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Buhari sacks North plotting to JAMB boss, 16 Islamise N’Delta others, appoints – Militant group YEARS OF replacements JOURNALISM ÏÏÏA militant group, Niger Delta ÏÏÏPresident

Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sacked 17 Chief Executives of parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education including the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Consequently, he has approved the appointment of replacements

Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC), on Monday, alleged that there was an Islamic agenda by northerners to conquer and enslave the people of Niger Delta because of their oil.

The group in a statement by its spokesperson, W O I Izon-Ebi, said: “Their first step is to use few of

Continued on page 6

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 164

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L-R: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman, during a courtesy visit to Ugwuanyi in Government House, Enugu… on Monday.

NSE QUICK BITE

GAINERS AS AT 1st August, 2016 TOTAL

200.09

18.59

10.24%

AIRSERVICE

1.86

0.16

9.41%

LOSERS OANDO

5.07

-0.53

-9.46%

TRANSCORP

1.19

-0.12

-9.16%

Nigeria regains ownership of Ɖ ƊƑƐ dƐƆƆƋ complex gB1

NAF fighter ƉƆƐ ƐƏƈƊƆ Arepo, environs g6

Boko Haram: Buhari not diverting funds to fight opponents – Presidency g12

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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Editorial Pneumonia and Nigeria’s children

R

ecently, the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Agency (BSPHA), Adamu Ibrahim Gamawa, disclosed that more than 177,000 Nigeria children under five years die from pneumonia and other diseases every year. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Bauchi, Gamawa said investigation shows that Nigeria is among 10 countries whose children not more than five years old are at a great risk of dying from Pneumonococcal diseases. Buttressing this scary statistics is the fact that Nigeria has the second highest burden of childhood mortality from pneumonia, after India.

It is estimated that pneumonia causes 17 per cent (127,000) of child deaths annually in Nigeria. From the year 2000 to 2013, the number of under-five children dying annually from pneumonia has remained practically unchanged. In contrast, child deaths from malaria and measles declined by 34 per cent and 97 per cent respectively. Severe pneumonia in childhood is associated with increased long-term respiratory morbidity and disease burden and is more fatal than non-severe disease. Furthermore, it is estimated that 56 million episodes of lung infections occur among Nigerian children every year.

According to health experts, pneumonia is the inflammation of lung parenchyma due to pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. It is also a condition typically associated with fever and other respiratory symptoms.

There is no denying the fact that pneumonia is an economic burden for families and communities, contributing to the cycle of poverty.

Incidentally, many pneumonia-causing pathogens, particularly those found in hospital settings, are resistant to all but the strongest forms of antibiotics. Understanding the epidemiology of pneumonia has been identified as a pressing priority for public health research. However, medical authorities insist that immunisation

with Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) remains a safe and effective means of protecting children against pneumonia diseases.

In Nigeria, the fight against the disease has met with varying degrees of success. For example, the Federal Government in 2012 launched the Saving One Million Lives Initiative (SOML), aimed at increasing access to proven interventions across six maternal newborn and child health programme areas. The core strategy is to employ performance management to drive accountability and action to reach specific targets on coverage of interventions and number of lives saved.

While we applaud the continuing initiatives by both the Federal and state governments at combating this child killer disease, it is imperative that they come up with effective case management strategies to ensure that children receive the right treatment for pneumonia quickly. Moreover, there should be concerted sensitisation of Nigerians, especially the low-income groups on the need to adopt improved hygienic lifestyles and increase vaccine intake for their children.

In addition, women must be encouraged and supported to feed their children only breast milk for the first six months of life and give appropriate complementary feeding when they are older. The good news is that that pneumonia is preventable. A crucial part of the solution is to recognise the danger and take adequate preventive measures. By focusing on children in the poorest households, many more lives can be saved.

It is also important to increase family awareness of the dangers of pneumonia and the critical importance of seeking care quickly and exploring new models of service delivery that better integrate pneumonia diagnosis treatment with the delivery of vaccines. Until this happens, pneumonia will remain Nigeria’s biggest and most silent killer of infants and little children.

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John F. Kennedy

Obafemi Awolowo

Muhammad Ali

“Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan”.

“Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask!

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

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5 News

Ajikobi chieftancy tussle: Court rules in favour of Nageri lineage Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏAn Ilorin High Court has

affirmed that the descendants of the late Aliyu Usman of Ajikobi compound, Ilorin, are entitled to all rights, privileges and entitlements including the right to aspire or be nominated the Daudu Ipaye and Balogun Ajikobi whenever the stools become vacant.

Balogun Ajikobi is one of the four high chiefs of Ilorin Emirate.

Justice I.B Garba gave the ruling in a suit instituted by Mallam Garba Nageri Ajikobi and Mallam Alfanla Ajikobi on behalf of Aliyu lineage and Balogun Ajikobi of Ilorin against Alhaji Issa Jimoh Ajikobi.

Justice Garba ruled that the defendant cannot exclude or refuse to consider or forward the names of the descendants of the late Aliyu Usman, one of the children of the first Balogun Ajikobi in the nomination process of any vacant stool of District Head of Ipaye or Balogun

Ajikobi of Ilorin to the Emir of Ilorin whenever the said stool is vacant.

In the judgment dated July 28, 2016, Justice Garba held that: “I agree with the claimants that the defendant cannot resile from that position which represents the truth that the claimants’ Aliyu lineage forms part of Balogun Ajikobi dynasty. To say anything to the contrary will amount to an afterthought meant only to cover the true position as it were.

Budget padding: Your allegations baseless, Jagaba tells Jibril Mathew Dadiya Abuja

ÏÏÏ Ahmed

Attempted abduction: LASU explains suspension of 3 students Esther Taiwo

ÏÏÏFollowing

the suspension of three students for allegedly attempting to kidnap the President of the Students Union Government, management of the Lagos State University (LASU) has given more insight into what led to the suspension of the accused students.

Addressing some journalists on Monday at the Lagos State University main campus, Ojo, Dean Students Affairs, Dr. Oluwafunmi Obayori said contrary to the report by one of the suspended students on social media, Oladayo Mojeed, a 500 level student of the School of Transport, who accused the management’s decision as one sided, the Dean said his claim was not correct.

According to the Dean, the claim by the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU) President, ‘Tayo Sekoni that the trio attempted to abduct him on Thursday July 28, 2016 has been firmly established by the University management as one of the accused Adebanjo Fatai, a 500 level student of the Faculty of Law confirmed he actually threatened to assault the President anytime he is opportune to have encoun-

ter with him.

“After the report came to us from Tayo Sekoni that they made attempt to abduct him, because he once had encounter with Adebanjo during their journey to Gombe State for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) convention, where it was later learnt that there was a scuffle between them. Sekoni alleged that Adebanjo has since been threatening his life and I called Adebanjo to my office to ask his own side of the story, right in front of me, he repeated that he would beat Sekoni to coma if he lays hands on him”, he said.

The Dean disclosed further that after the attempted abduction, he still summoned Adebanjo Fatai and his cohorts, Oladayo Mojeed and a fresh graduate of the University, Fola Kosoko on the same matter and asked them to explain in writing their own side of the story, but they never replied until police waded into the matter.

He called on the public to dismiss claims by the suspended students that LASU management has taken side with the SUG President, as he added that police is already investigating the matter but the decision to suspend them was based on their past records

The embattled former House Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Hon. Jibril Abdulmumini has been told to face his ordeal alone and stop dragging other members of the House into his mess as his alleged petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will not save him from being prosecuted.

A member of the House of the Representatives, representing Kagarko/Kachia Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, who was reacting to a statement credited to the embattled lawmaker, that he submitted his name among other lawmakers to the EFCC for investigation, said Abdulmumini has no moral justification to call for his investigation.

Hon. Jagaba who is the House committee Chairman on Interior, said he has nothing to fear on corruption issue because he has been living a modest life.

According to him, Abdulmumini, who lives in a posh personal apartment at the highbrow Maitama District, drives very expensive automobiles that include Land cruisers, Range Rovers and moves around with a very long convoy of expensive cars with a host of security guards armed to the teeth. “My attention has been drawn to a publication in the Leadership Newspaper of Sunday, July 31, 2016 in which the former Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibril Abdulmumini listed my name among the Honourable Members he has petitioned the EFCC and other Anti-Corruption Agencies to investigate for living above their means.

“Ordinarily, I would have ignored the said publication, but I am compelled to respond for posterity sake. Without sounding immodest, my anti-corruption crusade dates back to my first term between 1999 and 2003, when I exposed the plot of the Presidency which attempted to

bribe Honourable Members for the purposes of effecting a leadership change in the House of Representatives.

“As Chairman, House Committee on Anti-Corruption then, I exhibited the money meant for that plot on the floor of the House at plenary. Again, in 2012, during the scandal that was referred to as “FAROUKGATE”, my name was mentioned. However, after thorough investigation by the Police and other relevant agencies, I was exonerated and given a clean bill of health,” Jagaba stated.

He continued further, “It amazes me therefore, for Hon. Abdulmumini to petition the EFCC to investigate me for living above my means without giving any proof. As a third term member of the House of Representatives, I live in a rented three bed room apartment that has no Boys Quarters. Amongst the cars I drive, the most expensive one is a RAV4 2.2 Horse Power. I do not move around with a convoy of expensive cars.

Niger Gov sacks SSG, appoints new one Saka Bolaji Minna A new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mallam Ibrahim Isah Ladan, was on Monday appointed by the Niger state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.

The new Secretary to the State Government, who replaced Alhaji Shehu Umar Danyaya from Kontagora Local Government Area was an APC chieftain in

Borgu Local Ggovernment.

In a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa said that the new SSG has since been inaugurated and resumed office immediately in Minna.

Before his appointment, he was a Director in the Federal Character Commission in Abuja and one time Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area in Niger state.

Consequently, there was no reason given for the relief of Alhaji Danyaya from office, however, the governor thanked him for the services rendered and wished him well in his future endeavor.

It was gathered that the immediate past SSG was imposed on the governor by a very close relation who was rejected by the people from the zone C while the zone B where the SSG supposed to come from earlier agitated over his appointment.

News 7

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Budget padding: Jibrin petitions ICPC, EFCC, others Lateef Ibrahim, Andrew Orolua & Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

embattled former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Jubrin Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Monday, stormed the headquarters of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja where he submitted petition seeking the investigation of his allegation of padding the 2016 Budget by the leadership of the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

This is even as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday declared that the contro-

versy surrounding the allegation of padding of the 2016 budget in the House of Representatives has put the integrity of the budget to question.

Meanwhile, a member of the House of the Representatives, representing Kagarko/Kachia Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, has described Jibrin’s allegation of padding of the 2016 Budget as baseless, saying Jibrin has no moral justification to call for his (Jagaba) investigation.

Rep. Jibrin from Kano State, after formally submitting his petition at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, insisted that the House Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Hon. Lasun Yusuf and others motioned in his petition, should

be made to face trial.

This, Jubrin argued, would show the whole world that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is very serious with its war against corruption.

The sacked Appropriation Chairman, who was accompanied to the ICPC headquarters by a team of lawyers, in an interview after submitting his petition, said: “I am here to submit a formal petition and give further clarifications and insights on allegations of corruption, abuse of trust and office by Mr. Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Yusuf Lasun, the Whip, Alhassan Doguwa and the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor as well as nine other members of the House who are also chairmen of different other committees.

Apart from the ICPC, Hon. Jubrin

also reportedly visited the EFCC, the DSS and Police headquarters over the same issue.

The federal lawmaker from Kano State had earlier on Monday revealed that he would be visiting the various anti-corruption agencies to formally drop his petitions against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the lower legislative chamber.

However, the embattled former House Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Hon. Jibril Abdulmumini, has been told to face his ordeal alone and stop dragging other members of the House into his political doldrums as his alleged petition to the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies would not save him Continued on page 12

Former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin at EFCC office after submission of petition against Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and 13 House members in Abuja… on Monday.

Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Buhari sacks JAMB boss, 16 others, appoints replacements Continued from page 1 just as he retained four Chief Executives.

A statement by the Federal Ministry of Education said the appointments are with effect from Monday, August 1, 2016.

The 17 agencies affected and the new Chief Executives are: National Universities Commission (NUC) – Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed; Nigerian Institute for Education Planning and Administration – Prof. (Mrs.) Lilian Salami; and Universal Basic Education – Dr. Hameed Bobboyi; National Library of Nigeria – Prof. Lanre Aina Others are National Exami-

nations Council (NECO) – Prof.

Charles Uwakwe; National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education – Prof.

Abba Aladu; Nomadic Education Commission – Prof. Bashir Usman; National Business and Eechnical Examinations Board – Prof.

Isioma Isiugo-Abanihe; Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) – Prof. Sunday Josiah Ajiboye; and Computer Registration Council of Nigeria – Afolabi Aderinto.

Also included are National Commission for Colleges of Education – Prof. Bappah Aliyu; Tertiary Education Trust Fund – Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa; National

Teachers Institute – Prof. Garba Dahuwa Azare; Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria – Prof.

Michael Afolabi; National Mathematical Centre – Prof. Steven Ejugwu Onah; Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) – Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; and National Institute of Nigerian Languages – Prof. Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche.

Those retained are Nigeria Educational Research & Development Council – Prof. Samaila Junaidu; Nigerian French Language C\Village – Prof. Rauuf Adebisi; National Board for Technical Education – Dr. Mas’ud Kazaure; and National Arabic Language Village – Prof.

Muhammad Mu’az.

Air Marshal Abubakar

NAF fighter jets strikes Arepo, environs Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) again on Monday struck at Arepo and environs identified as criminal hideouts and camps harbouring pipeline vandals.

Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the NAF spokesman, said in statement that “the latest air strike is in continuation of the aerial bombardment commenced by the NAF on Thursday, 28 July 2016 to rid the affected areas of pipeline vandals and other criminal elements.”

The ongoing air operations is aimed at providing air support for the Joint Task Force recently setup by the Defence Headquarters to dislodge pipeline vandals in the South West region of the country in an operation codenamed OPERATION AWATSE. There are strong indications based on analysis of footage on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), as well as Strike and, Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) missions undertaken

by NAF aircraft that the vandals have been sufficiently displaced from their current locations at AREPO while their criminal activities have also been heavily disrupted.

North plotting to Islamise N’Delta – Militant group Continued from page 1 our greedy political elites. The second plan is to frame distinguished leaders with frivolous charges.

The third one is to incite crisis for the military to come into the Niger Delta with the sole purpose to kill all the vibrant and brave youths of the region that are mouthpiece and leaders of tomorrow.”

“To further expose their Islamic agenda to own our oil and enslave us, they have gone further to absorb more than 250,000 civilian JTF into the Nigerian Army and even boast-

ing to absorb more into the military and paramilitary force.”

“As if that is not enough, they are offering the Boko Haram Amnesty with the sole aim to invade the Niger Delta in the name of fighting militants. The drafting of Special Forces to the Niger Delta is not a threat to the people Niger Delta, because before this time we have known the Islamisation plot of recruiting Saudi Mercenaries, absorbing civilian JTF, and recruiting of Boko Haram members to form a special force to Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

7 News

Army cracks down on Rivers criminals, 142 arrested

ÏÏÏ As

part of efforts to rid Rivers State off criminals and cultist, the Nigeria Army said it has arrested 142 suspects in Port Harcourt.

The Army said the suspects were arrested during a raid in the early hours of Sunday in the old Port Harcourt

township area.

A statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Eli Lazarus, said the raid was carried out on Lagos Street and Abuja axis of the city.

Lazarus, however, said some of the suspects were released after a

profiling of those arrested, but that 15 of them were being interrogated.

The statement reads, “In the early hours of Sunday, 31 July, 2016, men of 2 Brigade Nigerian Army conducted raid operation at Lagos Street, Abuja general area and some black

spots in Port Harcourt City.

“This is in continuation of the Brigade’s operation against criminals and cultists in Rivers State.

“One hundred and forty two suspects were arrested during the raid.

“However, after profil-

ing the suspects, some were released while 15 suspects are being interrogated and would be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investig ation.

“Additionally, the Brig ade is conducting show of force as part

of the ar my’s ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile’ which commenced this weekend.

“The public is hereby enjoined to continue to provide security agencies with credible infor mation that would assist in the arrest of criminals in the society.”

Ongoing war against rustling’ll be intensified - Masari

ÏÏÏ

The ongoing war against cattle rustling and related activities in Katsina state is to be intensified to ensure culprits are brought to book.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari stated this shortly after inspecting herds of cattle confiscated from rustlers in various locations across the state.

The cattle were kept under security at the federal government built Tsangaya or Almajiri School in the state metropolis.

Masari, who expressed government’s determination to bring rustling activities to its knees, said before now lack of security had pervaded parts of the state owing to the problem.

He said before coming of the present administration, several lives and property had been lost due to rustling, with communities around the Rugu forest being the most affected.

The governor, however, acknowledged diligence of members of the committee that was set up by state government to prevent rustling in the state.

He said government would continue to assist the committee on cattle rustling to succeed in its assignment.

Scene of an accident at Toll Gate end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway … on Monday.

Photo: Folashade Martins.

Our change agenda real, irreversible – Lai Mohammed Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏ Minister of Information

and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday, said the Change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration is real and irreversible, despite the derision of the agenda by those opposed to it.

This is even as Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the issue of

herdsmen attack will soon be a thing of the past as ranches would be built to dissuade grazing of cows.

The two minsters said these at a town hall meeting for the South East geopolitical zone organised by Federal Ministry of Information in Enugu. ‘’To those who have been mocking our change agenda, we say let them continue to entertain themselves, but we remain undaunted

because this change is irreversible,’’ Mohammed said.

He said Nigeria had no choice but to embrace change, adding that the country cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result.

Mohammed noted that even as change is a process and not an instant coffee, it has begun to manifest in many ways, touching on the war against corruption, accountability in governance

and the economy, among others. ‘’Before now, public officials simply opened the public till, took as much money as they wanted and walked away, without consequences! That explains why funds allocated to the military to fight Boko Haram ended up in the piggy banks of many unscrupulous Nigerians.

Today, all those who looted the public treasury are being made to answer for their ac-

tions, as impunity gives way to accountability. ‘’Prior to now, funds accruing to the government were paid into so many accounts that even the government could not keep a tab on them, or worse still did not even know the accounts existed.

Today, every kobo accruing to the government is paid into a single account, called the Treasury Singles Account (TSA), to be used for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Impeachment: Zamfara APC hails Yari, lawmakers, backs truce ÏÏÏ The

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state, has commended the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, for the peace accord reached with aggrieved lawmakers in the state, describing the peaceful resolution of the crisis as signs of good things that are set to manifest in the state politics.

The State Publicity Secretary, Al-

haji Sani Gwamina, while speaking with newsmen in Sokoto, stated that the party also exalted the fatherly role played by the governor, describing him as “a true, patriot and visionary leader.”

He maintained that the peace deal would no doubt further strengthen the existing robust relationship between the two arms of government in

the state.

The party scribe, therefore, urged lawmakers to unconditional support the giant stride of the governor as to further enhance good governance and development to the state.

“As a party we welcome the peace accord, we want to specifically thank the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar for his fore-

sight and wisdom in ensuring that this impasse is resolved amicably” Gwamina said.

He said further that, “the party is solidly behind him. He is our leader and will continue to support him as to bring about the necessary development, as well as meeting the yearning and aspirations of the people of Zamfara state.”

Yari

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Politics

OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU

Æs

Edo 2016: PDP camp faces depletion as more bigwigs dump party Ahead of next month’s governorship election in Edo State, the rank and file of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gradually being depleted as more and more bigwigs in the party are

dumping it for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

One of the party’s aspirants in the June 20 party primaries, Solomon Edebiri, has announced his resignation from the party.

He disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Obayanton, near Benin, attributing the decision to “dishonesty of the party leadership”.

According to him, what happened on June 20 was awful and a complete negation of what democratic tenet is all about. “I can officially tell you that I have resigned my membership of the PDP and

that I have also refused to join either the Sherrif faction or any other party.

“My resignation followed the dishonesty of the party leadership who reneged on its pledge to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants at the primaries. And we had all also pledged to move with the party beyond the primaries, provided the primaries was free, fair and just.

“There were reports that the party’s institution gave a specific instruction to party chairmen at the Local government level for members to vote for a particular

aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

So my understanding is that the primaries was not free, fair and just”, he said, adding: “I will not hold Ize-Iyamu blemish but the party leadership. And I neither want to fight anyone nor remain in the party”.

Edebiri also confirmed that the party’s former BOT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, reached out to him said: “I refused to honour the invitation to his Abuja residence because of what happened in 2012. In 2012, he offered me a gift to dump my aspiration and joined the PDP but I declined.

Corruption war can’t succeed without judicial, legislative reforms- Ganduje Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has stressed that for the anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari administration to succeed, the bar and the bench in the country must be regenerated.

According to a statement by the Director – General, Media and Communications, Government House, Kano, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, the governor stated this while receiving members of the A. B. Mahmoud Campaign Organization in Kano.

In his words: “that as critical stakeholders in the dispensation of justice, the bar and bench must be born again, to play the role expected of them.”

He noted that when the Buhari administration took over, the popular outcry was for meaningful change in all public affairs, and expressed delight that the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has articulated desire to ensure that it puts in a place new leader-

ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA

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

ship that will transform the legal profession in the country.

Stressing that the legal system reform is necessary for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy, Dr. Ganduje said A.B. Mahmoud is eminently qualified to lead the NBA to greater heights in view of his antecedents and the caliber of learned gentlemen on his campaign team.

Speaking earlier, Alh. A.B. Mahmoud, SAN, stated that he is in the race for the NBA presidency because of his desire to invigorate the judiciary, adding that one of the things he intends to initiate is the State Justice Sector Assessment Programme, to cover all states in the federation.

He expressed delight that the state government is passionate about the rule of law, saying he is impressed that the relationship between the state government and the judiciary is very cordial Mahmoud, was accompanied on the visit by amongst others,

NNAMDI AZIKIWE

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

GANDUJE ‘‘He noted that when the Buhari administration took over, the popular outcry was for meaningful change in all public affairs, and expressed delight that the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has articulated desire to ensure that it puts in a place new leadership that will transform the legal profession in the country.’’

Dr. Garba Tetengi, SAN, mni, who is the alternate chairman of the A. B. Mahmoud Campaign Steering Committee, Mr. Muri-

FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI

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

tala Abdul-Rasheed, Director General of the Committee, Barr.

Maliki Kuliya Umar, immediate past Attorney-General of Kano

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

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

state and Mr. Alex Muoka, immediate past chairman of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.

ALEX EKWUEME

“Ours is hardly a Federation except in name”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

9 Politics

Edo 2016: More support for Onaiwu as he unveils female running mate Iniobong Iwok For the first time in the history of Edo State, a woman is being fielded as running mate in the upcoming governorship election in the state.

This happened as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Gubernatorial Candidate for the September 10 governorship election in the state, Earl Osaro Onaiwu officially flagged-off his campaign.

The event which was held at the weekend at the Urhokpota Hall, King Square, Benin-City and well attended by thousands of residents, supporters and party faithful across the state and beyond.

The Executive Governor of Anambra State and National Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),Willie Obiano led a delegation of party chieftains to the event to show solidarity for the Osaro Onaiwu Solution Agenda.

Earl Osaro Onaiwu assured party faithful, supporters and the

people of Edo State of his resolve to bring a lasting SOLUTION to the state and seized the opportunity to unveil his Seven Pillars Solution, a policy document centered on Security, Youth and Women Development, Education and Health Care, Trade and Commerce, Infrastructure, Tourism/Hospitality and Agriculture, which he believes will act as a blue print in achieving his set goals for the state. He bemoaned the current state of insecurity in the state, stressing that without adequate security of lives and properties, businesses will not thrive.

Earl Onaiwu seized the opportunity to present his running mate and Deputy Governorship candidate, Mrs. Gladys Oyemen Okpebholo. He described his choice for a female running mate as a well thought out decision in order to give women in the state a strong voice, as women stand as a strong voice and pillar in every home. He called on Women and Youths from the state to rally behind them to achieve greater

things together.

“Today, I’m proud to present my running mate to you all (a woman), in the history of Edo State, never has a major political party presented or given a platform for a woman to become it’s Deputy Governorship candidate.

Therefore, I’m calling on every one of you to drum support for us to bring the SOLUTION to your doorstep.”

An high point of the event was the official presentation of the APGA flag to Earl Osaro Onaiwu, as the flag bearer of the party in the forthcoming governorship election in the state. The flag was presented by National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Okoye and assisted by Governor Obiano who also serves as the National Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Governor Obiano charged the people of Edo State to take up their destinies and deciding their future by voting for Earl Osaro Onaiwu in the September 10 governorship election in order to replicate in the ongoing Transformation in Anambra

Onaiwu

State.

Also speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Okoye passed a vote of confidence on Earl Osaro Onaiwui, describing him as the only candidate in the forthcoming election that can bring the desired SOLUTION to Edo State. In his remarks, Honourable Labaran Maku, National Secretary of the Party, called on the people of Edo State to safeguard their votes

come September 10, describing Osaro Onaiwu as the only candidate if elected, that can ensure that salaries are paid as at when due.

Earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom (The Edaiken N’Uselu), HRH Prince Eheneden Erediauwa to officially inform him of Osaro Onaiwu’s ambition and seek his royal blessings.

Ondo PDP adopts Jegede as gubernatorial candidate

Jegede

In a strategic political maneuver, the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the Owo-Ose Federal Con-

stituency, consisting of the Owo Local Government and Ose Local Government of the Northern Senatorial District of Ondo State

has adopted Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

The decision was taken at a well attended meeting of the leaders of the ruling party held at the weekend at Akogun Adetokunbo Modupe’s residence in Alagbaka, Akure.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their deliberations at the meeting, the leadership of the party noted that although we would have preferred one of our sons from Owo-Ose to become the next governor in the spirit of rotation, the current political dispensation demands realistic projections. “We have decided to adopt a more realistic winning strategy which seems to favour Eyitayo Jegede’s candidature as of now. While we still look forward to future opportunity for one of Ose-Owo indigenes to become governor, we have decided for now to focus on current realities and political calculations”, the communiqué stated.

The communiqué further stated “The leaders of the party agreed and resolved to support the position of the party as regards the candidacy of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the preferred candidate for the party in the forthcoming November 26th Governorship election in the state based on a well convincing and articulated reasons for continuity and the need to sustain the people oriented programs in the state”.

The communiqué stated that what should interest an average member of the party in the state now should be how PDP would retain power in the state for the purpose of sustenance for developmental project. “Although the Federal Constituency would have loved to produce the governor going by the zoning sentiments generally canvassed for; as loyal party men and women, we have considered the current realities vis-à-vis political activities and have decided to adopt a winning formula in the interest of the

party statewide. Our belief is that in the future lies better opportunities.”

The forum therefore agreed that the party leaders and all members shall work assiduously in their various units, wards and local governments for the success of the party and the emergence of PDP candidate in the election.

One of the party leaders present at the meeting, Dr. Abitoye, a former federal minister, declared that what is important for the party now is to win the next election rather than concentrate on the regional or ethnic sentiment.

“That is why we are leading in promoting competence rather than mere sentiments” he stated.

Col Ayodele Awodeyi, another strong PDP member, disclosed that the party’s leadership had resolved to commence reconciliation by appealing to all dissatisfied and aggrieved members of the party to close rank and to collectively work for the success of the party in the November election.

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Olabimtan carpets Mimiko for inheriting N38b without result Obaseki

Edo guber hots up as Obaseki joins PDP The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State got a big boost on Monday as the governorship candidate of Accord Party in the September 10, 2016 election in the state, Don Pedro Obaseki joined the party.

Speaking in Benin City, Obaseki said praised the candidacy of Pastor Ize-Iyamu which he said is much needed now to wipe away the tears of Edo people.

Ize-Iyamu thanked Don Pedro Obaseki and his supporters for believing in him. He assured them that their support in the election will translate to good governance for the people.

The governorship election in Edo S|tate is believed to be a two horse race between PDP’s IzeIyamu and APC’s Godwin Obaseki which is trying to consolidate on the eight years of incumbent Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

MIMIKO

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

Former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly and a leading governorship aspirant seeking the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan, has carpeted the incum-

Ondo State Governor bent governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for inheriting about N38 billion on assumption of office without having anything concrete to show as achievement.

Hon. Olabimtan, who said this on Monday when he stormed the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja along with several of his supporters to collect the party’s

nomination and expression of interest forms, berated the current Peoples Democratic Party, PDPled government in the state for not doing anything substantial in its almost eight years in office.

The aspirant pointed out that Governor Mimiko has failed to construct even a kilometer of road in the in Ondo South and North Senatorial districts in his almost eight years in office.

While answering questions from journalists at the APC national secretariat after picking his nomination form to contest APC governorship primary, the former speaker said that his desire to govern Ondo State is borne out of desire to effect the adequate change.

He said: “The present governor took over in 2009. I say it with all emphasis at my disposal that he has not constructed one inch to what Dr Agagu constructed in Ilaje land (in the southern senatorial district of the state) up till now.

“Ask anybody in Ondo State, ask anybody in Illaje. Is that not a failure? Today, Akoko land in the northern senatorial zone has the worst road network and before he came in, those roads were okay.

“This government (of Mimiko in Ondo State), I make bold to say,

has not constructed up to 200 kilometers since they came on board almost eight years ago, and you tell me it’s not a disaster.

“That was a government that inherited N38 billion, as in liquid cash, apart from the assets inherited and as at the time Agagu was leaving in 2009, oil sold for 58 dollar a barrel and during the tenure of the incumbent governor, it rose to about 120 dollars per barrel.

“If you go to Ondo State today, you can’t see what this money has been used for and that is why the people of Ondo State are clamouring for change. We cannot continue like this”.

Speaking on his plans for the state, the governorship aspirant assured that if given opportunity, his administration will revitalise the civil service and provide incentives to make the civil service a productive one.

He said: “We are bringing integrity into the governance of Ondo State. We have designed our manifesto which I called my path and covenant for Ondo State.”

Olabimtann assured that he would neither reduce the workforce nor the official working hours of the state if elected the next governor of the Sunshine state.

Abia former PDP Chairman seeks quick resolution of governorship crisis Sen. Emma Nwaka, the immediate-past chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Abia, has expressed worry over the governorship crisis currently rocking the state.

Nwaka, In a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia on Monday, that he was praying for the quick resolution of the crisis.

“I pray fervently for early resolution of the challenges confronting Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration, a government we laboured so hard to install.

“This matter should be resolved expeditiously so that the government can deliver on its campaign promises,” he said.

He argued that the different suits challenging Ikpeazu’s qualification to contest the 2015 governorship election posed serious distraction to him.

“Our governor needs peace of mind to navigate the ship of state at a time like this.

“We must be mindful of the fact that this matter is taking a huge toll on the peace and stability of our state and must not be allowed to linger any further,” Nwaka said.

He called for the intervention of “all men and women of goodwill” in the state and beyond to find quick resolution to the matter, which was still pending in court.

According to him, the problem is hurting the economy of our state badly and by extension the well-being of its people.

“I do not know of any political problem that cannot be resolved at the negotiation table, even moreso as this is mainly an intra-party matter.

“I know that court victory doesn’t always bring peace with it,” Nwaka said.

He also dispelled the alleged factionalisation of PDP in the state, saying that “the party remains one and indivisible

Nwaka

entity under the leadership of Chief Johnson Onuigbo”.

He implored the party members, who still nursed grievances against the party congresses that produced Onuigbo to seek redress through the party’s internal crisis-resolution mechanism. He urged Onuigbo “not to close his doors permanently against such people if they repent.

“As we say, a party is like a church; there should be free entry and free exit,” he said.

Nwaka, who was PDP chairman for more than five years, urged concerted efforts to ensure that the party did not disintegrate.

He further spoke on the crisis rocking the leadership of the party at the national level.

He said that although the party was facing challenges at the centre, “it is not factionalised”, noting that efforts being made to resolve the differences were yielding the desired fruits.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

11 Politics

Food shortage will end in 2018 — FG

OGBEH

Tom Okpe, Abuja

In what appears to be a relief to Nigerians who are faced with shortages in all fronts, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has assured that food shortage problems in the country will be over in two

Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State on Monday said state governments had the right to determine how bailout funds from the Federal Government was expended.

The governor made the assertion in Abuja at a meeting organised by Conscience Nigeria, an NGO, on the usage of the Federal Government’s bailout funds to states.

Abubakar said the bailout fund was a loan and as such the states had the right to use it for any other projects. ``Constitutionally, executive powers of the state reside on the governors; when a government of a state takes a loan, ideally that government can utilise that loan in whatever way it feels it is good for people of that state. ``The only thing is that of course transparency requires that in every request a political leader must give account’’, he said.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

years.

The Minister gave the assurance while receiving the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano in his office in Abuja.

Chief Ogbeh commended the serious commitment of the governor in the agricultural sector and promised to support

the state in the ministry’s programme, saying the ministry would be willing to help the state in fish fingerling production and other areas of the sector to boost food production in the country.

The Minister advised the governor on the use of NPK 15-15 fertilizer which according to him destroys the soil and encouraged the state to consider the use of lemon grass to tackle erosion problems in the state.

His words: “The ministry is considering the need to add 10% soya beans into cassava to enrich it with more protein for more nourishment for the children. About 15,000 broken down tractors out of the 30,000 available in the country would be rehabilitated to support farmers in Nigeria”, while speaking about plans to end fod shortages in the country.

The Minister commended Anambra State for improving its rice production capacity from 80,000 metric tons to 210,000 metric tons, disclosing that the ministry has succeeded in reclaiming all the Universities of Agriculture.

“The ministry has commenced the process of training 100,000 Extension workers up to the Local Government areas, we are determined take off the wandering cows out of the streets of the country in 18 months”.

World Bank, Sokoto vote N8.8 billion for projects in 10 LGs

Tambuwal

The World Bank and the Sokoto State Government will execute various projects in 10 local government areas of the state to the tune of N8.8 billion.

To be executed under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), the collaboration is aimed at addressing the menace of gully erosion and land degradation in selected communities across the state.

This is contained in a statement issued Sunday by media aide to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Imam Imam, in Sokoto.

“Under the arrangement, Sokoto State Government will pay 12.9 percent of the amount which stand at over N1.33 billion as counterpart funding. The entire project will be executed in 10 local government areas of the state and will tackle envi-

ronmental issues, water management and land reclamation across the LGAs. “The projects are: rehabilitation of Lugu dam and Wurno irrigation scheme in Wurno LGA, control of river erosion along bridge linking Sabon Birni and Niger Republic, construction of medium earth dam at Rafin Duma and Kadassaka area in Gada LGA, and construction of main collector drainage and gutter from Tudun Wada area to River Sokoto in Sokoto South LGA,” the statement added.

Others include construction of drainage gutter from Goronyo Dam for tree planting and protection activity on desertification, construction of earth dam and afforestation activities to help in reducing erosion in Ungushi district of Kebbe LGA and finally, construction of drainages, earth dams and land reclamation across multiple locations in Tambuwal LGA. The rest, according to the statement, include construction of drainages, earth dam, afforestation activities to control erosion of Durbawa in Kware LGA and construction of earth dam, drainage and afforestation activities to check flood and erosion in Sifawa in Bodinga LGA as well as construction of drainage gutters to alleviate flood in Wamakko LGA.

States have right to determine use of bail out fund — Gov. Abubarkar Abubarkar said the critical thing was for civil society organisations and other Nigerians to ask questions about the utilisation of the fund.

He said settlement of the outstanding salaries of civil servants in the state could be among the other projects that the fund could be used for.

The governor said Bauchi state owed its workers only one month salary while workers in the local government councils were owed two months salaries.

According to him, when he took over as the governor of the state on May, 29, 2015, workers were owed salaries of four months. ``After taking over, we discovered that for gratuity alone, we

inherited a debt of N14.5 billion and the four months salaries of course was N8.6 billion.’’

Abubarkar said other commitments such as commercial loans, debts owed to contractors among others, amounted to over N100 billion.

The governor said loan was taken to enable the state to pay the one month salary owed workers in order to calm nerves. ``All these happened before the bailout came up; we were asked to send the total outstanding salaries, which we did, to the tune of N8.6 billion. ``We were given the money and as governor of the state, I have that chance to use the money as I pleased’’, he said.

According to him, some of his colleagues used part of the money to construct roads, some for other purposes.

Mr Tosin Adeyanju, Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, said there was need for the CSOs to know how the bailout given by the FG to settle outstanding salaries of states was used.

Adeyanju said many of the states still owed salaries in spite of the bailout given to them.

He called on the National Assembly to investigate all the states that owed staff salaries.

According to him, the bailout to states was principally for the settlement of salaries owed civil servants and not for the governors to use for other projects.

Abubarkar

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Boko Haram: Buhari not diverting funds to fight opponents – Presidency ÏÏÏThe

Presidency on Monday dismissed an article in the London Telegraph in which President Muhammadu Buhari was accused of diverting United Kingdom aid funds away from defeating the Boko Haram terror group towards fighting political opponents of his administration.

It said the article titled, “Children face death by starvation in northern Nigeria” in the Telegraph of July 30 was incorrect and unhelpful.

The Presidency, however, admitted that the medical, health and nutrition challenges in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps are real, stressing that the government was doing everything to improve the situation.

According to a statement issued

by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the publication merely repeated the claim from an earlier piece titled, “Nigeria Using UK Aid to Persecute President’s Political Foes,” published on July 12.

The statement said the claims in both articles are attributed to an unnamed “source” in the United States, and “Western officials”.

The statement explained that when the first article was published, it drew the condemnation of the US Embassy in Abuja as having drawn conclusions directly opposite to the position of the US government.

“To state the facts: the UK government does not give development aid to the Nigerian ad-

ministration for use in military operations against Boko Haram.

Where British military support – such as intelligence - is provided, it is precisely and only, given for operations directly against Boko Haram.

Similarly, the Nigerian Government is in no position to divert aid monies used for emergency relief for refugees or IDP camps for any other purpose, as these are dispensed directly by DFID, USAID, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and many other organisations - with which we enjoy excellent relations”, the Presidency said.

According to the Presidency, the humanitarian situation in these camps was real, stressing that the

administration remains deeply concerned about the medical, health and nutrition challenges.

“We are doing everything with the limited resources we have at our disposal to improve the situation. However, the blame for the plight of refugees lies with Boko Haram. They are its cause, not the Nigerian Government.

“In the light of ongoing efforts, we regret the recent attack on the UN humanitarian convoy in the Northeastern region and are encouraged by the world body’s determination to continue rendering assistance to the displaced victims. That the attack was repelled

by Nigerian troops escorting the convoy shows precisely how the Government and humanitarian agencies are working together.

L-R: Vice President, Brands and Advertising, Airtel Nigeria, Enitan Denloye; The Voice Nigeria Coach, Innocent Idibia a.k.a Tuface; Winner of The Voice Nigeria, Arese; another Voice Nigeria Coach, Patrick Okorie a.k.a Patoranking and Head, Youth Segment, Airtel Nigeria, Omoyeme Effiong at the grand finale of the maiden edition of The Voice Nigeria in Lagos… recently.

North plotting to Islamise N’Delta – Militant group Continued from page 6 invade the Niger Delta”.

The group added:” Niger Deltans have suffered in the hands of the Nigerian government through their divide and rule tactics and few criminal minded elites to impoverish the people. This is why from 1957 when oil was discovered in commercial quantity in Oloibiri till date, there is nothing to show as an oil producing region. All we see is suffering, hunger, poverty, gas flaring, and degradation.”

“Now, their ploy is to cause disunity in the Niger Delta in order to go on with their exploration and exploitation. All what we see now in the Niger Delta is disunity, witchhunting, tribal sentiment, poverty, which they are using in order to achieve their purpose. These things are done deliberately to disorganize the people of the Niger Delta to enable them continue with oil exploration.

“Even in political appointments, they try to use it to create disunity among the people. Example, in the

NDDC, if truly they meant well for the region, there will not be any need for agitation, an Isoko man is from Delta State, why are the Itsekiri people protesting? In Ondo, the same thing, Akwa Ibom the same thing, Abia the same thing,” the group stated.

“They are now using our resources to acquire weapons and fighters to enslave us in this 21st century. We are very sad with our brothers that use Niger Delta struggle to enrich themselves and at the same time being used by the northerners to

achieve their aim of exploiting the oil.”

Commending Ijaw elders and leaders for standing on the truth, last weekend, in Warri, the group said: “The spirit and courage, fearlessness, bravery is motivating us to put a stop to this planned Islamic agenda against the Niger Delta. Just as we are asking our fathers why they allowed their age mates from the north to put Niger Delta in this pathetic condition, we shall not allow our children to ask us the same question.”

Jibrin

Budget padding: Jibrin petitions ICPC, EFCC, others Continued from page 6 from being prosecuted on his role in the padding of the 2016 budget.

A member of the House of the Representatives, representing Kagarko/Kachia Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, who was reacting to a statement credited to the embattled lawmaker, that he submitted his name among other lawmakers to the EFCC for investigation, said Abdulmumini has no moral justification to call for his investigation.

Hon. Jagaba, who is the House committee Chairman on Interior, said he has nothing to fear on corruption issue because he has been living a modest life.

Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the controversy surrounding the allegation of padding of the 2016 budget in the House of Representatives has put the integrity of the budget to question.

The PDP said this on Monday in a statement by its Director, New Media, Mr. Deji Adeyanju.

Similarly, the party said it is depressing that barely one month to the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the 2017 budget as required by Fiscal Responsibility Act, debate is still going on the integrity of the 2016 budget.

It stressed further that the revelations by the sacked Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, in an interview on a Lagos based television station raised more questions than answers.

“The entire ruckus caused by these allegations and counter allegations call the integrity of Budget2016 to question.

“This entire budget process has been an absolute fiasco,” the statement noted.

The opposition party recalled that many Nigerians, after a review of President Muhammadu Buhari’s N6.08 trillion budget, presented to the National Assembly, observed that the budget was full of inflated figures and frivolous allocations.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2 , 2016

13

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Shall we tell the minister?

I

Wale

Fatade

t is doubtful if the Nigerian sporting sector has ever witnessed a bad turn like we are seeing presently. From athletics to football to boxing, we are at the lowest ebb with confusion across most of the sport federations. If our relay team are not being disqualified from competing because of doping, our football team to the Olympics will be stranded in Atlanta without money to pay for hotels or to move around while preparing for a competition that commences in few days’ time.

Just as the Nigeria Football Federation is still shopping around for a foreign technical adviser for the Super Eagles, whatever that tag means, our position in the FIFA rankings continue to be in a free fall from 22 in 2009 to 70 in the latest ranking released last month.

True, these problems predate the coming into office of Solomon Dalung, our current sports minister, but ever since he assumed the leadership of sports it has been from one problem to another. With his boy scouts-like uniform – apologies to those who are members or leaders of that wonderful club – one does not get an impression that Mr. Dalung actually has what it takes to superintend the ministry. For someone who appeared in a wellcut black suit, white shirt, and black tie at his screening to now start dressing like a boy scout ostensibly in solidarity with poor citizens as he claimed in a media interview, it is a cheap way of scoring populist points.

While only him can confirm whether his popularity rating has improved since then, sports in Nigeria has nosedived under his stewardship.

The buck of our sports stops at his table but he has not served Nigeria well at all. His needless intervention in appointing a captain for the Olympics team without recourse to the Nigeria Olympic Committee is typical of the ‘big-man’ syndrome of our leaders. In a team that parades individuals who have been at four and even five of such games, Dalung unilaterally appointed a rookie as captain.

Feelers from the camp now is that the captain appointed by the minister will not carry the nation’s flag but the assistant for the opening ceremony. Why this confusion? Yet under his watch, athletes were asked to source funds and pay their ways to Rio in the hope of a later refund by

the ministry leading to some of them using gofundme, a personal online website for individuals and charities, to solicit for funds.

Dalong’s defence was that the athletics federation letter to that effect was written without his consent.

To show further that things are bad for our athletics under Dalung, a report on CNN.com on Saturday, July 30 mentioned how a video of the youth team competing at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Poland surfaced where in an interview with Athletics Africa, Godwin Ashien, a member of the U20s men’s relay team lashed out at the lack of support from the administration.

“Nobody cares about us,” he said. Right from Nigeria… down here… even coming from Nigeria to Dubai, we didn’t eat for three days, we didn’t eat.”

Just last week, the only person that won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach in Nigeria, and the second in Africa, was buried without any input from the federal government despite the promises made to that effect shortly after his death.

Stephen Keshi’s remains were laid to rest in Illah, Delta State with the government not playing any role at all. Dalung’s excuse was that the government will cater for the family Keshi left behind after promises of a state funeral, and later “fanfare” were unfulfilled. Interestingly, Togo, where Keshi worked and ensured qualification for the World Cup played a memorial football game to honour their former coach.

Michael Phelps, the American swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time, with 22 medals in three Olympiads always come to my mind whenever I think of how unserious we are with Olympics. Phelps first won a medal at the Athens games in 2004 as a 19-year old but he was at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 without winning a medal. In an interview with the New York Daily News after the Athens games, Phelps said it took him seven years to prepare for an Olympics medal, yet we always want to throw money at our athletes on the eve of the games and expect wonders. It will never work. That’s why news that $3.49 million has been released for Rio Olympics should worry all Nigerians; it might be money down the drain as we have neglected the athletes for long. A case of too little, too late.

By the way, who supervises Dalung as sports minister?

Solomon Dalung

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

15 Opinion

Time to rehabilitate Aba- Ikot-Ekpene Road

A

Okechukwu Ukegbu

ba- Ikot-Ekpene Road is unarguably strategic to the economy of Abia State. The road links Aba to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states and extends to the neighbouring Cameroon.

Traders from these neighbouring states form bulk of the businessmen who patronise various businesses in Aba. During the heydays of made-in Aba shoes, markets such as Cameroon and Togo became catchment areas.

To describe the Aba- Ikot- Ekpene road as the proverbial “ goose that lays the golden egg” may not be out of place. Unfortunately, the road, especially the Abia axis is in a deplorable condition. The road is a disaster begging for serious attention.

The road has been neglected by previous administrations of the federal government. The road project was reportedly awarded in 2009 to Brent Investment Ltd, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration at the cost of N2.9 billion with a completion period of 20 months; the contract was meant

to reconstruct the failed section of the highway.

It has been alleged that inadequate budgetary provisions in the past years has been responsible for the delay and the gradual deterioration of the road hampering economic activities in the commercial city of Aba and other cities in the South-east.

For example, the federal government did not make budgetary provisions for Aba-Ikot Ekpene road in 2013 budget, and so the contractor did not do much in terms of coverage and project completion. In addition, the 2014 budget, which was tagged all-inclusive with a provision of N120 -13824 for the Federal Ministry of Works for capital projects, could not proffer the solution.

The deplorable state of the road is exerting serious negative impact on the Abia economy and residents, especially those communities located on the fringes of this federal highway such as Alaoji, Ntigha, Umuafukwu, Ohanze, Umuokpo, and Onicha Ngwa, just to mention a few.

These communities are mostly agrarian and depend, largely on their farm produce for a living.

For these communities to access Aba, which is the nearest commercial city, is akin to the proverbial “camel passing through the eye of the needle”. For them to access the town, they swim like amphibians and engage in a more tortuous odyssey than that of the “Magi” in T.S Elliot’s “The Journey of Magi”.

To compound the situation, a sister road network, Opobo Road, linking Aba and some parts of Ukwa with some communities in Akwa Ibom down to Uyo is also in a deplorable state. The road is characterised by some failed portions, which are menacingly threatening to cut off these areas.

Thank God, not all hope is lost, and despite how dark the cloud is, there is always a “positive aspect”.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has on different occasions pronounced some intended interventions on the road .He said that he has entered into discussions with his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Governor Emmanuel Udom for some interventions on the road.

The second level of intervention is the proposed by-pass that will cut through Ururuka Road and burst at a point around Onicha ngwa, along the same Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road.

The AfDB team was accompanied by another team from the Federal Ministry of Works, Abuja and had on the spot assessments of AbaPort- Harcourt and Ikot- Ekpene roads. The inspection tour offered them the opportunity of first hand information of the level of decay of the roads and the trauma and suffering of the residents and travelers in and around this, two key roads.

AfDB is currently doing the technical analysis and studies of the roads before releasing funds for repairs of the roads. The visit has offered new hopes that these roads would be fixed.

While Gov. Ikpeazu should be commended for his infrastructural revolution in Aba, there is a passionate appeal to the federal government for urgent intervention on the federal lying on the fringes of Aba. Road infrastructure is very important to the people of Aba because apart from the fact that the city is the commercial nerve centre of the state, it is fast assuming the hub of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises of the country.

Ukegbu, a public policy analyst writes from Umuahia, Abia State.

Facts on Osun workers salaries and pensions

S Kola Ibrahim

ince the problem of non-payment of salaries for public sector workers across the federation became national issue, the Aregbesola government, which started the policy of denying workers their salaries since late 2014, has been going to town to claim a form of victory. We are told the government is actually doing better than most on the issue of salary payment. However, these are the facts on salaries and pensions in the state: (1) Resident doctors were owed salaries of more than 7 months leading to shut down of hospitals for months. The impact of the shutdown and low morale resulting from non-payment of salaries is better imagined.

(2) Retirees have not been paid their ‘half-pension’ since February 2016, while government still owes arrears of half payment for eight months. Only primary school and local government retirees have received ‘half-pension’ up to April 2016. That the government has not paid their pensions to date shows that the Aregbesola government is tampering with local government funds and allocations. So, when the government triumphantly claimed that it had been cleared of graft and fund mismanagement by auditors

and anti-graft agencies, know that such clearance was got from the black market.

(3) Those retirees on contributory pension scheme fare worse. The government has failed to make its contributions to the scheme. As a result, many retirees have not been paid their entitlements, several months after retirement.

(4) Public sector workers have not been paid half-salary since May 2016.

If this is added to the half payment arrears of 10 months, it means the government is owing workers full salary arrears of eight months.

Many workers, when salaries were fully paid up till 2014, have had to resort to loans from banks and cooperatives for major expenses such as payment of children’s school fees. If salaries were regularly paid, many of these loans would have been repaid. Now, interests and loan repayment have made nonsense of the half-salary the government claims to be paying. Many workers and pensioners also owe local creditors from whom they resolved their daily survival.This is aside hundreds of workers whose salaries (of between 3 to 7 months) have been stolen by government officials through the electronic payroll system run by a private company employed by the government.

Also, scores of teaching staff in the state-owned polytechnics and

colleges of education have been illegally demoted. The tactics is to remove their names from the payroll and wait for them to complain endlessly to wear them out.

To add insult to injury, some spokespersons are claiming that government does not owe workers and pensioners. By this action, the government is complicating financial problems of workers and pensioners. Is it not sheer wickedness that the government that put workers in economic quagmire is the one compounding their woes with the irresponsible behaviour of its mouthpieces?

The same government that has no money to pay its impoverished workers and pensioners ensured that fat-cat contractors and financial institutions, that were used to enrich few politicians and big business people, directly deduct billions from state’s federal allocations even before such allocations get to the state. Meanwhile, salaries and pensions that are statutory are left unpaid, thus impoverishing several thousands of workers, pensioners and their dependants.

Unfortunately, labour leaders, contributed to this sorry state by providing soft-landing and alibi for the Aregbesola government. Serious national labour leadership should by now be organising a nation-wide fight back against the madness of

unpaid salaries and pensions that is affecting over two million state workers and pensioners. This, when linked with growing retrenchment and exploitation of workers, is capable of giving the working people the confidence to fight for improvement in their living conditions. The current approach of the Ayuba Wabba-led NLC and TUC, of intervening on state-by-state basis will not effective in resisting a policy of non-payment of salary, which has become a national policy of most of the state governments.

With several months of unpaid salaries and the attendant pauperisation, workers may be forced accept any offer from state governments. This was how the Aregbesola government forced the illegal half-salary and half-pension on workers and pensions, ostensibly with the backing of labour leaders. In other states, workers have been compelled by many months of unpaid salaries, to accept payment of one or two months’ salaries out of several months’ outstanding. Only a nationally coordinated, democratically organised mass actions can yield a lasting and effective result. However, it seems the labour leaders are preoccupied with petty factional squabbles and leadership supremacy contest. One only hopes that labour leaders will at least unite for the interest of workers.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2 , 2016

Amapakabo tips Rangers for NPFL glory E nugu Rangers head coach Imama Amapakabo insists the club are in fine fettle to win this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title.

Rangers drew 1-1 at champions Enyimba on Sunday to leapfrog Wikki Tourists at the summit of the NPFL standings.

Amapakabo has now stated his belief that the club’s first league title since 1984 is well within reach this term.

“Nobody gave us a chance (to be where we are) at the beginning of the season.

“However, I have never been under pressure.

“Fans of Rangers International have

waited 32 years for the league title to return to Enugu.

“At this stage of the season, we are so close to our target and cannot say it cannot happen.

“We have a new hashtag which is to believe. We believe we will win the title,” he said.

Page 17

Amapakabo

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

CCL: Ezeji predicts win for Enyimba against Zamalek

F

ormer Nigerian international and Enyimba striker, Victor Ezeji has expressed deep conviction that the Nigerian champions will not lose the reverse CAF Champions League (CCL) clash at Egyptian giants, Zamalek SC. The People’s Elephant will be the guests of the North African side in the CAF Champions League matchday 3 group clash on Sunday, August 14 at the Petro Sport in Cairo, Egypt.

The Nigerian campaigners lost 0-1 to Zamalek SC in the first fixture clash at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Ezeji said though Enyimba got the act wrong

at the start of the race to allow the Egyptian side unhindered access to the crucial three points they will certainly get it right in Cairo to chance qualification to the semifinals of Africa’s first tier club competition.

“Enyimba remain great team in the land and Africa though started the campaign wrongly losing first two matches to Zamalek and South African side, Mamelodi Sundowns I strongly believe they are still very much in the race to qualify for the semifinals stage of the competition.

“I do not think Enyimba will lose the reverse clash at Zamalek, Zamalek were damn lucky to win

U-23 star Saviour returns to Belgium

N

the first clash in Port Harcourt.

“A win at Zamalek in Cairo, Egypt will restore Enyimba’s hope for the last four tickets before the last group match on home soil against the South African side, Mamelodi Sundowns.

“The clash at Zamalek is crucial and decisive for both teams progression in the competition.

“Zamalek are beatable and vulnerable as shown by the South African side, Mamelodi Sundowns.

“Enyimba will surely get the act right and key into Sundowns’ footpath to earn the vital win at Zamalek,” said the former Dolphins and Sharks marksman to supersport.com.

Bashir excited over new form U

nited forward, Abdulrahman Bashir, has attributed his recent form to hard work and encouragement from his fans and family.

Bashir is on a hot streak as he has scored seven goals in seven consecutive games for the Lafiabased side, a record by any Nasarawa United in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

He was on target in the 3-0 rout of El-Kanemi Warriors to record a historic feat which he says is down to the love and encouragement showed to him by Lafia fans and his family.

“I want to thank Allah (God) for all He has done for me. It has been tough I must tell you. Playing in the Nigerian league is not a joke at all,” Bashir told supersport.com.

“I didn’t plan for the goals to come

at all. I just try to do my job as a striker and luckily for me the goals kept going in. It has been down to the prayers and encouragement I get from our fans and family. It is what has kept me going.

“I have been practising on my finishing a lot these days and I must say it has been paying off even though there is more to be done.”

Bashir has been a nomad of late

igeria Olympic international Godwin Saviour is considering a return to Belgium after the expiration of his loan deal at KV Oostende, his agent revealed.

Saviour is currently with the Nigeria Olympic squad as one of four alternate players allowed for the competition.

However, two Belgian clubs have tabled offers to the forward, who featured at last year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

“We are discussing with two Belgian clubs about the player and we hope a transfer will be agreed in this window,” Saviour’s agent disclosed.

“Our decision will be on where he will get playing time and develop as a player.”

Saviour scored a goal on his debut for KVO, but he managed only a handful of appearances mostly as a late substitute for the modest club who reached the championship playoffs after topping the Belgian league table for several weeks.

After the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, top Belgian clubs including Anderlecht and Club Brugge expressed interest in signing the former Plateau United star.

with Nasarawa United being his fourth club in as many seasons.

He was sensational in the colours of Ilorin-based Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC, which earned him a dream move to Nigerian giants, Enyimba.

The move to Enyimba did not turn out well. Another move to Lobi Stars did little to help his confidence Bashir as he almost fell off the radar.

18

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

EXTRATIME

TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS… TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS… TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS…

Montoya finalises Valencia switch from Barca Nolito

Montoya

De Rossi ponders over Roma exit Daniele De Rossi is determined to bring success to Roma in what could be his final season with his boyhood club. De Rossi has only played for Roma in his 15-year professional club career, racking up over 500 appearances in all competitions, but he has just two Coppa Italia titles to show for it, having finished second in Serie A seven times.

Monchi bemoans Coke’s departure

Sevilla sporting director Monchi fears the club have made a grave error in allowing Coke to leave for Schalke. Right-back Coke spent the past five years at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, bowing out in style as his two-goal salvo helped win a third Europa league title in as many seasons with a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in Basel.

V

alencia have signed Martin Montoya on a fouryear deal after Barcelona agreed to cancel the right-back’s contract two years early.

Barcelona secured the €50 million signing of Valencia playmaker Andre Gomes last week, with Montoya’s switch thought to be related.

Barca winger Cristian Tello has also been linked with a move to Mestalla.

Montoya, who made 67 appearances in five seasons for Barca’s first team, winning La Liga three times, as

well as two Copa del Rey crowns and one Champions League success, spoke of his delight at joining Los Che. “Valencia first expressed their interest in me a few months ago. They are a big club, and a historic club and I decided to come here,” he told reporters.

“We are going to try to get the club back into the Champions League, which is where they belong. I am going to work hard; I promise a lot of dedication, effort and sacrifice. Together we will try to achieve our objectives.”

Blaszczykowski joins Wolfsburg from Dortmund

W

olfsburg have signed P o l a n d midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski from Borussia Dortmund on a three-year contract, the Bundesliga side confirmed on Monday.

The 30-year-old spent last year on loan at Fiorentina and featured for Poland at Euro 2016, scoring against both Ukraine and Switzerland before

missing the decisive penalty in the Poles’ quarter-final shootout defeat by Portugal.

“Jakub Blaszczykowski is a great fit for the team, not only because of his footballing qualities but also because he leads by example when it comes to determination, commitment and passion,” Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs said.

“He’s someone who completely identifies with the club he plays for. We are looking forward to having him in a Wolfsburg shirt.”

Blaszczykowski, who twice won the Bundesliga with Dortmund and was a defeated Champions League finalist in 2013, moves for an undisclosed fee, having signed a contract until 2019.

Blaszczykowski

Sane in Manchester to complete City transfer M

Sane

anchester City are on the verge of securing another one of Pep Guardiola’s summer transfer targets in Leroy Sane.

Schalke winger Sane has been a longterm target for City, who have been Ibrahimovic locked in talks with the Bundesliga club

over the past week with the discussions now close to reaching a positive conclusion.

Markus Weinzierl’s side gave City a Monday deadline to get the deal over the line, before the squad travel to Austria to continue their pre-season preparations.

But reports have revealed that the transfer is now all but confirmed, with Sane, along with Ilkay Gundogan, posing for pictures with supporters in the Radisson Blu hotel in Manchester ahead of officially being announced as a City player later this week.

yne

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

EXTRATIME

19

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE…ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE…ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE…

Willian

W ill ia n flattered by

Mourinho’s interest

W

illian has revealed he was left flattered by rumoured interest from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, but insists his future always lied at Chelsea.

Mourinho signed Willian as Chelsea manager in 2013, with the pair going on to win the Premier

League title together in 2014-15.

However, with Mourinho now at United, the Portuguese tactician was reportedly keen on luring Willian to Old Trafford for the upcoming season.

But Willian says he is happy at Chelsea, having only recently signed a new four-year deal to

remain at Stamford Bridge.

“I have a great relationship with Jose, but I am Chelsea. Of course, when someone like him is interested in you then you are happy,” Willian said.

“But I signed the contract because I like being a Chelsea player and I see good things

here. I signed a new contract and that shows how much I want to stay here.

“But the simple thing is that I want to win titles. To win titles you have to improve and if we can do that then we have a great chance to win titles this season.”

Herrera excited to follow Ibrahimovic’s lead Z

Rahman trains with

latan Ibrahimovic’s arrival at Manchester United provides the team with a strong figure to follow and will help them become more prolific, according to midfielder Ander Herrera.

United came under fire for a dull brand of football during Louis van Gaal’s tenure, with Stoke City the only top-half Premier League side to score fewer than their 49 goals last season.

But Herrera is feeling confident following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager and the signing of Ibrahimovic, who scored a brilliant scissor kick within four minutes of his first appearance for the club in the 5-2 friendly win against Galatasaray on Saturday.

The Spaniard feels his new team-mate can provide guidance to players like teenage striker Marcus Rashford, spoiling United for choice in attack.

“We are going to follow Ibra because we have one of the best players in the world and we have a big leader in our dressing room with him,” said Herrera.

“And with the experience of Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young as well we are very optimistic about the future.

“The start by Ibra was fantastic, but I wasn’t really surprised he scored such a wonderful goal because I have watched him for a long time.

“Ibra and Rashford are quite different in terms of qualities, but Marcus can learn a lot from him.

“Hopefully we can score a lot of goals next season because that’s what we want to do.

“Ibra is more of a target man while Rashford can find the spaces because he is so quick and fast. So I think it is good for the manager to have those different options.”

Herrera

Schalke ahead Chelsea exit

B

aba Rahman has been cleared to join Schalke’s training camp in Austria as he nears a loan departure from Chelsea.

The Ghana left-back is thought to have passed a medical with the Bundesliga club on Sunday.

Rahman has previous experience of German football, having left Augsburg for Chelsea in an estimated £14million deal just a year ago.

However, he struggled to make in impact under Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink, making just 11 Premier League starts across the season.

Rahman’s coach at Augsburg was current Schalke boss Markus Weinzierl.

Bruce

Moyes relishes

EPL return

S

underland boss David Moyes insists he has been revitalised by his spell out of management as he looks to bring stability to the Stadium of Light.

Moyes had been out of work for eight months after being sacked

by Real Sociedad last November, but the former Manchester United and Everton manager feels reinvigorated after returning to the Premier League.

The 53-year-old Scot was hired last month to replace Sam Allardyce, who left Sunderland to take the England job, and on Monday he held his first press conference in his new role.

Moyes’ reputation was tarnished by his nightmare spell at Old Trafford, which ended with his sacking after less than a season in charge of United, and his underwhelming spell in Spain.

But he is adamant his sabbatical has helped give him a fresh outlook and more insight into the keys to success at a club who have narrowly avoided relegation for the last two seasons.

“It was great to play golf and spend time with my family but this is what I do and I want to get back and get on with it,” Moyes said.

“I think modern management means that more managers will take breaks in their career with the way it is.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve been away from the game, I watched as much football as I could.

“I’ve been out but I’ve been busy.

This has now got to be a building job. I’m here for four years and I want to bring a level of stability back to the club.”

Moyes remained tight-lipped on transfer rumours, which have included reports linking him with possible moves for Adnan Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini, who both played under him at United.

News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

N’East: Bauchi, others to benefit from $250m ADB intervention

Plateau residents laud JED over improved electricity

ÏÏÏBauchi and five other states of

ÏÏÏThe

the North East are to benefit from a $250 million intervention provided by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The other North East states that will benefit from the grant include Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe and Taraba.

The head of the bank’s delegation, Mrs. Rosemond Offei-Awuku, said in Bauchi on Saturday at a stakeholders meeting with representatives of various ministries and government agencies.

The meeting was held to discuss the various areas of interventions which the money would be disbursed and channelled into.

She said that the grant would en-

able the bank to key into the rebuilding efforts of the Nigerian Federal Government for the North East region.

She noted that, out of the amount, $150 million would be pumped into the water and sanitation sector, while the remaining $100 million would be used for socio-economic interventions in various sectors of economic empowerment like, job creation, skill acquisition and other areas.

Offei-Awuku noted that the grant was reviewed upwards by the bank after other components were added, apart from the water, sanitation and hygiene sector.

The Bauchi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mohammed

Ghali Abdulhamid, welcome the delegation to the state and commended the African Development Bank for the support.

He recalled that the Bank’s delegation which had earlier visited the state in November 2015 had appreciated the state government’s effort to improve water supply and hygiene.

Abdulhamid said that the state government had embarked on a large-scale sustainable water supply mechanism and an overall water sector reforms.

The commissioner further informed that the state government has recently provided N100 million as a part payment of N300 million counterpart fund to Unicef after which the balance of N200 million

would be paid within the next few months.

The General Manager, Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Engineer Garba Magaji, informed that all the stakeholders in the intervention programme were committed and would ensure the success of the intervention programme in all sectors.

He promised that all the stakeholders would also ensure the proper utilisation of the funds provided by the AfDB for the North East region.

Other stakeholders who attended the stakeholders meeting include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Agriculture and other relevant agencies.

Chijioke Kingsley Jos Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED), on Monday received accolades from residence in Jos and environs for improved electricity supply.

Some residence in Jos who spoke to our correspondent stated that improvement in electricity distribution had contributed to increase in productivity especially among service providers.

In an interaction with the Public Relation Officer, JED Plc, Hajiya Lubabatu Rabiu, she posited that the reliable provision of affordable electricity had the potential to tackle the symptoms and causes of poverty, saying that was why JED was leaving no stone unturned in improving upon its services to its teeming customers.

Rabiu said that Nigeria had improved from 1,000 Megawatts to 2,218 megawatts and out of this volume, JED got 5.5 percent, which translated to 130, megawatts for its state of jurisdiction that covers Plateau, Bauchi, Benue and Gombe states.

N12.25m fraud: Six arraigned in court Rachel Akomolafe

ÏÏÏSix

Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr. Olugbenga Faseluka, planting a tree during the inauguration of tree planting campaign at the state secretariat headquarters in Ado-Ekiti… on Monday.

NASU UI in warning strike over owed wages ÏÏÏAcademic

and administrative activities came to a standstill on Monday at the University of Ibadan as members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) continued their warning strike to demand full payment of salaries and arrears from January 2016 to date.

It will be recalled that staff of the university have since January 2016 been collecting incomplete salaries due to shortfall of allocation from the Federal Government to the institution.

The unions had ordered their members to go home Friday last week after holding a joint congress at the university entrance gate forc-

ing people to trek distances to their destinations.

It was learnt that the Bursar of the university, Mr. Michael Alatise, in a post on the social media, said the university had now received payment of shortfalls covering January to April 2016 with a directive of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, that the money should be paid.

But the workers held on to the keys to major offices, while postgraduate lectures held under special arrangements as the people to open lecture halls rather resumed at their union congress conducted at the main entrance of the institution.

It was gathered that as early as

7a.m. on Monday, the Joint Action Congress of the Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), NonAcademic Staff Union(NASU) and NAAT, stormed the entrance gate for a joint congress and put the entrance gate under lock and key.

While traffic snarl was witnessed at the Agbowo end of the university, people were forced to park their vehicles and trek inside the school but the gate was opened shortly after noon.

Also, while the strike impacted on few faculties left with undergraduate examinations, movement within, into and outside the school were hampered.

The unions said they were forced to take the latest action owing to the failure of the university administration to yield to the demand of commencing full payment of salaries by July ending and arrears of shortfalls from December 2015 to June 2016.

The Chairman of SSANU, Mr. Wale Akinremi, said the congress of the unions had resolved to proceed with industrial action without any further warning following several unfulfilled promises.

The unions are also demanding payment of N15, 000 and N30, 000 hazard allowances for junior and senior staff respectively.

men were on Monday arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly defrauding Nigerian Bottling Company of N12.25million.

They were arraigned before Magistrate Bola. O. Osunsanmi on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and forgery .

The defendants, identified as Sunday Ogundipe, Sunday Idowu, Afolabi Oke, Dickson Oyewole, Kayode Adeleye and Segun, were said to have conspired among themselves to defraud Nigeria Bottling Company, of N12.25Million.

The defendants, who were arraigned by the prosecuting counsel, Inspector Precious Olatunde, were also alleged to have in their possession forged documents purportedly belonging to Abeokuta Local Government and Egbeda Local Government.

According to the prosecution, the defendants carried out these criminal acts on the 25th July, 2016 at about 12:30hrs at Moroko Area, Somolu, Lagos state.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2 , 2016

21

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Edo 2016: Oshiomhole accuses PDP of buying PVCs Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÎGovernor

Oshiomhole

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of buying PVCs from voters in different parts of the state with a view to rigging the September 10 Governorship election in the state.

Speaking at a rally of the

EDITH WEST CHARITY FOUNDATION This is to inform the General public that the above named Association has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1, 1990.

(NAMES OF TRUSTEES (1) ADIKEA-WEST EDITH ADAOBI (2)NWANGUMA URSULA (3) CHARLES UCHENNA NWANGUMA (4) DECLAN KASARACHI OPARAH. AIMS & OBJECTIVE: TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGED. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

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

The Trustees are: 1. Isaac Maduabuchi Ogbonna 2. Blessing Chinelo Ogbonna The Aim and objectives: 1. To promote the welfare and well being of the less privileged.

2. To promote economic empowerment of the less privileged in the society.

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

Signed: Secretary:

MRS ODUKOYA TEMITOPE DEBORAH

OLUSEGUN ADEFULE ADELEKE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS TALABI TEMITOPE DEBORAH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ODUKOYA TEMITOPE DEBORAH All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I, formerly known as OLUSEGUN ADELEKE EMMANUEL wish to be known and addressed as OLUSEGUN ADEFULE ADELEKE. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

OVUFERERE LILIAN OMONIGHO

I formerly known, called and addressed as USIAHON LILIAN OMONIGHO. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as OVUFERERE LILIAN OMONIGHO. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, general public should please take note.

MATTHEW SAVIOUR

DJAPIENGOU JACK YABLIGBE I formerly known and addressed as JACK DYAPIE NGOU now wish to be known and addressed as DJAPIENGOU JACK YABLIGBE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

All Progressives Congress in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, Monday, Oshiomhole said anyone caught in the illegality will be prosecuted and jailed if found guilty.

According to him, “They are going round, collecting PVCs and dropping lies, please don’t sell your PVCs. Poverty cannot be cured with a dash, it has to

be fought on a systematic basis.

“In Agenebode, they are buying PVCs, they will say bring it, we will give you N5,000. Ask them, if they sweat to make the money, will they use it to buy PVC? “Don’t allow them, after impoverishing you, they take N5,000 and stop you from voting. I’ve told the security agencies to moni-

IGWEBUIKE NDI - IMO NETWORK FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ADEJORO SAMUEL OLADUNNI I, ADEJORO SAMUEL OLADUNNI, opened a Savings Account with my father’s name, OLUSA EMMANUEL ADEJORO, now late. I wish to change his name to mine, ADEJORO SAMUEL OLADUNNI as the beneficiary. All former documents remain valid. FirstBank Plc and general public take note.

HOPE FOR THE WORLD EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION This is to inform the General public that the above named Association has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1, 1990.

Trustees: 1. UGOHA Azubuike Mbadiwe Innocent (CHAIRMAN) 2. UGOHA Precious Princess 3. UGOHA Odichaobima Ambrose Umunna (SECRETARY) 4. EZECHIEDO Innocent Ndubuisi 5. TASIE Chijioke Francis 6. OBELE Ngechu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES I. TO ASSIST MENTALLY DERANGED PERSONS; TO CLOTHE THE NAKED AND TO HELP THE SICK. 2. TO OFFER HOPE AND HELP TO INDIGENT PERSONS IN THEIR SPIRITUAL, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, SKILL ACQUISITION AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. SIGNED: THEOPHILUS NDU OKPARA, ESQ RHINOS LEGAL (SOLICITORS) NO. I6, MBARI STREET, IKENEGBU, OWERRI, IMO STATE. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

ORHUA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

THE DOT FOUNDATION FOR THE MENTORING OF YOUNG PERSONS

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. JULIUS IMUETINYAN AHANOR 2. ENGR. (PST) VINCENT ODIGIE OGBEIDE 3. MR. JOSEPH EKHATOR 4. COMRADE SATURDAY UKHUEDUAN OMOIKE 5. MR. JOSEPH AIGBEMARU 6. REV. BENJAMIN OWARE 7. BARR. NOSA PETER OSIFO 8.MR. REUBEN OSADOLOR IGBINOSA THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROVIDE AN EMPOWERMENT TOOL FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ORHUA COMMUNITY Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: IREGBEYEN A. JOHN

OGUNBAYO ABIOLA OLUWAGBEMINIYI MUTIAT I FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EKUNDAYO ABIOLA MUTIAT, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OGUNBAYO ABIOLA OLUWAGBEMINIYI MUTIAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

TITILAYO ABISETU UKANA I FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OMOWA OLOYE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS TITILAYO ABISETU UKANA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

MRS CHIOMA CLARA EGWUNWOKE

EMILIA UZOAMAKA OKONJI (MRS)

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIOMA CLARA OSUCHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIOMA CLARA EGWUNWOKE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly known as EMILIA UZOAMAKA UMEGBULEM wishes to be known as EMILIA UZOAMAKA OKONJI (MRS) All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as, MR. MATTHEW NWACHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as, MATTHEW SAVIOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. ROSEMARY BRIGHT NEMI-KING

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. UKWUIJE NGOZI JACINTA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. CHINANU NGOZI JACINTA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. ROSEMARY EREMINA WILSON BANIGO, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ROSEMARY BRIGHT NEMI-KING. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, DURU CONSTANCE, now wish to be known and addressed as, TORBINA CHIMEZIE CONSTANCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. MILLISCENT JUSTICE AMAH

MRS. OKONKWO VICTORIA UCHECHI

MRS. KELECHI EVERISTA OLOWOSOGA

DABOTA EBENEZER BENSTOWE

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. KELECHI EVERISTA OPARA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. KELECHI EVERISTA OLOWOSOGA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, DABOTA BENSTOWE HART, now wish to be known and addressed as, DABOTA EBENEZER BENSTOWE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. UBIARU UCHECHI VICTORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. OKONKWO VICTORIA UCHECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

tions and they breached all 10 commandments of development, so they died in sin and shall never resurrect in our lifetime.

This is to inform the General public that the above named Association has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1, 1990.

(NAMES OF TRUSTEES (1) NWAJWU JUAN C. (2) EZUMOHA CHINENYEZE POLYCARP (3) ERONINI OC- PRINCE (4) ONWU - OTUYELU CHARRY ADAN (5) ANYALENKEYA BENEDICT UZOMA (6) IKEJI IKECHUKWU. AIMS & OBJECT. TO FOSTER UNITY AMONG MEMBERS. AIMS & OBJECTIVE: TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGED. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

MRS. CHINANU NGOZI JACINTA

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. MILLISCENT MACAULAY AFFIONG ETUKUDO, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. MILLISCENT JUSTICE AMAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

tor, when we catch them they will be prosecuted and jailed, but please, N5,000 will not bail anyone out of poverty.”

The Governor said “when we say the PDP, you actually buried it, we only announced it, and they will remain politically dead. They died in sin, they undermined the people, looted the treasury, failed all the ques-

TORBINA CHIMEZIE CONSTANCE

This is to inform the General public that the above named Association has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1, 1990.

TRUSTEES 1. Titilayo Precious Idienumah Chairperson 2. Eteriota Tope Idienumah Isu Secretary 3. Iyen Idienumah 4. Utana Joy Idienumah OBJECTIVE a) To mentor young people by providing support in leadership roles, impacting life skills, career counseling, training, and academic support for indigent young persons. b) To raise role models, enthusiastic about attaining excellence in academics/skills acquisition. c) To nuture children especially the girl child, respecting, enforcing and protecting the child rights. d) To provide legal aid for indigent people in the society especially young persons. e) To nurture young people to realize that he/she is unique, recognize his/her life’s purpose and aim to achieve excellence Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Onyeka Egbunike Esq. ACHIK & PARTNERS (Legal Practitioners) Suite B1, 3 Military Street Onikan, Lagos Island

NDUJEKWU CHISOM FAITH I FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Muochukwu chisom faith, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Ndujekwu chisom faith. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

MRS NANCY WYCLIFF YUSUF

I, formerly known as Nancy Buba Yusuf wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Nancy Wycliff Yusuf.

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

MRS. BLESSING KELVIN ALLAGOA

NWANELI RICHARD CHUKWUMEZIE

I formerly known, called and addressed as Ewulum Richard chukwumezie.

Now wish to be known, called and addressed as nwaneli Richard chukwumezie. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, general public should please take note.

PEPPLE GRAHAM SOLOMON I, formerly known and addressed as TUOTAMUNO PEPPLE, now wish to be known and addressed as, PEPPLE GRAHAM SOLOMON. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. NONSO GLORIA ONWURA

I, formerly known and addressed as, MRS. BLESSING MONDAY OKODIO, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. BLESSING KELVIN ALLAGOA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. NONSO GLORIA OZOEMENA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. NONSO GLORIA ONWURA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

SULEIMAN KASIM

MRS. SANDRA JAMILA MIHALI

I, formerly known and addressed as, SULE KASIM, now wish to be known and addressed as, SULEIMAN KASIM. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Sandra Jamila Dada, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sandra Jamila Mihali. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

23 News

NMA vows resolution of Lagos election stalemate

Return all funds lodged in foreign banks, Asite tells politicians

Lara Adejoro

Nosa Ogiugo Asaba

ÏÏÏThe

National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Professor Mike Ogirima, has said that the body had an internal mechanism that would look into the division in its Lagos State chapter.

This was against the background of the two parallel executive members that emerged at the just concluded election in the state.

Speaking exclusively with the Daily Times, Ogirima said, ‘I’m aware of the factions, we know there are two factions but we have internal mechanism to look into

it. We will surely look into it.”

Rising from the elections which held last Thursday, one of the factions whose election held at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, elected Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote as its chairman; while the second, whose election held at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos voted Dr. Olubunmi Omojowolo as its chairman even as both were claiming the leadership of the association of the state.

Other executive members in the Odusote’s team are Dr. Adebayo Kayode as the 1st Vice-Chairman, Dr. Sodipo Oluwajimi as the 2nd

Vice- Chairman; Dr. Sunday Luro as the Secretary; Dr. Adegbohun Abosede as Deputy Secretary; Dr. Agbara Joy as Treasurer; Dr. Eluogu Chinedum as Publicity Secretary; Dr. Olibamoyo Olushola as Financial Secretary; Dr. Faddkemk Oladipo as Social Secretary and Dr. Ahmed Obani as the Internal Auditor, while the executive members in the Omojowolo’s team are Dr. Olayinka Atilola as the First Vice-Chairman, Dr. Adegbaju (Second ViceChairman), Dr. Alabi as Secretary, Dr. Sekumade Adebayo as Deputy Secretary, Dr. Uwajeh Kenneth as Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ololade Onasanya as the Treasurer,

among others.

The reason for the polarisation according to Omojowolo’s team was that the Odusote division did not pay dues as member of medical guild and that the national NMA gave him undue backing to influence his emergence.

But, Odusote said, the NMA national body had sent a letter on the 26th of July, 2016 that a neutral venue aside LUTH, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja and College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL), be used for the election.

However, Odusote said he would ensure that the professional body was united.

Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Major General, Rasheed Yusuf (left), presenting a cheque of indemnity under the ordinance officers scheme to the next of kin of late Lt. Safu Ibrahim, Mr. Musa Ibrah, in Lagos… on Monday.

ÏÏÏMoved

by the present economic downturn in the country, the President, Warri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WACCIMA), Chief Simon Asite, has urged Nigerian political leaders to repatriate all funds lodged in foreign banks and join the private sector to grow the economy through agricultural participation and manufacturing.

At one-day Small and Medium Enterprises Development seminar with theme, MSMES Development, through investment in the oil sector held yesterday in Warri, Delta State, Asite said that for fear of persecution, they should create international fund providing organisations directed mainly at the revival of the Nigerian economy, which according to him would be a giant stride in the resuscitation of the agric sector especially if such a programme was done through the collaboration of the organised private sector.

Ebonyi govt. resolves 25 community boundary crises ÏÏÏEbonyi

Unpaid salaries: Kogi labour unions suspend strike ÏÏÏThe Nigerian Labour Congress

(NLC) and Trade Union Congress and (TUC) have suspended the six weeks’ strike action embarked on by the state civil servants.

This followed an agreement signed by it and the State Government to move the state forward after the protracted strike.

The state’s civil servants have been on strike since June 27, to press home the payment if their salaries and other allowances.

The State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Onuh Edoka, disclosed that the organised labour was not against the government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, stating that labour was protecting the

interest of Kogi State.

Edoka explained that the crisis between the labour and State Government was like husband and wife crisis which did not need a flexing of muscles, settled at a round table.

The agreement which was jointly signed by the Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mrs. Ayoade Folashade Arike, Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Alhaji Isa Omade, Special Adviser on Labour and Pension Matters, Halimotu Amodu and Mrs. Lawal H.O. Kehinde on the behalf of government, while the state Chairman of the NLC, Edoka, TUC Chairman, Comrade Ojo Ranti Mathew,

JPSNC State Chairman Comrade Akeji Y. Aaron, State President NUGLE – Tade Adeyemi, NUP – Comrade Ipemida Joseph , SSANU Comrade M.S. Balogun , COEASU – Comrade linus Akphihi, ASUP – Comrade John F Otaru signed on behalf of the organised labour.

In a fourteen-paragraph agreement, labour urged the State Government to make the report of the screening exercise available to all MDAs, LGAs, LGEAs and higher institutions.

It noted that they had taken note of the painful decision to use two banks for the purpose of paying salaries from the bail out, urging that the subsequent payment relating to

bail out or other monies should not be vested in two banks only and resolved that salaries should be paid to individual account directly.

It was also agreed that there should be a review by the State Government on the recent appointment made by the local government areas to reflect the principle of seniority as contained in all relevant extant civil service rule.

Labour demanded that payment of PAYE be returned to status quo ante and agreed that tax refund or tax holiday be implemented by Kogi State University, College of Education, Ankpa in respect of all cases over taxation as approved in 2015.

State Government, on Monday, said that it had settled over 25 community boundary crises which had resulted in threats of war and other related violence looming in almost the 13 local government areas of the state.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the Commissioner for Boarder, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbaga, said that the government had warned various communities in the state to shun all forms of crisis and violence.

She stated the readiness of Governor David Umahi’s administration to ensure that there was adequate demarcation of all the boundaries between one community and other.

“We have a lot of boundary cases which we have put into consideration and peace returned to those places. For now, we have handled 25 cases and some committees were formed. There are threats of war in some communities but we took a decision that we most settle them to ensure peace and order in the state.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

A cross section of women during the distribution of skills acquisition materials to beneficiaries by Bauchi State Governor’s wife, Hajia Hadizah Abubakar in Toro L.G.A of Bauchi State… on Monday.

No court order stopping PDP convention in Rivers – Wike ÏÏÏRivers

State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said that there was no court order stopping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Convention scheduled for August 17, 2016, in Port Harcourt.

This was as he said that the National Convention would hold as scheduled because the court was yet to hear the suit filed by sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff challenging the holding of the convention.

Wike, who made the declara-

tion while addressing the SouthSouth Executive Committee of the PDP at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday, said, “The court could not have sacked Senator Makarfi because it cannot sit on appeal on the judgement of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.”

He added that there was an application to allow Markafi to be joined as a party in the suit, noting that the suit was adjourned to August 15.

The governor explained that

Minister booed over FG appointments in Enugu ÏÏÏMinister of

Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, was on Monday booed in Enugu as he made efforts to defend President Muhammadu Buhari’s perceived lop-sided appointments.

This is even as the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, maintained that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), would remain undaunted despite criticisms trailing the present administration.

At the town hall meeting organised by the Federal Government in Enugu for the people of the SouthEast region, the lop-sided appointments, detention of Biafra activist, Nnamdi Kanu and the “change promises” of the Buhari government took the centre stage.

Also in the front burner was issue of the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, as the Ohanaeze Ndigbo vowed to resist any move by a certain cabal to

remove him.

Both Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and other notable speakers, including Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, urged the Buhari-led government to fulfill its promises to people of the zone.

The governor noted that the appeal had become imperative following the epileptic power supply and bad roads in the country.

He also tasked the Federal Government to make substantial investment in the Ugwuoba Gas Field in Oji River Local Government Area.

He said, “I recall the president’s campaign promise to revive the coal mines in Enugu and utilise it to generate electricity.

“Coal is a major energy source in some countries of the world and we have it in abundance in the state. If this is done it will directly or indirectly create job opportunities for millions of Nigerians.”

the suit challenging the conduct of the convention was yet to be entertained by the court.

Wike stated that the leaders of the PDP in the southern geo-political zones would meet on Thursday to determine the zoning of positions.

He further said that the PDP would emerge stronger from the current challenges as Nigerians were waiting for the party to provide leadership.

On the September Governorship election in Edo State, Wike

said that State Chapter of the PDP would be supported to win the election.

According to him, “the PDP in the South-South cannot be complete until we take over Edo State.

Therefore, I urge INEC to conduct free and fair elections in Edo State and every other state where we have elections.

“I thank the party in Edo State for doing quite well in the campaigns. As an opposition party, they have promoted the party’s chances through committed cam-

paigns,” the governor said.

The National Vice-Chairman of PDP (South-South), Emma Ogidi, commended Wike for using the people’s mandate to transform Rivers State.

He said Wike was a complete party man, who had helped in rebuilding the party through his engagements with party stakeholders across the country.

The South-South Executive Committee of the PDP also conferred an award of excellence on Wike.

Mr. Oyedunmade is dead Ebonyi Assembly to pass ÏÏÏ School of Health Bill

The death has occurred of Mr. Amos Adetunji Oyedunmade. He was aged 55 years.

Born at Akunko Olota compound of Ogbomosho in Oyo State, the late Pa Oyedunmade cut his teeth as a surveyor where he made a lot of inroads before he left practice some years ago.

Oyedunmade A devout Christian, he was an elder at the Christ apostolic Church (CAC), Hossana Chapel, Ikorodu in Lagos State.

Until his death, he was an officer with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief Inspector of Corps (DCIC), an office he held until his death. The late Oyedunmade is survived by wife, Janet Oyedunmade and children, Samson, Mary, Isaiah, Oluwasile and Oluwawibe.

Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏFollowing the continued encroachments into the premises of the School Health Technology, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly is to pass a bill into law backing the school.

The House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Health, Hon. Victor Aleke, who made this known also assured that the committee would help the school to ensure that the fund meant for it in the 2016 budget was released.

The school lamented that the encroachments by the Ngbo community had adversely affected teaching and learning in the institution.

The Principal of the school, Chief Emma Okoro, stated this at the weekend when the state House of Assembly Committee on Health visited the institution.

He regretted that the entrance gate into the college had been blocked by a man who erected a residential building there.

“There is no survey plan for this school. We don’t know what the dimension of the school is. I have written to the Surveyor-General of the state demanding the survey plan of the school and he said he would get back to me. I have not heard from him months after writing the letter.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

25 Foreign

Clinton regains edge over Trump after Democratic Convention ÏÏÏU.S. political surveys are show-

ing that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has regained her edge over Republican contender Donald Trump in the aftermath of last week’s Democratic convention where she and a raft of other speakers attacked his credentials to be the American leader.

Trump, a real estate tycoon seeking elected office for the first time, enjoyed a similar bump in polling against Clinton, a former U.S. secretary of state, after the Republican convention two weeks ago with its barrage of taunts against her.

But now that both of the quadrennial conventions are over, CBS News said Clinton leads Trump 46 percent to 39, similar to her 43-37 lead in mid-June. The television network’s poll in the days after Trump claimed the Republican nomination more than a week ago

showed the race tied at 42 apiece.

CBS also said its latest survey shows that voters continue to hold unfavorable views of both Clinton and Trump, although both of their standings were somewhat improved after their respective conventions. Voters now hold a 36 percent to 50 percent favorableunfavorable view of Clinton, while Trump is at 31-52.

In another post-conventions survey, Public Policy Polling showed a 46-41 Clinton lead in polling that included two other presidential candidates, Libertarian Gary Johnson, with 6 percent support, and the Green Party’s Jill Stein at 2 percent.

“It looks like the Republican and Democratic convention bounces have cancelled each other out and basically left the race where it was a month ago,” said Dean Debnam, Public Policy Polling’s president.

ÏÏÏGabon

president Ali Bongo Ondimba has warned of possible unrest during the August 27 election.

“It is to be feared, because it is the opposition’s strategy for many years,” Bongo said in an interview with the weekly “Jeune Afrique”.

According to him, the opposition has started by announcing that the election will not be transparent.

Country’s constitutional court had last week rejected appeals lodged by three opponents against his candidacy.

The opposition had maintained Bongo was ineligible to participate in the elections and claimed he was adopted from Nigeria in the 1960s by his father and long-ruling former president Omar Bongo Ondimba.

Hillary Clinton

Zimbabwe war veteran arrested for insulting Mugabe ÏÏÏGeneral Secretary of

Mugabe

the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), Comrade Victor Matemadanda, has been arrested on charges of undermining the authority of the president.

Matemadanda becomes the second, high-profile member of the war veterans to be arrested after spokesperson of the group, Douglas Ma-

hiya, was arrested last week and charged with undermining President Robert Mugabe.

Incidentally, he was arrested at the Rotten Row Magistrates Court where he had gone to show solidarity with the arrested spokesperson, the state owned Herald newspaper reports.

The charges of undermining the president emanated from a purported communique released by a section of war veterans who criticized Mugabe and the government.

The government has denounced the statement by the veterans as “traitorous and treasonous”. The two persons risk a year in jail if found guilty of the charges.

Even though the insult law has been challenged at the Constitutional Court by dozens of activists, the court is still to rule on whether the legislation limits individual freedoms.

Mugabe, now 92 and looking increasingly frail, faces growing opposition even from his own ZANU-PF party over his plans to contest the 2018 presidential vote.

Taliban claims attack on Kabul military compound ÏÏÏThe

Taliban has claimed responsibility for a truck bomb attack on a compound housing foreign contractors in the Afghan capital.

The compound served as a military and logistics services base.

The blast, in the early hours of Monday, was so powerful it was heard across Kabul.

The Taliban which claimed responsibility for the attack, in a statement said its fighters had entered the compound. It also said compound was not near homes and that ordinary people were not

harmed.

Local authorities said one policeman was killed and three others were wounded as they fought the assailants throughout the night, killing three Taliban fighters, including the truck driver.

Immediately after the attack, Afghan security forces closed off streets around the site which is east of Kabul’s main international airport and on the way to the sprawling Bagram air base north of the city.

“There was a loud blast and

‘Gabon August polls might be marred by violence’

many people heard it. Then there were sounds of gunshots too. When I came here in the morning, I saw many security forces and they had blocked the two ends of the road so that nobody could enter,” a local resident said.

Not far from Kabul’s main international airport is the Northgate Hotel which is a heavily guarded compound for foreign military and civilian organizations. The heavy security is as a result of an attack on the hotel by militants three years ago.

There were also reports of power outages in Kabul after the blast, with electricity cut off in several areas of the city.

A spokeswoman for the NATOled Resolute Support mission, said they were assessing the situation but gave no details.

The attack comes about a week after the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a demonstration by members of the mainly Shi’ite Hazara minority, killing at least 80 people.

Russia loses helicopter in Syria, 5 killed

A Russian Mi-8 helicopter

ÏÏÏA Russian military helicopter

was shot down on Monday in northwestern Syria, killing all five people on board.

Russia’s defense ministry said the transport helicopter was hit as it returned from delivering humanitarian aid to the city of Aleppo, and that the dead included two officers and three crew members.

“As far as we know from the information we’ve had from the defense ministry, those in the helicopter died,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. “They died heroically, because they were trying to move the aircraft away to minimize victims on the ground.”

Russian forces have been conducting airstrikes in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government since September of last year.

The conflict between Assad’s forces and rebels who want him out of power has been going on since March 2011 when peaceful protests spiraled into a civil war that includes multiple rebel groups as well as Islamic State militants battling for territory.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Law Æ s

Conflicting judgments, harbinger of unnecessary chaos — Ojo Johnson Olalekan Ojo, lawyer to former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late General Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-mustapha, is an experienced legal practitioner with over two decades at the Bar. Ojo, who has fought many legal battles expressed his disappointment in the conflicting judgments over the Peoples’ Democratic Party leadership tussle emanating from the Federal High Court in Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

He also spoke on sundry other issues. PETER FOWOYO, met him.

How do you view the conflicting judgments emanating from the Federal High Court, Abuja and PortHarcourt over leadership crisis rocking the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)? What does this portend for our judiciary?

Well, legally speaking, these courts or judges are judges of concurrent jurisdiction, each judge is entitle to decide any case the way he or she understands it. But there is a situation where there is the need for caution. For example, it does not augur well for the legal profession if conflicting judgments, contradictory judgments emanate from the same Federal High Court; there is a need for caution. It is most undesirable and it is a harbinger of unnecessary and avoidable chaos or confusion in the system.

It is not good. It is a most curious thing and everything should be done to avoid it. It is not healthy for the democratic governance which we are operating in Nigeria, it is most undesirable to say the least and it is disappointing.

What is your assessment of this administration’s fight against corruption? Would you say it is selective?

I do not agree that the fight against corruption is against the opposition. It must be remembered that the so called opposition was in power for about 16 years. It is therefore inevitable that the members of the PDP, the party that has been in power should be affected. The mere fact of the bulk of the criminal defendants as at today, in our courts, come from the PDP should not warrant any accusation of a selective fight. President Buhari is going after those who are involved in the administration of governance in this country for the past four or eight years.

There should be no eyebrow raised because it was the PDP and its people that were in power, that occupies various position of governance in parastatals, ministry and other agencies. So, it is inevitable. In any event, the president told us some weeks ago, that any APC member who is found wanting, he said such person should come up with evidence, I can assure you, if there is any prima facie case against any APC member, the anti- corruption agency would move into action. It is not selective. They must understand the type of person our president is, he has zero tolerance for corruption, regardless of whether you are PDP or APC member. I don’t believe that it is selective.

Are you suggesting those who cross carpet from PDP to APC are not corrupt like their counterparts who are investigated and prosecuted?

That will be judgmental, I cannot judge. What I am saying is that there is no prima facie evidence of their being found wanting. There is a difference between being found wanting and haven being shown to be found wanting. The Yoruba people has an adage that there is nobody whose anus would not give out odor if that anus is checked. I cannot give a clean bill to anybody. But before the anti-corruption agency will move, there must be prima facie evidence of having being found wanting. If they come up with that against any of them, they will move. Let them come up with evidence. You don’tjust assume because somebody has been governor for eight years therefore he must have stolen. Come up with evidence. That would be suspicious, it would be speculation. The police cannot work on speculation, the police

Ojo

cannot work on suspicion or the people want so and so to be probed therefore we are going to probe them, no, that is not fair play as far as I am concerned.

The Attorney-General of the Federation in line with section 174 (1) of the constitution and sections 105 (3), 106 (a) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act ordered the retrial of some ex-governors who have either been tried and cases concluded or cases on-going. Can a concluded case be re-opened?

This is a very, very important question. When a case has been concluded on the merit, let me limit myself to criminal cases because your question has to do with criminal matters. A criinal case is between the government represented by either the state or Federal Republic of Nigeria and the criminal defendant. Where such a case is concluded natu-

rally, there is what we call a plea of ultra vouis, acqitass, there is what we call res judicata. So if a case has been concluded and it went in the favor of the defendant that case can never be reopened again.

If it is re-opened, let me be cautious, they can come, technically, they can come but where they come, the defendant will then raise a plea of ultrevous aquitas that is, I have been tried in respect of this same case before, I have been acquitted, this case cannot be re-opened, the case is closed. They cannot re-open concluded cases.

The only aspect and this is going to give us serious problem particularly concerning the directive for the re-opening of the late Chief Bola Ige’s case. Assuming there is fresh evidence linking, establishing or capable of establishing the guilt of the criminal defen-

dant who has been acquitted on the merit, we are going to have some problems. Do you now want to adduce additional evidence or you want to annul that judgment?

In some developed jurisdiction like US, it is possible to move by way of judicial review to quash, to annul the previous judgment.

It can work both ways. Where it becomes clear that the conviction was erroneous, wrongful, you move to annul it but, as at today, the legal framework in Nigeria does not allow that to happen. As at today, it is a legal impossibility to try Senator Iyiola Omisore again concerning the murder case of Chief Bola Ige. We are waiting. It is legally impossible to re-open that case vis-à-vis as it may concern Senator Iyiola Omisore.

But the case can be re-open in respect of new defendant, if it is CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

now clear that there is Omotola Olawunmi, who was involved, who could have been charged alongside Senator Omisore, those ones can be re-arrested and tried that one is possible.

But for somebody who has been tried and acquitted, to now say come and face trial, that would be double jeopardy, it is not possible in law.

What is your take on the allegation of budget padding scandal rocking the House of Representatives?

Thank you for describing it as a mere allegation. I will proceed on two assumptions. One, if it is allegation, you probably not say anything about it but assuming it is an allegation that can be established that will constitute the commission of criminal offence.

Abuse of office, official corruption and an attempt to steal, because they have abused their office, if they had succeeded, the amount involved could have been cleverly removed from the budget and misappropriated. I would want to believe that it is a mere allegation but, if it is established, those responsibly must be seriously dealt with and I am in support of the call for the investigation of that very weighty allegation. A plot to steal this country of close to N50 billion is a serious matter which should be seriously investigated. I support the investigation of those alleged to have been involved and if there is a prima facie case against them they must be prosecuted.

How do you view the move by the 8th National Assembly to confer immunity and life pension on presiding officers?

Let us talk first about the immunity. There are two issues; the first one is whether or not they have the power. I would say yes, they have the power. We have given them power to make laws and nobody can inquire into the motive for reenactment of any law. But speaking for myself, doing that at this stage is capable of heating up the polity. Anybody can say it is because some of them who are facing trials that that is the only way to save Saraki, Ekweremadu and the rest.

But I stand to be corrected, I do not support the extension of the immunity to the principal officers of the National Assembly, we don’t need it. People are clamoring for removal of immunity for the president, vice-president, governors and deputy governors and you want to extend it again.

Very soon they will say extend it to local government chairmen and speakers and other principal officers of the States Houses of Assembly, we don’t need it in Nigeria particularly in our country

27 Law

Re-opening Bola Ige murder case, legally impossible-Ojo

OJO

‘‘People are clamoring for removal of immunity for the president, vice-president, governors and deputy governors and you want to extend it again. Very soon they will say extend it to local government chairmen and speakers and other principal officers of the States Houses of Assembly.’’

where corruption has become cancerous, we don’t need it here.

I don’t support it and that is not to say they don’t have the power to do so, they have the power to do so and if they do so, so be it.

As to pension, it is unnecessary. The whole essence of pension for maybe the president is because when somebody has been president, we don’t want him after leaving that office to suffer or to start looking for one contract or the other or begging people for money. But if you are a majority leader, possibly you are 45 years and you leave the Senate as a majority leader and you are saying they should continue to give you pension when you can work. Apart from that they already have severance packages, their severance packages are more than enough for them. Let them go and work.

Because in Nigeria there is pervasive poverty, it is not proper to start using the national wealth to service principal officers to pay them pension and gratuity, no, it is most unhealthy, it is not good at this stage of our democratic experiment. When our economy is buoyant perhaps they can do that but not now. People are dying of hunger. It is immoral at this stage when our economy is in recession, you are thinking of pension for principal officers. I minced no words in condemning it. It is immoral.

There’s a rumor making round that the president has ordered N2 billion to APC governors for the removal of the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu. What is your take?

I don’t agree, honestly, I don’t agree. In this country there are many bogus unsubstantiated allegation. The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is too busy for that. He is too decent for that. He will never do such a thing. It is one of such bogus, wild allegations being made, being circulated by some mischiveous elements in this country against Mr. president.

He won’t do that. He can never do that. He has much more serious matters to attend, much more important issues bothering him than releasing N2 billion to chase someone away. I trust him.

The senate leader said there was nothing like the president trying to remove him and that if there was such a move, it would end up in colossal failure because it requires two third. I have never seen that as any serious threat at all. It is a huge joke and we need not bother ourselves with such joke.

Wife of the President, Aishat Buhari, has sued Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose over allegation of her involvement in Harlliburton scandal. Can a governor be

sued under the constitution?

Do you know I didn’t believe and I still don’t believe it because every lawyer knows that a governor enjoys immunity but the only exception, well, no law says you cannot file an action, if you file it, you will just keep it there and what is the sense in filing a suit that you cannot prosecute?

A governor cannot be sued but the governor can sue. You remember governor Fayose said he was not aware of any suit because the suit cannot be served on him, if you can’t serve him then there is no way.

But why should a governor who cannot be sued due to his immunity has the power to sue? I mean is it constitutional?

During the second republic, this case came up, it is the case of Concord Press Nigeria Limited vs. Olabisi Onabanjo. Olabisi Onabanjo sued Concord Press and Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN of blessed memory who appeared for Concord Press raised this issue saying you governor you cannot be sued how then that it is unconstitutional for you to now sue in fact, he argued it is against the spirit of the constitution and also against what he called parity equality of treatment.

Chief G.O.K. Ajayi SAN who appeared for governor Olabisi Onabanjo merely said that is what we have in the constitution

and the court had no difficulty in dismissing the objection of Concord Press Nigeria Limited.

As usual, it was characteristically ably canvassed and argued

by Chief Gani Fawehinmi but, argument cannot change the law.

The governor can sue but he cannot be sued. That is the law until it is changed, it has not been changed, it remains the law and there is nothing unconstitutional there.

You have appeared in so many high profile cases among them was the former CSO to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Al-Mustapha vs. state which terminated at the appellate court but since then you have been silent for a while. What is the reason behind your quietness?

I have continued my practice in the criminal domain. After Mustapha’s case, it is because I don’t indulge in unnecessary search for publicity. I was involved in the Bode George case and I appeared for Alhaji Zainama Deribe, he was the 5th appellant. I was in that case both at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. I was involved in the Rev. King’s case at the Appeal Court. Recently in Ibadan, I was involved in the case of the former NURTW boss, Alhaji Mukaila a.k.a Auxilliary. I represented him, judgment was delivered about three weeks ago.

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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Etisalat empowers 100 entrepreneurs with life skills, equipment g 30

Huawei half year results reveal 25% growth in smartphone sales

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Nigeria: Telecom industry as next dependency after oil Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Nigeria’s telecoms sector has continued to witness exponential growth in the economic sphere of the country after oil, touching every aspect of our national lives and contributing significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) placed at over 438billion.

A critical analysis and report done by the Nigerian Bureau for Statistics (NBS) obtained

by Daily Times stated in clear terms that the telecoms sector fared fairly in Quarter one (Q1) 2016. The sector increased to 5.00 percent from 3.49 percent in the last quarter of 2015.

The growth in the telecommunication sector marked a sharp contrast with the whole economy which recorded a growth rate of -0.36 percent in Q12016.

Telecommunications in GDP and growth In real terms, the telecommunications sector contributed 1,411.74 billion to GDP in the first quarter of 2016, or 8.83 percent, an increase of 0.5percent points relative to the same quarter of the previous year. In contrast with previous years, this percentage contribution is only marginally smaller than in the previous quarter when the percentage was 8.83 percent In contrast with the economy as a whole which recorded a real growth rate of -0.36 percent in the first quarter, growth in the telecommunications sector increased to 5.00 percent in the first quarter, from 3.49 percent in the final quarter of 2015.

The share of telecommunications in total real GDP had declined throughout 2010 to 2014, but for the last five quarters growth in telecommunications has been higher, meaning the trend has reversed.

The subscription base of the telecom sector has increased rapidly over the past decade; at the end of 2005 there were 19,519,154 subscribers, but by the end of 2015

there were 151,017,244, which is equivalent to an increase of 13,149,809 every year.

However, growth has been declining more recently, possibly as a result of high market penetration leaving less room for large expansion. In March 2016, there were 148,745,464 subscribers compared with 143,934,208 in March 2015, which represents an increase of 4,811,256 or 3.34 percent.

Notably, this represents a decrease of 1.50 percent relative to the end of the previous quarter; this is the first quarterly decrease on record.

Subscribers by State of registration The NBS reports that in Nigeria, Lagos State accounted for the largest share of active voice subscribers with 19.04 million or 12.8 percent of the total, followed by Ogun State with 8.53 million subscribers or 5.7 percent,

Kano State with 7.81 million or 5.25 percent, Oyo State with 7.53 million subscribers or 5.06 percent of the total, then FCT and Rivers State with 6.03 million (4.05 percent) and 5.84 million (3.93 percent) respectively. On the other hand, Bayelsa (1.11 million), Yobe (1.40 million), Ekiti (1.42 million) and Ebonyi (1.43 million) had the smallest number of active subscriber as of first quarter (Q1) 2016.

Lagos State was the dominant market for all of the active voice telecom companies accounting for 10.05 percent of MTN total voice subscribers (followed by Ogun, Kaduna and Rivers in that order); 10.03 percent for Glo (followed by Oyo, Niger, Ogun and FCT in that order); 16.0 percent for Airtel (followed

by Ogun, Kano and Oyo); and 19.1percent CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

FG ready to curb cybercrime threat to national security -Shittu Okowa, Uwaje, others support digital economy as Delta launches innovation SHITTU hub g 31 Minister of Communications

The Minister of Communications, Barr. AbdulRaheem Adebayo Shittu, has said that the global cybercrime threats to national security has broadened government horizon to protect the nation’s cyberspace.

The minister made this remarks at the just ended NGSecure Infosecurity Conference put together by DIFENSORE at Four Point By Sheraton, Lekki, Lagos, while speaking on the theme: Cybersecurity Framework For National Security, stressing that in view of the critical nature of the economy and government activities, it is obvious that

protection from different types of cyber and terrorist attacks is required.

Shittu said cyber space is being exploited to aid radicalization, violent extremism and that government has realised that those tasked with the responsibility to protect our cyberspace: information security and Cybersecurity can no longer function within a framework of the past.

To address the emerging cyber threats, he said,“the government has setup computer emergency response teams through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and National Information

Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

“Additionally, to further improve the nation’s preparedness to secure cyberspace, the Cybercrime Advisory Council has also been inaugurated. The council is expected to facilitate the implementation of the Cybercrime Act, 2015, and as well as the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy”.

The minister said, however, that there is a need for accelerated ICT development to foster inclusive development and address rising youth unemployment and other developmental challenges.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Huawei half year results reveal 25% growth in smartphone sales YU

Stories by Tony Nwakaegho

Huawei Consumer Business Group has declared its 2016 half year financial results with sales revenue in the first half of 2016 increased by 41 percent year-on-year to CNY¥ 77.4 billion ($11.6 billion).

Smartphone shipments stood at 60.56 million, a year-on-year increase of 25 percent.

According to IDC, global smartphone shipments in the first half of 2016 increased by just 3.1 percent, indicating that Huawei’s growth has significantly outperformed the market.

Huawei’s flagship products, such as the P9, Mate 8, Honor V8 and MateBook, have been well-received by consumers worldwide. The sales volume of the Mate 8 witnessed increase by 65 percent when compared with sales of the Mate 7 during the same period in 2015.

Furthermore, 4.5 million P9 and P9 Plus devices have also been sold, of which the number of devices sold internationally increased by 120 percent when compared with sales of the P8 during the same period in 2015.

In the first half of 2016, Huawei Consumer Business Group further optimized its

29 Tech Times

Group Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Consumer Business

revenue structure, resulting in growth in overseas markets 1.6 times faster than that of in mainland China.

According to GFK, by the end of May 2016, Huawei’s share of the global smartphone market reached 11.4 percent. Among the USD 500-600 smartphone market, Huawei’s share has increased by 10 percent.

It noted particularly that strong results were recorded in European smartphone markets and breakthrough in high end market has been made.

GFK disclosed that Huawei’s smartphone market share has reached over 15 percent in some

European countries. In the traditionally high end market, such as UK, Germany and France, Huawei has achieved breakthrough in the high end market as well.

In key countries from North Africa and South Pacific, Huawei have gained some breakthroughs on market share. In Egypt, Huawei’s smartphone market share has reached over 20 percent and in New Zealand, Huawei’s share has reached over 15 percent.

Strong sales growth was also achieved in emerging markets in Latin America and Central Asia. In some

AVM Udoh canvasses technology for terrorism call interception, others

The advancement in technology has been canvassed in many climes including Nigeria, as a channel to attain economic prosperity, growth and overcome most security problems as well as threat to human life such as terrorism.

Air Vice Marshal Victor Udoh, chief of Defence Space Agency (Nigeria) made the remark during a presentation at the just concluded Nigeria Computer Society 26th National Conference tagged #NCSAbuja2016.

Speaking on the “Use of Information Technology in Counter-Terrorism’, Udoh listed biometric which incorporates fingerprint, Iris and DNA technologies for identification; geo-locators; lawful intercepts and forensic and use of open source intelligence and ethical hacking to address the terrorists use of social media.

He cited robots for explosives destruction; use of remote sensing satellites, ISR platforms, radars, electronic fencing and aerostat balloon for surveillance, as other measures critical to curbing the excessive of terror groups in the

intercepts and forensic analysis to track terrorists.

“IT systems are usually employed to locate the current location of terrorists and thereafter continue to track the target until arrest is made.

There are also IT systems that are employed for lawful intercepts and Forensic analysis of terrorists handsets and/or laptops, he added”.

Highlighting on the ‘Use of Open Source Intelligence and Ethical Hacking to address the terrorists’ use of social media’, he said, “IT software are often use to counter the use of the Internet by terrorists for recruitment, fund raising and Chief of Defence Space communication. Terrorists can Agency also be tracked by being their friends on SM. Ethical Hacking society.

Commenting on the biometrics and DDOS attacks are employed to AVM Udoh said, “The ongoing disrupt and/or deny the terrorist effort to provide National Identity use of cyberspace. Terrorist Card for all residents in Nigeria radio broadcasting using internet would go a long way to address the protocols have been disrupted in challenge of multiple identities. the past by this method, while radio Other efforts in this direction stations using frequencies are usually include BVN, e-Passport and traced using direction finders before Driver’s license. There is also an destruction”.

AVM Udoh charged the IT effort to have a unified database of professionals for more assertive residents”.

He also called for the use of solutions stressing that “Most of the devices such as geo-locators, lawful IT solution use for counter-terrorism

UDOH

are imported. Foreign Currency is becoming expensive. Security of life and property is threatened daily by terrorists and other vandals. As IT Professionals, what can we contribute to counter-terrorism (safe life and make legitimate earnings?)”

AVM Udoh, while commenting on the ‘Role of IT Professionals in Counter-Terrorism, called for improved concentration on research and development; collaboration among government, industries, academia and security agencies; sponsorship of IT competitions in institutions and converting ‘NonEthical Hackers (Black Hat)’ and ‘Yahoo Yahoo boys’ to ‘Ethical White Hat Hackers’.

“Undoubtedly, the security of citizens globally is being threatened by activities on non-state actors in the form of terrorism. Obviously, technology (IT) and intelligence are used to enhance counterinsurgency,” he stressed.

He explained that the significant victories recorded against terrorists by the security agencies in recent time underscores the fact that effective intelligence and technology (IT) is required to curb insurgency.

countries, Huawei’s year-onyear smartphone sales has doubled.

In China, Huawei remains the industry leader with a market share of 18.6 percent, according to GFK report in June.

Commenting on the half year results, Richard Yu, group chief executive officer, Huawei Consumer Business said, “We saw particularly fast growth in traditionally high-end smartphone markets such as Europe and emerging markets including North Africa, Central Asia & Latin America.

“We have continued to maintain healthy growth within the highly competitive smartphone market, which is testament to Huawei’s long-term commitment to innovation, anticipation of consumer trend and dual strategy of focusing on both domestic and international markets. Looking to the future, we will continue to work with our industry partners to offer consumers excellent levels of service and develop innovative new products that combine technology, quality and style.”

Having consistently demonstrated significant sales growth, Huawei Consumer Business Group continues to show a deep commitment to innovation in research and development from its R&D centers around the world, alongside repeated breakthroughs with its products, channels and brands.

As of May 2016, there were 35,000 retail stores around the world offering Huawei products, an increase of 116 percent on the same period last year.

GFK stated that Huawei global shops coverage has reached about 150 thousand globally.

In 2016, Huawei was once again named in the BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands.

The brand has endeavoured to continue investing marketing resources in sports, lifestyle, fashion and entertainment, amongst other categories, which helps to bring the brand to life and connect with consumers across the globe, increasing awareness and recognition of Huawei worldwide.

Huawei also continues to work with many market-leading partners including Leica, Swarovski, Harman Kardon, Audi, Google, Microsoft and Intel, amongst others, to offer consumers advanced industry innovation.

Huawei is well-positioned to continue its presence in the smartphone, wearable, smart home and cloud markets, becoming itself into an endto-end solutions and platform service provider, and offering consumers a more convenient and intelligent way to connect their lives.

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Etisalat empowers 100 entrepreneurs with life skills, equipment Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications operator, Etisalat, in partnership with O.A.Bella Resources, has empowered 100 individuals with basic life skills and basic equipment to help them maximize their potentials through the establishment of startup businesses.

The beneficiaries were pulled from six communities in four states in the South-East and South-South regions, which include Oromeruezimgbu, Rumuokuta and Awalama Communities in Rivers State, Yenizuegene Community in Bayelsa State, Usogun community in Auchi, Edo State and Uburu community in Ebonyi state.

Speaking during the presentation of certificates of participation and starter packs to the beneficiaries, Head, Government and Community Relations, Mohammed SulehYusuf said the Community Skills Set Programme is tailored towards creating entrepreneurs and setting up community-based enterprises in the beneficiary states.

“Etisalat believes in building sustainable societies and empowering communities which is what we are doing with the Community Skills Set Programme.

We are complementing the vision of the respective states to empower their youth to become selfreliant and socially responsible entrepreneurs who will in turn set

Oracle acquires NetSuite in $9.3bn transaction

R-L: Abdulwahab Umoru, Specialist, Community Relations, Etisalat Nigeria presenting a gift bag to HRH Maxwell Benin Okereke, the Obenaken of Yenizuegene Community with support from Mohammed Suleh-Yusuf, Head, Government and Community Relations and Tochukwu Okafor, Community Relations Officer, both of Etisalat Nigeria at the presentation of Certificates and Starter Packs to the beneficiaries of the Etisalat Community Skills Set Programme held at Yenizuegene Community, Bayelsa State recently.

up community-based enterprises,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Francis Wokoma whose organisation, E.O. Bella Resources, conducted the training, described the initiative as heart-lifting and a timely intervention that will guarantee a future for the beneficiaries particularly in the face of instability and rising unemployment rate across the country.

One of the beneficiaries, Amaka Amadi from Rumuokuta community in Rivers State also spoke about the impacts of the initiative on her, describing it as an eye-opener.

“I believe in creating useful things my hands and not carrying my certificates about looking for someone to employ

me. I do not know how others see opportunities, but when I am given one, I take it a step higher.

I have been trained in soap and floor cleaner making, and I will do more research on soap and cream making. I have been given some useful tips which I want to build on, and I am really grateful for that.

Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate is put at 38 percent according to a recent World Bank statistics.

However, there are arguments that the figure realistically is 80 percent with secondary leavers mostly found among unemployed rural population accounting for about half of this figure while University and Polytechnic graduates make up the population.

Austin Okere bags NCS Presidential Award for ICT promotion in Nigeria The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has conferred on the Founder of Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Mr. Austin Okere its Presidential award for his enormous contribution towards the promotion and sustainability of Information and Communications Technology in Nigeria.

NCS, the umbrella body of all IT professionals in Nigeria, noted that the award is in recognition of Okere’s invaluable contribution to the Society, as well as the enhancement of professionalism in Nigeria.

Mr. Iyiola Ayoola, the acting Executive Secretary of the NCS while presenting the award to Austin Okere at the NCS annual conference held in Abuja recently, added that the special Presidential Award, which was created to reward notable Individuals was given to him because he has created a niche for himself in the IT industry by promoting the teaching, usage, development and application of Information

Austin Okere receiving the Nigeria Computer Society Recognition Award from Mr. Iyiola Ayoola, the acting Executive Secretary of the NCS Technology for human capacity development and economic growth in Nigeria.

“Okere has proven to be a role model to so many youths in the country’s ICT industry, which various statistics show is contributing close to 10 percent to Nigeria’s GDP . His passionate energy towards growing IT in Nigeria cannot be overlooked,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Okere expressed appreciation to

the NCS for the honour of the recognition and dedicated the award to his colleagues and other stakeholders at CWG Plc. “Today I feel very connected to the saying ‘if I stand tall, it is because I am standing on the shoulders of giants’. It resonates very deeply when I consider the strong team that I have been blessed to work with”, he said.

Daily Times recalls that the NCS’s Presidential Award adds to Okere’s numerous roll

of recognitions and awards as he was also named the ICT Personality of the year and a fellow by the NCS in 2014.

Austin Okere has led CWG Plc, from being a start-up in 1992, to become the leading player in the ICT sector providing business enabling solutions across the Financial, Telecoms and Oil Sector, with aspiration to be the largest cloud provider in Africa by 2020.

With offices in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Cameroon; Computer Warehouse Group Plc is a major promoter of social impact investment, providing needed technology to Small and Medium Enterprises on a subscription bases.

The company was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as the largest security in the ICT sector. The company was recognized in 2014 by the World Economic Forum as a global growth company, based on her phenomenal growth, global corporate citizenship, executive leadership and impact on the competitive landscape of the ICT industry in Africa.

Oracle has disclosed that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NetSuite, the very first cloud company in a transaction valued at $109.00 per share in cash, or approximately $9.3 billion.

“Oracle and NetSuite cloud applications are complementary, and will coexist in the marketplace forever. We intend to invest heavily in both products – engineering and distribution,” said Mark Hurd, Chief Executive Officer, Oracle.

“We expect this acquisition to be immediately accretive to Oracle’s earnings on a nonGAAP basis in the first full fiscal year after closing,” said Safra Catz, Chief Executive Officer, Oracle.

Evan Goldberg, Founder, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman, NetSuite, said “NetSuite has been working for 18 years to develop a single system for running a business in the cloud. This combination is a winner for NetSuite’s customers, employees and partners.”

Commenting, Zach Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, NetSuite, said “NetSuite will benefit from Oracle’s global scale and reach to accelerate the availability of our cloud solutions in more industries and more countries. We are excited to join Oracle and accelerate our pace of innovation.”

The evaluation and negotiation of the transaction was led by a Special Committee of Oracle’s Board of Directors consisting solely of independent directors.

The Special Committee unanimously approved the transaction on behalf of Oracle and its Board of Directors.

The transaction is expected to close in 2016. The closing of the transaction is subject to receiving certain regulatory approvals and satisfying other closing conditions including NetSuite stockholders tendering a majority of NetSuite’s outstanding shares in the tender offer. In addition, the closing is subject to a condition that a majority of NetSuite’s outstanding shares not owned by executive officers or directors of NetSuite, or persons affiliated with Larry Ellison, his family members and any affiliated entities, be tendered in the tender offer.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

31 Tech Times

Okowa, Uwaje, others support digital economy as Delta launches innovation hub Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has advocated a paradigm shift from dependence on revenue from oil to revenue generation from knowledge-based development.

The governor made this remark in Asaba at the public presentation of the Delta State Innovation Hub (DSHUB) cum commissioning of Innovation Hall of Fame and the E-Government Academy.

Communications Minister, Barr.

Adebayo Shittu, accompanied by leading names in Information Communication Technology (ICT) including Leo Stan Ekeh of Zinox Group, Ms Funke Opeke of MainOne, Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu among others graced the occasion.

The minister lauded the state for the initiative and tasked the government to ensure regular power supply to the centre which he said represents hope of a prosperous Nigeria.

The Director-General of the DS-IHUB, Chris Uwaje, said the initiative will be positively disruptive and would create an unequalled digital economy not only for Delta State but for Nigeria and Africa at large.

He described the IHUB as a knowledge factory where ICTsavvy youths and adults would be made.

of Etisalat voice subscribers (followed by Ogun, Kadunaand Rivers in that order) Mobile Subscribers (GSM) In March 2016, the total number of GSM subscribers was 147,398,854, an increase of 5,756,018, or 4.06 percent relative to March 2015. This was less than half the size of the year on year increase in December 2015 of 8.78 percent.

The difference in trends that began in August 2015, between MTN and Etisalat on the one hand and Globacom and Airtel on the other, continued into the first quarter of 2016.

Despite a slight recovery for both providers in March, Etisalat and MTN still saw their subscriber numbers fall, from 22,161,290 in

all concerned and sustainable for generations yet unborn.”

He specifically, called for sponsorship to enable the state “establish a Delta State Innovation Development Fund – IDF; encourage all youths to acquire computer skills and encourage e-governance and digital literacy skills in the civil service and other institutions; because it is worthy to inform you that we are having full benefits of ICT as our land administration is being fully digitalized, with greater ease of doing business.”

The Director-General of DS-HUB, Mr. Chris Uwaje had earlier said the innovation hub was in line with Governor Okowa’s SMART agenda adding that, “DS-HUB is a unique knowledge factory with an enabling environment specially designed for originating innovation, building innopassion, developing creativity and promoting information sharing for building functional new knowledge for the delivery of all-inclusive technology solutions and support services.

“Our faculties includes: e-government, ICT innovation platform, software & auto-card platform, multimedia centre, business process platform, e-library, research & e-learning centre, CBT practice & mentoring centre.”

Globacom’s respective shares of the total number of GSM subscribers in March 2016 were 22.98 percent and 23.48 percent, higher than in any previous month over the last two years but nevertheless still significantly lower than MTN’s share of 38.70 percent. Etisalat accounted for the smallest share as in previous quarters, with 14.84 percent of subscribers.

GSM internet subscriptions Of all GSM users, a total of 92,285,052 had an internet subscription with one of the four carriers of Airtel, Etisalat, Globacom and MTN in March 2016.

This means that of all the active GSM lines, 62.61percent had an internet subscription.

Over the quarter, Globacom recorded the largest increase of 5.77percent, compared with 1.90percent for Airtel and 0.35percent for Etisalat.

Globacom and Etisalat have both increased their share of total internet subscription numbers between March 2015 and March 2016, from 18.62percent to 26.53percent for Globacom and from 10.19percent to 15.24percent

for Etisalat. Airtel’s share was comparatively stable, and increased from 16.60percent to 17.16percent.

Porting Activities NCC introduced Mobile Number Portability (MNP).Porting activities refer to the transferal of subscribers to different network carriers. Therefore, incoming porting activities refer to those subscribers that have joined a network, whilst outgoing porting activities refer to those whom have left. The NBS report indicated that the first quarter of 2016 recorded an increase in the number of porters relative to the first quarter of 2015. However both incoming and outgoing porting activity fell from peaks in the third quarter of 2015.

There was total of 51,301 incoming porters in the first quarter of 2016, compared to 42, 843 in the same quarter of 2015, an increase of 19.74percent. This was largely as a result of an increase of 159.97percent in the number of subscribers switching to Airtel, although Globacom also saw an increase of 42.55percent compared to the final quarter of 2015 when there were 52,335 porters; there was

a slight decline of 1.98percent.

Outgoing activity increased by 20.81 percent between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016, from 43,849 to 52,973. As in previous quarters, this change was driven to a large extent by MTN, who saw an increase in outgoing porting activity of 48.07 percent over this period. In contrast to incoming porting activity, there was an increase of 0.72 percent between the last quarter of 2015 and the first of 2016.

Comparing the incoming porting activities with the outgoing, emphasises the extent to which Etisalat benefits, and MTN loses out from such activities.

As with the total number of GSM subscriptions, there was a clear divergence between Globacom and Airtel on the one hand, and Etisalat and MTN on the other. The first two providers recorded strong increases in incoming activity, both year on year (of 42.55 percent and 159.97 percent for Globacom and Airtel respectively) and quarter on quarter (of 104.26 percent and 23.41percent respectively).

Gov Okowa (right) certified as Delta launches innovation hub in Asaba The Chief Executive of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, an innovator and ICT entrepreneur also commended the state for the gesture and effort to build a digital economy.

He donated 25 laptops to the centre, while urging the drivers to stick to their original dream of causing digital disruption in the global ICT ecosystem.

According to the governor, “Delta State Innovation Hub –

Nigeria: Telecom industry as next dependency after oil CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

from Oil to Knowledge-based Development is important in our state because, innovation is critical for long-term economic growth and sustainable development in both developed and the developing world.”

He added, “it fosters regional, national and global competitiveness, creates employment and helps to address and resolve major social conflicts in any given society.

“In moving away from oil to a knowledge-based development, there is a comprehensive economic development blueprint and strategy to build technologically based skill capacities, support and empower entrepreneurs, generate new employment model for our youth, create wealth and reduce poverty,” the Governor said.

“In driving the state’s economy, we are developing an innovation and science agenda as a key component in bridging the huge gaps and deficiencies in our education, health, industry, entertainment, governance, social and state security systems,” he stressed.

Governor Okowa also commended the ICT experts for their interests in partnering with his administration to develop an innovation hub and create job opportunities, stating that the “Innovation Hub – DSIHUB – can attain noble heights if we put our minds to work and in moving this project forward.

We will rely on the support and patronage of Delta State citizens at home and in the Diaspora, entrepreneurs, the academia, students, industry leaders, stakeholders, and indeed, all friends of Delta State, to ensure that this enviable knowledge venture is not only successful, but significantly beneficial to

December to 21,877,542 in March for Etisalat (a drop of 1.28 percent) and from 61,252,387 in December to 57,045,721 in March for MTN (a drop of 6.87percent). Each provider also recorded a year on year decline, of 1.61 percent and 6.71percent respectively.

By contrast, Airtel and Globacom continued their uninterrupted upward trend in subscriber numbers; Airtel recorded monthly increases of 2.75percent, 1.33 percent and 0.81 percent in January, February and March 2016, and Globacom recorded increases of 0.59 percent, 2.75 percent and 1.78 percent. As a result, Airtel had 33,866,798 subscribers in March 2016, which is an increase of 18.08 percent relative to March 2015.

Globacom had 34,608,793 subscribers, which is an increase of 17.01 percent over the same period. Airtel’s and

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AG. DAILY EDITOR: SAM NSE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.164

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CAF U-17 AFCON:

Golden Eaglets battle Junior Menas Aug 6

Action recorded between Golden Eaglets and the Junior Menas at the 2015 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Shameful!

Team Nigeria fail again to fly out to Rio N

igeria Olympic team have for the second time failed to fly out of their training base in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, AfricanFootball.com revealed.

Officials however remain hopeful that they may now travel to Brazil today.

“Top officials are running around to ensure the team finally leave on Tuesday,” a top source told

AfricanFootball.com “They have been at the sports ministry trying to make sure everything about their ticketing and departure is sorted out today at the latest.”

Dream Team VI were originally scheduled to fly out of the USA for Rio on Friday, but could not as their tickets were not ready.

The Nigeria Football Federation

(NFF) then announced that the team will depart for Rio on Monday.

Their opening match is on Friday by 2am Nigerian time against Japan.

Sweden and Colombia are the other teams in their qualifying group.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has picked Saturday, August 6, and the National Stadium, Abuja to host this weekend’s CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between the Golden Eaglets and Junior Menas of Niger Republic.

Nigeria’s Eaglets, who won a record fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy in Chile last year, were drawn bye into the second round by CAF in the race towards Madagascar 2017 and will now start their quest against their familiar foes in the Junior Menas.

Last year, the Eaglets came fourth at the continental cadet

championship hosted by Niger Republic, where they inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Junior Menas in front of their fans at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché in Niamey.

Incidentally, Saturday’s match will be the fourth encounter between both sides in the last four years with the Golden Eaglets also claiming a 10-1 aggregate win in the qualifiers for the 2013 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco.

Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s qualifier, the Golden Eaglets will on Wednesday tackle Piloter Football Academy of Kaduna at the National Stadium, Abuja in what will be their seventh friendly match against local teams.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

CBN awaits evidence of extra provision on dollar loans by banks Page B3

AfDB commits $300m to Page B2 train Nigerian youths on agric, vocational skills

Worry over looming dangers in aviation sector

Page B7

Lagos to commence N25b employment fund disbursement in Sept.

Nigeria regains ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Complex

Joy Ekeke Lagos State Government has announced that the disbursement of N6.25billion being the first tranche of N25 billion, Employment Trust Fund, (ETF), to beneficiaries would finally commence in September, 2016, aimed at stimulating the Small CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Opeoluwani Akintayo A recent investigation by the Daily Times has revealed that the Abuja electricity distribution company, AEDC, has breached the local content law as it concerns the localising of management and control of the oil and gas industry.

The bill received presidential assent on the 2nd of April 2010 and created a law to provide for a framework towards indigenous content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The law establishes the Nigerian Content Monitoring Board which is charged with the responsibility to manage the coordination, monitoring and implementation of local content law.

Simply put, the local content law specifies that Nigerian independent operators should be accorded “first consideration” in the award of any contract and

Fashola releases power generation forecast for 2016-2019

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

L -R: Chairman of Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Mr Pramod Mittal; Minister of State for Solid Minerals Development, Mr Bawa Bwari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, during the signing of the Re-Negotiated, Ajaokuta and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe’s concession agreement at the Presidential Villa In Abuja on Monday.

Abuja DISCO breaches local content law positions and that Nigerian service companies should also be given “exclusive consideration” for contracts and services.

Enforcing the local content with regard to the top management staff in Abuja Disco has been taken with a pinch of salt, and even the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, which ought to serve as the enforcement arms has done nothing as regard the situation.

AEDC was acquired by the KANN consortium, a Joint Venture between Zambia’s Copper Belt Energy Corporation (CEC) and a local partner, Xerxes Glob-

al Ltd. The consortium has a 60 percent interest in the DISCO, while the Federal Government retains 40 percent. However, it has emerged that there are serious operational and managerial breaches of the laws of Nigeria and guidelines established by the NERC. According to investigation, the first breach is that majority of the top management of AEDC are from South Africa and Zambia, representing CEC. The local content regulation

by NERC states that no power company should have more than five percent of its management

staff as foreigners. However, Abuja disco has about 70 percent, including its CEO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The Abuja Disco has also been accused of lacking required local experience to manage the zone.

According to a report by analyst, Olatunji Badmus titled ‘Is Abuja Disco Complying with NERC’s Regulation on Local Content?’, those representing CEC on the board come from the experience provided by Copperbelt Energy, which supplies power to about 15 to 30 large customers in the copper mines of Zambia.

“The management there-

Opeoluwani Akintayo

“We are expecting that our generating capacity will be over 6, 000 megawatts by the end of 2016, 10, 000 in 2019, and 30, 000 megawatts in 2030, and as planned within the maxim of incremental, stable and un-interrupted power.”

Fashola also stated that Buhari is determined to achieve its target of solving the nation’s power challenge through infrastructure building and attraction of private investors to the sector.

According to the Minister, the recent Memorandum of Understandings, MoUs on the Power Purchase Agreements, PPAs

signed between the Federal Government and 14 companies for the generation of energy through Solar system are some of the steps taken to ensure full power supply in the country.

Nigeria’s power generation capacity worsened this year due to consistent oil and gas pipeline vandalisms by oil militants in the Niger Delta.

The attacks which had affected gas generation, had crashed power generation from over 4000 megawatts during the last administration to about 1.400 megawatts to the national grid.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has released power generation forecast for 2016 through 2019.

Represented by the Minister of State Power, Works and Housing, Hon Mustapha Shehuri during a visit by officials of the International Monetary Fund, IMF over the weekend, Fashola said that power generation will be over 6, 000 megawatts by the end of 2016, 10, 000 in 2019, and 30, 000 megawatts in 2030.

The Federal Government on Monday took a major step in its plan to revitalise the steel sector as it signed a renegotiated concession agreement with Global Steel Holdings Limited for the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe.

By the new agreement, the Ajaokuta Steel Complex has now reverted to the Federal Government, effectively freeing the entity from all contractual encumbrances that had left it uncompleted and non-functional for decades, while GSHL retains NIOMCO. The new agreement, which came after four years of mediation, was signed at a short ceremony presided by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in his office at the presidential villa on Monday.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, signed on behalf of the government, while the Chairman of GSHL, Prammod Mittal, signed on behalf of the company.

The Minister of State for Solid Minerals Development, Abubakar Bwari; the International Mediator, Phillip Howell-Richardson, and top officials of the Ministries of Justice and Solid Minerals Development also witnessed the signing ceremony.

Due to lack of gas, 8 out of 23 power plants are presently lying idle without a single kilowatt being generated by them.

For instance, Geregu Power plant, Alaoji National Integrated Project, NIPP, Omotosho NIPP, Olorunsogo NIPP, Ihovbor NIPP, Trans Amadi, Rivers and Gbarain NIPP are presently not generating power.

Gas Turbines (GT) 11 and 12 of the 276-megawatt Geregu power plant have stopped generating electricity due to gas shortfall, while its GT 13 is out on maintenance.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Medview takes delivery of B747-400, arrives with 400 passengers

Lagos to commence N25b employment fund disbursement in Sept.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Med-view Airline lived to its billing yesterday (Monday) when it took delivery of a B747400 and operated it for the first time on its schedule flight from London- Gatwick with 400 passengers on board.

The operation was made possible with the approval of the British Civil Aviation Authorities with the switch from B767300ER to B747-400 The 463 passenger capacity aircraft with Medview Airline livery touched down the Murtala Muhammed International airport at 7.30 am on Monday.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

and Medium-sized Enterprises of the state economy.

The state government however, warned that it would not hesitate to apply the section of the Employment Trust Fund Law 2016, that prohibits false declaration of data which attracts both fines and jail term on conviction.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, his counterpart from Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti and Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Mr. Kehinde Joseph made the disclosures at the Awareness/Sensitization programme on how to access the fund by interested entrepreneurs, held in Alausa, Ikeja.

The event which held at Adeyemi Bero auditorium was largely attended by artisans, market women, young entrepreneurs, party leaders among others.

Durosinmi-Etti said, “The disbursement of the fund will commence in September this year.

The reason for the delay is for the board to finalize the process for accessing the funds.”

He explained that the repayment of the fund will be determined by the profession which the fund was borrowed for.

According to him “The fund is to spur the beneficiaries, engender the development of entrepreneurial spirit among the youths and residents to tackle the problem of unemployment.

We believe that with this measure in place, more residents will participate in the economic growth of the state.

“This approach is one of the many strategic adopted by this administration to enhance productivity, reduce social conflict and ensure socio-economic growth of the state,” he added.

Ambode

An elated Med-View Airline Managing Director/CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the aircraft will be used to consolidate Lagos-London route operations as well as the Hajj operations, pointing out that opening up the transatlantic route was on the front burner He said a B777-200 will join the fleet this week to coincide with the airline 10th Anniversary of its foray into Hajj operations.

Alhaji Bankole said three jumbo jets - B777-200, B747-400 and B767-300ER will be devoted to the 2016 Hajj operations, which begin next week - August 8, 2016.

LCCI to drive economic development through capacity building Charles Okonji

Dore

AfDB commits $300m to train Nigerian youths on agric, vocational skills Joy Ekeke The Africa Development Bank, (AfDB), has announced plans to spend about $300million to train Nigerian youths on agriculture business and other relevant skills that will make them self-reliant.

The youth empowerment programme will be implemented in the 36 states of the federation.

Country Director of the bank in Nigeria, Dr. Ousmane Dore, disclosed this on Friday in Zaria, Kaduna state, at the launch of the bank’s 2016 Annual Economic Outlook, (AEO).

Ousmane said the project was targeted at the graduates who would be trained in He explained that at the end of the training the graduates would be assisted with funds to start their agriculture businesses.

“We will incubate them into existing farms and agriculture business and once they go through that incubation period, we will then propose and give them the funds.

“That has been the missing link, how do you train them and send them out without funds , you need to give them money so that they can set up the farm,”

Ousmane said.

He said already the AEO has 100 million dollar project in Kaduna state in collaboration with the Islamic development Bank and the CBN to deliver the water project, adding the bank hopes to assist the current administration in its reform programmes.

“This is a state that we believe can show good example in the federation because of the effort put in place for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and one of the states that have introduced Treasury Single Account (TSA) and with a lot of reforms ongoing, we believe a lot of reforms are ongoing in the public finance side.

“We want to start with states that are ready and we believe Kaduna state has all the requisite to be among the first states to benefit from this 300 million dollars programme.

“The project is in partnership with the state and federal government and their counterparts is to provide land , so they get the funding and the land and they are ready to go. I can assure you that what I have seen in Kaduna is the best practices that other states can emulate,” Ousmane said.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated its readiness to build the capacity of young entrepreneurs to drive the economic development of the country.

Mr Muda Yusuf, Director-General of LCCI said this in a statement to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

According to him, the LCCI mentoring program which is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the Chamber will contribute to national development by instilling an entrepreneurial mindset among youths.

He said that the programme that would be a Mentor-Mentee Matching ceremony would hold on Aug. 5th at Ikeja.

“This will afford the mentees to brainstorm, innovate on how to improve their business processes as well as solving problems facing their business operations with the assistance of their respective mentors. “It will also help young entrepreneurs to build their capacity and benefit from the rich experience of their mentors.”

The Director-General emphasised that “the initiative is a way of developing change-agents, who will place Nigeria among the top economies in the world.”

Wimibiz launches Re-strategizing to Win in a Volatile Economy In celebration of its 15th year anniversary, Nigeria’s foremost women’s focused NGO, Women in Management, Business & Public Service (WIMIBIZ) is holding a Special Edition Roundtable and formal Induction Ceremony of new members.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been confirmed as the Keynote Speaker at the event which will hold on the 10th of August 2016.

The event will also feature other influential speakers across the business and private sectors, with over 300 women from the private and public spheres in attendance.

According to a statement from the group, the Special Roundtable themed “Half-Time 2016: Re-strategizing to Win in a Volatile Economy” will inspire women to raise their aspira-

tions and strategically position themselves as the next frontier of development in Africa and indeed the world. Given the volatile economic climate, it is expected to offer strategies and unique perspectives for leveraging opportunities and thriving in the dynamic Nigerian economy.

“The Roundtable will further deepen our impact in Abuja and provide an opportunity for women across a broader geographical, sectoral spectrum with special emphasis on the public sector to interact and network. We are very conscious of the need to broaden our scope nationally to ensure full participation of all women across various ethnic, demographic and socio-economic backgrounds and are confident that this Roundtable will further consolidate our efforts in this respect,” it stated.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Stories by Motolani Oseni Following the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) operating in the country are expected to immediately set aside extra provisions against their dollar loans, the apex bank now waits to receive evidence of such extra provision unfailingly by 3rd August, 2016.

Although, commercial banks have begun trying to restructure their loan books, but in a circular issued recently, the CBN instructed lenders to send evidence of the extra provision by this Wednesday.

The local currency has dropped 40 percent since June when Nigeria ditched its 16-month-old peg of 197 naira to the dollar in a bid to lure back foreign investors who had fled after a plunge in the price of crude oil, which is the Nigeria’s major dollar revenue source.

Meanwhile, almost half of DMBs loan books are denominated in dollars and the apex lender had asked commercial banks after the naira float to ensure that portions of their

B3 Money Market

CBN awaits evidence of extra provision on dollar loans by banks

L – R: Tony Ibeziako, Head, Domestic Primary Market, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE; Akin Akinfemiwa, Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc; Julius Omodayo-Owotuga, Group Chief Financial Officer, Forte Oil Plc; and Tunji Rabiu, General Manager, Operations, Forte Oil Plc at the Facts Behind the Figures presentation at the Exchange …on Monday.

loans that had become exposed due to the sharp falls in the naira were fully provided for on their income statements.

The CBN, has not quantified the increased in the balances of banks’ dollar loan books, which have been put under pressure not only by the drop in the naira but also by a contraction in the economy, and an acute shortage of foreign exchange, all a consequence of the slump in the oil price.

Non-performing loans are expected to jump to 12.5 percent of total loans this year, up from the central bank’s target level of 5 percent at the end of last year, as lenders suffer a hangover from an oil sector credit boom that ended abruptly in 2015, according to Agusto & Co, Nigeria’s main rating agency.

However, there are commercial banks that have borrowed heavily in dollars, would have to source for more naira to service such foreign debts.

Meanwhile, the nation’s currency, naira, closed at N316.37 against the dollar on Monday at the interbank market, gaining total points of N18.13 from N334.50 exchanged per dollar last week.

FX sales to BDCs: Why CBN may sanction banks over non-compliance on directive Nearly two weeks since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directed sales of foreign currency proceeds of international money transfers to Bureaux De Change (BDCs), indications are rife that banks and money transfer agents are reluctant in implementing the directive.

The Central bank is pushing to see that BDCs are integrated into the dollar flow mechanisms that would boost liquidity and expand the forex playing field.

In a move to increase the volume of dollar in the market and stabilise the naira, the apex bank may now compel commercial banks to sell foreign currency proceeds of international money transfers to the BDCs. In one of the regulator’s recent circulars to the lenders, titled: “Sales of foreign currency proceeds of international money

transfers to BDCs”, signed by its Acting Director, Trade & Exchange, W.D Gotring, CBN, said that the policy shift was intended to ensure the stability of the exchange rate and boost participation of all critical stakeholders in the foreign exchange (forex) market.

The naira closed on Friday at N375 to the dollar in the parallel market, and exchanged at N330 to dollar in the official market. The local currency has lost over 35 per cent of its value against the dollar since January. Last January, CBN stopped all forms of forex sales to BDCs, accusing them of round tripping and frustrating the policies meant to stabilise the naira.

But despite the stoppage of dollar sales to BDCs, the naira has continued to depreciate.

However, the volume of funds

Following the enthusiastic participation by operators since the initiative was launched two years ago, Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, has expanded the scope of its capacity building workshop for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

Over two days in August, the

Stanbic IBTC boosts SMEs with capacity-building initiative sessions will hold in eight cities across the country. They are Abuja, Ibadan, Kano, Lagos, and Onitsha.

Others are Port Harcourt, Aba and Enugu. While the event will hold simultaneously in Abuja, Ibadan, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt and

coming from the Diaspora remittances is expected to hit $35 billion yearly, following the tactical devaluation of the naira, which remains an incentive for more dollar inflows to the economy.

Gotring directed all authorised dealers, who are agents to approved International Money Transfer Operators to sell foreign currency accruing from inward money remittances to licensed BDCs with immediate effect. He explained that all International Money Transfer Operations were required to remit foreign currency to the agent banks for disbursement in naira to the beneficiaries, while the foreign currency proceeds shall be sold to the BDCs. “The foreign currency proceeds of International Money Transfer sold to BDC operators shall be retailed to end-users in

Aba on August 9, it will be the turn of Onitsha and Enugu on August 10. Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Babatunde Macaulay, said the course content and resource persons, who are experts in manpower development,

compliance with the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws and observe the appropriate Know Your Customer principles, including use of Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs)”.

Gotring urged authorised dealers and BDCs to render returns on their operations daily and monthly to the CBN through the Electronic Financial Audit SubSystem (e-FASS) application in accordance with extant regulation, failing which there would be sanctioned, including withdrawal of dealership licence.

Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) President Aminu Gwadabe has said the international money transfer monopoly enjoyed by Western Union and MoneyGram would soon be broken.

He said the CBN is process-

have been carefully chosen to ensure participants derive maximum benefits from the seminar.

“We have streamlined the seminar course content to include essential topics such as Book Keeping and Financial Management;

ing new applications from prospective operators to widen the international money transfer space, adding that accepting new entrants into the international money transfer market would strengthen the naira and get the country out of its currency crises.

Emefiele

Operational Efficiency; Customer Relationship Management and State of the Nigerian Economy.

The seminar is a unique offering

by Stanbic IBTC Bank to develop and sharpen participants’ business skills,” Macaulay said.

Labour B4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Ngige seeks investment in aquatic sector Minister of Labour and Employ¬ment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has called for increased investment in the fisheries sector to create more jobs.

The minister who was a Special Guest at the 14th Fellowship and Award Ceremony of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Abuja, charged the stakeholders to tap into the potentials of the sector for wealth and job creation for the army of unemployed youth.

Na¬tional Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Osita Izunaso, speaking at the occasion

Ngige

Stories by Joy Ekeke Jobless youths in the country were on Saturday urged by a former Works Minister, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe to acquire skills in order to tackle unemployment and economic hardships in the country.

Ogunlewe, said at the graduation ceremony of “Free Computer Training Programme’’, organised by Mr Olusola Sokunle, a lawmaker, PDP-Oshodi Isolo Constituency I, in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Ogunlewe noted that increasing rate of unemployment was a threat to the future, safety and security of the country, stressing that skills acquisition could be used to tackle the menace.

The youths of today do not need to concentrate only on formal education; you must be able to do something with your hands.

There is nothing you cannot become, if you know what are doing and where you are going; Youths can make billions of naira if they embrace entrepreneurial skills.

Most youths can become great, if they pursue their careers with proper planning, passion and focus’’.

According to him, many youths can also become successful as cooks, singers, computer experts, fashion designers and

Shooting, killing of workers in Nasarawa inexcusable, says TUC

noted that his party would not be deterred by the volatile product in its commitment to fulfil its campaign promises.

The APC chieftain restated that the major plank of the party’s manifesto was economic diversification. He made this clarification when he was conferred with hon¬orary fellowship, urging Nigerians to key into the agriculture road¬map and other relevant economic programmes of the President Mu¬hammad Buhari-led administra¬tion.

National President of FISON, Dr. Olajide Ayinla, in his open-

ing remarks, thanked the government for its interest in fisheries as an al¬ternative way to putting the econ¬omy on the path of growth, add¬ing that there was need for more incentives to the private investor.

No fewer than eleven notable Nigerians were conferred with honorary fellowship for their con¬tributions to the development of fisheries, including the President of African Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Ogunlewe prescribes skills acquisition as way out of poverty caterers.

Ogunlewe, however, warned them against negative influences from peer groups, urging them to use the skills for societal development.

In his remark, Sokunle said, “we are graduating no fewer than 130 students from our computer training institute that was established purposely for empowerment of the youths of Oshodi/ Isolo Constituency 1.

The computer training exercise is part of my mission to rebuild our teeming youths and the environment, such that Oshodi will be among the best areas in Lagos and the country.

I understand the fact that political power is to be used for the benefit of the people because it is through the people that political elite gain power to develop the society.

I will continue to use education to rebuild the youths of Oshodi and also to position them in the right direction.

I will continue to do my best in developing our youths because they are leaders of today and

tomorrow; an investment in the youths is an investment in the future of the nation’’.

Sokunle, then enjoined them to utilise the skills they had acquired to be good ambassadors of Oshodi. “I urge you to use the skills to empower yourselves, family and society.

Use your skills to explore digital business, digital communication, online marketing, graphic designs and animation. The door of great opportunities will be opening to you”.

In her remarks, Mrs Amidat Anifowose, the Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Education District VI, said that skills acquisition would help youths to become self-reliant, as well as be employers of labour.

Unemployment has become one of the greatest challenges facing our nation today; most employers now believe in skills and not in certificate acquisition.

It is important to know that the government has done a lot to help the youths to be independent — employers of labour and not employees,’’ Anifowose said.

Ogunlewe

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has said that there was no reason to use bullets to intimidate and cow workers from insisting on their fundamental rights.

The workers were shot at during a joint visit of the organised labour to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State in Lafia on Friday.

The TUC in a statement by its President, Bobboi Kaigama and Acting Secretary General Sime-

so Amachre, in Lagos said that a worker died and two others were injured after the shooting.

According to the statement, leadership of TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) went to visit the governor when the police stationed at the gate of Nasarawa State Government House shot at them.

“We are distraught that labour leaders who went to dialogue with the government over the unlawful 50 per cent cut in

workers’ salaries in the state were confronted with such act.

“We are especially shocked that the incident happened while the new Commissioner of Police in the state was also there visiting the governor,’’ the TUC said.

It explained that the shooting was uncalled for because the workers were unarmed and their protest was very legitimate and peaceful.

“It was inexcusable to em-

ploy force against innocent workers who, apart from not being paid promptly, had their salaries unlawfully cut by 50 per cent.

“Security operatives are supposed to protect life not waste same. We urge the workers in the state to remain calm and law-abiding,’’ it said.

The TUC called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that officers responsible for the shootings are prosecuted.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

B5 Energy

World Bank raises oil price forecast, as oversupply persists Stories by Opeoluwani Akintayo The World Bank’s latest forecast for crude may not go down well with the market, depending on your disposition to interpreting the numbers.

The good news however is, the World Bank raised crude oil’s price forecast this year to $43 a barrel from $41 a barrel in its April assessment.

The bad news is- according to analysts, prices are still expected to end the year lower compared with current levels.

Brent was traded at $44.80 a barrel Tuesday afternoon in Asia.

It said oil prices jumped over a third in the second quarter due to undersupply and strong demand, so a fall in inventories was expected going into the second half of the year.

“The oil price rebound reflects a number of supply disruptions that removed up to 2.5 million barrels per day of production at peak during May and June, with large losses concentrated

in Canada due to wildfires and in Nigeria due to militant attacks on oil facilities. In addition, there were disruptions in other countries, including Kuwait, Iraq, and Libya,” added the World Bank.

Despite a higher forecast compared with the previous estimate, the prediction still represented a 15 percent decline from 2015 as the fall in excess inventory was partly offset by new supply coming on-board.

The World Bank said production from non-OPEC countries declined, but OPEC production rose, as Iran produced more after Western sanctions were lifted.

Global demand meanwhile, remained strong, “albeit slowing.”

“Downside risks to the energy price forecast include higherthan-expected output and further weakening in growth (of emerging market and developing economies). Supply disruptions among key producers could lead to higher prices,” the World Bank added.

L-R: GM, Portfolio Deepwater SNEPCo, Sophie Pokima; Football Captain of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos, Toyin Gbolahan; and the Provost of the College, Dr. Siji Olusanya, presenting a Pele-autographed Brazil Jersey to the captain after the Pele Power The Field Challenge in Lagos.

ConocoPhillips reduces 2016 capex Ïj ƏƆƐƑƏ ƌ ƏƆ ƅ Ɛ shareholders ConocoPhilips declared a high quarterly loss as the company lowered its planned capital expenditures for the year but increased its production forecast for 2016.

Its executives laid out a plan to increase payouts to shareholders as prices recover. The share price was were down marginally last week, according CNBC. For the second quarter, ConocoPhillips reported a loss of 86 cents per share, or $1.1 billion.

Earnings adjusted for certain expenses showed a net loss of 79 cents. Analysts expected a loss of 61 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters.

The report is the fifthstraight quarterly profit loss for the company as it reported a loss of 15 cents per share, or $179 million last year.

The company further lowered its capital expenditure plan for 2016 to $5.5 billion from a previ-

ously stated $5.7 million. It had lowered its guidance in each of the last two quarters.

Still, the company increased its full-year production guidance to 1.540 million to 1.570 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

“The price environment remains challenging, but our business is running well and we continue to beat our production, capital expenditures and operating-cost targets,” ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance said in a statement.

In a note, Wells Fargo said the reduced capital and operating expenses and higher-thanexpected operating cash flow — $1.23 billion versus Wells’ projection for $1.14 billion — compensated for the earnings miss.

The company said it would try to achieve “annual real dividend growth,” meaning the payout would have more purchasing power in light of inflation. But ConocoPhillips does not plan to raise the absolute level of the dividend from 25

cents a share.

“We’re not going to be trying to increase the dividend annually to get to the place we were before we cut the dividend,” Lance said.

Instead, Lance said ConocoPhillips would seek to return 20 to 30 percent of free cash flow to investors through occasional share buybacks. He said executives would determine when it would make those payouts based on the price of oil and the value of its shares.

“As prices recover, the dividend payout we have today doesn’t represent enough return to shareholders in a recovering price scenario,” Lance said.

The first round of buybacks would be aimed at offsetting any share dilution related to ConocoPhillips’ employeebased stock ownership plan, Lance explained. The company would also prioritize the payouts over investing in its portfolio, but could do both under the right circumstances, he added.

PwC’s capacity enhancement workshop for journalists 2016 International auditing firm, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, PwC, has held a one-day capability enhancement workshop for journalists, especially Business related writers.

The workshop held in Lagos on Friday, 29, saw Business journalists from various media houses in Nigeria, gather to have their skills and knowledge sharpened for the challenges of everyday media reporting.

The training featured sessions such as Technology & Journalism where participants were taught on how to take full advantage of the diverse technology and social media platforms to promote both their profiles and their writings.

The session was taken by Technology and Innovation Lead, PwC, Victor Olorunfemi.

Journalists also had some Health Talk- taught on the types of work related stresses and how to manage them. Journalists are to also report any form of stress mostly from their superiors which could disturb them from functioning well at work. Session

was taken by Dr. Fadahunsi Fajuyitan from Medicine and Surgery, UNILAG. The Budget: Analysis & Reporting facilitated by Partner, Head of Tax & Regulatory Services, PwC, Taiwo Oyedele, touched upon how to analyse, report and spot loopholes in the budgets.

Lawyer and Associate Director, PwC, Moshood Olajide, took The Freedom of Information Act, FOI, where journalists were enlightened on what the FOI Act is and how to use it in obtaining information in public service organisations in Nigeria.

After the training, participating journalists were presented with certificates of participation.

PwC is in 157 countries delivering services in assurance, tax and advisory services.

In Africa, it has close to 400 partners and over 9,000 people in 34 countries. PwC with offices in Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt, has been operating in Nigeria since 1953 through its predecessor firms of Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Stock market report

Equities market compresses farther, as investors lose N57 billion

L-R; President/CEO, Erisco foods limited, Chief Eric Umeofia, Director General, FIIRO, Chief (Mrs.) Gloria Elemo and Hon Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnanya Onu, during the official tour of the Minister to Erisco Foods Limited for the confirmation of the Art Tomato paste processing Plant in Lagos… on Monday. Photo: QUADRI OLOWOLAGBA.

Forte Oil to raise N50b fresh capital Ï^Ə ƉƆƅƐ Mơơ ƄƈƋƋƈ ^ j Ƅƕ ƕƆ Ə Ɔ Ɨ Stories by Afolabi Adesola Nigerian indigenous upstream and downstream player Forte Oil Plc has said it is expected to raise N50 billion debt capital before the end of 2016 financial year. The group Chief Executive Officer of the oil and gas company, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, said the company has completed a capital raising program and discussion is ongoing with the management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The debt capital according to the Group Chief Financial Officer Julius Omodayo Owotuga will be carried out in tranches which may be between 15 billion or 10 billion. With the hope to raise equity capital in the near future. Forte Oil boss at the company’s ‘facts behind the figures’ on the floor

of NSE on Monday, said the company is optimizing and expanding its Geregu Power Plant asset, and is working towards growing its market share to 20 percent from 14 percent currently owned.

Speaking on the company’s strategic focus areas before the ended of the year, he said “Forte Oil is to increase supplies of petroleum products imports as full deregulation kicks in and foreign exchange availability increase.

Forte Oil had reported a profit after tax increase of 23 per cent from N2.5 billion in June 30, 2015 to N3.1 billion in June 30, 2016, While revenue also appreciated 38 percent to N84.4 billion from N61.2 billion.

According to Akinfemiwa, the power business contributed 5 percent to revenue and 15 percent to profit before tax as a result of low

generation due to ongoing major overhaul project and gas supply constraints due to security challenges in the Niger Delta region.

Going forward, the management plans to aggressively follow up on upcoming business opportunities toward ensuring a positive outcome.

With its aggressive plans, the group’s CEO remained optimistic that the company is well positioned to meet and exceed the 2016 targets of eleven billion in profits before tax, having presently achieved six billion naira in the first half.

Forte Oil group operates in two geographic regions namely Nigeria and Ghana, it engages in the marketing of petroleum products, which is divided into fuels, production of chemicals, lubricants, greases and power generation.

Dangote Flour returns to profit following reacquisition

Dangote Flour Plc has reported a profit after tax of N2.8 billion for the third quarter (9 months period) ended 30th June 2016 compared to a loss of N9.1 billion recorded for the same period of 2015.

The group also reported a revenue of N49.9 billion compared to N33.1 billion representing a 50.6 percent growth, while profit before tax rose to N2.64 billion from a loss of N9.6 billion recorded for the

first nine months of 2015.

Dangote Flour, which was formerly Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc, incurred losses for years after Tiger Brands purchased the flour mill business from Dangote in 2012, but after three years of losses and millions of dollars in write downs, Tiger Brands sold its 65.7 percent stake in the business back to Dangote for $1.

Equities transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed the week and the month of August on a negative note as investors recorded a loss of N57 billion on the first trading day of the month. Market Capitalisation closed the day at N9.562 trillion against its opening figure of N9.619 trillion.

The NSE All-Share Index (ASI) closed the day at 27,843 basis points 0.60 percent down from its opening index of 28,009.93 basis points.

Topping the day’s losers was Oando Plc as it dropped 9.46 percent or 53 kobo to close at N5.07 per share; followed by Transcorp Plc which shed 9.16 percent or 12 kobo to close at N1.19 per share. PZ Cussons Plc closed at N17.60 per share having lost 5.38 percent or one naira; Cutix Plc closed at N1.52 per share following a loss of 5 percent or 8 kobo ; while Dangote Sugar Plc lost 5 percent or 35 kobo to close at N6.65 per share.

On the flip side, Total Oil Plc

led the day’s stock gainers as a result of a declaration of N3 interim dividend declared to close at N200.09 having appreciated by 10.24 percent or N18.59 per share; Airservice Plc rose 9.41 percent or 16 kobo to close at N1.86 per share; Flourmills Nigeria Plc added 6.44 percent or N1.30 to close at N21.50; Dangote Flour gathered 5.38 percent or 25 kobo to close at N4.90 per share; while Honeywell Flour Plc closed at N1.60 per share representing an increase of 5.26 percent or 8 kobo from its opening value of N1.52 per share.

The three most traded stock of the day was UBA which accounted for 101.4 million shares valued at N466.3 million FCMB traded 55.8 milion shares worth N84.3 million; and GUARANTY exchanged 52.3 million shares valued at N1.3 billion.

At the end of trading investors had exchanged a total of 331.7 million shares valued at N4.750 billion in 4114 deals.

Summary of activities on NSE ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

27,843.00 4,114.00 331,691,360.00 4,750,227,609.86 9,562,661,890,231.05

Stocks of Total Nigeria Plc led the gainers chart yesterday as it added 10.24 percent or N18.59 to close at N200.09, following the company’s announcement of its half year results which showed a profit after tax of N8.9 billion for the six months period ended 30 June 2016. The profit represents a 271 percent appreciation from N2.4 billion declared as profit in the same period of 2015.

Revenue jumped 30 percent to N145.5 billion from N111.9 billion, Profit before tax also rose 199 percent to N12.9 billion from N4.3 billion, as basic earnings per share improved to N26.31 from N7.10 per share in H1 2015.

The company thus proposed an interim dividend of N1.02 billion which translates to N3, with Qualification date set at 19th August, 2016 and payment date 6th September, 2016. The company noted that closure date for its register is 22nd to 25th August 2016.

Total stocks rally as it grows profit, declares interim dividend

Onyema

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

B7 Features

Worry over looming dangers in aviation sector Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo That the ministry of aviation seems to have no clue as to giving policy direction to the aviation sector has been particularly worrying, such that stakeholders are wont to conclude that nobody is in charge.

The sector, according to them, is in an intensive care unit and needs someone who is adept at handling delicate cases to attend to it and bring it back to life.

In the area of airport infrastructure, stakeholders are worried that very little has been done to complete most of the laudable projects started by the previous administration.

It would be recalled that in 2011 the federal government embarked on airport infrastructure renewal to modernize the 22 airport terminals across the country.

Within two years, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport was built; the Benin, Sokoto, Yola, Ilorin, Enugu, Owerri airport terminals, the international terminal at the Kano Airport with accompanying hajj terminal as well as a new GAT at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with a hajj terminal were remodelled.

The Abuja Airport was rehabilitated in addition to the expansion of the international terminal at the Lagos Airport.

Rehabilitation work at the airport terminals in Jos, Makurdi, Ibadan, Akure, Calabar were at advanced stages of completion; some of them were over 80 per cent completed before the previous administration left office.

But it seems government’s effort had come to naught as the contractors handling various construction projects at the 22 airports suspended work due to non-release of funds.

The only ongoing projects at the major airports are the four new terminals built by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) under public-private partnership (PPP).

The $500 million China’s Exim Bank terminals were originally due for completion between February and March 2016 but the completion time was rescheduled for the last quarter of the year. But that time is not even uncertain.

Stakeholders are also concerned about the protracted scarcity of aviation fuel or JET A1 which has led to incessant flights being delayed, rescheduled or cancelled. What is sur-

prising about the acute shortage of the product is that it was deregulated, just as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) commonly called diesel and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). Yet, since the fuel scarcity that paralysed economic activities in the country, AGO has been available, whereas Jet A1, which now sells over N260 per litre, has been scarce.

The development has taken the shine off air travel as airline passengers know when they buy the ticket but are unsure when the aircraft will fly them to their different destinations.

For a problem which persisted for many weeks, it was only recently that the federal government expressed concern about the plight of air travellers.

To assuage air passengers, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued a belated statement urging passengers to exercise caution while expressing their grievances as the airlines “are grappling with the challenges thrown up by the non- availability of Jet A1.”

“The Authority wishes to inform all passengers that it is well aware of the prevailing scarcity of Jet A1 which has inevitably led to flight cancellations and delays by the airlines.

“NCAA has also taken cognizance of concerted efforts being made by the airlines to ensure that all passengers are ferried without any hitches.

“The federal government is already engaging all the stakeholders involved with the procurement and distribution of aviation fuel to ensure availability in earnest,” said NCAA. Besides, training of aviation personnel, both locally and overseas has been jettisoned despite repeated calls that training and re-training of personnel is sine qua non to the growth of the sector.

The National Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA), for instance, cried our recently that no fund had been provided for the training of its members.

Its president, Mr. Victor Eyaru has described the development as “scary” saying in the last three years no air traffic controller had been trained in radar control despite the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency’s (NAMA) commitment to the provision of 24 hours radar control services.

“Paucity of fund in the agency is slowing down timely renewal of facilities and training of core aviation professionals in statutory areas to ensure proficiency in air safety.

“They also told us that the national carrier project was nonnegotiable and a committee was hurriedly put in place. But thereafter, we were told the national carrier is not an immediate priority, while also closing the doors of an alternate option of building national airlines from the troubled private carriers.’’

Sirika

“ATCs form only 12 percent of the total staff strength of NAMA as opposed to 45 and 70 per cent for other sister organisation in some other countries.

Only 40 out of 300 ATCs have been trained in Performance Base Navigation (PBN) thereby hampering its scheduled provision with effect from December 2012,” he said.

In other aviation parastatals like NCAA, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), training of staff has been halted.

In a highly technical agency like AIB, its commissioner, Dr. Felix Abali recently appealed to the federal government to exempt its technical personnel from the embargo placed on foreign training since 2015.

He explained that accident investigation is specialised area that requires special training that is only obtainable overseas.

Abali added that AIB needed to urgently meet the need for qualified personnel to take-over from the crop of ageing technical personnel whom he said had been engaged on contract after their retirement.

He said a lot of money is required for manpower development, mostly done overseas and added that paucity of funds had prevented the agency from carrying out its duties as a responsible accident investigator.

Analysts have also condemned the managers of the sector for committing blunders and being inconsistent. The signing of a bilateral air services agreement with Qatar readily comes to mind here. The deal paves the way for direct flights between major cities of both countries.

“The policy on multiple entry points into Nigeria as it is today is absolutely wrong and condemnable. It is robbery and by implication a breach of cabotage right. When will Nigeria begin to cherish its own for God’s sake? It is absolute erosion of domestic aviation.

A foreign operator should have one point of entry into Nigeria.

It could either be Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt etc and not both or all,” said the president of Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr. Gbenga Olowo The former director general of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren described the deal as “good politics for…Nigeria and the state of Qatar but bad for Nigerian economy” while he director of strategy at Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo said “it clearly favours Qatar Airways to detriment of our own carriers.”

Ohunayo described activities in the sector as “snail-like” saying the ministry’s response and disposition to issues on the ground has not reflected the fire brand change promised and anticipated in the industry.

“Starting with the promises, we were expecting a reduction in the number of civil aircraft in the presidential fleet which was to address the huge operational expenses and save the government funds expended on the luxury services. That has not happened.

“They also told us that the national carrier project was non-negotiable and a committee was hurriedly put in place.

But thereafter, we were told the national carrier is not an immediate priority, while also closing the doors of an alternate option of building national airlines from the troubled private carriers “We are also expecting a clinical appraisal and restructuring of the agencies and associated manpower that has tilted politically at the expense of professionalism due to some inappropriate appointments and promotions noticed in the past.

Summing up the management of the aviation sector, Olowo said: “Nigeria and managers of our agencies are very clever. We do know how to pass examinations. How I wish that translates into efficient and optimal service delivery. Motion does not necessarily translate to activity neither does programme translate to progress. Go to all the airports in the country and see how you score the toilets, passenger processing, one hour or more long traffic from airport toll gate to the terminal building without serious security process, very hot, rowdy and not too sanitized environment, so many check points…chaotic and oven arrival halls, etc.

B8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Life &

TIMES

Reignite the lost spark in your relationship

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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The Best of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2016 ready-to-wear

Gbenga

Adeyinka L2

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Popular comedian to Host 5th Podium Recognition Awards in London

Buzz Byte L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Mutiat Alli

9ice, Rayce, CDQ, others set to perform at Sky Pavilion Night Club Abolore ‘9ice’ Akande, Rayce, and Jaywon are set to lead set of artistes that will perform at Sky Pavilion Lounge and Night Club opening party which takes place at Opic Roundabout, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Friday, August 5, 2016.

According to the organiser of the event, Yusuf ‘Danku’ Adepitan, who lures these artistes to Abeokuta, he is also using this platform to unveil a talent hunt concert tagged ‘The Voice of The Street’.

“The Voice of The Street is a programme to encourage young and rising artistes to

9ice

rub minds with the established ones. The concept is to as well create avenue where these next rated artistes will meet investors who create platform for the artistes. So we are using Sky Pavilion Lounge as the kick off venue for the volume one. And other artistes that will perform are CDQ, Joel, Seriki, Oluwaseun, Miz Spice, and Samcole.

“Special appearances are Spanky, Bash, DJ Bombastic, Swazzi and Rapgodd”, Adepitan said.

The event will also be the launch of Sky P Entertainment.

Gbenga Adeyinka to Host 5th Podium Recognition Awards in London …as Lagos, Ogun first ladies, Late OJB, others to be honoured For the first time since its launch in 2008, the Podium Recognition Awards, now in its 5th edition, will hold in London, England.

The award ceremony that was initiated to honour individuals who have excelled in their various fields of endeavour by the CEO of Podium International, Titi Aboyade Cole, will hold on August 27, 2016 (Bank Holiday Saturday) at Best Western Hotel, Hendon way, London.

Speaking on the 2015 award, the founder, Titi Aboyade Cole said: “We are glad to be back, bigger and better. This time, the ceremony will hold in London. The concept of Podium Recognition Awards has been expanded and it’s going to be amazing package this year. This is the first time we are going to be having awardees and guests coming to London. The award categories have become more interesting and they have become more competitive.

“The wives of the Governors of Ogun and Oyo States are to be honoured with Special Awards at the event in London.

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, a staunch female politician and Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ondo State, Mrs. Olasinmi Odunmbaku

Gbenga Adeyinka

Brain billed to perform at the 2016 Dubai Summer Reunion party

Brain

T E A M

The organisers of this year’s Dubai Summer Reunion party has announced BRAIN as one of the guest artistes that will be gracing the occasion billed to hold in Dubai from 7th to 15th August, 2016. This a big platform for BRAIN and he will be performing alongside other musical acts such as Dammy Krane,

Life&

will be honoured too. Selected winners in different sectors including law, medicine, entertainment and business will also receive honours at this year’s edition”.

“Our first Podium Ambassador will be unveiled this year, and we are picking a new Youth Ambassador. There are a whole lot more side attractions that will make the day a great one, because the event equally marks the 10th anniversary of Podium International”.

Speaking further, Aboyade-Cole stated that the first ever BOAC Posthumous Awards will be presented to the families of three late winners who did well for Nigerian Music- Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, OJB Jezreel and Goldie Harvey at this year’s edition.

“It is going to be a wonderful evening, as we have the very best for all guests to have a swell time. One of Nigeria’s finest comedians and compere, Gbenga Adeyinka De 1st will be the host and he will be joined by London-based Daizy Ajisefini.

Jyhbo, Q-Dot, Opa6ix, Chinadex and many more.

The rap act that recently dropped his debut EP, “Hurricane Season” is all excited about the event and believes it to be an opportunity to launch himself unto the international stage.

The annual event which is being packaged by Billy Entertainment UK

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

provides a big platform for showbiz and entertainment practitioners across the globe to converge in Dubai to have fun, party and network during the Summer time.

The holiday package whose activities for the 7 days of fun includes Pool Party, Clubbing, Tourist Attractions, Shopping at the

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Dubai Mall, Dhow Cruise Dinner, Desert Safari, Aqua Parks and many more.

There’s also an exclusive All White Yacht Party on Thursday, August 11, 2016 just for 100 people ONLY! BRAIN is currently in the studio working on new singles and collaborations that will be dropping soon.

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Daniel Ekiye

Chief Brand Strategist, PRM Africa and President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada

AFRIMA

commends African Union’s single passport The International Committee of The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has commended the African Union (AU) for the launch of a single common electronic passport (e-Passport) for all Africans at the just concluded 27th AU Summit, in Kigali, Rwanda.

It also applauded the ultimate goal of the single passport which is set to realize the dream of visafree travel for African citizens within the African continent by 2020.

In the same vein, the AU’s single, common electronic passport throughout the continent falls squarely within the framework of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and has the specific aim of facilitating free movement of persons, goods and services around the continent in order to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development.

Reacting to this development, President/ Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, said: “The African Union’s plan to allowing free movement of citizens within the African continent is a stepping stone towards building stronger unity among African nations and this is what we at the International Committee of AFRIMA have been canvassing and propagating for years in line with the AFRIMA’s vision.

“For us in AFRIMA, it is a strong step towards making every African citizen to think and act beyond national identities and identify themselves as citizens of the African continent with a sense of pride that, ‘I am an African.’

“We have found that it is easier to travel to Europe and America from Africa than Africans travelling within Africa.

Yearly, we face a big hurdle in visa processing, direct flights and protocol to bring in over 880 nominees/superstars and their guests, 150 production crew members, international media and over 2000 international invited guests to the AFRIMA Awards ceremony annually.”

“The single passport will also ease and facilitate one of the AFRIMA objectives which is to engage all the stakeholders who are critical to the awards process to give them a platform for knowledge sharing and capacity-building on the continent.

AFRIMA has embarked and organized stakeholders’ engagements and press conferences in over 25 African countries in the five regions of Africa. This we will do until we cover the 54 member states,” he concluded.

In line with the AFRIMA 3.0 calendar, submission of entries closes on July 30, 2016. There are 34 award categories open to music artistes, producers, video directors, songwriters and music/entertainment journalists as well as the hitherto unheralded music professionals. The spectacular 2016 awards ceremony will be hosted in Nigeria in November 4-6.

This will be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village and Africa Music Summit.

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

L3 Relationship

Mutiat Alli

the lost spark in your relationship When you lose the spark in a relationship, it’s not always because both of you don’t have time for each other. Almost always, it’s because both of you just aren’t having enough fun together. All relationships start with a bang. And all lovers know just what it takes to please their lover and keep love alive. But somewhere along the way, most lovers overlook the little things that brought them together. And they end up in relationships where two people exist together only because they were once passionately in love with each other. It’s a memory of blissful romance that binds them together. And if you take that memory away from them, there would be no reason to even talk to each other.

The spark in your love life

may be missing, but it’s definitely not gone for good.

All of us have a choice, and we can bring that magical spark back into love if we choose to. But you need to remember that something that’s been missing for a while would take a considerable amount to time to come back again. Bringing the spark back into the relationship can be a lot of fun, and it can make both of you feel like little kids again, but it does take some time and patience. But I can assure you, with every step along the way, you’ll feel closer and more alive than ever before!

These are steps that will not just rekindle the spark in your romance, but both of you would feel completely infatuated by each other:

1 Make time for each other: Every big change starts in small ways, and this is one such start.

The first thing you need to do is learn to make time for each other. It’s not about living together or sleeping together, but about bonding together or sharing something that’s fun. Schedule a few hours

every week, maybe a Sunday evening, to do something that both of you enjoy, like watching a movie or working on a pet project together.

2 Communicate: Don’t give up on each other. It’s the biggest mistake you can make. Making time for each other is a start, but communication is what brings both of you closer together.

Talk to each other frankly *sugarcoating the truth won’t hurt though!* and if there are a few things you don’t like about your partner, talk about it with them.

3 Pillow talk. Don’t bring your worries into bed. Don’t bring your gadgets or reading material into bed. This is the biggest mistake lovers do.

When you enter step three, make a habit of getting into bed with no distractions and just lie down together, even if it seems awkward or boring in bed because there are tons of things you could rather do.

4 Get fit: Well, yes, this sucks, but you need to do this. Most couples let go after getting married or when they get into a long term relationship. They pile up several pounds, they stop dressing up and they just don’t care anymore. If you’re that partner, change yourself.

How would you care for your appearance if you were single, and if you had to go on a first date with someone you like, just how much of an effort would you put into dressing up for them?

Do you make the same effort for your partner who loves you and cares for you?

Most probably, you don’t. And why is that? Do you think your partner deserves less of you than a stranger on a first date? You may not want to admit it, but the fact is, you’re taking your lover for granted and just don’t care about their

opinions. And it’s time you stop that. Try to impress your lover and win their appreciation.

Look good, dress well, use perfume, flirt and attract their attention!

5. Surprise each other: The romantic gestures may have been forgotten, but it has to be brought back into your relationship. And if you care enough to bring the spark back into your relationship, you need to start somewhere. Do you remember how often you used to do nice things for each other at the start of the relationship?

Why stop now? Is it because it’s easier to just laze on the couch instead of walking down a street and buying flowers or a little sweet treat for your lover? Make the effort to woo each other and surprise each other, at least in little ways.

You can start small, and your partner will start reciprocating your effort too.

6. Go clubbing: Remember, the loss of spark in love isn’t because of too much distance in love, it’s because both of you have forgotten to have fun together. So do just that!

Go out, paint the town red and have fun together. Get drunk, party hard, dance and grind against each other, kiss on the dance floor and laugh out loud. Even if you feel too old to dance all night long, try to make the effort to go out to places where you and your partner can have a wild and fun time.

7 Go on a vacation or a short getaway: The first few steps would bring both of you closer together and bond better. And now, it’s time to make a bigger change. Take off on a vacation or a weekend getaway. But don’t plan something romantic just yet. Remember, there’s always the awkward feeling at the back of your mind because

you’re doing all this not because you feel like it, but because you want to reignite the romance. So don’t put too much pressure on trying to focus on romance. Plan a fun vacation to a beach where the two of you can party all night long, meet new and exciting people together and have a fun time. When you have fun together, romance will find a way back into your lives, so stop worrying about romance just yet!

8. Get intimate: Asking each other fun questions is a great way to open new conversations and get to know each other better. On a lazy weekend together, lie down in bed or on the couch, and ask each other a series of intimate and yet revealing questions.

9. Get naughty: A happy romantic relationship needs a good dose of love and sex.

So try to bring the sizzle back in your bedroom. Experiment in bed, and try a few naughty things in bed that both of you haven’t tried before.

10. Bring romance back into your lives: Now that you’ve followed the first nine steps, both of you would already feel a lot more passionate and happy in your love life.

And now that happy love and passionate sex have found their way back into your love life, you need to learn to keep it that way.

Don’t take your partner for granted again. Woo them, serenade them, plan romantic ideas every now and then, and impress and awe them all the time. Each time you feel lazy or too bored to bring the magic back into love, just ask yourself sincerely if you’re taking your lover for granted.

And ask yourself if you’re truly trying your best to make your lover smile.

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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Eyola

eyola@aol.com

The Best of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2016

ready-to-wear 1ne

The central theme for the Paris Spring 2016 shows can be summarized as “relaxed tailoring mixed with a feminine flair and over-the-top embellishments” (feathers, embroidery, beadwork etc). Regardless of the uniformity, the collections were individual and characteristic of each designer’s house codes and hallmarks, all honouring France’s haute couture roots with artisinal craftsmanship and couture-like handiwork. Below are some of the memorable highlights that took the Parisian stage by storm.

2wo

Wet behind the ears. Kenzo (and fellow luxury fashion house DSquared2) have given women a reason to jump straight out of the shower and out the door, by making wet-hair fashion the IT-hairstyle for spring. However, mimicking this style is not as easy as it seems, requiring a generous amount of quality extra hold hair gel to keep the look watered throughout the day.

2wo

Blue-eyed girl. Chanel and Missoni have given fashionistas the green light to experiment with blue eyeshadow. For the more fashion-forward fashionistas out there, go all out with blue eyeshadow wide across the eyes, over the arch of the nose and high up to the eyebrows à la Chanel’s runway makeup.

Dare to experiment with a more outrageous look? Then give Alexis Mabille’s cyan-yellow

combination eyeshadow a trial run.

3hree

Let’s twist again. Perhaps experiment mixing spring’s wet-look hairstyle with partially braided hair like the models on Kenzo’s runway. Celine also gave a fashionable nod to this popular African hairstyle with a braided single plait ponytail. Plaits took different forms, not just in Paris but also making grand appearances at the other fashion capitals, notably: New York’s Herve Leger & Proenza Schouler and London’s Kristian Aadnevik.

Paris gave its approval on this spring trend: Valentino’s cornrow twists and Esteban Cortazar’s modern take on braids. Traditional African cornrows and French plaits took the runway by storm and have inspired designers who have made spring the “braids and locks season”. Take cues from the fashion runways and rework and restyle the classic braids and plaits.

4our

An American in Paris. The Row moved to Paris from New York. The American fashion house took their signature tailored-minimalism silhouettes out of their natural habitat of New York and into a 17th century Parisian property, Chateau de Courances. Ambitious American sweetheart child actors to bona fide international two-time award-winners of the CDFA’s Womenswear Designer award, twin sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen did what they do best: sharp tailoring and minimalism.

The design duo’s design hallmarks of

simplicity and pure lines alongside their signature neutral colour palette and loosefitting trouser suits, cape dresses and sun hats were well-received by the Parisian audience. French label Hermès also adopted a similar design aesthetic. Classically tailored separates (leather skirts, tank tops, coats, mini and mxi dresses) came in neutral whites, nudes and a pop of red and hints of midnight blue, which dominated capes and dresses in block colours, geometric prints and stripes.

Each look was stylishly paired with a matching pair of sneakers, adding more momentum to the growing trend of athleisure - sportswear worn stylishly for daywear.

5ive

On the double. Two-tone blueberry lipstick was the order of the day at Miu Miu. How refreshing to have a runway makeup look that can be instantly tried, tested and reinvented while also being everyday-friendly.

Try something new this spring by lining the outside of the lip in one colour and then colour the lips with another complimentary colour.

6ix

Africa rising. African themed collections continued to inspire the spring collections.

From the jewelry, accessories to the clothes, Italian design duo Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli kept Africa alive and kicking on the fashion runway for Valentino’s spring collection. Models paraded the catwalk with sandy hued tulle dresses, African exotic wildlife prints - from elephants to giraffes and

tie-dye printed dresses, trousers and jackets.

Support local talent and craftsmen and shop for traditional accessories and fashion in Lagos, while keeping on cue to fashion’s latest trend.

7even

Party animal. Party dresses were the stars of the season. Sonia Rykiel’s party girl wears a feminine one-shoulder floral print mini dress and disco-diva sequined evening silhouettes. The Saint Laurent girl is the life of the party and is undoubtedly ready to get down and dirty on the dance floor, with a more relaxed effortless style. Previously known as Yves Saint Laurent, the French label’s party girl’s wardrobe consists of sequins, denim, cheetah-print, leather, army prints and camouflage decorating loose-fitting jackets, slip dresses, sweaters and blazers; all styled with tiaras and wellington boots or sandals.

8ight

Golden opportunity. One of the highlights of Paris Fashion Week was the handiwork of ‘the most influential makeup artist’, according to Vogue. Pat McGrath, of British-Jamaican heritage, took it upon herself to do something one could describe as ‘charitable style’ and as a result made fashion sociable and interactive.

She took to Paris’ Tuileries garden, with her team, to lend her expertise to the public decorating and painting women’s faces with metallic gold makeup.

Photo credit: Harpersbazzar

L8 TV guide

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

102 M-Net EDGE Channel

112 Studio Universal

01:00

05:20

Tue, 2 August | 13

Tue, 2 August | 16L

‘S3/E4 - Chapter 30’. Kevin Spacey stars as the ruthless politician Frank Underwood in this multiple Emmy award winning drama.

Claire Underwood struggles to salvage her Mideast peace plan in this episode.

101 M-Net West

A has-been divorcé basketball coach is asked to run the local high school girls basketball team. He finds an unexpected chance to get back on his feet again.

Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Sam Rockwell. (2009) James C. Strouse.

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:05 New Tricks 01:00 The Cube 01:50 Come Dine With Me 02:40 Downton Abbey 03:30 EastEnders 01:10 The Imposter 03:00 The Double 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 Modern Family 06:30 Blue Bloods 07:30 The Fixer 08:30 Moms’ Night Out 10:30 2 Broke Girls 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 Nashville 14:00 Arrow 15:00 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Goldbergs 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 Grey’s Anatomy 19:30 Mysteries Of Laura 20:30 Elementary 21:30 Carte Blanche 22:30 A Good Marriage 23:04 Strike Back 22:30 Mob City 23:00 Strike Back 23:50 Rome

04:00 EastEnders 00:30 The Impostor 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 The Impostor 03:00 The Impostor 03:50 The Impostor 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love 23:05 Would I Lie To You?

04:30 EastEnders 05:00 Spy 05:25 QI 00:45 Perils Of The Sentimental Swordsman

06:00 The Thin Blue Line 06:30 EastEnders 07:00 Antiques Roadshow

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

02:15 Most Shocking

08:00 The Weakest Link

17:10 The Cube

03:10 Most Shocking

08:50 The Chase

18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

04:05 Exposed

19:00 Celebrity MasterChef

05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak

20:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:25 Exposed

21:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:50 Exposed

21:50 The Graham Norton Show

06:15 Video Zonkers

22:45 Would I Lie To You?

06:40 Repo Games

23:45 Tanked

07:10 World’s Wildest Police Videos

09:35 Total Wipeout UK 10:30 The Cube 11:20 New Tricks 12:20 Top Gear 13:10 Come Dine With Me 14:10 Total Wipeout UK 15:10 The Weakest Link 16:00 EastEnders

155 AfricaMagic World

00:05 President For A Day 01:10 Sequence 02:00 Jara 02:30 Jara 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:05 53 Extra

08:10 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:10 South Beach Tow 09:40 Most Shocking 10:40 Most Shocking 11:40 Video Zonkers 12:10 Repo Games 12:40 World’s Wildest Police Videos

154 AfricaMagic Family 04:50 Perfect Union 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Vanity’s Last Game 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:25 The African Child 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 14:00 Prem 14:30 Goge Africa 15:00 Family Ties 15:30 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:30 Living With Trisha 17:30 Comfort Zone 18:00 Meet The Adebanjos

04:30 Exposed

13:40 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:40 South Beach Tow 15:10 Exposed 01:00 Series TBA 02:30 Good Morning Africa 03:30 Good Morning Africa 04:30 Prem 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 My Good Will 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Lies That Bind 11:30 Lies That Bind 12:00 Jara 12:30 Jara 13:00 Series TBA 14:00 53 Extra

14:30 53 Extra 15:00 Kakibe Ki 15:30 Noose Of Gold 16:00 Foot Print 16:30 Lies That Bind 17:00 Lies That Bind 17:30 Star Gist 18:00 Star Gist 18:30 Star Gist 19:00 Prem 19:25 So Wrong So Wright 20:00 Secret Adventure 22:40 Series TBA 22:55 Series TBA 23:45 Why Stop Now? 18:30 So Wrong So Wright

15:40 Criss Angel Mindfreak 16:10 1000 Ways To Die 16:40 Video Zonkers 17:05 Repo Games 17:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Max Knight: Ultra Spy 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Kenny vs Spenny 22:30 Tool Academy