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ÎÎÎEminent

Nigerians,

including

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, state governors,

matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu leaders of the business community Awolowo at Ikenne, Ogun State. and notable politicians on Wednesday Ɛƈ ƑƆƗ ƍ Ɔ Õ attended the burial ceremony of the

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015 VOL. 1. NO. 239

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 25th November 2015.

DANGCEM

158

159.99

1.99 %

NB

115.72

116.7

0.98%

MOBIL

GUARANTY

21

21.99

0.99%

CAVERTON

2.37

2.59

0.22%

GUINNESS 122

138.99

N150

132.05 -6.94%

JBERGER

39.5

37.53

-1.97%

120

INTBREW

16.5

16

-0.5%

-2%

UK begins deportation of 29,000 Nigerians ÎÎÎThe planned deportation of an estimated 29,000 Nigerians from the United Kingdom began on

Wendnesday with the arrival of 48 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The deportees arrived the airport at 8.03 am, and were transported to Nigeria on board a Boeing 767

aircraft with registration number AWC931. The flight originated from London Stansted Airport.

A source close to the Nigeria Ɛƈ ƑƆƗ ƍ Ɔ Õ

See more photos on page 13 L-R: Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko; Chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Supo Shonibare; Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji, Aliko Dangote; Pastor Tunde Bakare; Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun; President Muhammadu Buhari; Afenifere Chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Sen. Anthony Adefuye during the final burial of the late HID Awolowo held in Ikenne, Ogun State… on Wednesday.

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Ï E ƈ ƍ ƋƋ ƅƏƈ ƈ ë PDP may challenge INEC decision in court gÕ ǀêƾƄ Ƈƈ Ɔ LjMë Buhari has final say g17 d ƈƐƐƑ

# C ƖƖƕë Right now, I don’t have a g L1 girlfriend

ƕƆƋ ^ ƋƋë Jonathan to lead Ijaw to mother-ofall-rallies for Dickson g 8

I’m yet to come to terms with Audu’s death 1 ƒ z Ɨ g12

2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Plight of Nigerian pensioners

T

he harrowing plight of pensioners has continued to elicit commentaries from the broad spectrum of the Nigerian public.

Often we read in the news heartrending reports of pensioners undergoing numerous indignities in the quest to collect their monthly entitlements. Such trauma, which these senior citizens go through at the hands of public servants, whose duty is to ameliorate their plight, is enough to rouse public indignation.

Often, newspapers and televisions show old and frail looking pensioners’ queuing for hours under scorching sun and heat pleading to be paid their stipends, even as many have been known to collapse and die in the process. We condemn in all entirety, the manner in which the country treats its old and senior citizens. It bears repeating that a country’s level of development and sophistication is a function of how it treats its retirees.

The plight of pensioners should be a major cause of concern for any sane country. Unfortunately, from having to endure a less than conducive work environment while in service, to coping with unending months of waiting on the government for payment of gratuity; the poor pensioners are left with little or no hope when it comes to the prompt receipt of their monthly peanuts from the country.

Sadly, the backlogs of this paltry sum sometimes run into months, and perhaps years without any sense of urgency from the concerned authority.

When the Pension Reform Act came into force in 2004, it was hailed by all and sundry as lofty

and commendable, with the aim at making all those who worked in the public or private sector receive their entitlements in timely manner. It was a reform designed to provide succor to retirees and bring sanity into the pension system. However, intention of the reform is yet to be become a reality. We are calling on the authorities to give priority to the welfare of these senior citizens who had dedicated their prime days to the service of the country.

Question, is why would the paltry entitlements of these senior citizens be delayed for months and sometimes years. It should be noted that many of the retirees are too old to seek alternative means of livelihood and so the trauma they are subjected to before getting their entitlements is uncalled for. Unwittingly, such treatment is reason that some corrupt civil servants engage in primitive acquisition of wealth while in active service so that by the time they retire, would not have to go through the pain of waiting for years for their pensions to be paid.

A country that deemed it fit to award munificent financial gratuity to former Heads of State, despite their actions that brought the country on its knees through massive corruption, nepotism, and cronyism while in power; should also be expected to be serious in providing a permanent remedy to the suffering of its retirees, many of who are still responsible for the upkeep of their children. It is pertinent to note that today’s retirees were yesterday’s workers many of who worked hard to build the country to the point where the current working population could take over.

Is Commission for N’East the way to go?

Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎ

On several occasions, President Muhammadu Buhari, had made it clear that he is determined to run a lean administration in view of the precarious state of the nation’s economy.

One way he has chosen to do this is to reduce the number of ministers as well as trim down the bureaucracy of the Federal Government.

But while President Buhari is trying to cut down the number of Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Commission with a view to freeing more funds for critical areas of need, a section

of the National Assembly want to do the opposite - increase the number of commissions in the country, thereby bringing additional burden on the nation’s economy.

Just on Wednesday, eighteen senators from the North-East geopolitical zone jointly submitted a bill before the Senate seeking to establish the North-East Development Commission (NEDC). The commission, according to the bill, will have legal powers to receive and manage funds from the Federation Account and international donors.

The bill stipulates that the zone will receive, on monthly basis, from the Federation Account, an equivalent of 15 percent of the total monthly statutory allocations due to member

Words On Marble :

states of the commission.

Though many Nigerians agree that the North East requires special attention in view of the devastation caused by the Boko Haram insurgency, still many believe that establishment of a commission to oversee the rehabilitation of the zone is an additional burden on the economy.

So, instead of creating a commission as the bill suggests, what is required is for the senators to mount pressure on the Federal Government to deploy more resources to address the devastation in the North East as well as monitor use such resources. They should also see to it that governors and local government chairmen in the states in the zone live up to their responsibilities.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

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

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Group Head Accounts & Control Samson Abiodun

Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo 08033072614 Ag Head Operations Segun Bamigboye Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Konnie Agu 09033765031

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Olusegun Mimiko

Lai Mohammed

Mahmood Yakubu

“Nigeria belongs to everybody and it does to nobody; no single person or party owns our common wealth. No one!”

‘’Culture drives tourism, and both are good for creating jobs reducing crime and diversifying the economy’’.

“If 2015 was a litmus test of how far we have gone in our democratic journey, subsequent elections cannot fall below that bar”.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

5 News

Muslim group fumes over ban on Hijab Monday Agu, Jnr. Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Director-General

of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi, on Wednesday, in Abuja, reiterated the ban on the use of hijab by youth corpers.

But a group called The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which rejected the ban, said that “It is reckless, baseless and preposterous. No public officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should speak in such a manner. The pronouncement smacks of

power drunkenness. It is a hate statement. The Director-General needs to purge himself of Islamophobia.

“On what ground is he banning the use of hijab?

Security reason is not enough, because we have examples of armed robbers using police uniforms to rob. Has anyone thought of banning police uniform?

About forty armed robbers dressed in army uniform attacked six banks in Agbara, Ogun State last week.

They killed a policeman and a pregnant woman.

Should we ban army uniform because of that?

“Brig adier-General Johnson and his ilk are

hiding under the security challenge facing Nigeria to implement a hidden agenda, namely, to stigmatise Muslims and to embarrass our daughters and wives who wear hijab.

“Is General Johnson aware that female Muslims in the British police use hijab on top of their uniform? Can he tell us how the hijab disturbs a corper?

Does the Director-General know that hijab is an integral, nay, the most vital part of a female Muslim’s dress? Does he know that female Muslim corpers feel as if they are naked when disallowed from using the hijab? Is he aware of the

psychological trauma such female Muslim corpers go through?

“How can we spend a lifetime training our daughters to dress decently and you dehumanise them in your camp within 24 hours? How dare you?

We affirm that we will use every constitutional means to stop this religious apartheid against Muslims in the name of discipline and regimentation. Why must Muslims face persecution everywhere in Nigeria? Why can’t the Nigerian system accommodate and integrate the Islamic culture?

Why can’t Nigerian offi-

cials allow Islamic landmarks to stand pari passu with British colonial and Christian culture? Is Nigeria truly independent or is it a banana republic created to serve only the interest of the British imperial master? Must Muslims be forced to accept British Christian mode of dressing?” the group demanded.

It further stated that, “We must ask who designed Nigeria’s school uniform?

Who designed the army and police uniforms? Was it not the British? What is the religion of the British?

Is every Nigerian in the same faith? So why can’t we allow the Muslims to

retain their identity? Why can’t the Muslims enjoy religious freedom in this country? Why must Muslims be forced to dress like Christians? Why must Muslims be denied the dividends of democracy? Any policy that fails to carry us along is exclusive. Nigeria is for all of us. We reject an NYSC that promulgates anti-Muslim decrees. We remind the D.G. that he cannot turn Muslims in NYSC camps into slaves. This is not a military regime.

NYSC officials, including the DG, will be acting ultra vires, if they take actions which violate the laws of the land,” MURIC said.

Buhari heads for Malta, France tomorrow Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident Muhamma-

L-R: Chairman, Board of Governors, Olashore International School, Prince Abimbola Olashore, best awardee, Mofiyinfoluwa Okupe, Guest Speaker, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi; another awardee, Patrick Unokiwedi and Principal, Olashore International School, Mr. Derek Smith, at the Speech and Prize-Giving Day organized by the school at Iloko-Ijesha, Osun State… recently.

FG to commence payment of unemployed allowance in 2016 Tom Okpe Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

federal government has confirmed that it would commence the payment of N5, 000 promised unemployed Nigerian youth during the electioneering next year.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalong, said this, on Wednesday, in Abuja, during a courtesy visit on the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John OdigieOyegun, to commensurate with the party on the de-

mise of Prince Abubakar Audu, who was the party governorship candidate in the Kogi State inconclusive election.

Dalong told newsmen that the APC government had it in mind to fulfill all the campaign promises made to Nigerians during the last elections.

“I would want the youths to understand that every promise must be backed up by a budgetary provision and our promise to pay N5, 000 is not contained in the 2015 budget. So, definitely, it is going to begin in 2016, as we have made budgetary

allocations for it.

“We are committed to the campaign promises of creating jobs and wealth, in order to combat poverty. We have embedded in our manifesto things that we are translating to reality. Some of them are the youth empowerment programmes that are ongoing. We are busy reviewing them to ensure that they are more viable and peopleoriented”.

The minister also said that Nigerian youths needed reorientation because they had been frustrated for too long.

“They have lost confidence in the system and we need to restore it. Very soon, I will be hosting a stakeholders’ summit, so that we can reason together with a view to building their confidence, in order for them to benefit from this laudable ideas”, he said.

Oyegun, expressed happiness over the appointment of Dalong as Youth and Sports minister, saying that his past performance in public office gave him confidence that he would deliver on the premises of change.

du Buhari will leave Abuja on Thursday, November 26 for Malta to participate in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which begins in the island nation on Friday.

The Commonwealth is made up of Britain, Nigeria and 51 other countries that work together to pursue common goals and promote development, democracy, peace, security and good governance.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Presi-

dent on Media abd Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari and other Heads of State and Government who would be in Malta were expected to deliberate on fresh Commonwealth initiatives on development and climate change with a view to adding greater value to on-going global efforts in these areas.

A new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth who will take over from the incumbent, Kamalesh Sharma at the summit that would also feature the presentation of a progress report on the eradication of polio, the statement added.

Expert urges FG to fund health sector ÏÏÏThe

Registrar, National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos, Prof. Wole Atoyebi, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to adequately fund the nation’s health sector, to guarantee effective healthcare for Nigerians.

Atoyebi made the plea in Lagos at the Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference and Continuing Medical Education of the Medical Guild of Nigeria, Lagos State branch.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the theme of the conference was: “Beyond Public Medical Practice: Focus on the Retired Medical/Dental Practitioner.”

He said that the nation’s health institutions

were characterised with inadequate and inefficient financing, decayed infrastructure, maldistribution of health workforce and poor co-ordination.

According to him, doctors in public medical practice need to be well paid because their job was enormous, especially for the younger ones.

“There is no strict time schedule of work for most doctors, especially those in obstetrics, gynaecology, surgery and anaesthesia,’’ Atoyebi said.

He urged medical doctors to learn how to strike a balance between their jobs and personal lives, while still in service. “Most doctors in the public service do not get to the peak of their careers until they are almost 50 years old.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

UK begins deportation of 29,000 Nigerians Continued from page 1 Immigration Service (NIS) at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMA) disclosed to Daily Times that they were deported for immigrationrelated offences. This was confirmed by a reliable source at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said some of them called their friends and relations to pick them up,

while others secured cabs to take them to their various destinations.

According to the source, others alleged to have committed criminal offences were handed over to officers from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The source noted that FAAN was expecting no fewer than 500 deportees, adding that this was only the first batch.

NIS spokesman, Mr

Ekpedeme King confirmed that 48 deportees arrived on Wednesday, adding that this comprised of 44 male and four female.

In October, the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in London, Olukunle Bamgbose, had been reported as saying: “I think about 29,000 Nigerians have been designated to be deported. We are insisting that due process must be followed before Nigerians are really removed from the UK to Nigeria.

He reportedly gave four

conditions that should be met by the UK immigration office before the High Commission could accept the migration and deportation agenda.

He reportedly said: “First, we must ensure that they are really Nigerians; they are medically fit to travel; all the legal processes must have been completed and that they have role to play in Nigeria.

“You do not expect someone who has not been to Nigeria for 30 years to 40 years,

and does not have any family and you want to deport him.

He will constitute social problems to us in Nigeria; so these are the sore points at this moment that we have.’’

When our correspondent visited the Lagos Airport on Wednesday, very few deportees were still seen around while most of them had left.

Kogi poll crisis: PDP may challenge INEC decision in court Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎStrong

L-R: Managing Director, RackCentre Ltd, Ayotunde Coker; Executive Director, ExxonMobil Nigeria, Henry Ikem and Financial Controller, Airtel Nigeria, Adenike Ayeye at the 2015 Institute of Credit Administration Industry Awards held in Lagos… on Wednesday.

indications emerged on Wednesday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may head for the court to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the All Progressives Congress (APC) substitute its governorship candidate in the inconclusive Kogi State governorship election.

The APC governorship candidate in the said election, Prince Abubakar Audu, it will be recalled died on Sunday just after INEC announced the results, declared the contest inconclusive and ordered supplementary polls in 91 polling units across 18 local government

Buhari, Saraki, govs, eminent Nigerians bid HID Awolowo farewell at burial Continued from page 1 Also in attendance were former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and the Head of defunct Interim Government, Chief Ernest Sonekan.

President Buhari who could not attend the Church programme, but later visited the Awolowos at Efunyela Hall, Ikenne said he attended the final funeral rites because late Chief HID Awolowo “earned” it.

Buhari, who spoke after signing the condolence register, explained that while the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was all over the country and the world, his wife was effectively managing the family.

His words “Let me appre-

ciate those who have come to participate in this ceremony.

When I was in the car, I discussed with the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on the late Mrs. Awolowo and all the nation is doing for her. While Chief (Obafemi Awolowo) was all over the country and the world, she was effectively managing the family. So, she earned this. May her soul rest in perfect peace.

“And for you that have, for weeks, been gathering friends, associates and facing all the logistics problems, day and night, I congratulate you for a very successful burial of the late Mrs. Awolowo.

“I came back last (Tuesday) evening from Iran and I had to make sure I do not miss the last rites for Mrs. Awolowo because she earned it. This

is the third time I have been here, and I hope the family will try and continue to hold together as they have been doing”, Buhari said.

Earlier, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun said Buhari’s presence at HID’s final funeral rites was an honour to the Yoruba race and the entire nation.

Welcoming Buhari on behalf of the Awolowo’s family, the elderst daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Oyediran said: “Judging by the life Mama lived, little did we know that she was so loved by all Nigerians and you all have demonstrated it this afternoon.

“So, we warmly welcome you into our midst...So, I want to thank you and use this opportunity to wish your government progress and the good work you’ve started. I

pray that the good Lord will continue to support you and you’ll not fail in Jesus name.

We all believe there will be a change. May the Lord bless you sir”.

Earlier before the President arrived, the Senate President Bukola Saraki had represented him, and had described Mrs Awolowo as a virtuous woman who stood by her husband and remained nationally relevant even after his death in 1987.

Saraki, on behalf of the President, urged members of the Awolowo family to uphold the good name and legacies left behind by the patriarch and matriarch of the family Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), who led 38 other bishops and 300 clerics in con-

One of the deportees, who spoke under the condition of anonymity stated that he has a dual citizenship of Nigeria and Netherland and that he was picked up on his way to the studio.

The deportee claimed that he does not know anybody in Lagos and as a result he has nowhere to go.

ducting the church service, described Mrs Awolowo as a jewel of inestimable value.

Okoh, who read chapter 11 verse 38 from the book of Mathew, spoke on the topic: ``God’s Promised Rest.’’

He said HID Awolowo championed the creation of Remo Anglican Diocese in 1984.

Okoh said she played active and significant roles in the Apostolic, Methodist and the Anglican missions at various times in her life.

He enjoined everyone to be mindful of material things while on earth, adding that ``there comes a time when material things become immaterial.’’

Mrs Awolowo was interred at the Awolowo Mausoleum in the family compound at about 1.40p.m.

areas.

The PDP, during its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with its governorship candidate in the Kogi election, Captain Idris Wada on Wednesday, according to sources, weighed various options and resolved that the legal option was more apt.

The meeting, which lasted several hours, it was further gathered, received briefs from its legal department and the governor’s legal team on the chances of PDP of challenging the INEC decision in court.

The outcome of the meeting was however not made known.

Also yesterday, the party held its national caucus meeting in Abuja.

The meeting started at about 8 am and was still ongoing as at press time.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh confirmed the meeting with Wada, assuring that he would brief the press on the outcome of the national caucus meeting today (Thursday) by 11 am.

His words, “I don’t think we will be able to brief the press at the end of the meeting. So I think what we should do is that I will brief the press tomorrow (Thursday).”

The national caucus meeting of the PDP was expected to approve the decision by the NWC to challenge the proposed supplementary election and the decision by INEC to allow APC fill the vacancy created by Prince Abubakar Audu’s death in court.

It will be recalled that the INEC decision came shortly Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

ÏÏÏAssistant

Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Zone A, Lagos, Mr Eporwei Edike, on Wednesday, commended the TinCan Island Port Command of the service for generating N24.4 billion so far in November.

Edike gave the commendation during his official tour of the command and Port Terminal MultiServices Ltd (PTML) command in Lagos.

He said that the amount was collected by the command between Nov. 1 and Nov. 24.

He urged officers of the service to put more efforts to enable the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (retd) to achieve his policy, anchored on transparency, honesty and integ-

Imo govt sets up taskforce to fight criminals ÏÏÏImo

state government, on Wednesday, constituted a Joint Taskforce Committee to checkmate all activities going on in various uncompleted buildings in and around the state, with a view to bringing to book any individual using such buildings as dens to perpetrate heinous acts.

Inaugurating the committee,

Mrs. Degun, nee Apanpa, is dead ÏÏÏMrs.

Rasheedat Abiodun Degun is dead. Aged 70. A Christian and community leader, Nee Apanpa, died in her resident in Ibadan on November 6th. 2015, during a brief illness. Christian wake keep will hold at 4 pm on Friday, December 4th, 2015 at Saint David Anglican Church Hall, Ijokodo, Ibadan, while funeral service will hold at the same venue on Saturday, December 5th, starting 10.00 am. She will later be laid to rest after service at Rest Park Sangisa Oloje, Ibadan. She is survived by many children and grand children.

Degun

7 News

Tin-Can Island Customs generates N24.4bn rity. ``Forty six per cent of all containers coming to Lagos go to Apapa, while the rest comes to TinCan and few goes to Port Terminal Multi-Services Ltd. ``You should work hard, be at alert, and you must collect every kobo due for government, and never collect less than the amount you are meant to collect. ``If the document or declaration of any agent is complete and cleared, do not look for faults,’’ he said. made up of officials of Nigerian Immigration Service, Secretary to the Government of Imo State (SGI), Sir. Jude Ejiogu, stated that government decided to set up the committee to check several crimes being committed in the state as a result of the availability of uncompleted buildings to criminal minded individuals, who use them to perfect their antics.

He expressed optimism that with the committee in place, every activity going on in any uncompleted building in the state would be monitored.

The state scribe therefore charged the committee to work collectively to ensure that the assignment given to them was carried out effectively, while advising them not to compromise with any person no matter whose ox is gored in the execution of their functions.

Sir Ejiogu, while challenging the committee to work hard, also reminded them that half of the uncompleted buildings in the state have been turned into a hideout by hoodlums who commit various atrocities like kidnapping, armed-robbery and other social vices against the state.

L-R: Special Adviser to Governor of Lagos State on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Femi Onanuga; Foundation Provost of Lagos State College of Medicine, Prof. Wole Alakija and Paediatrician, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Michael Akintayo Bankole, during the 2015 Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference held at Etal Hotel, Oregun, Ikeja… on Wednesday.

NNPC engages DSS, EFCC to curb hoarding of fuel ÏÏÏThe

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has engaged the Department of State Services (DSS) and Economic and the Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop the hoarding and diversion of petroleum products.

This is contained in a statement issued by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The statement said that the arrangement was to assist in the monitoring of fuel truck-out nationwide to retail outlets and stop hoarding by unscrupulous marketers. It said NNPC was doing everything possible to normalise the fuel supply and distribution situation in the country The statement said NNPC also apologised to commuters, motorists and the general public for the hardship faced in accessing petrol

across the country.

It said the Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment of NNPC, Dr. Babatunde Adeniran, during a visit to NNPC depot in Suleja, warned the marketers against sharp practices. ``Any marketer found wanting in the sale of petroleum products, including the NNPC retail outlets would be sanctioned appropriately. `` There will be no sacred cows as the corporation is working round the clock by supplying sufficient petroleum products to marketers to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed a yuletide season without pain. ``We must all make sure that petroleum products get across to Nigerians at the regulated price, especially as the yuletide season approaches. ``We have enough products and we want to plead with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) not to

be involved in the diversion of petroleum products in order to avoid causing untold hardship to motorists” it stated.

It said the Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, said defaulters would be sanctioned. ``The DSS and EFCC will arrest any marketer involved in sabotaging government’s effort in making petrol available to Nigerians. ``We have invited the EFCC and DSS to join us in this campaign of monitoring the movement of petroleum products and they have our mandate to sanction any errant marketer, enough is enough” the statement added.

The statement urged Nigerians to desist from panic buying, saying that there were sufficient petroleum products to satisfy local consumption.

DHQ urges citizens to stay away from bomb blast scenes ÏÏÏThe Director of Information,

Defence Headquarters, Col. Rabe Abubakar, on Wednesday. advised citizens to steer away from bomb blast scenes to avoid being victims of such blasts.

Abubakar gave the advice in Abuja at an interactive session with the media on the ongoing counter insurgency operation in the north-east. ``We appeal to citizens to avoid coming closer to bomb blast scenes in the event of explosion because when you come to assist the victims, second explosion may occur.’’

He enjoined the citizens to join

the military in the war against Boko Haram insurgents by providing relevant and timely information about the activities of insurgents.

According to him, through collaborative efforts of the citizens, the military has arrested five out of 100 most wanted terrorists in the country.

Abubakar stressed that the ongoing fight against terrorism was a war between the Nigerian people and the members of Boko Haram, saying`` all hands must be on deck to defeat the insurgents.’’

He said that radicalisation and

extremism had no bases in any religion, adding that it was not a religious or tribal war but war against all Nigerians.

He noted that significant progress had been recorded against the insurgents in recent times and solicited more cooperation from all citizens. `` Everybody must be extremely security- conscious in our environment and people should be very careful of some objects they see in refuse dumps’’, Abubakar said.

He also urged members of the media to lead the fight against Boko Haram terrorists by being objective

and upholding national interest in their daily reportage. ``The media remain the most friendly and formidable force to be reckoned with in the fight against terrorism, you have done it before and I believe you will keep on doing it’’ the Defence spokesman

Gen. Olonisakin

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Politics

Æs

‘How IBB stopped grazing reserves for cattle rearers’ Engineer Abubakar Tonile Aduragba, former Managing Director of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, Kwara State in this interview with KEHINDE AKINPELU spoke on the negligence of successive governments in Nigeria and how River Basins which could have helped in the generation of electricity for national use was abandoned and other vital projects resulting in colossal waste of national resources. Excerpts:

Can we meet you sir?

I am Engineer Abubakar Tonile Aduragba, I retired as the Managing Director of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority two years ago.

As someone who had been at the centre of one of these Programmes, do you think that River Basin Authorities are meeting the purposes for which they were established?

I may not be able to answer whether yes or no but after my response, you should be able to hold a position. Over the years, successive governments tamper with the policy guideline on River Basins.

They change the policy to suit their own wishes; when River Basins were established in 1975 or there about, the objective of setting up the programme was to develop water resources in the various areas where these projects are located in the country. It was to create a multipurpose facilities that can aid development in these areas where River Basins are established. Dams are meant to be constructed across rivers in the locality for multipurpose uses such as for irrigation in agriculture, for supply of domestic water, for fishing, hydropower generation and aside these, the projects are

Aduragba

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Bayelsa Poll: Jonathan to lead Ijaws to Mother-of-all-rallies for Dickson

Kwara PDP, Assembly tackle gov over N20 billion Bond The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state House of Assembly which enjoys a majority of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have gone on war path with the state governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed over the proposed N20 billion Bond the state government is proposing to take.

Already, the state House of Assembly has urged the state government to furnish the legislature with detailed information on the bond so far accessed by the present administration in the state.

This is coming on the heels of the allegation by the state publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Rex Olawoye, that the government of Ahmed has taken up to five bonds in the last five years.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Jonathan Former President Goodluck Jonathan will on Saturday lead prominent Ijaw leaders from across the country to his home state of Bayelsa for the mother-of-all rallies in support of the re-election bid of Governor of the state, Seriake Dickson.

Dickson is contesting the December 5 election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His main challenger is a former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva who is flying the flag

Sylva of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the state chapter of the PDP, Dickson, will hold the grand finale of his campaign tagged Mother of all Rallies on November 28, in Yenagoa. For PDP leaders and the Ijaws, all roads lead to Yenagoa on Saturday.

According to the party, the event, which will have former President Jonathan in attendance, will also bring together all critical elements in all the Ijaw

Dickson speaking states in the country, as Dickson’s aspiration is not just a Bayelsa affair but incorporates the strategic interest of all the Ijaws.

Sources close to the party said Jonathan is taking the Bayelsa governorship polls as a personal challenge as a defeat of his party at home by the APC will spell doom for the hopes to rebrand PDP and make it stage a comeback in 2019.

Thus, everything is being put in shape to ensure that PDP re-

tains Bayelsa which is the base of the Ijaws.

Director of Publicity of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, in a statement, said that the megarally was a culmination of Governor Dickson’s community-tocommunity tours, a grassroots campaign which took him to all parts of the state in the last one month, spreading his message of restoration and consolidation of CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Ahmed

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

9 Politics

‘IBB, others paralysed River Basin Authorities’

Babangida

Obasanjo

Abubakar

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

meant to aid rural development but the various governments that come and go disrupt the programme and that is what kept them where they are today.

What is the hope for River Basin under President Muhammadu Buhari?

I have great hope; he knows what he is doing, he understands what these projects are meant for. There used to be 11 River Basins across Nigeria but when he came to power in 1984 he made sure there is one in each state of the federation except Lagos and added ‘Development Authority’ to their name so it became River Basin and Development Authority. So we were also taking part in constructing rural roads, and maintaining them and as well building water reservoirs to aid water supply in the localities. We also sink boreholes and participate in rural development. River Basins would have helped in solving most of the water and electricity challenges of the country. All these flood issues could have been curtailed if the River Basins were allowed to function well because they are

to build structures that will aid in flood control apart from dams that should control flood down stream and supported by Dykes. There was this project at Shonga, the TadaShonga Irrigation Project. That project make the Shonga land good for farming all year round because without that structure, the place will be flooded. These dams are supposed to make an all year round farming possible through irrigation. I know River Basins like the Ogun-Osun and the Upper Benue River Basins and some around Taraba and Yola axis that are meant to support national electricity power generation, all these project were fully installed and ready to function but were abandoned. There is another one called Oyan Dam around Abeokuta, a dam with 5 Megawatt hydropower capacity but also abandoned few percentage to completion despite that the hydropower section has been fully installed. I can give you several others examples in this area. There is the Ikere-kosi Dam in Oyo North, all the facilities are completed but again abandoned. The problem is that we are not taking advantage of what River Basins are

established to contribute to national development. When General Babangida took over power, he stopped all our operations and established the Directorate for Food Roads and Rural Infrastructure, (DFRRI) and transferred all our developmental assignments to the new agency.

Do you mean that if River Basins are installed to capacity they can help in power generation for the country?

Yes, that is what I have been trying to explain. The idea is that the quantity generated in each locality will be sold to a power distribution company and as we make money at the River Basins, the generation company helps by creating employment and the people too takes the benefit of having constant power supply in the homes and cottage industries. In developed countries, ordinary running waters without a dam are used in power generation; they call it run-off-the-river or runoff-stream projects. Even these canals that we have around can serve that purpose, all we need are small sizeable equipments that can meet the energy needs of farm settlement, but in Nigeria, when we start

on a programme, we don’t follow it to a logical conclusion before we drop them and jump to another one.

Now they are talking of the Mambila Dam, which has been in the plan for the Northern region ever since.

Kanji, Jebba, Shirroo, Zungeru etc but subsequent administrations just let go.

Can River Basins generate their own income?

Yes, if well managed. In the 80s, it was proposed to commercialize River Basin so that they can generate their own revenue but it has to be in stages. The initial funding to bring them to standard must be provided, and then they can stand on their own.

So, how does it work?

River Basins will use their water treatment plants to produce hygienic water for domestic consumption and sell it to the state water corporation who will in turn distribute it through their normal channel.

The same goes for the hydropower plants. When we generate power, we would sell to the distribution companies around. Also, we render services to the farmers and from that we can generate income. There are

other services we render, in building roads etc. Let me tell you, while in the United States of America doing my Masters Degree in Water Resources Engineering, I noticed that the organizations generating electricity are not the ones that distribute, if we are doing same, it would be mutually beneficial to all Nigerians With President Buhari’s renewed focus on agriculture as an alternative to revenue generation in Nigeria, do you thing that is possible?

No, I don’t only think, I know and believe it is possible! Let me cite an example. If you move into town, you will see water melon every where, if we have a serious government, all we need is gather them in large quantity and prepare them for export. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Dubai need fruits like these because they cannot grow these crops in their climate. If you go to this New Nigeria Farm, formerly called Shonga Farm you will see what goes on there. All they need now is irrigation to support them for an all year round farming and we would benefit from their export of crops. Before I left service, we tried to assist them but funding for River Basin was an impediment. There are many such farm projects that if well harnessed will generate sufficient income for the nation. The bottom line is we cannot do good agriculture without proper water resources management and development.

From my experience, the best time to farm is during dry season and which means irrigation would be available to water the crops in the farm. As of now, there are technologies that help in applying water directly to the root of the crops and we call it drip irrigation. This is common with Israeli farming. So if properly done, agriculture can really improve the life of Nigerians. The Minister of Agriculture introduced the Value Chain Agriculture to proCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Bayelsa Poll: Jonathan to lead Ijaws to Mother-of-all-rallies for Dickson CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

peace, security and development.

Obuebite said the grand finale, would also witness the presentation of PDP flag to Dickson and his running mate, Rear Admiral John Gboribiogha-Jonah (retd), by the national leadership of the party.

He said that besides members of the PDP National Working Committee and all the party’s sitting governors as well as past governors who will attend, PDP

senators and members of the House of Representatives and Assemblies, past and present, Bayelsa PDP leaders and members across the state, stakeholders and supporters both at home and in the Diaspora, routing for Dickson’s re-election, people from diverse and strategic institutions will be on ground to rally support for the governor.

“Bayelsa State is the Jerusalem of all Ijaws and the Mother of all

Rallies will showcase the unity of purpose of the Ijaw people coming together as one and affirming the collective interest and aspirations of the Ijaw race,” he said.

He also quoted the state PDP chairman, Chief Serena DokuboSpiff, as saying, “PDP is not just a party of Bayelsa State but PDP is an Ijaw party,” which will make the presence of all Ijaws at the event decisive for the outcome of the election.

Sylva

Dickson

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Kwara PDP, Assembly tackle gov over N20 billion Bond CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

The demand for a detailed information by the assembly is part of resolutions reached by the House following the State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed’s request for the House resolutions on the proposed seven-year N20billion bond to address critical developmental projects in the state and read by the Speaker Dr. Ali Ahmad on the floor of the House.

Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker commend the state government for its vision conceptualising the stimulus acceleration plan and proposing various projects that will improve on the lives of the people.

According to the Media Aide to the Speaker, Adebayo Abdullahi, the detailed information requested for would assist the House to access the impact of the previous bonds accessed by the state government on the lives of the people of the state.

The House equally urged the Executive arm of government to

furnish the legislature with detail information on the cost and locations of the projects to be executed under the proposed bond.

The legislature also resolved to consult widely with members of their constituencies on the proposed bond so that they will be better informed and obtain their inputs on the proposed N20billion

bond.

Members had while speaking on the proposed bond frowned at the Executive arm of government for not consulting with the legislative arm before citing projects in their constituencies.

They said as representative of their constituents, they were better informed on the needs of their

Ahmed

Ahmed

people and their inputs would help government to prioritise the needs of their people.

The Speaker while directing the Clerk to the House to communicate resolutions of the House to the State Governor said the House would not rush at taking a decision which according to him may affect the future generation.

Besides, the state government has advised the state chapter of PDP to properly educate itself about government programmes instead of misleading the public.

In a statement issued in Ilorin, the state government condemned as misleading, a claim by the state publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Rex Olawoye, that it has taken up to five bonds in the last five years.

The state government said the previous administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki obtained a N17b bond in 2009 to fund major infrastructure projects in the state which was paid off in August 2013.

Moreover, the state government wondered where the PDP got the figures of N23b and N30b bonds referred to in the said interview and advised the opposition party to

seek clarification instead of misleading the public with phantom figures.

Setting the records straight, the state government said the proposed N20b, when approved, will be utilised for reviving ongoing projects on road, education, health, energy, water and sports as well as new ones that were stalled following the drop in FAAC allocation to the state from N3.2b monthly to N1.8b monthly.

Stressing that the temporary reliance of the state government on federal government bail out funds for the payment of salaries was not peculiar to the state, the statement said many others, including those controlled by the opposition PDP, had received bailout for salary payment. Nevertheless, the statement stressed that the state government was one of those with the lowest levels of salary arrears.

Government also emphasised that the proposed N20b bond was a strong indication that the state economy was robust as no bank will lend money without demonstration of proven capacity to repay.

Power, Agric: Why Buhari should revive River Basins CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

vide income, employment and food for the people. Agriculture is capital intensive starting from clearing the forests, tilling etc but if the requisite funding is provided, we would get desired result. There is need for modern farm implements, if you go to River Basin in the 80s you will see diverse equipments and Tractors but now you can hardly find such and we need them for agriculture to do well. When we were growing up, agriculture was the main stay of the economy and with that we got good and qualitative free education. We went to best schools, so I still believe we can achieve the feats of those olden days and better but government must be very serious about steps to take.

What suggestion do you have on attitude of youths to agriculture?

Government should intensify efforts at re-orientating the youths to know that farming is business and not just business but a serious business that requires all sense of seriousness. It requires capital; you cannot take bank loan and start fiddling with it. An absentee farmer is not a farmer; you have to give your farm all it takes. And there is dignity in labour. Government should reach out to the youths, create enabling environment for them to be able to access farm inputs, loans and whatever is needful for them to do well

in farming. We used to have absent farmer, Generals in the Army who have large farms. They may not be physically present but they employ capable hands that do the farming for them. Don’t forget that farming includes animal husbandry, cattle rearing, poultry, piggery etc. For these set of farmers, government must ensure there is a grazing reserve for them and water for their flock to drink. This is where water resources management takes another prominent stage. When we talk of farmers we usually think or limit our thinking to those who plant crops alone who just need fertilizers but these set of farmers need other things. In the good olden days we use to have cattle routes from the north down south, along these routes they have grazing reserves and places where they can give their flock water to drink. All these are what River Basins take care of, all these we were stopped from doing during Babangida regime, they said they are non-water farming. How would anyone say poultry, cattle rearing and fishery are non-water projects? Do we not need water to run them effectively?

So these are the integrated water resources issue that the founders of River Basin had in mind. But now they have politicised and bastardised the projects. In the Military regime, everyone close to a soldier is an expert in water resources, what-

ever their friends tell these military administrators is what they begin to work on and that is their work plan. It is a general problem in Nigeria, friends to top power brokers who know next to nothing about some issues come forward to claim that they are experts and they are given free hand to do the things the way they deem fit.

As a general challenge, did corruption affect the operations of River Basins in Nigeria?

The problem of River Basin is not corruption but underfunding.

We give out contracts for construction but if a contract is abandoned for a long period, the cost will jump up. Variation will set in after a long while, and it may be double, triple or even more when we want to start again. There is a project in Kogi that was started and awarded in 1983 during President Shehu Shagari, at a cost of N67m. It is for construction of Dams, Canals and Irrigation system. The dam was abandoned, by the time we started off again for about 65 percent of the project, we spent over N700 million and the project has not been completed; we did just the dam and 2000 hectares out of the 4000 hectares of irrigation system. In a way, it is mismanagement of funds because money for the project was not released at the appropriate time making government to pay multiples higher than the initial contract value. That

project am talking of was commissioned being half completed

by General Abdulsalam. Imagine, since 1983 to 1998.Naira devaluation and other factors come in and this invariably would breed corruption because people would take advantage of the situation and play smart. Most of those who initiated the projects may no longer be on ground, so new managers taking over, who don’t know the history of the project would just do things to their own advantages and to the best of their knowledge.

What advice do you have on the restructuring of River Basins in Nigeria?

It is simple; we should go back to

where we started in 1975, the initial plans are still available in files, even if the initiators are no more alive; though some of them are still alive like Engineer Popoola of Erin Ile; Dr Awachie from the east; he is a Vet Doctor and Chief Ahimodu. There is supposed to be a water resources council in each state where government and the authorities of the River Basins will sit down and talk on issues relating to water resources. So, before the Federal Government initiates anything on Water Resources, these council would be on ground to give direction and advice. Naturally, River Basin and Agric Development

Aduragba

Buhari

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

11 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

‘Cut security votes, convoys, political aides, to fund free education’ CONTINUED FOM PAGE 10

Authorities don’t own land, all we do is develop the lands and return it to their owners for cultivation.

As a Nigerian, what are your hopes and aspiration for Nigeria under this new government?

My hope for Nigeria is to have a better managed or governed Nigeria society. Luckily we now have a President who is more serious and committed to the progress of the country. He has done it before when he was there between 1983 and 1985.

The hopes are high, though there is a difference; he was a military, now he needs several process to get things done but all the same when the head is upright, things will take proper shape. I remember when he visited Shonga Farm; after seeing the level of work done and the vast expanse of land, the river Niger and all the work done by farmers.

He came with one African Head of State then. He immediately ordered that a road be tarred from Shonga to Share junction old Jebba road. So for a President who has that idea of doing what is necessary for a farm project, I have high hopes and my mind is settled that he can do it and better.

Now lets talk abut the National Assembly, what should Nigerians expect from one of yours who is now the Senate President of Nigeria?

Sentiment apart, Dr Bukola Saraki is a very intelligent young man. I am not very close to him but going by what people say about him, he is someone who has high intelligence and can work with President Muhammadu Buhari to do us very proud. At Nigeria’s present state we

Aduragba

need a crop of young and dynamic people in government and that we can get in Bukola Saraki and his people. What we are just praying for is a quick end to the ongoing crises within their party because that can lead to set back. Buhari needs younger people to work along with him. He is people-oriented and Bukola Saraki too has lot of potentials, he is the right caliber of person for the office of the Senate Presidency.

As someone who has traveled wide outside the shores of Nigeria, can we have a picture of the Nigeria of your dream compared to places which you have been?

I am dreaming of a Nigeria in which food is available on the table, cheap and affordable and this is possible only when attention is paid to agriculture the way it should. Next is power supply, we too can have it 24/7 as you people say it. Go to Sweden, a relatively small country. The hotel where I stayed there with my colleague is a very tall structure but despite the height where we were, we still got water and light, such can be replicated here too. So the Nigeria of my dream is one in which health care is cheap and affordable. Let me take us back a bit to my days at the River Basin; in 1985 we were building a structure across one of the rivers at Oke Oyi , Kwara State, then I was project supervisor under the then Chief Executive, Chief Ahimodu. It was in August during the rains. Despite the incessant rains, we were able to build the structure. Chief Ahimodu came to see us every morning, he gave nec-

essary support to us and due to his support we were successful. Some people will say it’s only the white engineers that can perform such task but we did it here, so Nigerians, given the right support can do wonders. All dams that I supervised including Kubli Dam and several others. The important thing is good leadership. No matter the dimension, they were built by Nigerian engineers, so we must place good emphasis on quality education.

After food and power, education should be next in priority because it’s is the bedrock of societal development. Educational standard should be lifted high but parent made to pay according to their income, but we are now in a different world, people are no more truthful, they tell lies about their income too much these days. I went to the same school with Umar Musa Yar’Adua, former President. While he paid 36 pounds per annum, because his father was a Minister, I paid Three pounds per annum, because my father is an illiterate. If we cannot practice it as it was in those days, we can do something about it now. Children of the poor too should have the opportunity to be educated appropriately. After that period, most of us got scholarship and we started becoming important prepared for a bright future. From form two, I didn’t have a cause to pay anything after that time. My degree was on scholarship, when I was going for my Masters during Obasanjo’s era as Head of State in 1979, I got a Federal Government Scholarship to study in the United States for two years. Education must be qualitative not the kind we have now that university graduates cannot even write their names correctly.

How do you expect government to fund free education and be able to pay teachers’ salary?

It is a matter of priority, if the various wastages in governance is reduced or cut off, we would be able to save a little towards education. All these Special Assistants attached to political office holders are part of the wastage. If they want to compensate those who assisted you during elections, they should give them regular civil service employment and let them be on regular civil service pay. The entire so-called SA, SSA etc are bunch of inexperienced people who came to lord over civil servants, so, all monies accruing to them should be diverted towards educational development of Nigeria. I read about when free education was to be introduced in Kaduna in those days, it was debated and agreed that their children should have the best

Shagari

Abacha

and the education was funded by those who believed in it. Someone even said he can bring the whites to teach in that school and would pay for it. Paying teachers should never be a problem, teachers in those days enjoy more than those of these days.

Then there were two categories of teachers, those from teachers college and the graduate teachers. The graduates live in senior staff quarters while the other teachers live in junior staff quarters and as they develop themselves by advancing in education they move to senior staff quarters. Today, when some so called professors speak to you, one would wonder if he truly is a professor because it has become like a regular promotion. So we must prioritise our development and save cost.

All these situation in which a governor is going out and about 30 cars follow him is wastage; from fueling, maintenance and payment of salaries to drivers etc. I was in Kansas and I saw the governor drove himself and only one vehicle was in his entourage, may be his security. Also let us look into the money called security votes. Governments at all levels should look inwards to increase its IGR. Take Kwara State as an example, we have marble all over the place, we can develop them and process them for commercial use instead of going to Italy and other places to buy tiles and other marble products. There is a large volume of Shea butter too, we can also process them for exports instead of allowing people to just waste them. On agriculture, there should be a policy

of no fallow land. All lands must be cultivated. In Brazil during my last visit, you will see that they farm heavily. On hill tops, you will see them rearing cattle. Brazil is just like Nigeria. They have good climate and they are taking the advantage, why not us too? See what that brilliant old man, Chief Audu Ogbe did last time during campaigns; he said they would generate income for his party by raising one million tubers of yam and sell each for N1,000. That man is very particular about farming. That is how intelligent people think; they are the ones we expect in leadership positions.

Imagine how much he would generate by selling the yams.

Any message for Nigerians?

My only message is to you journalists; you will be doing great service to the nation when you report issues the way they are without adding your publishers’ opinion to it. Though they say who pays the piper dictates the tune, but it will be an undue advantage that you air the views of your publisher ahead of that of other Nigerians. It sums up to misinformation. As a media house you should endeavour to be neutral minded in your reportage.

There are newspapers I will never buy with my money because what you will read in them is nothing but the opinion of their owners, it is not fair. Let conscience be your guide in doing your work, be fair to Nigerians. Only the truth makes people to excel and it raises nations. The role of the press in a developing democracy cannot be under estimated.

“My only message is to you journalists; you will be doing great service to the nation when you report issues the way they are without adding your publishers’ opinion to it”.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

MPR slash not enough, says MAN Ï &ƔƍƆƏƐ Ɠ Ɛ M Ɛ ƌ ƈƐ Ə ƈƌƍƋƆƌƆ Ɛ Ɛƈ ÎÎÎThe Manufacturers As-

sociation of Nigeria (MAN) on Wednesday said that the reduction of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 13 per cent to 11 per cent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is not enough.

The apex bank on Tuesday announced the adjustment of the rates after a two-day meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in Abuja.

The MAN president, Dr. Frank Udemba, made the remark in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said that the two per cent reduction announced by the Monetary Policy Committee would not have much impact on bank lending rates.

He said: ``It is a good development but I think the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should do more.

``This is because whatever MPR that is pronounced affects the lending rate from banks to manufacturers and other customers. ``The reduction will be highly marginal knowing the system in which we operate. ``Banks are lending at between 23 per cent and 28 per cent. So, a two per cent reduction will bring the lending rate down to between 21per cent and 27 per cent, which is still very high.’’

Udemba said that MAN’s expectation was for the MPR to be slashed to five per cent to bring down the lending rate to 10 per cent at most.

According to him, stimulating the manufacturing sector with access to affordable finance is critical to economic diversification.

He noted that accessing funds at affordable rates

was one of the challenges facing manufacturers, hence the need for further reduction of MPR. The MAN president urged CBN to relax the conditions for accessing its N300 billion real sector support facility and other intervention funds for the real sector.

He said the stringent conditions attached to the funds were making them unattractive and inaccessible to manufacturers.

Udemba said the association was also concerned about the level of infrastructure decay in the country and called on the Federal Government to urgently address the situation. ``You cannot talk of competitive manufacturing unless you have stable power supply, good road and rail networks, among other critical infrastructure.

``These things are not readily available in the country right now and it makes manufacturing less competitive,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, an economist, Prof. Sherrifadeen Tella, has advised the CBN to penalise banks that would not comply with its new direction on lending rates.

The expert made this suggestion in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos. ``Some banks are not willing to comply with CBN directives on lending rates.

They have all sorts of inbuilt costs to interest rates.

They should be penalized. ``It will be counterproductive for the CBN to try to stimulate the economy only for some banks to frustrate its efforts’’.

Tella, a lecturer in Economics at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, said that it was

only in Nigeria that banks had high level of liquidity and yet had high lending rates.

He, therefore, advised that the CBN should ensure that erring commercial banks were penalised to serve as deterrent to others.

Also, Mr. Femi Ekundayo, a former banker, advised that the CBN should closely monitor banks in the implementation of the new monetary policy rates.

Ekundayo, a former President of Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that most advanced economies operated on single digit lending rates.

Ekundayo said that the current reduction in the MPR was an indication that attainment of single digit lending rates in the country would not be a mirage. ``Most developed economies operate at single digit lending rates. The lower the MPR, the greater the prospect of our attaining single digit lending rates. ``The MPC resolution is an indication that the prospect of Nigeria attaining a single digit lending rate will not be a mirage,’’ Ekundayo

said.

According to him, the reduction of the MPR and the CRR couldn’t have come at a better time than now when banks were bracing up with the challenges of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Ekundayo, who is also a former president of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria (IOD), said that the TSA was capable of creating some liquidity challenges in the banking sector.

He said that the reduction of the MPR and the CRR would cushion the effects of the TSA in the long-run.

The former banker urged stakeholders to watch the performance of the economy in the coming months in order to see the justification and sustainability of the new interest rate regime. ``Low rates will encourage borrowing. We need to monitor closely the economy in the coming months to see the effect of the reduction on banking operations,’’ Ekundayo said.

Relatedly, some financial experts on Wednesday commended the CBN for adjusting downwards its monetary policy rates.

Kogi poll crisis: PDP may ƅ ƋƋƆ Ɔ 9M& ƗƆƅƈ ƈ ƈ ƅ ƑƏƐ Continued from page 6

Gé`ë #ƈƏƆƅƐ Əè dƊƈƋƋ ƅƎƑƈ ƈƐƈ n ƈƐè Ɔ ƐƏƆ Ƈ Ə &ƗƑƅ Ɛƈ Ƌ jƆƅ Ƌ ƕ Ɨ & ƐƏƆƍƏƆ ƆƑƏƈ Ƌ #ƆƒƆƋ ƍƌƆ Ɛ Ƈ Mƈ ƆƏƈ æ &j&#), Dr. 1Ə ƅƆ C Ɛ ì &ƔƆƅƑƐƈƒƆ #ƈƏƆƅƐ Əè Ɔ ƐƏƆ Ƈ Ə 6Ƒƌ `Ɔ ƑƏƅƆ #ƆƒƆƋ ƍƌƆ Ɛ Ɨ &ƌƍ ƓƆƏƌƆ Ɛ 9 ƈƐƈ ƐƈƒƆè LƏê LƑ ƌƌƆƗ Ƌƈì yƈƅƆ ƅƆƋƋ Əè M Ɛƈ Ƌ RƍƆ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ Ƈ Mƈ ƆƏƈ è ^Ə Ƈê yƈ ƅƆ Ɛ jƆ ƆƄƆì `Ɔ ƈ ƐƏ Əè M Ɛƈ Ƌ RƍƆ n ƈƒƆƏ ƈƐƕ Ƈ Mƈ ƆƏƈ æMRnMçè ^Ə Ƈê C Ɔƍ ƈ Ɔ Ɗƈ ƕƆƌƈ Ɨ #ƈƏƆƅƐ Əé1Ɔ ƆƏ Ƌè M Ɛƈ Ƌ jƆ ƅ ƆƏ 9 ƐƈƐƑƐƆè #Əê G Ɨ d ƏƆ Ƒè ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƈ Ƒ ƑƏ Ɛƈ Ƈ MRnMôd &j&# dƊƈƋƋ ƅƎƑƈ ƈƐƈ n ƈƐè ƈ E ƗƑ Č zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕê

after the death of APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu was announced, which created constitutional problem.

The commission, on Tuesday, pointed out that the supplementary election would till go on, on December 5 and directed the APC to fill the vacancy created by the death of its governorship

candidate and prepare for December 5.

But the PDP rejected the INEC’s position and describing it as unconstitutional, and a “practice that is completely alien to the constitution and the Electoral Act.” The party thus called for the resignation of the Minister of Justice and the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu over the development.

I am yet to come to terms with Audu’s death – Wada ÎÎÎGov. Idris Wada of Kogi

said on Wednesday said that he was yet to come terms with the sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu, APC’s candidate in the Nov 21 governorship election.

Audu died on Sunday shortly after the Inpendendent Electoral Commission

had declared the election as inconclusive.

Wada, who spoke at Ogbonicha , the hometown of the deceased, during the third day Fida’u prayers, said that the death still remained a shock and mystery to him and the people of the state.

He said Audu would continue to be remembered for his selfless service to humanity, adding that he died at a time when his services were still needed.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, said that Audu touched so many lives

across the state while serving as a governor from 1991 to 1993 and 1999 to 2003.

Earlier, while leading the prayers, the Chief Imam, Alhaji Suleiman Adama, prayed Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest.

He also prayed Allah to grant members of his fam-

ily and political associates the fortitude to bear the loss.

Adama admonished Nigerians to always remember God in all their deeds and always remember death could come at anytime.

Speaking the first son of

the deceased, Mr Mohammed Audu, said that the death of their father was ``sudden and shocking ‘’, but they have accepted it with fortitude.

He thanked Nigerians for standing by the family and for their show of love and respect for the late Audu.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

13 Photo Speak

Faces at HID Awolowo’s burial

Former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and wife, Omolola.

Women surrounding the HID Awolowo’s casket after funeral service at Our Saviours Anglican Church in Ikenne-Remo... on Wednesday

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (left) and Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole.

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; his wife, Dolapo; Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun.

L-R: Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Saminu Turaki; Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar; his counterparts in Cross River, Prof. Ben Ayade and Borno, Kashim Shettima.

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (left) and former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and wife, Funke

L-R: Grandchild of the deceased, Mr. Segun Awolowo; National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and wife, Sen. Remi.

L-R: Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu; his counterparts for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Interior, Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazzau (rtd) and Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

L-R: Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd) and former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd).

PHOTOS: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

News14

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Judge canvasses end to interlocutory appeal from S’ Court Release Kanu, Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏFollowing the avalanche of

criticisms trailing the Supreme Court stay of proceedings of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct tribunal, Justice John Fabiyi on Monday, regretted the hearing of interlocutory appeals by the apex court and called for abolition of same power.

Justice Fabiyi, who retired on Wednesday at the mandatory age of 70 years said, "It is time to do away with the rights of appeal to

the Supreme Court from interlocutory decisions, adding that such appeal should terminate at the Court of Appeal.

"The constitution should, in my opinion, should be amended to make changes in the interest of reducing the workload of the court and the interest of saving legal expenses to litigants, as the present system exposes litigants to unnecessary extra level of appeal.

"The direct concomitant of the change is the possibility of expeditious determination of cases that come before the Supreme Court

"he added.

He said the Supreme Court which is saddled with responsibility to uphold norms and rule of law is vested with all unprecedented powers and jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court, he said, has protected the interest of the people and safe guided the independent of the judiciary as it never fail in upholding fair hearing and rule of law principle as ingrained in the grand norms.

According to the retired justice, the Supreme Court has contributed to the strengthening of the

country national unity and fostered a distinct sense of constitutional patriotism.

In his remark at the valedictory court session, the president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Augustine Alegeh (SAN), apologised on behalf of the Bar over attacks on the decisions of justices of Supreme Court.

Alegeh described Justice Fabiyi as a quintessential gentle man, a legal colossus, and a jurist per excellence, who has contributed to the development of judiciary in the country.

Ambode’s wife tasks women in aviation Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe wife of

the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has called on Women in Aviation (WIA) to continue to do more for women in aviation and other potential female aviation professionals to match with the theme of this year’s conference, Women: Connect, Engage and Inspire the Next Generation.

She said this while speaking at the 2015 annual conference of WIA, Nigeria Chapter in Lagos.

She stated that aviation industry is strategic and that its various departments are sophisticated, highly technical and scientific, adding that aviation employment is different from any other job because of the specialised skills and expertise required of the personnel to function effectively and efficiently.

Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by Mrs. Ogundamola Ogunsanwo, listed such highly specialised areas to include piloting, aircraft maintenance, aero-medicals, Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and several others.

According to her, “What this means to me is that Nigeria women have registered their impact and established their relevance in the complex field of aeronautic as they have done in the other challenging areas of human endeavour. So, who say the women are not flying?

Ogunsanwo stated that considering these feat, women are matching on and on the right part, adding that women should encourage themselves and also strive harder to achieve more.

Ambode

Minister of Budget and Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma (Left), with Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Gu Xiaojie, who paid Udoma a courtesy visit in Abuja… on Wednesday.

Ohanaeze youths beg FG

Ifeanyi Onwuneme

Umuahia As a condition to end the pro Biafra protests in the country, the Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC) has pleaded for unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, Director of Radio Biafra.

The plea was made at a meeting with the Federal Government on how to end the protests that has continued to disrupt social and economic activities in the South South and South East states, after the arrest and detention of Kanu who is also the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

The Ohaneze Youth Council National President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who made the disclosure of the outcome of the meeting of the duo in Umuahia, said that the Minister of Youths, Solomon Dalung, represented the Federal Government.

The OYC National President further disclosed that his delegation at the meeting insisted that Kanu had to be released unconditionally, based on the demands of IPOB and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), held last weekend in Enugu.

ÏÏÏ

FCT Area Councils Bill scales second reading in Senate Olufemi Samuel

Senate summons Fashola over poor state of bridges Olufemi Samuel Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Senate, on Wednesday, expressed displeasure with the state of Bailey bridges across the federation and has therefore called for reconstruction.

Against this background, it resolved to invite the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola to brief it on the state of the bridges nationwide and plans by the works ministry to reconstruct them.

The Senate, however, directed its Committee on Works to take inventory of the bridges for the purpose of documenting those to be reconstructed.

The Senate took the decision after adopting a motion moved

by Senator Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East) who called for urgent government’s attention on poor state of the bridges, which he stressed, have been stifling economic activities within the transportation sec-

tor in Nigeria.

Nnaji said Bailey bridges were antiquated having been made from pre-fabricated metal truss, which according to him, was developed and used during the Second World War. He noted that the bridges were built in Nigeria during pre-independence and post-Civil War era.

He lamented that motorists, commuters and other road users in areas where Bailey brides are still being used, have been passing through serious pains and frustration such that they often terminate their journeys by river-sides, while crossing over to continue the journeys.

The anomaly, Nnaji said occurs often because the bridges have either collapsed or caved in due to pressure and age.

According to him, the collapse of the Bailey bridges nationwide had caused “untold hardship to commuters, motorists and other

road users.”

Nnaji said the situation of the bridges are worst now, as many of them have collapsed irreparably, alluding to the bridges in Ebonyi River, along Ikem-Neke-Ugwuogo road at Ikem-Uno in Izi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu state, which he noted have collapsed.

He said, “The attendant loss of lives and other forms of livelihoods, as well as other forms of economic deprivation and losses are avoidable if proactive steps are taken from time to time to either maintain or to reconstruct such bridges.”

However, the Senate has called on the Federal Road Maintenance Authority (FERMA) to begin the process of reconstructing the collapsed bridges across Ebonyi at Ikem in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu state.

It also called for reconstruction of other collapsed Bailey bridges across the country.

Abuja

ÏÏÏA bill, seeking Administra-

tive and Political Structure for the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and other related matters, scaled second reading in the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill is being sponsored by Senator Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing FCT, Abuja.

It seeks to establish the administrative and political structure for the FCT Area Councils with relevant laws by the National Assembly, in order to devolve the Niger state laws which is being used in running the Area Councils over the years.

Leading debate on the bill, Aduda lamented that while Section 7 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provides establishment of structure, composition, finance and functions for local government councils in their states, such laws have not been enacted by the National Assembly for FCT Area Councils.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

15 Opinion

Did Peter Obi mean to say N75 million?

I

Ifeanyi Afuba

t was a tale that aroused curiosity each time it was told. Officially, Anambra State is not yet an oil producing state and thus, does not benefit from the 13% mineral derivation fund.

Nor does Anambra belong to the premier league of federation account recipients such as Kano, Katsina, and Lagos – with lopsided number of local government areas and high population respectively. Then given the low tone of governance and public service in the country, interest was stirred with the announcement that former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi was bequeathed N75b in cash and investments to his successor, Willie Obiano.

Even as Obi would qualify to be counted among the above average in Nigerian leadership, the unfortunate trend of predecessors in government leaving their successors piles of debt, somewhat sobered the reception of the N75b tale. A legacy of N53b local and foreign currency investment, complemented with 11.5b bank balance, as the story went, was impressive by Nigerian standards.

Therefore,, naturally, the glow of the subject invited closer attention.

Anambra State long in the news for its brand of socio – political crisis was seen by critics not to have realised its potential for development in the eight years of Peter Obi’s governorship.

The assessment tends to gain weight in the face of the N75 bn claim.

If Peter Obi could mobilise N75 bn towards the tail end of his tenure, for the use of his successor, it naturally followed that the period of his active service would have witnessed greater liquidity. If this were to be the case, how come that the administration left Awka the state capital barren, impoverished and in tatters? Does it sound plausible that a regime that took pride in paying workers in the public sector – political appointees and career staff alike - minimal wages would elect to handover significant monetary assets? If the administration was financially resourceful, it is legitimate to wonder as former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Chukwuma Soludo observed, that Obi was unable to leave any landmark project.

Doubts over the N75bn have been substantiated with the revelations by the Secretary to Anambra State Government, Solo Chukwulobelu on November 14, 2015 to the effect that the inherited cash balance in March 2014 was N9b while actual investments stood at N35.5b. It is important to note that the template used by the present administration in defining the value of what was passed on to it is exactly the provisions of former governor Peter Obi’s handover notes.

Chukwulobelu, on behalf of the Obiano regime, merely presented its findings. In other words, the Anam-

Peter Obi

Willie Obiano

bra State Government under Obiano re – presented Obi’s handover notes with comments on listed items, showing about N30b unaccounted for.

The response from the former governor’s camp initially consisted in restating correctness of the disputed handover figure, questioning the motive behind scrutinising the document now and calling for a committee of accountants to wade into the issue.

A second round of reactions seemed more deliberate, and designed to appeal to sentiments. In one breadth, there was an affectation of superiority that held in contempt the option of hurling bricks; a promise of statesmanship that pledged commitment to nurturing of the state and in another, a resort to wild allegations intended to incite the people against

the government.

While on the face of it, the call for review of the contentious handover package by financial experts from Ananbra State sounds lofty, the suggestion is misplaced. There are some specific issues in the handover notes that are irreconcilable. The status of these items in terms of their categories, definition and value are as clear as broad daylight that they do not require any further interpretation for comprehension. By largely ignoring evident parameters that contradict the N75b figure in their reactions, the Obi camp betrayed the porosity of its defence.

What clarification is demonstrated in the divide in which it is stated clearly that the state’s bank balances as at December 31 2013 stood at N11.5bn only to declare at the unveiling of the documents’ deficits that N37 bn was left in the treasury? No meaningful purpose is served brandishing supposedly bank statements on television when the declared balance and confirmed deposit say otherwise. Is the Peter Obi constituency owning up to the unreliability of the handover figures?

The sum of N3.5b quoted in the handover papers as investment in Intafact Beverages Limited, manufacturers of the Hero brand, is simply false. To date, Anambra State has invested N1.9b in the company, broken down to N1.4 by the Obi administration and N540m by the Obiano government. The status cum value of stock instruments is easily verifiable from the Registrar of Securities. No one needs a committee of accountants to confirm the standing of the investment.

There should also be no controversy about the ineligibility of including the Nigeria Independent Power Project valued at N9b in a document intended to list investments undertaken by the Peter Obi regime. The above named investment was initiated and executed by the federal government as a national venture involving the central government and the 36 states.

If Peter Obi could mobilise N75 bn towards the tail end of his tenure, for the use of his successor, it naturally followed that the period of his active service would have witnessed greater liquidity.

If this were to be the case, how come that the administration left Awka the state capital barren, impoverished and in tatters?

Does it sound plausible that a regime that took pride in paying workers in the public sector – political appointees and career staff alike - minimal wages would elect to handover significant monetary assets? If the administration was financially resourceful, it is legitimate to wonder as former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Chukwuma Soludo observed, that Obi was unable to leave any landmark project.

The consent of the states was taken for granted. A proper handover note should have distinguished between other investments, carry – over investments and the investments initiated by the Obi regime. The underlining terms are the Obi administration’s investment handover notes. Anything to the contrary would be misleading as in the present case. For similar reasons, President Muhammadu Buhari for the umpteenth time criticized former President Jonathan’s handover notes as vague and unhelpful [The Nation, Tuesday, November 17, 2015.] The argument of the Peter Obi camp that the principle of handover admits voluntary and involuntary investments self defeats as the list is not exhaustive of the state’s equity holdings. Anambra State has stakes in Nigercem Company, Nkalagu and estates in Enugu, Lagos and Abuja.

Why were these not included in the handover list in the standard of all receivables?

It amounts to playing on the intelligence of Ndi Anambra to say that the previous administration ploughed N1b into the Onitsha Shopping Mall when no such payment was made.

What is being presented as investment of Anambra State’s funds is no more than the conversion of the state’s land to 15 percent equity stake.

For the avoidance of doubt, Africa Capital Alliance is the financial investor of the venture.

In the peculiar world of Obi’s investment bonanza, loans advanced to farmers and small scale entrepreneurs by federal institutions such as Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry qualify to be declared as investment by his regime. The disbursements for these private schemes are approximately N2.4b. Is the state government entitled to a share of the profits therein. You wonder, we wonder.

The entries on Emenite Limited and Orient Petroleum Resources Limited are also misrepresentations of the facts on ground. In both cases, there is an unspoken ascription to the Obi regime of investments by other administrations. One need not highlight all the instances of misinformation.

The alarm on this disingenuous handover note was sounded very early at the beginning of Obiano’s tenure. Two advertorials, ‘Mr PETER OBII’s N75B LEGACY: FACT OR FICTION [The Nation, Tuesday, April 1, 2014] and ‘THE DUBIOUS DEMAND FOR REFUND OF N7B ELECTION EXPENSES [The Nation, Friday, April 11, 2014], were quite revealing. If it had taken the Obiano regime eighteen months to engage publicly on the subject, it means this is not a precipitate action or witch-hunt. Governor Adams Oshiomhole is all set to initiate a probe of Lucky Igbinedion’s regime after seven years in office.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Business Times Æ s $5.2b fine on MTN: Buhari has final say— Shittu Tony Nwakaegho The Presidency has reiterated it is not considering reducing the N1 trillion fine slammed on MTN Nigeria for violating an order by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to deactivate 5.4 million subscribers for not meeting up with the SIM registration standards.

Speaking to journalists in La-

gos on Tuesday, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communication, disclosed that, after series of meeting between the Nigerian authorities and MTN, the onus now lies with President Muhammadu to take decision on the matter.

Shittu, however, added that NCC’s decision was in line with the regulatory standards and policies and will serve as deterrent to other operators.

The minister faulted those who

accused the government of lacking understanding on the implications of the fine, saying, “It is about making sure that Nigerians appreciate the fact, the era of impunity is over. Questions need be asked for every infractions and we need to be fair when and where necessarily. I need to repeat this: nobody wants MTN to die. It is not in the interest of Nigeria for MTN to die, because as far as I am concerned, MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company,

though it comes from South Africa. The Chairman, the CEO and top executives are Nigerian “shareholders.”

“What I will suggest is that, to make MTN more Nigeria’s they need to go Plc; open their doors and shareholding base to all Nigerians so there will be more acceptability. MTN has made great strides, literally, opened our eyes to benefits in telecommunications. So, MTN is part and parcel of the Nigerian dream. Again,

17

there are thousands of Nigerians who earn their daily living through MTN. More importantly, for instance, I am a subscriber to MTN since the inception in Nigeria and I do not want to dispose my line, so we don’t want MTN to die.

“It is like a parent whose child offends the law, if you spare the rod, you spoil the child. MTN is not operator in Nigeria; if you do not punish one for the infractions, then you give a signal to other operators to disobey the law and regulations.

“I pray that issue will be solved

by Mr. President to the best interest of Nigeria.” On Nigeria Governors’ Forum recent position that MTN must pay the fine in full, he said, “The President will take the best decision. It is his re-

Airlines remit $5.57bn yearly from ticket sales in Nigeria Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

L – R: Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Mr. Bode Makanjuola, Chief Executive Officer, Caverton Offshore Support Group at the Closing Gong Ceremony at the Exchange today.

Stock market report Adesola Akindele The equities market segment of the Nigerian Stock Market (NSE) improved from seven negative consecutive trading sessions as lead market indicators appreciated by 0.53 per cent.

Specifically, the NSE AllShare index increased by 147.11 points to close at 27,743.92 points compared to 223.68 points lost yesterday to close at 27,596.81 points while the

NSE ASI adds 0.53%

market capitalization which opened at N9.488 trillion gained N50.6 billion to close at N9.538 trillion.

At the close of trading most of the sectoral index closed positive except the NSE Oil and gas Index which closed 323.20 points, 0.4 per cent lower than its previous closing points of 324.50 basis points while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

Twelve gainers led by Caverton Plc were recorded at the close of trade yesterday. Caver-

ton led with a 9.28 per cent or 22 kobo gain to close at N2.59 per share, it was trailed by Diamond Bank Plc which added 5.08 per cent or 12 kobo to close at N2.48 per share while Ikeja Hotel Plc appreciated 4.95 per cent or 16 kobo to close at N3.39 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc increased 4.71 per cent or 99 kobo to close at N21.99 per share while Livestock Plc grew 3.45 per cent or 5 kobo to close at N1.50 per share.

No fewer than 27 foreign airlines flying into Nigeria are remitting over $5.556 billion yearly from the sales of ticket, an aviation expert, Mr. Gbenga Olowo, president of Sabre Network (West Africa), has said. He noted that out of the 48,433 seats available in the international weekly flights from four airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, Arik Air controls only 3,889.

Olowo lamented that Nigeria had not been able to reciprocate traffic rights to most of the partnering countries. According to him, “this has resulted in huge negative balance of trade against Nigeria. This has brought about capital flight.

It has put strong pressure on the naira by weakening the exchange rate.

This aids unemployment as Nigerian airlines’ growth remains stunted.” Olowo, who said that African Airlines had been regarded as too small, weak and fragmented, said that the option for them was to come out of the woods and merge or consolidate. The president urged the Federal Government to reverse all Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and the negative balance of trade.

He explained that the bilateral, multi-lateral, three layers of air services agreements and open skies agreement, which

Nigeria entered into, had created a window of opportunity for foreign carriers to come to Nigeria from multiple points.

Olowo said that the multiple points entry by foreign carriers had eroded the operational capacity of the domestic airlines.

He noted the objective of the balance of trade had not been achieved.

In a paper he delivered at the 10th African Air Transport Safety & Security Summit, held in Accra, Ghana, with theme: “Building Strong Carriers in Africa: A case study of Nigeria,” Olowo explained that the era of stand-alone was no longer realistic as airlines all over the world are partnering, merging and consolidating to be profitable.

He added regional integration, bridging infra-structure gap (ICT, power, transport, water & sanitation) were the key to sustaining profitable airlines on the continent.

Olowo stressed that Nigeria and, indeed, African airlines must collaborate to succeed. He said: “Africa only holds about three per cent of passenger traffic and about two per cent of cargo in the global air transport equation.

The share of (the global) market African airlines have is diminishing. African airlines are mainly small, weak and under capitalised with poor management.

Business News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Segun Adio

Head, Marketing and Brand Communication, UBA Plc, Mr. Ikemefuna Mordi; Directorate Head, Public Sector Group, Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Head, Strategy and Products, Mr. Idukpaye Iyke and winners of the UBA Remittance AWOOF Promo, before departure to Dubai, at a ceremony held in Lagos recently.

AfDB grants N2.4b facility to LAPO Microfinance Bank The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has granted a N2.364 billion ($12 million) credit facility to Nigeria’s LAPO Microfinance Bank Ltd. The bank, in a statement emailed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesteday said that the loan agreement, signed on Nov. 17, was to support inclusive growth in Nigeria.

It noted that the facility would equally enhance local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

LAPO MfB is the largest microfinance bank in Nigeria with 1.1 million clients and 327 branches, currently operating in 26 out of

36 states in the country.

Given its history of grouplending model centred on a community-based approach, LAPO predominantly focuses on lowincome households and women by providing an average loan size of N38,000 ($190). ``The corporate AfDB loan will support a proposed expansion project of LAPO MfB to achieve its goal to serve 5 million clients by 2017. ``It is focusing on low-income individuals (predominantly women) and micro/small enterprises by providing affordable access to finance, savings, credit and insurance in urban and rural areas. ``The MfB will also expand its

geographic coverage and number of branches,’’ the statement said.

According to the bank, with the loan, multi-faceted development outcomes are expected for LAPO MfB. ``It will increase the proportion of poor households and small businesses with access to financial services in Nigeria and its financial sector infrastructure, as it plans to expand their branch network. ``The funding will also stimulate product development aimed at meeting diverse needs of low-income households and local enterprises, including a soft loan scheme to provide clients a more convenient and safe solar powered lanterns.

Epileptic power supply: Ondo seals 1,050MW deal with South Korea

Ondo, Korean Firm To Build 1,050MW Power Plant

Opeoluwani Akintayo In a bid to bring an end to epileptic power supply in Ondo State, the government of the state has sealed a deal of procurement and construction of a 1,050 megawatts independent power station with POSCE E & C of South Korea.

POSCO E & C is to handle the design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and testing of the 550MW first phase open cycle gas turbine power plant.

Actual construction is expected to commence in first quarter 2016 and would take about 26 months from commencement and date of issuing the notice to proceed.

The state government is currently partnering Kingline Development Company, a South Korean Company, through its Nigerian subsidiary, Kingline Development Nigerian Ltd, for the development of the Independent Power Project (IPP).

The first phase of the project involves the construction of a gas-fired power plant that will generate 550 MW of electricity to

be sold into the national grid. The second phase is expected to add another 500 MW. Already, a special purpose vehicle, called Kingline Ondo IPP Ltd, has been registered to implement the power generation project, officials said in a statement.

Head of Kingline Development in Nigeria, Fola Akinnola said that funding had been secured for the project, stressing that the contract was signed recently at POSCO E & C’s headquarters in Inchon, Seoul, South Korea.

Among other progress reports, he noted that Certificate of Occupancy had already been issued

by Ondo State government in October for the project, with the environmental impact assessment panel review, scheduled for end of November.

In line with its plan to improve the quality of its services, and to continuously keep its clients up-to-date with information, AIICO Pension Managers Limited recently organized an enlightenment forum for Pension Desk Officers (PDOs) in Abuja.

AIICO Pension Managers Limited is a licensed pension fund administrator with over 40 locations spread across Nigeria. APML is managed by seasoned and welltested executives with vast experience in Pension Administration, Risk Management, Banking, Capital Market and Asset Management.

PDOs from organisations in and around the Abuja axis were invited and the level of participation by way of questions and answer and the feedback received gave credence to the quality of enlightenment received by participants.

Managing Director of AIICO Pension Managers Limited (APML) Mr. Eguarekhide Longe, while welcoming participants to the forum, stated that the event was organised as part of APML’s resolve to continuously satisfy and respond to the yearnings of clients, especially the PDOs who are the drivers of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) processes in their various organisations.

According to Longe, part of the reason why the Forum was organised was to engage the PDOs on the challenges they face in discharging their duties and also to ensure that both the PDOs and APML were on the same page.

Participants were enlightened on various issues including the use of the Electronic Pension Contribution Collection System (EPCCOS) for seamless remittance of pension contributions, updates on the Benefit Administration processes; updates on new guidelines issued by PenCom and general challenges encountered

by PDOs and RSA holders.

Nigerian Security & Civil Defence Corps’s PDO, Barr. Ezon,

AIICO Pensions Managers hosts PDOs, retirees who spoke on behalf of other participants, thanked the management of APML for the opportunity given them for the event.

He assured organisers that the lessons learnt at the forum would help enhance their jobs as PDOs and ultimately help to sustain the pension industry.

AIICO Pensions Managers were not done with the PDOs but they also held a Forum for retirees of the company. For the management of APML, retired employees require knowledge of three basic facts of life which had been the undoing of most retired workers in the country.

At the Retirees Forum, APML management enlightened retirees on three key but basic facts of life which are management of finances after retirement, need to maintain healthy living after retirement and what it called retiring the AIIOC way.

At the forum, APML harped on the importance of investing hard earned savings of the retirees for future use after service. On the issue of healthy living, APML informed its retirees as well as serving personnel that the right attitude to eating, performing light body exercises on a daily basis or routinely, taking time out to rest and subjecting oneself to routine medical check-ups should be part of their retirement chores.

As pensions managers, the company also urged the retirees not to be oblivious of the need for retirement benefit financial plans as approved by the National Pension Commission and National Insurance Commission.

Several APML bigwigs, ranging from the Managing Director, Mr. Longe, Regional Controller (North), Mr. Sani Mustapha, and some others shared their wealth of knowledge at the twin events.

Longe, MD/CEO AIICO Pension Managers Limited

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

19 Brands & Marketing

World Toilet Day: Harpic partners United Nations on hygiene

Participants and officials of AIICO Pension Managers enlightement forum for pension desk officers and retirees in Abuja recently.

Stories by Godwin Anyebe Against the backdrop of more than 32 million Nigerians not having access to functional toilet facilities and defecating in the open, Harpic, Nigeria’s leading toilet cleaning brand has re-echoed the need for clean toilets in addition to poor sanitation as the leading cause to large economic losses,

high impact on malnutrition rates as well as morbidity.

Harpic stated this during the recent World Toilet Day (WTD) anniversary in partnership with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Lagos.

Reckitt Benckiser Marketing Director, West Africa, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili said the enlightenment has become necessary because open defecation

has ripple effect to the larger society as it affects the healthy living conditions resulting in increased child mortality, cholera, diarrhoea in addition to considerable social costs which include loss of dignity or risk of physical attack and sexual abuse.

He said Nigeria loses N455 billion yearly to this, which represents 1.3 percent of its GDP

to poor sanitation and hygiene which increase the risk of disease and malnutrition.

Silivrilli said “This year, WTD is focusing on the link between sanitation and nutrition, drawing the world’s attention to the importance of toilets in supporting better nutrition and improved health. Lack of access to clean drinking water and sanitation, along with the absence of good toilet hygiene practices, are among the underlying causes of poor nutrition.

The aim of World Toilet Day is to raise awareness about the people in the world who do not have access to a toilet, despite the fact that it is a human right to have clean water and sanitation.”

He pointed out that the sixth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals is to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.

“Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in. There is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. But due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, every year, faecal contamination of the environment is the root cause of an annual average

of 5,400 cases of cholera affecting Nigeria. Harpic has been in the fore front of this campaign reaching 1,000,000 homes yearly across 16 cities within the country to educate consumers about how to keep a clean and hygienic toilet Category Manager Harpic, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola stated that Harpic’s toilet hygiene campaign initiative builds on the strong commitment already made by UN Member States. The “Sanitation for All’ Resolution (A/RES/67/291) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2013, designating 19 November as World Toilet Day. The Day is coordinated by UN-Water in collaboration with Governments and relevant stakeholders.

Prior to the event, Harpic had a community engagement walk in partnership with United Nations Information Centre, distributing fliers on toilet Hygiene and Sanitation in addition to one-on-one sanitation awareness and education to residents of Idi-Araba and environs on the need for better toilet hygiene practices.

Orijin wins ADVAN 2015 brand of the year award Orijin brand from the stable of Guinness Nigeria Plc has won the 2015 Advertisers Association of Nigeria’s (ADVAN) Brand of the Year Award. Since its introduction in 2013, Orijin has raised the bar, carting away various awards to the delight of its esteemed consumers.

“The advent of Orijin into the Nigerian market is the result of thought leadership by Guinness Nigeria. As a company, we are continually looking for new ways to satisfy our consumers and Orijin is another attestation to this resolve. We have been in the fore front of innovation and

now with the ADVAN Awards as the Brand of the Year, we are now more committed to ensure our consumers are satisfied” said Ms. Eyitemi Taire, Portfolio Director, Larger and RTD, Guinness Nigeria Plc. Attesting to the quality of the award, Mr. David Okeme, President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria said “the process of selecting the winners and recipients of today’s awards was done by a panel of seasoned professionals who maintained the highest level of equitability in the judging process. Therefore, I attest that the winners that will

emerge are the truthful and honest representation of the best of marketing efforts in 2015.”

Re-instating the Orijin mantra, Taire said “Orijin, is a bittersweet alcoholic blend made of 100 percent natural herbs and fruits. Orijin celebrates the vibrancy of African culture and consumers now see Orijin as the traditional drink for modern Nigerians. Orijin has exceeded our expectations and our esteemed consumers are keen to spread the word and encourage others to try it.”

It would be recalled that Orijin won the 2014 Marketing

Samantha unveils Bistro, Village grille

L-R: Executive Chef & Director Samantha’s Bistro & Grille, Dumebi Agbakoba, Senior Partner, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN & Yetunde Ogunnubi Communication Manager, Samantha’s Bistro at the Opening of Samantha’s Bistro in Lagos recently.

Samantha, a casual restaurant that serves simply hearty providence dishes has introduced its Bistro and Village Grille. The restaurant is poised to offer its customers a service that is second to none.

Speaking during the opening

World Award for Excellence in Marketing Innovation and the 2014 ADVAN award for Marketing Excellence. Recently, the brand unveiled the Largest Drum in Africa put at 22ftx25ft in size after a ceremonial visit and endorsement by traditional rulers across Nigeria.

“We are very happy at all these reviews. It clearly shows that our consumers appreciate our products and we sincerely appreciate their patronage.

However, we encourage our consumers to enjoy their Orijin responsibly at all times,” Taire said.

Ndegwa, MD Guinness

ceremony event in Lagos recently, the Executive Chef and Director, Samantha Bistro and Grill, Dumebi Agbakoba said, “at Samantha, we are driven by passion, no matter the project, we ensure we do everything within our reach to deliver on it.

“We have an in-depth knowledge of Nigerian, French, Italian, among other food to create an ever changing seasonal menu for our esteemed customers,” she added.

According to her, with exten-

sive wine and cocktail list to accompany our food or simply to enjoy on its own, you will find dishes including fishes, pasta and grills, adding that they also offer a chef daily special.

“Our culinary space offers a cook and dines experience where foodies and enthusiast cooks can learn a variety of recipes and enjoy with fellow cooks,” she stated.

Dumebi added that Samantha’s Bistro runs three services which include breakfast, lunch at and dinner.

Motoring 20

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

s ’ a i r e g i N r o ’ f r e a c e Y Ra e h T f O r a ‘C p

u s t ho

Ï`Ɔ è ƉƊƄƍ è ƍ ƉƉ è ƠƞƟ Ɗ ƈƄ ƅƆ Ɖ ƉƆ Ǝ Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Arrangements have reached advanced stage for the 2015 ‘Nigeria Car-Of-The-Year’ (COTY) Award at the forthcoming Nigeria Auto Journalists Award (NAJA). As a build-up for this year’s award, Toyota Corolla, Kia Rio, Peugeot

301 and Nissan Almera have been selected to compete for the coveted price. Winner of the Car-OfThe-Year will be announced on Thursday night, November 26, 2015 inside the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Nigeria Car of the Year competition has been around over

the years and the strictest criteria apply to the finalists. To appraise and select the winner, each car of the listed cars will thoroughly be put through its paces on the road by the motoring journalists. To emerge tops, the car that will win the shield will have to tick all the boxes in terms of value for money,

availability and accessibility of spare parts and product affordability.

The NAJA Award which is the most respected automotive award in Nigeria held annually attracts a lot of excitement and suspense among stakeholders within and outside the industry. It is coming at a time when the Nigerian government’s automotive policy is gaining traction.

The new Ford, Coscharis Ranger Pickup

Genesis Takes Shape As Hyundai Motor Unveils G90 Luxury Sedan Hyundai Motor has revealed the first rendering of its new range-topping G90 luxury sedan.

The elegantly designed, technology packed model hints at the recently-launched Genesis brand’s design identity and future direction.

Speaking on the new car, Jin Kim Vice President and Head of Operations for Hyundai Africa and Middle East, said, “The G90 concept images of this new luxury sedan are guaranteed to instill confidence in our customer base which is continuously looking for world-class design and new levels

safety, innovation, technology and dynamics.

During the test drive, a number of factors will be used as parameters to select the car that would be selected as the eventual winners as “Car-Of-The-Year’’ in Nigeria.

These factors include, but not limited to each car’s value proposition in terms of road handling, stability, functionality, comfort, safety features, overall design,

of luxury. This model will arrive next year and it will be the first of six new Genesis models which will launch in Africa and the Middle East by 2020.”

Following the global announcement of the Genesis brand launch earlier this month, we are delighted to release these concept images of our new large luxury sedan. Africa and the Middle East has a taste for all things luxury therefore we are confident it will prove popular with our customer base across both regions when it launches next year.”

As the Genesis brand’s flag-

ship model, G90 is a blueprint for change and innovation that will distinguish the Genesis brand.

Majoring on ‘human-centered’ technology combined with engaging driving dynamics, G90 boasts a raft of world-best safety features and technological innovations to set itself apart in the luxury market.

G90 also showcases the Genesis brand’s hallmark design style ‘Athletic Elegance’, interpreted by the newly-formed Prestige Design Division to bring graceful and profound elegance to G90’s significant proportions.

A robust electronically controlled transfer case lets drivers in 4x4 models shift on the fly from 4x2 to 4x4 high via a knob on the centre console. For low-speed torque or additional downhill control, drivers can also engage low-range 4x4 gearing, while an electronic locking rear differen-

tial helps to improve traction in difficult conditions. These offroad strengths are matched to a towing capability of up to 3 500kg and impressive payload capacity.

The models that will initially be built in Nigeria are the 2.5 petrol 4x4 double cab base and the 3.2 TDCi XLT 4X4.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, November 26, 2015

21 Public Notice

Police to deploy 9,000 personnel for Bayelsa poll ÏÏÏThe

Police Command in Bayelsa State, on Wednesday, said it would deploy 9, 000 officers and men on various duties during the Dec. 5 governorship election in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Nasiru Oki, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

Oki assured that the command would provide adequate security that would ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

“The strategy is already on the ground, we have done our operational

Ondo Assembly extends LG caretakers’ tenure

orders as regards who should do what, when to do what; we will be working in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies,” he said.

He stressed the need for the people, especially politicians, to be law-abiding, and advised politicians and the electorate to avoid anything that could cause violence before, during and after the election.

“We are expecting so many officers to boost security on that day, we are planning to deploy between 9, 000 and 10, 000 men, but this will be decided by the Force Head-

quarters in Abuja.

“Our men will be spread over the eight Local Government Areas of Bayelsa, because we are going to have adequate personnel and logistics to ensure a hitch-free election.

Firstly, movement will be restricted on that day.

“We have told the party followers to avoid being used by the politicians to cause trouble; we have advised them to remain ambassadors of peace, even as they prepare for the forthcoming governorship election.

“The politicians should not get near the polling unit with their armed personal security details; all

ÏÏÏOndo State House of

The House, presided over by the Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, agreed that there was no need to overstress the issue since democracy and governance has to be sustained.

A member representing Akoko North West constituency 2, Hon. Gbenga Araoyinbo, moved the

Assembly, on Wednesday, elongated the tenure of caretaker committees of all the 18 Local Government Councils of the state for another six months.

The approval was given during a plenary session of the House in Akure, Ondo state capital.

we want from them is to cast their vote and return to their houses.

“After the election, they should take the result in good faith, exhibit spirit of sportsmanship, because election is not a do or die affair,” Oki said.

Arase

motion to grant the extension of tenure of the committees.

Quoting section 12 (4), 1 and 2 Local Government Law 2007 as amended, the Araoyinbo said there should be no vacuum in the administration of the local governments.

THE WAY OF SALVATION EVANGELICAL MISSION INTERNATIONAL

THE ETI – OSA AND IBEJU – LEKKI PLANKS AND BUILDING MATERIALS ASSOCIATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named CHURCH has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and AlliedMatters Act of 1990 TRUSTEES 1. Adetunji Jacob Olugbemiro 2. Adetunji Sunday Joseph 3. Badmus Adeyinka 4. Adetunji SundayOpeyemi 5. Olaseni Emmanuel Tunbosu

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.

TRUSTEES 1. Hammed Adebisi 2. Adebowale Timothy Sunday 3. Alhaji Wasiu Arikewushola 4. Mr. A.o Adeoye 5. Tunde Azeez 6. Bamidele D. Buhari 7. Alhaji Arikewushola Zubar 8. Raufu Adeboyega 9. Akibu Akinsanya 10. Salisu Adegbenro 11. Nureni Edunjobi 12. Oseni Olasunkanmi Suraju Aims and objectives 1. To further promote the walfare of its members 2. To cater for the walfare of family members of association members 3. To do such other things as are incidental to the achievement of objective

AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To train and ordain ministers for the furtherance of the gospel 3. To establish Maintain and conduct a suitable organization for the management and supervision of the church established by the incorporated Trustees.

4. To publish Christian Literature, Tracts, Magazine, books etc.

5. Embark on evangelical mission in and outside Nigeria Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SAO NOMINEES

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

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

SIGNED SECERTARY

Fuel scarcity: DPR seals 17 filling stations in Bauchi, Gombe

ÏÏÏAs

the lingering fuel scarcity bites harder across different parts of the country, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), in Gombe state said it has been battling with erring filling stations who are cashing on the inadequate sufficiency level of the product to cheat costumers and make illegal profits.

To this end, the DPR office in Gombe, which oversees operations of the filling stations in Bauchi and Gombe states, last week sealed off 17 filling stations for diversion and selling above government approved pump price of N87 per litre.

Briefing newsmen on Wednesday over their operations in the last one week, Mr. Benard Amos, the Assistant Controller in charge of Retail Outlet and Monitoring, told Journalists that the filling stations affected were found either selling above pump price of N87 as approved by government, under dispensing the product to customers, and diversion to unknown destinations.

He explained that five of the sanctioned stations in Gombe state included Ummodah Investment Nigeria Limited in Billiri along Gombe Yola road, for selling the product at N140 per litre. Others are; NNPC

Retail Limited (Alkalam) in Gombe town, for hoarding the product; Shakkhato Integrated Services Nigeria Limited in Bojude, on Gombe Kano road, for selling in jerrycans and also selling at N140 per litre, and Samafmar Nigeria Limited in Kumo, on Gombe-Yola road, for also selling at N140 per litre.

Al-fatmiya Oil Nigeria Limited Dadin-Kowa along Gombe-Biu road, for selling at N140 per litre.

The other 12 filling stations sealed off in different parts of Bauchi state for diversion of between 33, 000 to 210, 000 litres of fuel and also selling at N135 per litre, were Danlami Ptroleum Transport and Company Limited, Sumsons Enterprises Limited, Al-ihsan Transport Nigeria Limited, AM Naiya and Sons Limited.

Others were Basirka and Sons Nigeria Limited, IMG Petroleum Marketing Co. Limited, SID Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Wahida Nigeria Limited, Chibulco Nigeria Limited, Na-Giade Oils Limited and Majidadi Petroleum and General Services Limited.

LAGOS TEEN CHALLENGE FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Part ‘’C’’ Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Shobande Olayiwola Ishola 2. Shobande Olubanke Atinuke Hannah 3. Shobande Folasade Adeola AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide competent residential care for teenage substance abusers 2. To assist family members of substance abusers through education and counselling.

3. To provide communities with preventive education about drug and alcohol abuse.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: TEMITAYO TESLIM-SHITTU (08034417710)

ILIYA YAHI NDIRMBITAH

MRS RACHAEL EGUNYOMI

AJAYI ADELEKE ADEWOLE

IBRAHIM KAYODE

NNADI LILIAN TOCHI SANDRA

I, formerly known and addressed as FLIYA YAHI WATHIA now wish to be known and addressed as ILIYA YAHI NDIRMBITAH All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed

I, formerly known and addressed as : Ajayi Adeleke John now wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Adeleke Adewole. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Elewide Kayode Usman now wish to be known and addressed as Ibrahim Kayode All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Ekwezu Lilian Tochi now wish to be known and addressed as Nnadi Lilian Tochi Sandra.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

as Miss Beauty Elizabeth Joseph, now wish to be addressed as MRS RACHAEL EGUNYOMI. Access Bank, Skye Bank and General Public take note.

NKALU LONGINUS ONYEMAECHI

ADEWALE ADEJOKE OJO

OLAYIWOLA ROTIMI SUNDAY

NGOZI ROSE ODOEMELE

NWANCHUKWU JIAZA GLORY OLUCHI

I, formerly known and addressed as Nkalu Longinus Amaechi now wish to be known and addressed as Nkalu Longinus Onyemaechi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Afolabi Adegoke Ojo now wish to be known and addressed as Adewale Adejoke Ojo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Olayiwola Rotimi Olaosun now wish to be known and addressed as Olayiwola Rotimi Sunday. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Ngozi Rose Iguwe now wish to be known and addressed as Ngozi Rose Odoemele. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

This is to inform the general public that my name has been written as NWACHUKWU GLORY OLUCHI or as JIAZA GLORY OLUCHI NWACHUKWU and JIAZA are my Surname.

Therefore, I wish to be addressed as NWANCHUKWU JIAZA GLORY OLUCHI

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Reps urge FG to reconstruct Cross River, Benue roads Henry Omunu

Abuja ÏÏÏThe House of Representatives, on Wednesday, called on the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, to undertake the reconstruction of Yahe-Ukelle Igede (Cross River/Benue state) road with a view to saving it from total collapse and ease the hardship of the people.

This resolution by the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Mr. Agom Jarigbe, which sought the urgent rehabilitation of the road from Yahe-Ukelle in Yala Local

Government Area of Cross River state to Igede in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.

Moving the motion, Jarigbe said that “the road from Yahe through Ukelle in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State which links Igede in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State is a single-lane road, which is plagued by severe gully erosion that has eaten deep into the road and is also riddled with potholes.

As a result, commuters don’t usually enjoy plying the road.

Terrorism: Islamic scholars task Muslims on fear of Allah

ÏÏÏTwo

Islamic scholars, Sheikh Tajudeen Abu Yusuff and Sheikh AbdulRasheed A-Jabar Buwaeb, have tasked Muslims on fear and obedience to Almighty Allah, saying that the fear of Allah was the beginning of wisdom for all Muslims all over the world, particularly in Yoruba land.

The two Islamic scholars gave the charge while speaking at the monthly lecture entitled: “Saudi Arabia: A Land Of Tranquility”, which was organised by the Oyo State chapter of the Federation of Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Organisation of Nigeria (FASON), held at Local Authority Primary School, Idi-Ope, Oyo, Oyo State.

They urged Muslims to let the fear of Allah guide them in all their dealings.

Imam Abu Yusuff described Saudi Arabia as a developed and civilised nation where the ruler and the ruled live comfortably and in tranquility.

He noted that Saudi Arabia was experiencing such comfortability and tranquility, not because it had abundant resources, but she followed the guiding principle of Islam as religion of peace, equity and justice, where both the ruler and the ruled had the fear of Allah and, above all, the country shunned polytheism, which had reared its ugly head in the midst of Yoruba people.

He therefore urged all

Ebonyi budgets N3b to rehalibilate hawkers

to the department of Talent Development, which would be created under the Office of the Secretary to the Government, basically to conduct a census of Ebonyians who are hawking in major cities in Anambra State, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Aba, to elsewhere in the country.

“Once that comprehensive census is taken, the state government would make available N3billion to begin the rehabilitation of all indigenes of the state who engage in disgraceful and humiliating activities of hawking on the highways”, he added.

Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏThe Ebonyi State Gov-

ernment has said it had budgeted N3 billion naira for the rehabilitation of natives of the state, who were hawking in major cities across the country.

The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Emmanuel Onwe, disclosed this to newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting, held on Tuesday.

Onwe said the Special Adviser to governor on Lagos Liaison office, Mrs. Jacinta Nworie, would be redeployed

Umahi

Borno Christians flay govt over neglect Bodunrin Kayode

Maiduguri ÏÏÏChristians in Borno State have decried the lingering neglect of their group by the government, which, recently, called Muslim leaders and Imams to the Government House for a security meeting to protect their own from Boko Haram, leaving them out to take care of themselves.

Some of them told journalists decried what they said was an open disregard of their existence by the government, which discouraged them a lot as if they as Christians were foreigners in the state.

The government recently parlayed with the Muslim representatives and Ulamas on their security against the

raging insurgency leaving the Christian leaders out, which, to them indicated that Christians were not very important to the government in a way.

“We are not happy that the Governor called only Muslims and left out Christians who are bona fide indigenous people of the state giving the impression that there are no Christians in this state when we dominate the southern part of Borno State. It was done in bad faith and we believe it is not too late for the Governor Shettima to retrace his steps and invite Christian leaders to know how they provide physical security for themselves.

“We know that we do not put our trust in the weapons

our soldiers are using but in our God, but that does not mean that we, too, do not have to be co-opted in their plans against our common enemy,” said one of the leaders, who pleaded anonymity.

When contacted Pentecostal Forum of Nigeria PFN Borno State Chairman, Bishop William Naga, decried the selective treatment of people in the state, adding that his flock was never approached by the government to find out about their security in churches as they did with their Muslim brothers recently.

Governor Kashim Shettima recently summoned Imams of mosques in Maiduguri, Jere and surrounding areas as well as district heads, village heads

and those manning streets called lawans and Bulamas for a security meeting attended by the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Garbai ElKanemi.

The meeting discussed firm measures that might require policy pronouncements aimed at addressing the latest attacks on mosques during Friday prayers as carried out by insurgents who capitalised on their weaknesses to waste their lives.

Unlike before when Muslims could sneak into any mosque in the guise of praying, many mosques in Maiduguri now use scanners provided for them to screen people before they are allowed to pray in their facility.

President, Women Arise for Change Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (middle) with other rights activists and NGOs at the rally held in honour of a slain pregnant woman, Comfort Udoh, held at Ebute Metta, Lagos… on Wednesday.

Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

JAMB, NBTE move against exam malpractise in S' East, S' South institutions Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏ

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), have sent representatives to polytechnics and monotechnics in the South East and South South regions to fight unethical practices.

No fewer than 20 tertiary institutions in the zones gathered at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Anambra State, on Wednesday, for the three day workshop The theme of the workshop was, “Restoring Aca-

demic Integrity and Engendering Quality Assurance in Polytechnics and similar tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”

Governor, Chief Willie Obiano was represented by his Commissioner for Science and Technology, Chief Chinedu Emeka.

In his address, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Dr. Mass’udu Adamu Kazaure, lamented that unethical practices had bedevilled and also, negatively affected the fortunes of the educational system in the country.

This, according to him, had adversely affected the quality of the products, especially in

the world of work, despite several measures to curb the negative development.

According to Kazuare, “This is especially in enrollment and output of graduates of our tertiary institutions and from all indications. It will appear as if the measures have had little or no effects in curbing it.

“This workshop is, therefore, organised to introduce participants to one of the important measures, developed by the Joint Admission and matriculation Board (JAMB) to minimise unethical practices in the admission process in our higher

institutions and that is the Computer Based Test (CBT) system.” he said.

Obiano said that his administration would partner with the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, to make the system work in the state, adding that the vision of the government and the institution was the same as it concerned (CBT) system.

Prof. Shola Akinrinade of the Independent Corrupt Practice and other related offences Commission (ICPC), said that the time to get it right in the education system was now with the “Change” slogan.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Biafra: MASSOB rejects South East govs resolution Jacob Ogodo

Abakaliki ÏÏÏThe Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has rejected the resolution of the South-East governors and Igbo stakeholders.

It said that the resolution did not address the major issue for their recent protests, which was the continued detention of the Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, by the federal government.

In a statement issued by its the National Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, in Abakaliki, MASSOB berated the governors and Igbo stakeholders for not demanding the release of Kanu.

Madu said the only way to end the on-going protests of MASSOB and Indigenous Peoples of Biafra

(IPOB) is the unconditional release of Kanu.

The group also said it was worrisome that South-East governors met in their usual characteristic without their South- South counterparts where Biafra uprising also held sway.

“MASSOB is not satisfied with all the meeting of Igbo leaders, on Sunday, because they never addressed Nnamdi Kanu’s plight.

How can revered Igbo leaders waste a whole day in a marathon meeting without discussing our simple demand of Nnamdi Kanu’s release?

“Are they afraid of Northern oligarchy, western alliance with north or President Buhari? The Governors, Ohaneze and other Igbo leaders have proved that

they’re not representing the interest and demands of Ndigbo.

They have shown their soft mind, inferiority complex and loyalty to our oppressors. We shall prove to Nigeria that the Igbo governors, National Assembly members, other Igbo leaders are not truly in charge of affairs in Igbo land.

“The DSS is buying time for long incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu to impress Buhari and Northern political cabals that they can frustrate Biafra revolution. The long incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu

by DSS will only motivate, inspire and increase the moral of Biafran agitators. How long shall they continue to detain an innocent man, who already command the massive respect of Ndigbo even in detention?

ÏÏÏThe

out-going Chairman/ Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has handed over to the Director General of the Agency, Mrs Roli BodeGeorge in a colourful parade at the Ikoyi headquarters, Lagos.

Giade who inspected the guard of honour also received the lowered NDLEA flag and presented a new flag to the Acting Chairman, which was immediately hoisted signifying the beginning of a new era. This is the first time in the agency that an out-going chairman will successfully serve for ten years without blemish.

According to Giade, “I am leaving the agency better than I met it

Yola

ÏÏÏThe Government of Adamawa

State has restated its resolve to sustain the payment of N18,000 minimum wage to civil servants, despite the economic crunch caused by dwindling oil revenue.

Making the remark, during a joint-press conference attended by the commissioners of Finance, Information and Health, Mallam Ahmed Sajoh the commissioner of information, noted that the state government was fully committed to the welfare of the civil servants and would never reduce the amount.

On the issue of a N500 million earmarked for a social security

scheme popularly called Bindow for Social Change, Sajoh noted that the programme was aimed at creating job opportunities for the teeming youth population in the state.

He noted that despite the fact that the funds was channeled through the office of the Secretary to the State government (SSG), the money was still in the state’s coffers and not in the personal account of the SSG. In his remark, the Commissioner of Finance, Mahmud Sali, noted that it became imperative to address the press in the face of delay in the payment of backlog of salaries of primary health workers in the state.

He noted the delay was due, in

part, to a verification exercise being conducted, in which a number of ghost workers were detected, thus saving the state more than N42 million in the sector alone.

Sali noted that with the completion of the exercise, the payment of backlog of salary arrears to the health workers would commence on Monday, next week.

He also expressed dismay that upon the conduct of the screening exercise at a certain school, only twenty teachers were confirmed to be working in the school.

He added that the screening of teachers in the state was also yielding positive results noting that many ghost workers are being unearthed from the exercise, and that,

ten years ago. My greatest legacy is my zero tolerance for corruption. If we must continue to dislodge drug barons and eradicate drugs from our society, we must remain forthright and committed to drug control programmes. I am leaving behind a legacy of proactive and intelligence-led organisation. The agency, under my watch, has a representative at INTERPOL headquarters and has successfully raised the international profile of the country through unprecedented seizures of drugs and arrest of drug barons”.

ÏÏÏThe zonal recruitment screen-

the headquarters of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barracks in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.

It added that the movement of the successful candidates from the Headquarters of 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barracks, Akure to the Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, Kaduna, would take place immediately after the screening exercise.

It further enjoined affected candidates to take advantage of the screening exercise.

Teenage pregnancies worry Fayose’s wife

always register in hospitals for their ante-natal care, saying they should stop relying solely on the traditional birth attendants and mission homes.

Mrs. Fayose, who was speaking at Efon Alaaye, on Wednesday, in continuation of her tour to the 16 local government areas of the state, said the trend must stop.

“Parents and guardians must monitor their girl-child over the rate young girls being pregnant on a daily basis. This negative trend has to stop in our locality. The young girls must be discouraged from running after men. It is not good for their future; it may ruin their future.

“In the process of engaging in unguarded sexual act, dangerous diseases may be transmitted to you,” she said. She has, since the commencement of the tour, distributed Mama Kits and milk to the pregnant women. She has also distributed school bags, uniforms and sandals to some indigent students in the state in Moba, Oye ,Ilejemeje, Ijero, Ekiti West and Efon local government areas.

ing exercise for indigenes of Lagos State that have undergone successful pre-screening for the Nigerian Army (NA) 74th Regular Recruits intake will hold between Monday, November 30 and Saturday, December12, 2015.

A statement issued on Wednesday from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) explained that the screening exercise would take place at

Ado Ekiti ÏÏÏAppently worried by the huge number of teenage pregnancies in most parts of the state, the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, has charged parents and guardians to monitor their wards and children. Mrs Fayose has equally charged pregnant women to

Adamawa govt committed to payment of N18, 000 minimum wage Dan Garba Kurama

Giade hands NDLEA over to Roli George

Army begins Lagos indigenes recruitment Monday

Gbenga Sodeinde

Cross section of judges at the valedictory session for Justice John Fabiyi at Supreme Court in Abuja… on Wednesday.

23 News

at a certain primary school consisting of only five classroom blocks a total of 185 teachers were on the payroll.

Reiterating the commitment of the state government to commence payment of the health workers salary, the State Commissioner of Health, Fatima Atiku Abubakar, noted that the state government was aware of the predicaments of the health workers and, very soon, all outstanding issues relating to them would be redressed.

Recall that the Governors’ Forum, last week, made known to the public that they could not sustain the N18, 000 minimum wage due to plummeting monthly federal allocation.

Mrs. Fayose

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Group counsels FG on Kanu over Biafra Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏThe South East Revival

Group (SERG) has cautioned the Federal Government to tread cautiously in its handling of the clamour for self-determination by the people of the south-east, who were pressing for the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.

It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kalu, who was arrested in Lagos by the Department of State Service (DSS), when he returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.

A statement by SERG’s National Co-ordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, warned that it is important that the Federal Government acted now before it was too late since the agitation was mostly intellectually driven.

The statement said that it was disheartening that those close to the government were dismissing the peaceful protests for selfdetermination, by the Kanuled body in several cities.

“It is disheartening that this was the same way Nigerians dismissed Boko Haram insurgents as street urchins in the formative years of the terror group and we

are all collectively paying the price in tears and blood today. The people of the Igbo nation are currently pursuing their desire through intellectual engagement and peaceful street protests.

“Sadly, security agencies, including the army, have been violently clamping down on these protests in violation of the people’s right to self-expression. Those associated with the movement are being thrown in detention and being secretly tried in a desperate effort to stifle the people of the southeast”, SERG noted.

It condemned what it described as the penchant for matters related to Igbo peo-

ple to be criminalised while other ethnic nationalities were allowed to constantly make threats against the country without consequences. “We demand that the Federal Government immediately put an end to these hostilities by starting with the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and other people arrested in connection with the peaceful protests. It must also enter talks with identifiable leaders of the various groups behind the agitation with a view to finding common grounds that will lead to the activation of internationally-recognised processes,” SERG said.

Akor Ejumene

Abuja ÏÏÏThe global economic landscape is experiencing a rapid change, especially in creating considerable new opportunities and Nigeria is ready to key into this new avenue for rapid scientific and technological development.

The new national economy is boosted by the significant progress in science and technology as exemplified by breakthroughs recorded by the research institutes and indigenous engineers.

For this reason, Nigeria is poised to collaborate with international organisations and development partners to bring the desired diversification necessary, so that

Onu gives recipe to tech revolution the country would no longer depend on crude oil.

The Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, stated this when he received the Ambassador of Peoples Republic of China, Mr. Gu Xiaojie in his office in Abuja.

According to him, diversifying the economy was key to sustainable development, as Nigeria had, over the years, built mutual-bilateral relationship with China as the most populous African nation to collaborate with the Asian country.

Lagos doctors hail Ambode for resolving crisis L-R: AIG Zone 6, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Musa Kimo and others, during the AIG’s visit to the Governor in Port Harcourt… on Wednesday.

Synagogue collapse: NLC urges Lagos govt to seek foreign aid ÏÏÏThe

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Lagos State Government to seek foreign assistance, so as to unravel the circumstances that led to the collapsed of a building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN), Ikotun.

On September 12, 2014, a guesthouse belonging to SCOAN collapsed at Ikotun area of Lagos, killing about 115 persons; 84 of whom were said to be South Africans.

The Chairman of NLC, Lagos State Chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Adelakun, who led members of the congress to the church, advised

the team of investigator to also look at all relevant facts regarding the issues.

The NLCl called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to, as a matter of urgency, direct the team to go deeper to unravel the truth behind the collapsed Synagogue, Church of All Nations building.

He noted that the way government had handled the issue suggested that there might have been some foul play.

Part of what the body wants the state government to look into include the mystery aircraft which the church claimed hovered over the building moments

before it collapsed.

Thanking the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua, for being a detribalised Nigerian who should be respected for his humanitarian efforts, the group observed that there was a need to employ foreign experts towards unravelling the real cause of the tragedy.

In a solidarity letter sent to Joshua, the group posited: “We have seen that you employ a lot of Nigerians to serve in various capacities in the church, thereby reducing the level of unemployment in the country. In view of the above, we are using this medium to sympathise with you and are

calling on the Lagos State Government to seek western assistance to unravel the mystery surrounding the collapse of the building”.

Joshua

ÏÏÏDoctors

in Lagos, on Wednesday, hailed the efforts of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, towards resolving the outstanding issues relating to welfare of doctors, as well as improving the healthcare delivery in the state.

Speaking at the General Meeting/Scientific Conference & Continuing Medical Education of the Medical Guild in Lagos, Chairman of the Guild, Dr. Biyi Kufo, acknowledged the effort of the Governor towards improving on the health sector in the state since he assumed office.

“We met with Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode during the run up to the governorship election and informed him about the issues we had and he made a promise to

resolve the issues if he were elected.

“We make no apologies with a designation of our Governor as the song we have been waiting for to come and change a heart of stone. Governor Ambode has directed that all the key issues be resolved; the suspension of intake of new residents into the Residency Training Program LASUTH has been lifted and admission of the new resident has commenced; the appointment of doctors as contract workers has been stopped”, Kufo said. He also disclosed that Ambode had directed that medical doctors currently on contracts should be converted to permanent staff and the salaries during the three months of industrial action be paid.

Kogi: Fayose calls for fresh election

Kogi State Governorship election.

Governor Fayose, who said that only two options were available to INEC on the Kogi State election crisis, noted that: “INEC should either conclude the election with APC not having a candidate or hold a fresh election with APC nominating a new governorship candidate. Anything outside these two options will mean that the Supreme Court must intervene.”

He accused Buhari of “fraudulently using the AGF to carry out an act which amounted to amending the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2010 to advance his ambition and that of his party to turn Nigeria into a one- party state.”

Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏEkiti

State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has calld for fresh election in Kogi State, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari was setting Nigeria on the path of anarchy by using his personal lawyer and member of All Progressives Congress (APC) who is the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to induce the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decision on the inconclusive

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

25

Crime Æ s Drug baron conceals N5bn narcotics in cereals and noodles pack ÏÏÏ

A covert operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has led to the high profile arrest of a suspected drug baron, Eto Ubah, alleged to be coordinating a large volume of methamphetamine and ephedrine distribution in the country.

Ubah, who was unaware that he was under intense scrutiny was arrested by the agency’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) at the old local section of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos upon arrival from Enugu.

According to , Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju told Daily Times the man was apprehended after intense undercover operations in connection with illegal exportation of 576kgs of narcotics to Durban, South Africa through Apapa Port.

“The drug made up of 266kg of methamphet-

The narcotics intercepted by NDLEA

NDLEA boss, Giade amine and 310kgs of ephedrine valued at N4.6 billion were hidden inside noodles, cereals and palm oil,” he said.

According to a statement released by the agency, preliminary investigations by the NDLEA revealed that the suspect goes about with dual identity; he goes by the name of Etochukwu Alaek Weubah and Eto Ubah.

It alleged that the 42-year-old uses his company, Visoch Resources Limited as a front for his clandestine drug business.

“Although the surveillance report indicates that he is a major player in drug smuggling, Ubah hides under the cover of floor tile business.

Apart from the seized drugs, other items in the

consignment include maize, vegetables, palm oil, malt drinks, seasoning, noodles and cereals.

The statement quoted the SET commander, Mr Sunday Zirangey, as saying that Ubah’s arrest took place simultaneously with the interception of the consignment of drugs to South Africa.

“He was immediately taken to the Port to wit-

ness the search operations.

“The methamphetamine was hidden inside packs of Golden Morn Cereals and Indomie Noodles while the ephedrine was concealed among gallons of palm oil,” Zirangey was quoted as saying.

The statement also said that the Chairman of the NDLEA, Mr Ahmadu Giade, described the ar-

rest as another milestone achievement in Nigeria’s fight against narcotics.

Giade was quoted as saying: “This operation has again validated the importance of intelligence gathering and management in drug control.

“The arrest of Tochukwu is a product of painstaking surveillance and another milestone success in the fight against drugs.

Pipeline vandalism lands man, married woman in police net The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a gang that specialises in vandalising oil pipelines as some of its members are currently cooling-off in police custody. BABAJIDE OKEOWO writes ÏÏÏ

For Jide Falayo, a commercial bus driver who is a part of a gang that specialises in vandalising pipelines in the Ijedodo and Ijegun Area of Lagos, the future looks bleak as he is currently a guest of the Nigerian police following his arrest and parade alongside 11 other suspects.

The suspects which included a married woman were alleged to have stormed the area last Friday with two tankers and a Nissan Bus to vandalise the pipeline but was promptly arrested by the Inspector-General of Police Task Force on AntiPipeline Vandalism following a tip-off .

According to the police,

The suspects on parade at the police station the suspects were loading the fuel, totalling about 42,800 litres into the vehicles when they were caught and taken to the Ikotun Police Division for preliminary interrogation.

Falayo, who drove the Nissan bus, said his role

was to transport the loaded kegs to customers in the Isolo area, adding that he was paid N3,000 on a daily basis by a vandal, who he identified only as Baba Ope, a job he said he has been doing for about two months for lack of a better job.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

I do not know what the customers do with the fuel. I was arrested with 28 containers and each one carries about 1,000 litres. Baba Ope had assured me that there was no way I would be arrested since he had a good relationship with the police - Falayo

Crime 26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Rising crime rate in Lagos: RRS raids black spots, nab 854 suspects Apparently worried by the recent upsurge of crime in the state, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) said it has arrested 854 suspects for different crimes committed in the last six months.

BABAJIDE OKEOWO reports. ÏÏÏ In a bid to give Lagosians a

sense of security and enable citizens sleep with both eyes shut as the yuletide season approaches, the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command has carried out series of raids on some suspected black spots in the city.

Daily Times gathered that the exercise has led to the arrest of 854 suspects for various crimes committed in different parts of Lagos Metropolis in the last six months.

This much was disclosed by The RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu disclosed this in Ikeja, Lagos recently while addressing newsmen.

Giving a breakdown of the arrests, Disu said the arrests were made in respect of crimes ranging from traffic robberies, hoodlums and secret cult members’ clashes. The crimes, he said, were committed between the periods of June to November, 2015.

On traffic robberies which had assumed a frightening dimension in the state in recent

times, Disu said that their attention was drawn to the menace and the command is working tirelessly to arrest the situation.

“We are quite aware of the frightening dimension that traffic robberies have taken in the state in recent times and I can assure you that we are working tirelessly to arrest the situation.

So far, about 84 people have been arrested, ’’ he said.

Giving a breakdown of the arrests made, the police boss said a total of 46 suspects were arrested in the traffic at Mile 2, 11 at Ojota and four at Ijora, while five others were nabbed at Ketu, two on the Lagos Island, two in FESTAC Town, 13 at Orile and

BEWARE: Man disguised as woman in police net ÏÏÏ

The social media last week floated images of a man who dressed up as a woman with padded brassiere and braids to apply for a nanny job. He was caught by the police at the point of negotiating with a family.

This has prompted warnings that families looking to employ the services of nannies or house helps should be wary and conduct thorough investigations to avoid falling victim to evil men disguising as women.

The man who turned up with braids, padded breasts and wearing female clothes was nabbed by the police in one of the Southern-states of Nigeria and is currently cooling off in a police cell.

This is coming on the heels of a similar case, where a man who disguised as a woman and worked as a maid for eight months was caught by the police, giving concerns why parents must be very careful of the people they employ as housemaids by doing background checks before employing them.

A traffic robber arrested by officers of the Rapid Response Squad recently one at Abiola Garden, Ikeja.

The Commander said that 200 hoodlums were arrested during raids at Oshodi, including 23 juveniles, adding that 300 others were arrested at Oyingbo, Mushin, Idi-Oro, Ijora and other areas.

Disu said within the period, 36 suspected members of secret cults were arrested at Agege, Dopemu, Ile-Zik and Mangoro areas.

He added that 15 others were arrested at Mushin and eight in Akala area of Mushin.

Disu said 250 pedestrians were arrested for not using the pedestrian bridge at Ketu, while 504 suspects were picked up at

Gang specialises in vandalising pipelines around Ijegun, Ijedodo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Man disguises as woman to apply for a job as a nanny

some black spots.

He said that 20 suspects were equally arrested for allegedly snatching phones, jewelleries and other items from members of the public.

The commander said 10 suspects were arrested for allegedly vandalising NNPC Pipelines, adding that three others were nabbed for impersonating the police.

“Five suspected fraudsters were arrested for swindling monies from members of the public under false pretences while two vehicles were also recovered from suspected armed robbers within same period,’’ he added.

“I was invited by Baba Ope in September 2015 to do the job.

He is my boss, and he also owns the Nissan bus. My work is to drive the bus anytime they load it with kegs of petrol. I usually convey the fuel to Isolo. I was about to deliver the goods to the customers when I was arrested.

“I do not know what the customers do with the fuel. I was arrested with 28 containers and each one carries about 1,000 litres. Baba Ope had assured me that there was no way I would be arrested since he had a good relationship with the police.

“I was surprised when I was arrested. When the policemen arrested me, they asked me to take them to my boss’ house but unfortunately, we did not meet him at home. The police are still looking for him.”

Another suspect, Azeez Suleiman, said he was forced into vandalism by armed vandals who threatened to kill him if he did not cooperate with them.

He said, “I am a truck driver

and I was invited by one of my friends who normally looked for jobs for me to take my truck to Ijegun for loading. I did not know it was a vandals’ base.

When I got there, I saw the vandals and my friend lied that they were security men patrolling the area. After parking my truck, I saw a boat loaded with containers of fuel. Minutes later, they started to load the containers into my truck.

“When I saw this, I protested and wanted to go back, but the vandals beat me up, and threatened to kill me if I resisted. That was how I conveyed their fuel.

My friend was helpless. I was beaten to the point where I had no option but to agree with them.

It was while I was about leaving the area that the police arrested us. The vandals had fled.”

The Commander of the Task Force, CSP Valentine Olumhense, confirmed the arrests. He said the recovered petrol would be returned to the appropriate authorities, while those arrested would also be prosecuted.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

27

Features Æ s 29th Lagos Int’l trade fair: Trade fairs, MSMEs –bedrock of economic growth ÎÎÎThe Tafawa Balewa Square

(TBS) in Lagos Island for ten days hosted the 29th Lagos International Trade Fair which bubbled with business and entrepreneurship activities from November 6th to 15th.

The theme, Enhancing Value Addition in the Non-oil Economy’, is seen as a wakeup call for the diversification of the nation’s economy due to dwindling revenue engendered by the fall in global crude oil prices.

Oluwafunke Ishola of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a recent document by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) puts the number of MSMEs in Nigeria at over 17 million, with a total employment of over 30 million.

Trade fairs as a structure Trade Fairs are platforms for promoting businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which constitutes the bedrock of economic growth of Nigeria.

MSMEs are the major contributors to generating employment, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and food security in the country.

Cashing in to maximise its goal, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) - organisers of the, fair - expanded the scope of its activities for the fair by holding the exhibition simultaneously at three locations simultaneously.

The venues are Tafawa Balewa complex, Muson Centre and Free-

A total of 2,080 exhibitors, comprising of 1,905 local and 175 foreign exhibitors attended the fair. The total space utilised in the three venues is estimated at about 44,191 square metres, broken down as follows: Tafawa Balewa Square 38,400 square metres, Muson Centre 791 Square metres and Freedom Park 5,000 square metres.

A section of the trade fair in session dom Park on Broad Street which hosted the Lagos Creative Industry Fair, tagged Eko Akete.

The annual 10-day exhibition has gradually become an avenue for unemployed youths, dancers, disc jockeys, clowns, comedians and mascots, to render quick services and get rewarded in cash.

It attracted local and foreign exhibitors from 11 countries namely; European Union, Pakistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Japan, China,

Gov. Ambode (second from right) with participants at the fair

Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, India and the Republic of Benin.

A total of 2,080 exhibitors, comprising of 1,905 local and 175 foreign exhibitors attended the fair.

The number of exhibitors at the 2015 fair showed a 23 per cent increase from the1,600 and 1,300 exhibitors who participated in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Five States of the federation, namely, Lagos, Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, and many Fed-

eral Government Parastatals also participated in the Fair.

The total space utilised in the three venues is estimated at about 44,191 square metres, broken down as follows: Tafawa Balewa Square 38,400 square metres, Muson Centre 791 Square metres and Freedom Park 5,000 square metres.

In contrast, 30,000sqms was used in 2014, while 23,000sqms was utilised in 2013.

Alhaji Remi Bello, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said that Nigeria must exploit other Godgiven resources at its disposal to ensure economic prosperity.

For Bello, the country is rich in numerous natural resources, has adequate land mass to support massive agricultural development and possess the human capacity to power its industries.

Bello said the trade fair provided a platform to identify these alternatives and expose the opportunities that abound in value addition to enhance earning and profitability.

The Vice-President, NACCIMA, Mr. Jani Ibrahim, stressed that diversification of the economy would improve income equality, wealth creation and enhance utilisation of resources through value addition.

He added that trade fair provided networking opportunities for SMEs, updated them with inno-

vations and development in their sectors and created a platform for forging partnerships.

Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative, said the ministry had leveraged on the fair to promote MSMEs in the state.

According to him, the Lagos State government is at the forefront of training and building capacity for MSMEs to thrive and expand their businesses.

Ogunleye said that through the fair, warehouses of the MSMEs in the state had been emptied as a result of sales recorded through exposure at the fair.

The Executive Director, SME, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju, during the bank’s Special Day at the fair, said that most policies of the bank were aimed at economic empowerment of entrepreneurs.

Olagunju said that BOI now had a line of credit from the African Development Bank to assist export-based SMEs. The Manager, Bicu Cosmetics, Mrs. Jumoke Epulemechi, expressed satisfaction with this year’s edition, adding that there were ample opportunities for business interactions and sales.

However, exhibitors at the Freedom Park venue complained about low turnout of visitors, they urged LCCI to improve publicity for the Creative Industry

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Features 28 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

Fair in subsequent edition.

Many of MSMEs operators extolled the fair saying it has helped to add value to their businesses by providing a platform for their products to be marketed locally and internationally.

Mrs. Charity Garba, the Managing Director, Michga Foods, an exhibitor from Niger State, told NAN that she had sold all the yam flour she brought to the fair.

“I have just few Shea butter left to sell; all the yam flour I brought is sold out. I am impressed because my investment is not in vain.’’

Some other exhibitors commended the organisers for the well built pavilions and offices.

Mr. Yasir Ummar from Pakistan said that he appreciated the efforts of LCCI for building the tents before the exhibitors’ arrival.

He said that the development was an improvement over last year’s edition and expressed optimism that the 2016 fair would be better.

“Last year, a good number of us had to wait while our tents were arranged. This year, I met it arranged and I just displayed my things without hitches,’’ Ummar said.

Mrs. Abimbola Omidiran, who came from Ile-Ife, Osun state said that she got to her assigned pavilion and discovered that everything was in place.

“I am happy because I started attending to my clients just after the opening ceremony.”

Mrs. Grace Mensah, another exhibitor from Ghana, told reporters that the fair was the fourth she would attend in Lagos, adding

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Warehouses of the MSMEs in the state sold out during the fair –Ogunleye

Ambode with dignatires at the closing ceremony

The annual exhibition attracted local and foreign exhibitors from 11 countries namely; European Union, Pakistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Japan, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, India and the Republic of Benin. that LCCI should be commended as there was no sign of roof leakages with the rainfall.

“I can remember last year, we had leakages from the roof due

to rainfall, but this time, it’s a different song. The tents are well in shape,’’ said Mensah.

Virtually all businesses across all sectors of the economy exhib-

ited at the fair; even the churches were not left out as the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) had a stand.

Members of the Church were seen distributing tracts, preaching and praying at the fair ground.

A member who identified herself as Dorcas said that the Church was leveraging on the large population to promote the gospel and depopulate hell.

In his closing remarks, the LCCI President, expressed satisfaction with the participation of many corporate bodies and

MSMEs from various sectors of the economy.

He appealed to the Lagos State Government to engage the Federal Government on the release of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.

The LCCI President said that the current temporary structures were highly inefficient and expensive.

The 2016 Lagos International Trade Fair is slated to take place from Nov. 4 to 13.

Ven. Adebayo consecrated Bishop of Igbomina West ÎÎÎWhen the Standing Com-

mittee of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) rose in Akure, Ondo state and elected the Archdeacon of the Anglican Church of the Peninsula, VGC, Lekki, Lagos, the Venerable Timothy Olajide Abimbola Adebayo as the Bishop of Igbomina, many applauded the decision and looked forward to the day he would be consecrated.

It was therefore no surprise to see the large turnout of dignitaries which included former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire. They turned out enmasse at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on the 24th of November to felicitate with the new Bishop and

Years of dedicated service in the vineyard of the Lord was recently rewarded as Venerable Timothy Olajide Abimbola Adebayo was consecrated as the Bishop of Igbomina West

by The Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate, The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh.

BABAJIDE OKEOWO reports.

Ven. Olajide and flanked by His Grace. Nicholas Okoh and well wishers after the consecrating ceremony

his beloved wife.

Consecrating the new Bishop, His Grace, The Most Revd.

Nicholas Okoh, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, said he was happy to be consecrating the new bishop and prayed for the receipt of the Holy Spirit for the work ahead.

“May you be consecrated and hallowed for the work of the Pontifical Order by this anointing with the holy chrism of sanctification in the name of God,” he prayed.

Receiving the pastoral staff, Ven. Olajide pledged his allegiance to the Body of Christ.

“I owe allegiance to no other but to the Lord Jesus Christ and that my loyalty to Him will always be total and undivided,”

he pledged.

Addressing newsmen after the consecration, Ven. Olajide who was full of smiles as he greeted well wishers from far and wide to felicitate with him was full of gratitude to the almighty God. Flanked by his beautiful wife Foluke, a Deputy Director with the National Population Commission, Abuja, Olajide promised to always pay true and canonoical obedience to the primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

An old boy of the famous Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, Olajide holds a LLB. BL. MA, Dip Th and other academic qualifications and is renowned for his ‘Hymns of Praise’ on Metro FM (Radio Nigeria) every Sunday evening.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Health Æ s

29

UBTH doctors lament poor working conditions, high bills for patients Stories by Lara Adejoro Gov. Ahmed

Kwara signs MOU with Dutch partners on Health Insurance Fund Kwara State Government has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Dutch Health Insurance Fund to establish Health Insurance Fund in the state.

The State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, who signed on behalf of the State Government, said the agreement would ensure the sustainability of the state’s Community Health Insurance Scheme. Governor Ahmed assured the Dutch partners that his administration would continue to strengthen partnership with all stakeholders in setting up the Fund and provide health infrastructure for the people of the state.

The Governor promised to extend the Community Health Insurance Scheme to all parts of the state with a view to improving access to qualitative health care delivery in the state.

Governor Ahmed thanked the Dutch government, Hygeia and PharmAccess for their support to the state health sector.

Earlier, the Chairman, Dutch’s Health Insurance Fund, Mr. Kees Storm, who signed on behalf of Dutch Government, said the Kwara State Health Insurance Fund would pool resources from the state government, federal government, communities, development partners and private sector to ensure a successful future of the programme.

Mr. Storm promised that the state would be supported with 1.5 million dollars if it meets the conditions for Health Insurance Fund grant.

He also promised that the Health Insurance Fund and Hygeia would focus on technical assistance for the implementation of the programme in January, next year.

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) chapter has decried the mal-administration unleashed on staff and patients as well as the untold decadence eroding the hospital meant to take care of the health needs of the citizenry.

President of the association, UBTH Chapter, Dr. Omorogbe Owen said, despite being a government hospital, UBTH has the highest billings in fees, admission deposit and costs for services in the country, the services provided cannot be compared with unwarranted charges on unsuspecting Nigerians.

“Patients at UBTH are made to pay N3,900 daily for the general wards after paying an admission deposit of N 20,000; bed fee for specialist ward costs N15,000 daily after an admission deposit of N50,000. Even with the worsening economic situation in the country, the management insistence on extorting high fees from patients who cannot afford them has forced many Nigerians to seek alternative care, which in effect has grossly affected the training of medical students and doctors with the declining as the patient load.

“Patients, especially those in and around Edo State and environs, are now forced to travel to parts of the country for medical care where services are affordable. At Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State and University

Pathology Seminar Room at UBTH, Benin

College, Ibadan in Oyo State, bed fee is N1500 and N1000 per day respectively; the same is applicable to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital where bed fee is N1000 daily,” he said.

Owen said, due to the state of mismanagement in the affairs of the hospital, several departments have lost their accreditation from supervising agencies.

“As if that is not enough to send signals to management to sit up, just recently the department of pathology became the

LagosVegFest to promote healthy lifestyle

Vegetable

latest department to lose its accreditation. This particular set back is affecting both staff and patients as the predicament is affecting the training of both nurses and doctors.”

The president of the association also decried shortage of staff in the hospital, which he said is affecting the quality of service being rendered to patients.

He revealed that the last time resident doctors were employed in the hospital was in 2011 and in the intervening four- year pe-

riod, over 400 resident doctors has exited without any replacement.

“The hospital that was manned by over 150 house officers is currently covered by 60 house officers while a ward of over 50 patients is being run by three nurses. One can then imagine the kind of care patients get from this shortage of staff.”

Owen described the condition of the wards patients are admitted as inhuman as temperature

Organisers of LagosVegFest has announced plans to hold its event which is aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle in the country.

The second edition of the LagosVegFest is a Vegan and Vegetarian Festival, scheduled for November 27 to 29, 2015 at the Freedom Park Lagos, with about 25 exhibitors of food and innovative health, green products and services.

Organizer of Lagos Veg Fest and Owner of VeggieVictory, Mr. Hakeem Jimo said the event will

feature over 25 stands at the exhibition and farmers market/ exercise, stress relief, yoga and detox sessions.

“At the LagosVegFest, we bring together people who have dedicated their lives to a healthy, delicious and sustainable living.

At the heart of the Plant Based/ Vegan Festival is the exhibition featuring health, green, sustainable products and services. The Speakers’ Forum will be the dialogue platform for all topics around a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Health 30

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Don’t sell Government hospitals, association warns FG The Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) has warned the Federal Government against privatising its health institutions.

This is contained in the communique issued in Lagos at the end of the association’s two-day meeting held at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State.

Recall that the Federal Government had in August announced

its plan to sell its health institutions.

“The outright sale of these hospitals will negate the purpose for which they were established in the first place, and will only take the already expensive healthcare services out of the reach of majority of Nigerians. The quality assurance of such services will be highly compromised due to profiteering.’’

It said that the current dismal performance of hospitals was not

due to lack of skilled manpower in specialised fields of medicine, but “a result of massive corruption and mismanagement’’.

The association urged the government to consult exhaustively with all the appropriate stakeholders, so as to chart a beneficial way forward on service improvement in the health sector.

It also frowned at the usurpation of the management of teaching hospitals by university staff, calling on government to imple-

ment the white paper that setup the hospitals.

In the communique, the association also urged the Federal Government to settle all the pending agreements and arrears owed its members. “Council reiterates that government should settle down to implement all agreements reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and give sincere attention to calm all restiveness and promote harmony.

Nurses train teachers, student on emergency lifesaving technique Stories by Lara Adejoro In a bid to strengthening the chain of survival skills in individuals, Nursingworld Nigeria recently trained nine teachers and a student on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at the Community Secondary School, Okporo Rivers State in commemoration of World CPR Day held every year in November.

CPR is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies, including heart attack or near drowning, in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. The only chance of

survival a victim has is if someone knows how to call for an ambulance and perform basic CPR Skills until a more advanced healthcare provider arrives on the scene.

Highlight of the event are demonstration of CPR to the school staff members, teaching them how to call for an ambulance or for help and what to do while they wait.

They were also taught chest compressions, how to give rescue breaths and how to activate emergency response.

The trainees were also issued free certification on CPR family and friends.

In line with its mission to nourish Nigerians with quality dairy nutrition, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, leading dairy company has launched ‘Peak Wazobia’ and a range of other low unit portion packs (LUPP) of Peak and Three Crowns evapo-

rated and powdered milk to increase consumers’ options of quality dairy products.

The initiative aimed at marking the 60th anniversary of Peak milk in Nigeria, the company said it’s positioned to help manage the growing incidences of malnutrition across the

UBTH doctors flay poor working conditions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Teachers, student carrying out the CPR skill organised by Nursingworld Nigeria at Community Secondary School Okporo, Rivers State

FrieslandCampina launches Peak Wazobia

Corporate Affairs Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC (FC WAMCO), Mrs. Ore Famurewa; Professor of Community Health Nutrition & Nutrition Consultant, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Ebenezer Ojefitimi; Managing Director, FC WAMCO, Mr. Rahul Colaco; Marketing Director, FC WAMCO, Mr Tarang Gupta; and Operations Director, FC WAMCO, Mr Doyin Ashiru; during the company’s press launch of eight low unit product packs of Peak and Three Crowns milk in Lagos recently

Buhari

country as these product offerings come at affordable prices and are same premium quality as the big size packs.

In a press statement issued in Lagos, the company’s Managing Director, Rahul Colaco, said, ”We are key players in feeding Nigerians; for us this is a privilege and a responsibility that we are fully committed to. Of course this initiative is fully linked with the pillar of our mission statement which addresses issues of nutrient security.

“This pillar focuses on issues of malnutrition which is also a growing national concern. We believe that with daily consumption of milk through increased accessibility of quality dairy nutrition, consumers have the opportunity of getting up to 50 per cent of the nutrients that they require daily,

which the body cannot make on its own.”

At the products launch, Ebenezer Ojefitimi, Professor of Community Health Nutrition & Nutrition Consultant, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, in his presentation titled, “The Role of Dairy in Promoting Nutrition: A Public Health Perspective” highlighted the significant benefits of quality nutrition in preventing issues of malnutrition across all life stages and economic groups.

According to Professor Ojefitimi, “dairy and its products should be endorsed as an integral component of healthy patterns. After all, they nutritionally beneficial, environmentally sustainable, economically viable and culturally acceptable.

Dairy and its products have the potential to assist us to achieve our number 4 and 5 MDGs.”

level is very hot while all sorts of reptile and insects access the wards.

“The theatres are not left out as surgeons carry out their work in the worst of conditions; surgeries are carried out by surgeons sweating on patients with insects and reptiles becoming constant monitors of operating procedures which has led to an astronomical rise in the rate of wound breakdown and post operation infections.

Consumables and other tools for work are not sufficient or non-existent forcing patients to procuring materials for wound dressing across the road.

“The Laboratories, Pharmacy and X-rays units run epileptically. The discrepancy has now made it a norm for patients to go outside the hospital to get investigations and drugs. Despite the Federal Government’s huge investment on CT scan and Radiotherapy machine for the hospital, the equipment is constantly malfunctioning” he noted.

According to him, doctors in UBTH earn the least in the country. “The salaries of UBTH doctors are usually paid late as October was paid on November 16th, also several allowances due these doctors are removed without any reason whatsoever given. The nurses are not left out as emoluments are less than that of their colleagues elsewhere. These groups have not been paid their uniform allowance for years.”

However, the resident doctors demand that a forensic audit is conducted to ascertain the health status of the finances of the hospital.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

31 Opinion

Ministers as their home state’s economists (Agenda for New Ministers) (1)

ÏÏÏThe emergence of 36

new ministers in this crossroad season of Nigeria calls, above all, for an inclusive sober elite reflection towards an appropriate leveraging of the minds of these seasoned technocrats. The goal of the brainstorming exercise is to secure a blueprint for sustainable national economic growth, which is the bedrock of peace and national relevance. Especially in the context of Nigeria’s unique role as Africa’s leader both on the continent and globally as well as her role as the fulcrum of international coexistence. Hence our pause to do exactly that – contribute to the critical thinking that will birth a new nation where each Nigerian is both free and economically viable, irrespective of their social, political or ethnic background.

We warmly congratulate all 36 new ministers. Our hope and prayer is that your appointment would mark a new beginning in governance. The president has naturally painstakingly assigned each of you a role that would key you into his primary desire to eradicate poverty in record time. An analysis of your individual and collective portfolios reveals a deeply thought-out anti-poverty strategy at the

federal level. Albeit overlapping, there is evidently in your appointments a presidential short-term (security), medium term (job-creation) and longterm (industrialisation) strategy for waging this much desired war against poverty. In order to achieve the urgently awaited objective of government, that is, poverty eradication, it is critical to think outside the box as individual ministers. Each minister would excel by asking: What is my role? Without prejudice to your more evident duties in Abuja, this multi-part series, “Ministers as Their Home State’s Economists (Agenda for New Ministers)”, will demonstrate why you, as minister, are needed as your home state’s change agent for local and national growth. For if your state grows into prosperity, the whole country would become prosperous.

In terms of impediment to the actualisation of the president’s vision of a poverty-free-Nigeria, we had explained fully in the past, especially in the Independence Day/October 8, 2015 editions of this column, where the 1999 Constitution is faulty, namely, the inclusion of Section 44(3), which, along with Sections 162 to

Saraki

168 of the 1999 Constitution, entrenches the 1969 military destruction of fiscal federalism, which had been entrenched in Section 40(3) of the 1979 Constitution and repeated in Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution. This impediment to growth is contrary to the carefully crafted, more sensible and prosperity-engendering wishes of the Nigerian nation’s founding fathers as fully set out in Sections 130139 of the 1960 Constitution.

The 1999 Constitution’s Sections 44(3) and 162 to 168, taken together, promote irresponsive and irresponsible governance especially at the state and local government levels. This is because the 1999 Constitution arrangement, especially the idea of simply sharing money in Abuja every month, simply destroys the creativity and consequent rapid economic development that the incomparably much better democratic arrangement in Sections

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130-139 of the 1960 Constitution enshrined. The 1999 Constitution arrangement, which has now translated into the federal government taking more than 50% in the monthly money-sharing arrangement, makes the centre, federal government, unduly attractive to political careerists.

More importantly, the new 1999 Constitution regime turns development attention away from the local/state level and focuses it only at the federal level, that is, top-down This has not worked and it will not work. Even high school Economics teaches us that growth does not come from the top down but from the bottom up. It is the law of nature: nothing grows from the top; everything grows from the ground up. The top only points the way forward because it is positioned to see farthest and clearest.

The Federal Government is relevant for macroeconomic policy formulation and eco-

nomic coordination to avoid waste, ensure economy of scale, and promote comparative advantage, information sharing, export coordination and maximisation of value. However, real development and growth, especially of industry, happen at the state and grassroots level. A deep appreciation of this fact would explain why Delta State could not grow in four years in spite of spending 1.5 trillion naira.

And it is why Lagos is growing in spite and indeed because of President Obasanjo cutting them off a substantial portion of the monthly money-sharing in Abuja for three years, between 2004 and 2007. We have previously demonstrated in this column the comparison between the two states. Suffice to say that growth is not about the quantity of funds allocated but about quality of thought; it is about how much creativity is deployed even in times of lean resources. And this growth only occurs when regions or states are constitutionally given the responsibility to drive their own development through ownership of natural resources in their land, be it farmlands, waters, oil, gold, coal or tin, all strategically linked and sustainably explored. Once this happens, the whole country would grow and poverty would be alleviated because of the resultant massive employment that would come from freeing the resources of growth.

We repeat that when the country expunges Section 44(3) and replaces Sections 162 to 168 of the 1999 Constitution with Sections 130-139 of the 1960 Constitution, growth would resume auto-

matically across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Also, peace would return, fully, because the fuel of violent conflict, which is youth energy, would once again be channelled to economic growth and rapid development through gainful employment. Corruption, terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and ritual killing would all fizzle out. Then a federal minister could concentrate on his or her function in Abuja and not worry about his or her home state, because the home state under the fiscal federalism regime that we have just described and as enshrined in Sections 130-139 of the 1960 Constitution would then be governed by only the best brains, the likes of Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe etc.

The greatness of those men was not magical. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Your brain would grow and expand when you as a governor know that you can no longer go to Abuja for monthly money-sharing a.k.a. allocation. Your brain would grow and expand when you as a governor have to provide financially for your state by your own efforts. Your brain would grow and expand when you as a governor rely on the centre only for extremely rare emergency bailouts.

And your brain would grow and expand when you as a governor are guaranteed at the centre only a quarterly federal allocation as previously sensibly and responsibly provided for in Sections 134(2) and 135 of the 1960 Constitution.

Let us continue this discussion in this column next week Thursday.

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tHuRSdaY, noVEmBER 26, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.239

Price: n150

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS CSKA Moscow 0 - 2 Wolfsburg FC Astana 2 - 2 Benfica

EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURES

FIFA:

r e t t Bla s c i h t E s dare e e t t i m Com s i h r e v o l a v o rem S

epp Blatter’s advisor claims the suspended FIFA president is questioning the organisation’s ethics committee’s powers to remove him from his position.

The Swiss and UEFA president Michel Platini could receive

lifetime bans on corruption charges.

Investigators have recommended that punishment be handed out if they are found guilty.

Blatter, however, is considering an attempt to go over the head of the ethics committee in an effort to clear

Today’s Matches Rubin Kazan Krasnodar Dinamo Minsk Lazio Rosenborg Besiktas Lokomotiv Moscow Basel Belenenses Monaco Qarabag Schalke 04 Sparta Prague AZ Alkmaar 19:00 Augsburg Celtic Molde Liverpool Thessaloniki FC Club Brugge Legia Warszawa Villarreal Braga Marseille

his name.

His advisor Klaus Stoehlker said: “Mr Blatter was elected by the FIFA congress and only the congress can remove his power.”

The recommended sanctions relate to corruption charges brought over a £1.3m payment made to Platini from FIFA in 2011 which Blatter signed off.

The pair also face charges of mismanagement, conflict of interest, false accounting and non-co-operation with or criticising the ethics committee.

Formal hearings will take place in December.

Platini’s lawyer Thibaut D’Ales has revealed that the recommended lifetime ban was a “pure scandal” and “disproportionate”.

He also claimed it had been deliberately leaked to further damage Platini’s hopes of running for the FIFA presidency. He will only be able to stand

v Sion 17:00 v Borussia Dortmund 17:00 v Viktoria Plzen 17:00 v Dnipro 19:00 v Saint-Etienne 19:00 v Skenderbeu 19:00 v Sporting 19:00 v Fiorentina 19:00 v Lech Poznan 19:00 v Anderlecht 19:00 v Tottenham 19:00 v APOEL Nicosia 19:00 v Asteras Tripolis 19:00 v Partizan Beograd 19:00 v Athletic Bilbao 19:00 v Ajax 21:05 v Fenerbahce 21:05 v Bordeaux 21:05 v FK Qabala 21:05 v SSC Napoli 21:05 v FC Midtjylland 21:05 v Rapid Wien 2 1:05 v Liberec 21:05 v FC Groningen 21:05

if he clears his name in time.

D’Ales said: “This ban is subject to corruption being proved but it is clearly a disproportionate punishment.

“In releasing this, there is clearly a desire to harm. The masks are slipping one by one in FIFA, the electoral calendar is being manipulated and there is a strategy to eliminate Platini as a candidate.”

Hans-Joachim Eckert, the judge heading the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee, opened proceedings against the pair on Monday after studying investigators’ reports.

A decision is expected before Christmas. Senior FIFA figures given lifetime bans include Jack Warner (Trinidad and Tobago), Chuck Blazer (USA) and Mohamed Bin Hammam (Qatar).

Life&

TIMES Thursday, November 26, 2015

Don Jazzy:

L2,3

P

The multi-award winning producer

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Why I’m rebranding

…Don Jazzy Not many people know him as Michael Collins Ajereh, but at the mention of Don Jazzy, you get a perfect clue of who Michael really is. Don Jazzy, as he is popularly known is one of Nigeria’s multi award-winning record producers, singer-songwriter, musician, former CEO of the defunct MO’ Hit records and the current boss of the leading musical label, Mavin records, host of most of the talented acts including D’Prince, Dr. Sid, Tiwa Savage, Korede Bello, Di’Ja, Reekado Banks amongst others. Having been rated as the 39th most powerful celebrity in Africa according to Forbes, Don Jazzy is not resting on his oars producing beats after beat and clinching several laurels.

The Abia State-born monster producer in this chat revealed why it took three years to stage a concert, his stance on having a foundation and his much talked about relationship with former label mate, D’banj. Excerpts:

Mutiat Alli How come it took you three years to put a concert together?

It is not that it took me three years; what I meant was that I didn’t do a concert in three years. Obviously we’ve been putting things together, but we are ready to have it now. I don’t see any point in doing something when you don’t have content. I am a perfectionist, so until I know I have what it takes to do things I don’t do them.

Last year, I would have put out a concert and people would come, but do I have the right content? We choose Eko Atlantic as the venue to accommodate people that cannot afford the luxury of Eko Hotel. I am not saying that we would not make mistakes but subsequent editions will get better. I urge everyone to come witness Eko Atlantic that day. The pricing (N499) is very affordable as you can see. We are not doing this for the money.

Life&

T E A M

Could you tell us more about the forthcoming Access Mavin Concert?

I don’t understand why this should be a big announcement because we have banners everywhere already. I really appreciate everyone who came here today. We have been working for two years now and we decided that we should do a nice concert to show appreciation and thank our fans for their support. We have not done any major concert for the last three years, so we decided to do this on December 23. We are very happy to partner with Access Bank. I just want everyone to have fun and socialise. It would be like a carnival; many things will be going on asides music. This is definitely going to be

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani

the first of its kind by God’s grace with the way we have planned the whole thing. If everything goes according to plans, you don’t want to miss it Is D’banj coming for the concert?

Right now, I cannot categorically tell you he is coming. At present, he is not expected to be on the show. It is a Mavin concert, but obviously you would see other artistes. I have done collaborations with many artistes like P-Square, Timaya, Olamide and Iyanya. In later days we would be announcing other artistes coming for the concert.

You’ve been helpful especially to people battling with one illness or the other; don’t you think it is high time you established a foundation?

I don’t trust foundations. I just see it as people looking for publicity or trying to collect money from the public. I don’t need to set up a foundation before I help; I help regardless. Many people have been telling me to set up a foundation and I would probably do that to satisfy people at some point. It is not a priority for me.

Recently a law suit was filed against you and Iyanya by a certain person who claimed to be the writer of Gift. Could you tell us your side of the story?

I have not heard this before now. The owner of the song is Iyanya, so he would be in a better position to answer the question. He only featured me in the song and I produced the beat. This is CONTINUED ON

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

L3

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

L3 Interview

‘Right now, I don’t have a girlfriend’ the first time I am hearing this. Did he say that he wrote my verse?

When do you plan to release album for Korede Bello, Reekado and Di’Ja? If you ask them now they would tell you that they don’t want an album. We have people who dropped an album and disappeared. It is not about releasing albums.

We’ve not been hearing from D’Prince; what is happening?

Have you not heard of Oga Titus? I would give you two of his songs this week since you’ve raised the question.

How does a singer get to work with you?

You must have the talent first and you need to find me. Internet is the best way to find me. If you follow me on Instagram, I would follow you back and we would get talking. But I would not listen to your songs if I suspect you are a trouble maker because some people could come tomorrow that after they sent you their track you did a song with it. It depends on the communication before I can say that you should send your song to me to know if we can work together. It also depends on if I have the time.

Do you charge for collaborations?

I have never collected money; I don’t charge for collaborations. And I think I have featured in the songs of almost everybody who asked me.

Why do you often avoid the media?

I avoid you before I don’t know how to face you. You can see how you’ve been attacking me with questions here and there.

Should we be expecting songs from you and D’banj anytime soon?

We would still work together. But he is a busy person and myself, im busy with my Korede, Reekado and Di’Ja. It is possible when we are less busy; when he is in Lekki and I am in Lekki too.

Is it that you are waiting for him to make a move first?

I don’t understand why I should make the move. Did he tell you that he missed me or did I tell you that I missed him? We are alright. As long as there is life there is nothing impossible; we would probably work again together.

You interact on social media a lot despite your busy schedule; how do you deal with that?

If I see that you have things to say we

Music Gist

Brain set to drop recognise visual

……plans Hurricane season EP MAGiKAL Entertainment Network top hiphop act brain is not resting on his oars. The very talented rapper who, few months ago dropped a remake visual to his hit song, Salute is back with another hot tune and video, Recognize which featured a young, hot and blazing female rapper, Ma’Cherie.

The release of this new video is coming ahead of the official release of his first EP titled: Hurricane Season which will be dropping on Tuesday December 15, 2015.

Speaking about this development, the rising star stated: “This year has been full of activities, with my dropping of two singles

would talk and if I see that you don’t have anything to say I move on. We have different kinds of people on the internet; you never can tell who you are meeting tomorrow.

Why did you stop using your walking stick?

You have to rebrand yourself; change is constant. You cannot be doing the same thing every time because people would get tired. But you would see it at the concert.

When are you doing a song alone?

I cannot think of that now. I have people that need to be successful. I am happy bringing up people from now till I die. Already, it feels like I am singing too much

(Gaara and Ileke (Ur’ Body)) and two videos (Gaara and Salute). And there’s a whole lot of growth in my music. I’m quite excited about this new video, so as also the EP, Hurricane Season”.

Explaining the concept of the EP, the label CEO, Abiodun Caston-Dada revealed that, “Brain has grown tremendously in the past two years, having just gone through the label development process. He’s now ready to take on the world in full throttle. The EP, Hurricane Season is a potpourri of good music.

It will contain six unreleased tracks and two bonus tracks”, he stated.

Recognize is a feel good hip-hop record that will set the clubs blazing. It is produced (mixed and mastered) by Seanz Beatz while the video is directed by the new-kid-on-theblock, Adams GUD.

Do you plan to sign more artistes soon?

It depends on the ones we have. Until they get to a particular stage in their careers that everybody can testify to it, I don’t think I would bring anyone on board.

Though to me, I feel that they are growing very fast. They must be able to stand alone first.

Do you have a girlfriend?

I don’t have. My last relationship was a year ago.

What happened to the relationship?

We broke up. I might get married tomorrow and the media won’t know about it. I don’t know why people feel I should announce whenever I am in a relationship or getting married. I don’t like attention.

Brain

Music Gist L4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Mutiat Alli Those who know Simi will easily agree that the young graduate of Mass Communication is very talented. A good pointer to this is her new music video,” Open and Close”.The video is from her upcoming sophomore album which parades other hit singles like ‘Jamb Question ft. Falz’ that dropped earlier this year In this hilarious video, Simi shows her acting skills through the comic character she played. Poised as a naïve attractive young lady, Simi stole the spotlight of a high-octane gig held at one of the elite’s suburbs where she pooled everyone to her with her dance. The video although entertaining, harps on the power of self-confidence. Despite her unrefined manners, she was able to shine to the envy of those who considered themselves royalty.

In a way, it reflected the strong personality that Simi has become in the industry. Born Simisola Ogunleye, the young talent wrote her first song at the age of 10. Her early teen years saw her horning her skills in the church choir resiliently. Her uncanny passion for music would later launch her into the music industry with her debut album in 2008. The album was produced by Samklef and spawned hits such as Ara Ile, Ogaju, IyaTemi, to name a few.

In 2011, she met the talented producer/songwriter (Oscar HemanAckah) and they both connected musically. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that she officially signed a production

Simi steals spotlight in new hilarious video contract with Oscar Music Production, after which they both nurtured and created a fresh and ingenius direction to her sound, style and music in its entirety. Via this platform, she eventually got signed to X3M Music, the Lagos-based record label which is home to Nigerian R&B sensation Praiz.

The afro-pop singer has been on

a meteoric rise since then. She won Best Promising Act at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Award and the Most Promising Act of the Year at the 2015 City People award. Also, She has two nominations at the 2015 Headies for Best Alternative Song and Video of the Year (Jamb Question). Other hit songs from Simi include ‘Tiff’ & ‘E No Go Funny’.

Comic superheroes! Olamide, Yemi Alade, ‘Cassper Nyovest’, others unveiled as Africa’s heroes by The Future Awards Africa 2015

Runtown drops debut album Eric Many Entertainment artiste, Runtown has released his new album, titled “Ghetto University.”

Runtown’s debut studio album has the various music stores, and it features DJ Khaled.

Ghetto University features DJ Khaled, Wizkid on two records, Phyno, Davido, M.I, Uhuru, DJ Maphorisa, Anatii, Hafeez, with production credit from Shizzi, Uhuru, Killbeatz, JStuntand Maleek Berry.

Kiss Daniel for Egba Youth award

Following the announcement of nominees for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) 2015 in a continentwide broadcast on EbonyLife TV and Channels TV, the awards have unveiled photos of the nominees today in an exciting art campaign with Comic Republic.

The 50 young Africans who are the nominees for the 2015 season - with nominees from 11 countries across Africa- are an inspiring mix of superstars like television host, Trevor Noah (South Africa), singer Yemi Alade (Nigeria) and change makers such as Botswansian Queen Baboloki and Segawa Patrick (Uganda).

The comic illustrations, created by Comic Republic, a comic start up passionate about expiring young Africans through comics, plays on the nominees’ individual story arcs, as well as TFAA’s tradition of inspiring the continent through enterprise and industry.

“Superheroes don’t always have to be fictional,” said Eduvia Oyaide of Comic Republic. “We are inspired by the incredible work of TFAA over 10 years and then by 2015 crop of nominees who represent Africa’s youth popula-

G-world musical sensation and 2015 AFRIMA award recipient, Kiss Daniel has been billed to perform at this year’s edition of Egba Youth Awards slated for December 20, 2015 at the Olusegun Obasanjo’s Presidential Library.

According to the award head of communication, Habeeb Whyte who disclosed exclusively to Life &Times that the motive of the award to is to help promote the Egba youth centre in all ramifications.

Part of the activities preceding the event includes engaging sections with youth in response to HIV/ AIDs awareness, Rally with theme’ Keep Egba Clean’ amongst others.

Kiss Daniel

tion making extraordinary efforts to better their communities. We imagine this set of future leaders, thinkers and innovators as superheroes who have come to reclaim and rewrite the narrative of the African continent.

“We are happy to partner with Africa’s most prestigious youth event in celebrating Africa’s next set of leaders”, he said.

This year’s nominees, following an open call for nominations, come from across Kenya, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Cameroon.

The nominees participated in a judging process supervised by a jury including the Board of Judges and an Independent Audit Committee.

The Future Awards Africa 2015 – the 10th anniversary – will hold on Sunday, 6 December, 2015. It is powered by RED and held in partnership with the Ford Foundation, Microsoft, the US Consulate, the Canadian High Commission, Nigeria and The Tony Elumelu Foundation. Broadcast partners are Africa Magic, Channels TV and EbonyLife TV.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

L5 Movie Gist

Mutiat Alli

Empress Njamah fetes over 1,000 kids In her usual way of giving back to the society, talented Nollywood actress cum philanthropist, Empress Njamah last weekend feted over a thousand kids at a well-attended event held at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. It was part of her birthday celebration party.

In attendance were about 10 homes that include Bola Mofo Zion Shelter, Ijamido Childrens Home, Sango Ota, Little Saints Orphanage, Vigilant Heart Charitable Society Orphanage, Christ the Light of Hope Orphanage, Precious Pearls Orphanage, Citadel Grace Homes, Even Green and Emmanuel Centre for the Deaf amongst others.

Empress was not left alone at the celebration as she was joined by her colleagues in the

Joke Silva, Lala Akindoju in ‘A Past came calling In commemoration of this year’s international day for the elimination of violence against women billed to hold today Thursday, November 25, 2015.

Organizers of the Mainevents and campaigns limited in collaboration with the Simi Johnson organisation presents the critically acclaimed stage play: ‘A Past came calling’. Produced by Gbemi Shasore, written by Uche Mac- Auley and directed by Solomon Mac- Auley it is expected to be staged at the Agip recital hall, Muson Centre, Onikan between Friday November 27 and Saturday November 28, 2015.

A past came calling featured veteran actress and award winning super star, Joke Silva, Kemi Lala-Akindoju amongst others.

make-believe-world that include Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry, Regina Chukwu, Richardo Agbor, Aishat Abimbola, Sound Sultan, Bryan Okwara, comedian Koffi to mention but a few.

It was indeed a time filled with joy and lots of merriment as the kids were exposed to several games, brain teasers, dancing competitions with lots of gifts to be won. Empress in turn reeled out relief materials to all the homes presents ranging from stationeries to clothes, food, school bags, washing materials amongst others.

To round up the celebration for the year, Empress Njamah will be having a Christmas party with the less privileged on December 20, 2015, in Abuja.

Empress and Mercy Aigbe-Gentry

Odunlade Adekola welcomes 4th child Odunlade and wife

Nollywood star actor and Globacom Ambassador, Odunlade Adekola is in a celebration mood now as his beautiful wife, Ruth Adekola was delivered of a baby boy few days ago in an undisclosed hospital in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Colleagues closed to the act hinted that both mother and child are in perfect condition.

The father of boys as you may want to call him already had three lovely boys before the arrival of the new lad into the family.

Bimbo Akintola, Saidi Balogun in ‘The Knot’ Nollywood actor and producer, Sunkanmi Omobolanle, who is the son of veteran Yoruba comic actor, Sunday Omobolanle aka Aluwe, is currently on set filming his new movie, The Knot.

The forthcoming movie, which is being shot on location in Lagos by seasoned cinematographer, Akin Alabi, parades stars like Saidi Balogun, Bimbo Akintola, Gabriel Afolayan, Hafiz Oyetoro aka Saka, Ayo Adesanya, Niyi Johnson among others.

The Knot tells the story of inseparable childhood friends, whom fate subsequently pitched at opposite ends against each other at adulthood.

The movie, which also features Sunkanmi’s dad, is his third as a producer. His first self-produced movie is Jeje (2006).

Saidi Balogun, Sunkanmi Omobolanle and Gabriel Afolayan

Femi Adebayo hosted by D-Place Comic act and Jelili star, Femi Adebayo was the cynosure of all eyes as he was hosted by popular celebrity hang-out, D-Place, Lekki, Lagos in celebration of a double award received in a day in two different countries.

In celebrating with the act, his colleagues were not left out of the fun as they all trooped in a mass to show support for their own. Part of those who joined in the merriment are Fathia Balogun Williams, Dayo Amusa, Yomi Gold, Golugo, Itele, Muyiwa Ademola, Ronke Odusanya, to mention a few.

Femi Adebayo, Muyiwa Ademola, Fathia Balogun, Dayo Amusa and a guest

Celebrities’ campaign against violence on women Nollywood actresses including Juliet Ibrahim, Beverly Naya, Adunni Ade amongst others shares a domestic violence picture as a form of campaign led by Mr. Nigeria 2014, Emmanuel Ikebese targeted at rising awareness against domestic violence with the theme: ‘Respect a woman campaign’(RAW).

Juliet Ibrahim, Beverly Naya, and Adunni Ade

Feature L6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Mutiat Alli

Baba Sala:

The story of Nigeria’s first king of comedy

Baba Sala

Sunny-prostrates-for-Baba-Sala Moses Olaiya, better known by his stage name, Baba Sala, is a Nigerian comedian, dramatist, musician and actor. A Yoruba from Ilesha in Osun State, Baba Sala is regarded as the father of Nigerian comedy. Years after he dominated the theatre landscape with his stereotyped comic characterisation, Baba Sala’s name still remains synonymous with comedy. The veteran actor, whose comic acts earned the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1978 during General Olusegun Obasanjo‘s military regime, started when there was no certainty or likelihood of gaining national prominence with just doing comedy.

As Nigerian Film Industry, with all its glitz and glamour today, took its root from the Yoruba travelling theatre movement of the 60s, 70s and the early 80s, Baba Sala was one of the early starters

of that era. And others included Hubert Ogunde, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love), Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, Ishola Ogunshola (Isho Pepper) and Oyin Adejobi, to mention a few.

Out of the lot, it was only Baba Sala and his Awada Kerikeri group who picked comedy as their genre of theatre. Incidentally, not many know that Baba Sala started out in life as a civil servant, a sanitary inspector.

This he combined with a parttime teaching work and the daily thrift collection popularly called ‘Ajo’ among the Yorubas. In the late evenings, he would transform from a thrift collector into a highlife musician. And in 1964, he led a group known as the Federal Rhythm Dandies, which was the band through which Baba Sala launched himself into stardom. The band was known for its quality Juju music which was always on hand at different social

gatherings. Interestingly, among his band’s men was Sunday Adegeye, better known as King Sunny Ade, who was his lead guitarist. Sunny Ade later left to become a music maestro and king of Juju music in Nigeria. Moses Olaiya became a full-time professional theatre comedian in 1969 after he disbanded his Moses Olaiya Concert Party and came up with the more lasting Moses Olaiya International Alawada Theatre Limited, which travelled extensively round Nigerian towns and cities.

He had played a vital role in uplifting the image of indigenous Nigerian cinema in and outside the African continent. For example, he has produced films that had been shown in countries like Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Germany, Belgium and the United States. He has also gone on foreign tours such as Britain in 1981.

These, together with many bril-

liantly produced performances, had contributed immensely to his popularity as a first-rate artiste.

The advent of the first television station in Nigeria, The Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) equally impacted on the career of this maestro of hilarious comedy, for he was given a one-year contract of drama sketches at the station based on the directive of the then legendary Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who had at some occasions witnessed the enriching performances of Baba Sala. In those good old days, at 7pm every Wednesday night on NTA Ibadan, many people in Ibadan and all its surrounding towns and villages in the South West usually would rush home to watch his Alawada Comedy Show. It is on record that he virtually wrote all his plays in which more often than not he was the lead character.

However, life has not been all bed of roses for the talented artiste who is now 80 years old. At some points in the past, he was reported to have come down with a stroke which he survived and at another point, there were reports that he went into coma which he also came out of. Call him a cat with nine lives and that would not be wrong. Also earlier in the year, reports emerged that the comedian was admitted and later discharged for old age related ail-

ment at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.

Meanwhile, it is instructive to also add at this point that ‘Orun Mooru,’ a film by Baba Sala which contributed richly to his fame also turned out, ironically, to wreak havoc on his profession at a point he was getting to the peak of it.

Orun Moru was wickedly pirated and sadly cost him huge financial and property loss. The film, according to Baba Sala, was stolen from him by someone who pirated it and made it into a home video.

It was when it was being sold that one of Baba Sala’s brothers saw it and when he told Baba Sala about it, it was too late to do anything about. It was a terrible down time in the comedian’s career as he was yet to recoup the huge financial investment on the movie at that point in time not to talk of making any profit. No doubt, Baba Sala, who picked the first award for his film Mosebolatan, at the Performing Art Awards Night (1986 edition) organized by the Nigerian Television Authority and the Concord Press of Nigeria, remains a leading light in the comic role playing in movies which gained much more ground today. His other blockbuster movies include: Aare Agbaye, Agba Man, Obe ‘Gbona, Return Match, Diamond and Ana Gomina.

•Culled from thenet.ng

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

L7 Reviews

Music Review

Olu Maintain, 2face’s ‘Cinderella’:

Love conquers all things Patience Ekanem Olu maintain is at it again, in collaboration with 2face Idibia, they really came out correctly on this one. The music was released in 1st October, 2015 and was produced by Kenny wonder. It has about 106,083 views.

The worst thing that can happen to a bride on her wedding day is disgrace or disclosure of maybe the things you did in the past. “Cinderella” is a music story where her two wicked step sisters leaked her nude pictures on the internet on her wedding day. She couldn’t stand the humiliation she had to run inside her room and her sisters were like “No ooo come and get married’’.

The bride groom, on seeing the pictures decided not to go ahead with the wedding, because to him he couldn’t bring himself to marrying such a lady. But Olu Maintain told him that it’s not the end of the world, that he also had a similar issue. He told him his own story of how he fell in fell in love with a

very beautiful lady, but unknown to him, she was a mermaid (mammy water). He didn’t find out until the day of their wedding day when some ladies walked in and poured water on her and she immediately turned into a fish. He said he had to forgive her when she asked for forgiveness, because he loved her. He told him to remember how she saved his life countless times, that he shouldn’t because of what he saw and discontinue with the wedding plans; that he just had to forgive her no matter his grievances. The background of the music video is mainly about wedding preparation from the house to the church and the beach. The music is excellent, I like the way he sings and drops it. At the end, the bridegroom called his bride and told her that he still loves her, she was pleasantly surprised and exceedingly happy. At the end, he got married to her, and her step sisters were like: “Ah, it can’t be”; but they forgot the adage that says: “Love conquers all”. The music is nice, it scores a 9/10.

Movie Review Izedunor Ann

Ann Izedunor The movie, Twilight Hunters, directed by Norman Stone, was published on September 12, 2015 with a view of 2,355,215.

The movie features Vampire Lore as main actor and was shot at Shadow land. It opens in modern day North America, where construction workers uncover an old stone cross and what appears to be an olden wooden stake. The workers who were building in the church removed the stake from the ground, and thereby allowing Laura who has been buried for ages to escape. Laura (Caitlin McIntosh), a slumbering vampire, was then revived and risen from the earth. She had been beaten and weakened by her lover and was buried by the church which sees her as a demon. After she came back to life, Laura is unable to speak, or even remember who she is, or even the fact that she is a vampire! As Laura attempts to make sense of the strange new world around her,

Twilight Hunters:

When vampires take over

she begins to remember not only an Idyllic human life in 1897, but the handsome Lazarus (Carlos

Antonio Leon) who is a demon and who has been using Laura as his blood bag. He is also

a mysterious lover who may not have had her best interest in mind. Soon Julian (Jason Contini), a world weary vampire hunter, who is employed by the church, begins tracking Laura, but as he closes in for the kill, he learns that things are not what they seem. Laura regains her vampire life and shuts Julian out. This is indeed a mystery she has been longing for all through her life. Laura makes her way out and vanishes to start a new life in a place where she wouldn’t be recognised!

But will she be able to achieve her dreams and recover all that she lost? This is an interesting movie and a unique one at that.

I rate it 8\10.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 26, 2015

Tinsel

Showing on

13:30

Thur, 26 Nov | PG13

Showing on 150 Africa Magic Showcase ‘S8/E1536 - 8/1536’. Tsav takes a huge risk to deliver a personal message to Amaka. The girls adjusts their travel plans as the Baale and Prince Ojo pay a very special visit. Bimpe confronts Nina and causes trouble for Soji.

101 M-Net

L8 Television 166 Channel

Married Again

08:00

Thur, 26 Nov | PG

‘S1/E94 - 1/94’. Yash’s father is accused of having another child outside his marriage. He agrees to take a DNA test to prove he is not the father. Aarti breaks into Radha’s house in search of ammunition and is shocked at her findings.

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:20 Would I Lie To You? 00:50 The Cube 01:40 Call The Midwife: Christmas...

03:00 EastEnders 03:30 EastEnders 11:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 12:00 The Voice 13:00 Royal Pains 14:00 Arrow 15:00 Resurrection 16:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 17:00 The Goldbergs 17:30 The Voice 18:30 Grey’s Anatomy 19:30 Mysteries Of Laura 20:30 Elementary 21:30 Carte Blanche 22:30 Hello Ladies: The Movie

154 AfricaMagic Family

00:55 Out Of The Ghetto 02:30 Jane And Abel 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Scarlet 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Redial 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:25 Mashariki Mix 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 14:00 Goge Africa 14:30 Nowhere To Be Found

04:00 EastEnders 04:30 EastEnders

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

15:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:00 Prem 16:30 Tenant 17:30 Mary Slessor 18:00 Jane And Abel 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 19:55 Paul’s Puzzle 21:00 Nowhere To Be Found 21:30 Goge Africa 22:05 Living With Trisha

05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series

14:10 Total Wipeout UK

05:25 QI

16:00 EastEnders

06:00 The Thin Blue Line

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

06:30 EastEnders

00:30 Killer Karaoke

17:10 The Cube

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

01:30 Tattoo Nightmares

07:55 The Weakest Link

18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

02:00 Most Shocking

08:45 The Chase

19:00 Celebrity MasterChef

09:30 Total Wipeout UK

20:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

10:30 The Cube

21:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

11:20 New Tricks

21:50 The Graham Norton Show

12:20 Top Gear

22:40 Would I Lie To You?

13:15 Come Dine With Me

22:30 Would I Lie To You?

15:05 The Weakest Link

155 AfricaMagic World

03:00 Most Shocking 04:00 Exposed 04:30 Exposed 05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 05:25 Exposed 05:50 Exposed 06:15 Video Zonkers 06:40 Video Zonkers 07:05 World’s Wildest Police Videos 08:05 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:05 South Beach Tow 09:35 Most Shocking 10:35 Most Shocking 11:35 Video Zonkers 12:05 Video Zonkers 12:35 World’s Wildest Police Videos 13:35 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:35 South Beach Tow

00:05 Music Block 01:10 Good Morning Africa 02:10 Deal Or No Deal SA 03:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 04:00 The Dzigbordi Show 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 The Heart Of A Shepherd 07:50 Star Gist 08:25 Star Gist 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 The Dzigbordi Show 11:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA

13:00 Music Block 14:00 Star Gist 14:30 Star Gist 15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Lies That Bind 16:00 The Dzigbordi Show 17:00 So Wrong So Wright 17:30 So Wrong So Wright 18:00 The Dzigbordi Show 19:00 Kumwesu 19:30 Kumwesu 20:00 Revelation 21:20 Jara 21:55 Music Block

15:05 Most Shocking 16:05 1000 Ways To Die 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Video Zonkers 17:30 Caught On Camera 18:30 What Went Down 19:00 South Beach Tow 19:30 Hardcore Pawn: Chicago 20:00 Enemy Territory 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Sexy Car Wash 22:30 Most Shocking

Emenike retur ns from injur y g X2

Poster!

OLUSOJI

FASUBA g X4,5

Thursday, November 26, 2015

X7 g

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l o o p r e Liv ing n i a tr n r u ret

Ogbah warns Eaglets g X2 against dubious agents

X7

plays down Costa row

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Dalung congratulates SWAN at 50

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to be bacgkX6!

X2

Thursday, November 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

Nwakali,

Ogbah

others head to Belgian club

warns Eaglets against dubious agents

F

IFA U-17 World Cupwinning Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali and three others will stop over at Belgian club Standard Liege before they are farmed out to various top European clubs.

Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze, David Enogela and Joel Osikel have been signed by foremost players’ agents Stellar Group, who manage several top stars including Gareth Bale.

A top source informed: “The players have been invited to Europe by Standard Liege and it is from there that the players will be moved to other clubs in other leagues.”

Midfielder Nwakali was the MVP of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and he has been variously linked with several top English Premier League clubs.

Despite the tightening of restrictions on foreign youngsters moving to England, Nwakali is expected to be granted a work permit when he turns 18 using the special talent clause.

Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho was MVP of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup and used this clause to get a work permit this year.

N

e nik Emre ns from retu

injur y A

l Ain of UAE hitman Emmanuel Emenike has announced his return to action for his team after he was sidelined by injury for a week.

“Starting with the team on Wednesday, after one week injury.

Ready to be back,” Emenike wrote on Instagram.

He suffered the injury while in action for Al Ain in a league cup game on November 16, in a 3-1 loss to Dibba Al Fujairah, when he was substituted

Emenike

in the 46th minute with Ryan Babel.

The former Nigeria international has scored four goals in six league games for Al Ain since his loan move from Fenerbahce last summer.

He won Turkish League 1 title with Karabukspor in 2009/2010 season, won Turkish Super League and the Super Cup with Fenerbahce in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons, respectively.

He has won the UAE Super Cup with Al Ain already.

igerian sports lawyer, Johnny Precious Ogbah, has advised the Golden Eaglets of the 2015 set to be wary of dubious agents.

The United Kingdom-trained lawyer explained that members of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning team “should be careful” of assigning the power of representation when it comes to contract signing with foreign clubs.

Ogbah was also quick to note that the families of the players should take the step in guiding their wards in order not to ruin their football careers.

He pointed to Sierra Leonean midfielder Alhassan Bangura, otherwise known as Al Bangura, as a victim of human trafficking as a teenager after a football agent deceived him into moving abroad. Al Bangura would later become a subject of deportation in England in 2007.

“Please the Eaglets and their families and relatives should be very careful who they sign to represent their children.

There are many dangerous and dubious elements out there parading themselves as agents representing one club or the other and if they are not

careful, they will end up ruining the careers of their children.

“Some of these agents are men of dubious character. Sierra Leonean international Ally Bangoura formerly of Watford who recently revealed how he followed a French agent to seek a career in Europe not knowing the agent is involved in human trafficking and only God saved the young man.

“When they get abroad they will collect their commission and leave the poor child in no man’s land without any support and this leads to the child not being able to fulfill the promise and potential he showed at a younger age.

“We should look for reputable names and agencies to handle our kids.”

Ogbah

Thursday, November 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

X3

U-23 AFCON:

Amaefule vows to justify call-up

F

Dalung

congratulates SWAN at 50 ANDREW EKEJIUBA SPORT EDITOR

T

he Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr Solomon Dalung has congratulated the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos State Chapter as they mark their 50th anniversary.

Dalung said SWAN’s laudable achievements in the last 50 years is not only worthy of celebration, but also worthy of emulation

by other professional bodies and unions.

Lagos SWAN has lined up some activities to celebrate SWAN at 50 this week. They include Achievers’ Day, an event designed to appreciate SWAN patrons and friends and the investiture of His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Executive Governor of Lagos State as Grand Patron.

Dalung said SWAN’s contribution to sports development in Nigeria cannot be quantified.

“For decades, SWAN has

been informing, educating and entertaining Nigeria with brilliant sports stories, excellent documentaries, celebration of best moments in sports and defending the rights of the oppressed in the sports industry,” he said.

The Minister further revealed that he is proud to be associated with SWAN and urged the body not only to continue its watchdog role in the sports industry, but join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari and other Change Agents in the APC government to fight corruption and other vices that has stopped Nigeria from achieving its potentials in sports.

“Education, entertainment and sports are the most important tools of providing escape from poverty for children from less privileged backgrounds. As at today, our sports industry is facing several challenges, the biggest is corruption which has become a behemoth in the industry.

ormer Flying Eagles defender Chizoba Amaefule has promised to justify his surprise inclusion on the final squad to the U-23 AFCON in Senegal.

Amaefule, who played for Qatari club Al Markiyha Sports club last season, said he will give it his best shot to make the team achieve greatness in Senegal.

“I thank God for this opportunity.

I am very happy for making the final

squad to the U-23 Championship.

It’s always thing of joy for me to represent my country and I will do my best in Senegal in order not to let myself, my fans, the coach and the nation down,”Amaefule vowed.

The former Dolphins central defender represented Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey after he featured for the Flying Eagles at the 2013 AYC in Algeria.

Ejo calls

Ibenegbu, 19 others for Copa

S

uper Sand Eagles head coach, Audu Adamu Ejo has invited 20 players for this year’s Copa Lagos Beach Soccer tournament.

The tournament which takes place from December 18 - 20 will see the Sand Eagles make attempt to reclaim the title they lost to neighbours, Ivory Coast in last year’s final.

Leading the pack is Warri Wolves midfielder, Bartholomew Ibenegbu who is the new captain of the team and was part of the team that finished third at this year’s

Ibenegbu

Iorfa delighted to extend Wolves stay Union Bank mourns N Ogunlade T igerian-born England youth international Dominic Iorfa has said he is delighted to extend his stay at English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The young defender signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with his club, which keeps him

there till the summer of 2019 as his former deal expired at the end of the current season.

“It’s been going on for a while now and it’s a good feeling now it’s all been sorted.

“I’m just happy that it’s finished and I can focus completely on my football,” he told reporters.

“I’m happy with the deal but I’m staying grounded, I still want to do well for the club and keep improving as a player.

“The fact that the club have been pleased with what I’ve done and the fact that they wanted to offer me another contract is really good.”

L-R: Wife of Gov. of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Martha Emmanuel; Gov. Udom Emmanuel; Chairman of Akwa United FC, Mr Nsu Ube; Captain of the team, Mr Oto Offiong, and Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Monday Uko, celebrate with the 2015 Federation Cup presented to the Governor

by Mr Ube in Uyo on Wednesday. Akwa United FC won the trophy after defeating Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1.

Photo: NAN

he Management of Union Bank Sports Club has condoled with the family of late table tennis star, Azeez Ogunlade, over the untimely death of the young player who died in Lagos after a brief illness.

Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Hon. Babatunde Popoola while sympathizing with the family described the demise of Ogunlade as a big loss not only to the Union Bank Table Tennis Club where he plays regularly until his death but to the entire Nigeria Table Tennis Family and Africa in general.

“I am saddened by the news of his death which came to me while I was in South Africa.

“I am yet to overcome the shock because I least expected a young and vibrant player like that to be snatched away from us by the cold hands of death just like that.

“I am indeed sad because Ogunlade who had represented

CAF Beach Soccer tournament in Seychelles.

Others include the trio of Victor Tale, Emeka Ogbonna and Abu Azeez of Warri Wolves.

Nigeria at the international level in both cadet and junior levels as player, was until his death a vibrant, energetic and consistent player with Union Bank Table Tennis Club and that placed him at the number two position in the team.

“Born in August 1995, in Osogbo, Osun State, Azeez Ogunlade’s last international assignment with the Stallion Team was in July this year at the ITTF sanctioned African Senior Table-Tennis Classics in Younde, Cameroun where he lost at the semi-final stage,” Popoola said with a tinge of regret.

Ogunlade

X4

Thursday, November 26, 2015

EXTRATIME ABOUT

Olusoji fasuba

Olusoji Adetokunbo Fasuba (born July 9, 1984) is a Nigerian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. He is the current African record holder in the event with 9.85 seconds, thus making him the fastest African of all time.

He was a member of the Nigerian bronze medal winning team in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2004 Olympic Games. The same year he won the African Championships on 100 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth

Games behind Asafa Powell and was the indoor world champion over 60 metres in 2008, becoming the first African to complete the feat.

Fasuba was born in Sapele, Delta State in Nigeria the eldest of three children.

Sprinting was part of his family life as his mother, a Jamaican, was a runner in her youth and is the cousin of Don Quarrie, a 200 metres Olympic gold medallist.

Fasuba is the first child of Olumide and Evelyn Fasuba, and has a younger brother Kayode and a younger sister Yinka. He met Ngozi Nwokocha, a 400 metres runner, at his first national athletics training camp in 2003 and they are

PERSONAL INFORMATION Name: Full name:

Olusoji Fasuba Olusoji Adetokunbo Fasuba

Nigerian Nationality: July 9, 1984 (age 31) Born: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) Height: 70 kg (150 lb) Weight: Athletics Sport: 100m: 9.85 Personal best(s): 200m: 20.52 Medal record Olympic Games Bronze medal: 2004 Athens (4x100 m relay) World Indoor Championships 2008 Valencia (60 m) Gold medal: All-Africa Games 2007 Algiers (100 m) Gold medal: 2007 Algiers (4x100 m) Gold medal: Afro-Asian Games 2003 Hyderabad (100 m) Gold medal:

now married with a daughter.

His parents encouraged him to run fro secondary schools would ask him to c of primary school age.

Fasuba had his breakthrough year in trials. He was selected for the 4 x 1 Championships in Athletics and finished closed the year with a win in the 100 m In 2004, he went on to win at the 200

Thursday, November 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

om a young age and he was so fast that compete for them, even though he was

2003, starting with the 2003 national 100 metres relay at the 2003 World d fourth with the Nigerian team. Fasuba m at the inaugural Afro-Asian Games.

04 African Championships in Athletics,

and won his first major medal a few months later – an Olympic bronze medal as part of the 4×100 m relay team at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The following year he competed in the 100 and 200 m at the World Championships, but failed to reach either final.

In early 2006 he finished fifth at the World Indoor Championships and second at the Commonwealth Games. He then established a new African record with 9.85 seconds from the Doha Grand Prix in May, breaking Frankie Fredericks’ old record of 9.86 s from 1996, Fasuba’s run was remarkable as he is almost a foot shorter than many other sprinters, he is thought to have one of the

Olusoji

fastest footspeeds in athletics. Despite having injury problems throughout the season, Fasuba defended his regional title at the 2006 African Championships.

For his 2006 achievements Athletics Federation of Nigeria chose him as the Nigerian Male Athlete of the Year.

He won two gold medals at the 2007 All-Africa Games, winning in the 100 m and 4×100 m relay. However, the occasion was marred by calls for him to be banned from the Nigerian team following a misunderstanding: Fasuba had planned to celebrate with the Nigerian flag but he had to abandon the celebration after he was called to take a drugs test.

FASUBA

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Thursday, November 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

BRIEFS

Neymar

Barca expect new Neymar deal

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arcelona have moved to put an end to speculation surrounding Neymar’s future by insisting he will sign a new contract at the club. Doubts about the Brazilian star’s future resurfaced last week when his father Neymar Snr stated tax issues could force the forward to leave Spain. However, Barca are in talks over extending the 23-year-old’s stay at the Camp Nou, and the club’s technical secretary Robert Fernandez believes the two parties will strike an agreement soon.

i s s e M delighted to be back!

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ionel Messi was delighted to have played the full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 6-1 win against Roma in the Champions League.

Messi scored twice in the impressive victory on his first start for two

B

J

avi Martinez has no intention of leaving Bayern Munich any time soon and is keen to sign a contract renewal with the Bundesliga champions. The 27-year-old joined Bayern from Athletic Bilbao in 2012 and has since made close to 100 appearances in all competitions for the club.

His deal with the Allianz Arena outfit expires in 2017, but he is ready to commit his future to the club.

Barca confirm Roberto injury

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arcelona have confirmed Sergi Roberto suffered an ankle injury in the Champions League victory over Roma at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

The midfielder, 23, was replaced in second half by Adriano, who went on to score his side’s sixth goal in an impressive 6-1 victory.

Barca have confirmed the substitution of Roberto – who has established himself as a firstteam regular this season was due to an ankle issue.

months after sustaining a knee injury against Las Palmas in September.

The record-breaking forward slotted back into the in-form Barcelona attack of Neymar and Luis Suarez with minimal fuss as the trio combined for three of the six goals, including a mesmerising 27-pass move for the Argentine’s

orussia Dortmund will be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa and Park Joo-ho for today’s Europa League trip to Krasnodar.

T h e Bundesliga outfit have already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition a f t e r collecting 10 points from

Martinez wants Bayern renewal

Aubameyang

Messi

four games in Group C and have therefore opted to rest the quartet.

Aubameyang has been a key figure for Dortmund in 201516, netting 23 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions.

Reus, meanwhile, has already scored 12 goals this campaign, while Kagawa has found the net on seven occasions.

Furthermore, Nuri Sahin and Erik Durm have stayed behind in Dortmund as they continue their recovery from injury, with both of them on the way back from knee injuries.

Dortmund recorded a 2-1 win over Russian outfit Krasnodar in the reverse fixture, with Matthias Ginter and Park on target.

first goal of the evening.

After starting the season with two league defeats, the Catalan club are now nine games unbeaten and have scored 10 goals in their last two games after beating Real Madrid 4-0 in El Clasico on Saturday.

“I’m happy because of the final score and for the fact that I was able to play 90 minutes,” Messi said.

“I am taking it one step at a time and luckily it’s going well.

“We never said that the team was totally reliant on me and it showed while I was out.

It was tough for me being out but I enjoyed myself watching the way the team played.

“People say the forward line plays well because we are all friends but it’s not just us three. The whole team gets on and there is a good atmosphere.

“We try to be professional but to enjoy ourselves too and get on in the day to day. We are united and we know what we have to do on the pitch.”

Muller

Bayern on track for UCL glory

–Muller

Reus, T Aubameyang to miss Krasnodar tie Kiev punished over crowd trouble

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ynamo Kiev have been ordered to play their next two European home matches behind closed doors for their fans’ racist behaviour and crowd trouble during their match with Chelsea last month.

A third match will be played behind closed doors if they re-offend in the next three years, and the Ukrainian club has also been fined £70,000.

Football’s European anti-discrimination body Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) passed footage to UEFA which appeared to show an attack on four black fans at the match in Ukraine on October 20 which ended 0-0.

Fabregas

homas Muller believes Bayern Munich are on track to win the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this campaign, but has stressed they cannot afford to let up.

Pep Guardiola’s men beat Olympiacos 4-0 on Tuesday to book their ticket for the knockout stages, clinching top spot in Group F in the process.

Muller is pleased with Bayern’s form in Europe this season and has urged his teammates to continue on the same path.

“We have to keep it up. We have to continue on our course as a team. It’s what’s expected, from us and the fans,” the Germany international told reporters.

“But the road ahead is still tough. We want to win the thing. Obviously, that’s not exactly a given, as there are a few teams with the same target.

“It’ll be much tighter once we get to the quarters and semis, but we’re well on track.”

Muller scored in Bayern’s midweek win to take his tally for 2015-16 to 19 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

Mourinho plays down Costa row

Costa

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helsea manager Jose Mourinho sought to play down a half-time argument with Diego Costa during Tuesday’s 4-0 Champions League win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The striker and his boss engaged in an angry exchange of views as they headed towards the players’ tunnel at the break.

Costa was the wronged party

in the first half’s major flashpoint, with Maccabi’s former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim sent off for taking a crude hack at the Spain international.

Mourinho took issue with a lack of movement from his frontman during the opening 45 minutes but Costa completed the 90 after the Portuguese displayed a more tender side behind closed doors.

“I reacted. He did too,” Mourinho told a news conference.

“At half-time in the dressing room, a few kisses and a few cuddles. No problem.”

Gary Cahill opened the scoring for Chelsea after 20 minutes in Israel before a Willian free-

kick and headers from Oscar and Kurt Zouma added gloss to the scoreline.

Costa ended a run of seven games without a goal for club and country as Chelsea beat Norwich City 1-0 on Saturday and he has four goals in 16 club appearances this season.

Eriksson tells

Rooney

to make China move

Rooney

F

ormer England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney to swap the Premier League for China.

Rooney, 30, has been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League when his United contract runs out in 2019, with big-spending Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao emerging as a potential suitor for the England skipper.

Shanghai SIPG - led by Eriksson - could also be in a position to lure England’s alltime leading goalscorer to the Asian continent, where Rooney would flourish according to the Swede.

“Football is becoming huge here and they have very big ambitions for the Chinese Super League,” Eriksson told reporters.

“We already have famous players, like Robinho, Asamoah Gyan and Demba Ba, and they have brought something special.

“But of course Rooney is at another level.

“He is in the same category as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Everybody in China knows the superstar players like him.

Rooney would take this league to another level, I have no doubt about that.”

Eriksson added: “Rooney has never had big injuries, so I think he will still be a great player in his mid-30s.

Gerrard confirms Liverpool training return L

iverpool great Steven Gerrard confirmed he was returning to the club next week, but only to train.

The 35-year-old LA Galaxy midfielder had been linked with a return to his boyhood club, potentially even on loan during the MLS off-season.

But the former England star has ruled out playing for his former club again, instead going back to train under Jurgen Klopp.

“Next week, I’m returning,” he said.

“I’m going to go in for a couple of weeks and work with

Mr Klopp so I’m really looking forward to that, to see what he’s about and try and learn a few things off him.”

Gerrard became a Liverpool great during 17 seasons with the club before departing at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

Klopp had ruled out a playing return for the midfielder, instead saying the door was open for Gerrard to train.

Liverpool sit ninth in the Premier League after a confidence-boosting 4-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday.

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Aguero

can be Man City’s Messi, says Buffon

Aguero

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uventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has singled out Sergio Aguero as Manchester City’s main dangerman and believes the Argentina forward can be as decisive as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Aguero, who recently returned to match action after a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, has already netted nine goals in 12 appearances in all competitions this campaign and Buffon is very much aware of his importance to City.

“When you get to the knockout stages of the Champions League the best teams look to their stand-out player for a moment of brilliance,” Buffon said.

“So many times we have seen Messi do it for Barcelona or Ronaldo do it for Real Madrid.

Aguero can be that player for Manchester City.

“One player cannot win you the Champions League, but special players win you games, and winning games wins you competitions.

Aguero is that special player for them.

BRIEFS

Lovren hails ‘unbelievable’ Firmino

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iverpool defender Dejan Lovren has praised the growing influence of Roberto Firmino on the team. Brazil international Firmino joined the Reds in a £29m deal from Hoffenheim in the summer and having initially taken time to settle into the team, he has become one of their key performers in recent weeks. The 24-yearold played a crucial role in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday, setting up their first two goals before scoring the third.

Sanchez

impossible to defend against—Koscielny

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Gerrard

rsenal defender Laurent Koscielny feels Alexis Sanchez is nearly unstoppable with the ball at his feet following the Chile international’s double in Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. The 26-yearold has already netted nine goals in 19 appearances for the Gunners in 2015-16 and Koscielny is impressed by his team-mate’s fine performances.

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Thursday, November 26, 2015

EXTRATIME

CRICKET

ATHLETICS

Fell returns after testicular

cancer surgery W orcestershire batsman Tom Fell says he has been given the go-ahead to play next season after revealing he had a successful surgery for testicular cancer.

Fell, who was the county’s top scorer in the County Championship in 2015, had an

operation in October after a tumour was discovered.

“I got the results on November 1, and they broke the good news that it hadn’t spread,” the 22-year-old said.

“It was really the best news that I could have hoped for.”

Fell is now back in training at New Road and is set to spend part

of the winter in Australia playing grade cricket in Perth.

“I was quite lucky. I was fairly stupid in the fact I didn’t get it checked straight away,” Fell said.

“When they did analyse the tumour, it was fairly big at the stage they operated.

“I think if I had left it any longer

and I had gone to Australia without being checked, who knows how bad it could have been.

“Because I felt no different, that is why I didn’t bother to get it checked sooner than I did.”

Fell has chosen not to follow up his operation with any further treatment on the advice of his specialist.

Gunners will soar in final UCL group tie—Cech

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etr Cech says Arsenal will go into their final UEFA Champions League (UCL) group game with confidence after bringing their fate back into their own hands.

The London side’s home 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb - coupled with Olympiakos’ 4-0 defeat at Bayern Munich - means they can still qualify for the knockout stages.

Arsenal had relied on Bayern beating the Greeks as well as winning against Zagreb themselves to keep their hopes alive.

After both results went their way, Arsene Wenger’s men will advance if they can win by two goals in Athens on December 9.

Their bid to reach the knockout phase for the 16th year in a row was in tatters early

a f t e r losses to both Dinamo and

Olympiakos. admits that morale but is adamant spirits a r e soaring again f o l l o w i n g a victory which has injected new life into their campaign.

Cech dented

Jackson hopes to make Scotland return

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cotland fly-half Ruaridh Jackson hopes his recent excellent form for Wasps will catch the eye of national head coach Vern Cotter.

Jackson’s 14-point haul helped Wasps to a famous 32-6 victory over defending champions Toulon in the Champions Cup. The former Glasgow Warrior was omitted from Cotter’s final 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. “Hopefully I can impress Vern enough to get back in the side, maybe for the initial Six Nations squad,” he said.

Jackson, 27, has impressed in recent weeks having been given a run of starts at

Football

Edmund,

Ward vie for Davis Cup role Tennis

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Rugby

number 10 and says he is enjoying his rugby again after an injury-plagued campaign last season.

“I’m certainly enjoying it at the moment,” Jackson said.

“I maybe got a little bit lucky with Jimmy Gopperth getting suspended for a few weeks which gave me a few starts on the trot.

“We’ve had a really good few weeks, certainly in Europe, so it’s been great fun to be involved in that.

“I’m just loving my rugby and being out on the pitch playing again after last year in the physio room.”

reat Britain’s Kyle Edmund and James Ward remain in contention for the second singles place at the Davis Cup final against Belgium.

Edmund practised with Dan Evans in Ghent on Wednesday, before Ward had a lengthy hit with Andy Murray.

British number two Edmund, ranked 100, would make his Davis Cup debut in the final.

“If I get into that situation, it’s something I’m going to have to deal with,” Edmund said.

Great Britain are in the

final for the first time since 1978 and hope to win their first Davis Cup since 1936, while Belgium have yet to win the team competition.

Edmund, 20, could be the first player since Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in 2003 to make his Davis Cup debut in the final, and the first man ever to win a live singles rubber on a final debut.

“At the end of the day, it still is a tennis match,” he said.

“Even with experience or no experience, whoever plays is going to be nervous because it’s a Davis Cup final. I think that’s normal. I’ll just deal with it, if I play.”

Pound sees ‘wow factor’ in IAAF dope report

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report into the conduct of IAAF officials has a “wow factor”, says Dick Pound - the man who helped compile it.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission investigation examined allegations of widespread doping in athletics and it led to Russia being provisionally banned from competition.

The second part of the report - held back because of a police investigation - focuses on claims against the IAAF. “People will say how on earth could this happen,” Pound said.

“When we release this information, there will be a wow factor,” the commission chairman told reporters.

“It is a betrayal of what people in charge of the sport should be doing.”

The findings on athletics’ governing body have not been released after a French police investigation began earlier this month into former IAAF president Lamine Diack and former head of anti-doping Gabriel Dolle.

Diack is being investigated over allegations he took bribes to cover up positive drugs tests. He has resigned from his position as honorary member of the International Olympic Committee, but has yet to respond to the claims.

Pound said the part of his report focusing on allegations against the IAAF looked likely to be released in January.

“One fear is that if we issue it on the Friday before Christmas, for example, no one will notice it and we want to have the maximum impact and deterrent,” he said.

All Russian athletes are currently banned from international competition until their country’s athletics federation and anti-doping agency comply with IAAF rules.