano Pillars’ coach, Abdul Maikaba as Technical Adviser for the next season in place of erstwhile manager Tunde Abdulrahman whose contract was not renewed.

The Bauchi team got demoted to the lower league two seasons ago but they approached Abdulrahman who was reputed for

leading clubs from relegation back to the top flight and he did what his terms of reference indicated by ensuring that Wikki Tourists returned to the premier league at the end of last season ahead of other clubs in the Nigeria National League A. Despite the feat recorded by Abdulrahman, the club asked the coach to go after the expiration of his contract and that he could reapply if he so desired.

Over six coaches came for the interview and Wikki Tourists settled for Maikaba who has also worked with Enyim-

James Rodriguez of Real Madrid celebrates with Pepe after scoring Real’s opening goal

Nwofor Shines In Lierse Win Nigeria international striker Uche Nwofor scored for Belgian club SK Lierse in their 3-0 friendly win over Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar yesterday.

Nwofor’s effort in the 39th minute was sandwiched in between goals

by Ramy Bensebaini and Wamberto as De Pallieters cantered to a straightforward victory.

The 23-year-old rose to meet a sumptuous Hernan Losada cross from the left after shrugging off close attention from AZ’s Jan Wuytens.

His thumping header left the AZ goalkeeper, Esteban Alvarado, with little chance as Lierse went 2-0 up. Nwofor has scored just once in eight league games this season.

His less-than-productive

ba and Sharks before.

The Media officer of Wikki, Usman Abbas Gunguru told Goal that the new Technical Adviser would be unveiled to the players and the management on Saturday as the club begin build up to life in the premier league.

“We have settled for Maikaba out of the lot that came for interview.

We will unveil him on Saturday to all that matter in the club. We are expecting a good show in the premier league and we don’t want to leave any stone unturned. We are hoping for the best,” Gunguru told Goal.

Cilic Opts Out Of Australian Open

Nwofor

form in front of goal has not helped Lierse’s cause in the Pro League this season as they currently prop up the rear in the standings with 14 points from 21 matches.

Nwofor will be hoping things improve in the second half of the season with Lierse facing Anderlecht on January 18 in their next league game.

US Open champion Marin Cilic has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.

The world No 9 has battled the injury for more than a month and sat out the recent Brisbane International in an attempt to regain his fitness.

The Croatian said his shoulder is steadily improving but not fast enough to enable him to be fit for the first Grand Slam of 2015, which starts on January 19 in

Melbourne.

“I am really disappointed to announce that I had to withdraw from the Australian Open with the right shoulder injury which has hampered me for some time now,” Cilic said.

“It’s improving day by day but I still do not feel fit enough to compete at the highest level.

“I am really sad that I won’t be able to participate in Melbourne, especially after winning the last Grand Slam in New York, but I was advised by

doctors to be careful as much as possible to avoid even more serious problems.

“I have received lots of support letters from my fans worldwide lately and I am grateful for your support and best wishes.

“I was really looking forward to be back on court in Australia and now I hope we will meet very soon in Zagreb.”

Cilic’s withdrawal follows that of France’s JoWilfried Tsonga, who pulled out with an arm injury.

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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Tiger Woods Returns To Action In Phoenix Tiger Woods has confirmed he will make his first start of 2015 a week earlier than expected at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The 39-year-old will tee up at TPC Scottsdale at the end of this month in the best-attended tournament on the PGA Tour schedule, with around 500,000 spectators likely to pass through the gates over the week.

Woods has not played the event since 2001 as he usually takes January off before heading to his beloved Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open, where he is a seven-time champion.

But after missing most of

Tiger Woods

the 2014 campaign due to a back problem that required surgery, Woods had hinted that he would alter his earlyseason schedule in a bid to be as “tournament-sharp” as possible ahead of the Masters in April.

“It will be great to return to Phoenix,” said Woods, who made only seven starts on the PGA Tour last season and finished last of the 18man field in his Hero World Challenge in Florida last month.

Tiger Woods is 14/1 to win on his return to action in the Phoenix Open. Bet now “The crowds are amazing

and always enthusiastic, and the 16th hole is pretty unique in golf. Torrey is a very important place to me.

My pop took me there when I was younger, and I have a lot of special memories of watching the Tour play there when I was growing up.

“Starting my year off at Phoenix and Torrey in backto-back weeks, I’m ready to go. Should be a lot of fun.”

Woods made an instant impression on the Phoenix Open on his debut in 1997, when he sent the galleries wild with a hole-in-one at the short 16th - one of the most raucous holes in the golfing world.

NBA: Portland Ease Past Miami LaMarcus Aldridge starred for Portland Trail Blazers in a lively win over Miami Heat to keep the pressure on the NBA leaders.

Aldridge had 24 points and 12 rebounds, including 10 points in the third, when the Blazers outscored the Heat 33-16 to take control of the game before easing to a 99-83 victory on Thursday.

Wesley Matthews also had 18 points which helped

to steer Portland clear of Oklahoma by 11 games in the Northwest Division and closed within 1-1/2 games of league leader Golden State.

Charlotte’s Gerald Henderson scored a season-high 31 points and Kemba Walker added 29 to lead the Hornets past Toronto 103-95 to secure their fourth straight win.

New York’s 120-96 home defeat by Houston stretched

the Knicks’ losing streak to 14; their worst ever within a single season.

The Rockets beat New York for the 11th successive time and handed the Knicks their 24th loss in 25 games.

James Harden had 25 points and nine assists in just three quarters, with the Rockets already up by 24 points at the last break, with Trevor Ariza adding 18 points.

Kenyan athletics

Kenyan Chiefs Tighten Rules To Curb Doping Kenyan athletics chiefs have put in place strict rules to cut cases of doping including unannounced tests on elite athletes.

Athletics Kenya (AK) said the move was in line with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and World Anti-Doping Agency rules.

All coaches, agents and sub-agents must be registered with AK, the body’s chairman Isaiah Kiplagat

LaMarcus

told reporters.

Any agent with more than two athletes who will fail doping test will be banned immediately,” Kiplagat said.

Dozens of Kenyan athletes have failed dope test in the past two years.

Rita Jeptoo, winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons for the last two years, tested positive in December for a banned substance in a B sample taken after she failed an out-of-competition check

in September.

Government officials have blamed the rising number of cases on foreign agents. AK has also been accused of not doing enough to educate its athletes properly.

Kiplagat said all racing events will have to be licensed by AK with the key requirement being mandatory testing of runners.

“Athletes will only be paid their monies once doping results are out,” he said.

Aguero’s Return Eases Man City Boss’ Frustration Manuel Pellegrini was disappointed with his Manchester City side’s failure to beat Everton on Saturday but the sight of Sergio Aguero back in action after a knee injury eased his frustration.

Argentine Aguero, out since injuring his knee against Everton

early in December, came on for Stevan Jovetic after 66 minutes of the 1-1 draw and while he could not fashion a winner his return augurs well for the Premier League champions.

“Sergio is a very important player for our team. He only played the

last 25 minutes but now he has the whole week to continue working and to return to his normal performance,” Pellegrini told reporters as City slipped two points behind leaders Chelsea.

Not that City have struggled in the absence of 14-goal Aguero, with

Pellegrini’s side enjoying a barnstorming run that had brought eight wins from nine league games.

City have been ruthless in recent weeks as they hunted down Chelsea but, against Everton, with midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure missing due to African Nations Cup duty,

they failed to finish off opponents lacking in confidence.

Even when Fernandinho put them ahead after 74 minutes from David Silva’s cross-shot, they could not hold on for the three points that would have kept them neck and neck with Chelsea.

AMUSEMENT PARK

money Can’T buy you happineSS, buT iT doeS bring you a more pleaSanT form of miSery — Spike Milligan

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

11.01.15 No. 465 N300

Aniebo Nwamu

The Sunday Column

T

The president’s weakest point has been lack of courage in reining in men and women of impunity who surround him and give his government all kinds of negative image

aniebo@leadership.ng

he last two weeks have witnessed a lot of media buzz over who gets appointed or re-appointed as the director-general of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the regulatory body for the capital market.

The tenure of Ms Arunma Oteh, who held sway as DG, expired on January 6 after she exhausted her statutory five years. All manner of stakeholders have since thrown their hat in the ring, pitting themselves over whether Oteh should be re-appointed or not.

But this controversy need not have arisen since Oteh has since been engaged in subtle publicity stunts, sponsorship and collection of frivolous awards from one place and another to sway opinion to her favour and force the hands of the president to retain her. It is the failure of our president and the minister of finance to act decisively in the interest of the country and the capital market that has led to this controversy in which the ordinary person is being unnecessarily confused with vague statistics and woolly logic.

From what I have gathered, this Oteh saga has become one of the test cases for the patriotism and commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan who is presently on the campaign trail and promising to redeem this country and the national economy from mismanagement and make-believe.

The president’s weakest point has been lack of courage in reining in men and women of impunity who surround him and give his government all kinds of negative image.

So, for the SEC’s Oteh, is it to be or not to be?

Since Oteh took over at SEC in 2010, it has been one controversy after the other. She entertained us on live TV three years ago when she revealed that Hon. Iorwase Herman Hembe, chairman of the House committee set up to investigate SEC’s activities, was against her because she did not approve his request for N44million for the smooth conduct of the investigations. Hembe had accused her of spending N850, 000 on food

Oteh: To Be Or Not To Be?

in one day and N30million on hotel accommodation. Another twist emerged, however, when the executive commissioners of SEC, who had been invited by the House panel to testify, were unanimous in condemning Oteh’s activities.

Though many of us heard how Oteh ran SEC for the first time from those executive commissioners, tales about her alleged arrogance thereafter have filled my own ears: She did not let those commissioners or those that succeeded them have access to her except by phone. She sacked staff on phone from the various countries of the world that she frequently junketed to. I was also told that she did not take directives from her supervising minister. Needless to add, few staff members of SEC had a good working relationship with Oteh.

It is little wonder that the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), FCT chapter, warned, in a letter dated Jan. 7 and addressed to minister of finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that Oteh should never be considered for reappointment unless the federal government wanted to enthrone a regime of industrial disharmony at SEC. In fact, both chambers of the National Assembly have since suspended any dealings with the SEC due to their disagreement with Oteh.

It is true that the stock market meltdown of 2008 was reversed before the current bear run plaguing the stock market started again.

But it is not true, as Oteh claimed, that she made this possible because government created the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to clean up the financial markets by buying up the debt overhang consisting of eligible bank assets and non-performing loans worth N2.8trillion ($18billion) which beclouded the market.

Margin loans in the capital market make up 22 per cent of these debts.

While other capital market bodies like The Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Investments and Securities Tribunal worked, Oteh did not cooperate with them. She

0805 410 0220 (sms only)

would trample on institutional processes and abandon the primary functions of the SEC such as attending to investors’ complaints.

She allegedly side-lined key staff with experience from doing their jobs in preference to contract staff and personal aides. She talks about institutionalizing corporate governance in public companies but, at SEC, she would have none of it.

SEC staff claim that the head of their internal control or audit is a contract staff.

As I write this, the equities market is losing millions. Within four days of the market’s opening last week, investors lost N1.4trillion.

The bears have continued their rampage mainly on banks’ shares.

Nobody is investing because many equities are not expected to yield profits, just as the political situation of the country does not give optimism.

Who should take the blame for the continued stock market crash?

Whenever I ask that question, the “experts” tell me there is a global meltdown. But if the situation in the market had been rosy, who would take the credit?

In fairness to Oteh, the stock market crash of 2008/9 happened before she assumed office in January 2010. In five years of her stewardship, however, I have not seen any initiative or proactive programme she created to create awareness about the capital markets in the 774 local government areas of the country. A new minimum capital requirement has been imposed on stockbroking firms, but I don’t see that succeeding because, rather than merge, stockbroking firms ought to be doubled so they could be found in every nook and canny to widen local participation and deepen investment base.

Experts say that rather than work to correct the dominance of foreign portfolio investors who own more than 50 per cent of the market, the out-going DG was globe-trotting and parading herself as the president of the Africa Middle East Regional Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOS-

CO), a position considered honorary and rotatory. Awards have been coming from different directions.

Articles parading her credentials or praising her efforts at SEC have filled the newspapers.

Even though she is my sister, I have cause to take a different direction. No matter the achievements ascribed to her, I consider her first tenure a disaster. And there is no better evidence to prove this than the state of the stock market today.

Yes, the bad situation preceded her, but that was why she was hired – to stabilise the market through good regulatory policies. It is the same argument I have against President Jonathan’s government. The best indicator of a government’s performance is the wellbeing of the people; anything else is dogon turenchi.

Names being bandied as likely successor to Oteh include the wife of the attorney-general of the federation who was recently appointed executive commissioner at SEC. Nigeria being Nigeria, Oteh may get five more years. After all, appointment to government offices hardly depends on competence or performance. Donating to presidential campaigners like TAN or hobnobbing with friends in high places could fetch a job faster. My advice to the powers that be is this: Please, give my sister a job but not in SEC again.

GHANA MUST GO Obasanjo won’t be sanctioned for anti-Jonathan comments — PDP

Is he still in PDP?

• LEADERSHIP (ISSN 0331-328X) is published in Abuja by LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Off Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Utako District, Abuja P. O. Box 9514, Garki II, Abuja. Lagos Office: 34/36 Adegbola Street, Anifowose, Off Oba Akran, Ikeja. E-mail: info@leadership.ng, advert@leadership.ng, newsroom@leadership.ng