Friday, January 1, 2016. Edition.

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Friday, January 1, 2016 / Rabi’ul Awwal 20, 1437 AH

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Vol. 21 No. 83 N150

2016:

627 Days after

Happy New Year To All Our Esteemed Readers

Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

At New Year...

I’ll stand by Nigerians at all times – Buhari page 2

News Repent and get amnesty, Ganduje tells cattle rustlers

• Saraki, Dogara, Atiku forsee better future • As IGP orders water tight security nationwide

pAGE 4

New Year: Borno restricts vehicular movements pAGE 5

Atiku’s N500m donation not personal gift - Gov Bindow pAGE 5

Zamfara PDP boycotts Saturday LG poll in protest pAGE 3

In the new year celebration in Hong Kong this year, the display was based on the theme of ‘love and joy’ and created a flash of different colours across the water.

Appeal Court sacks Abia gov, Ikpeazu, upholds Darius in Taraba

By Umar Muhammad Puma with agency report

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Court of Appeal in Abia has nullified the election of the incumbent Governor of

the state, Mr Okezie Ikpeazu, and asked him to vacate his seat.

In its judgement yesterday, the Appeal Court declared the All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate, Mr Alex Otti, the

winner of the State’s Governorship election and ordered his swearing in as governor of Abia state.

Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party was declared winner of the election held in

April by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Aggrieved by perceived discrepancies, Mr Otti approached the appellate court for redress,

Contd on Page 2

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

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News CONTENTS News 2-10 Editorial 11 Op.Ed 12 Letters 13 Politics 15-18 Business

19-22

Stockwatch

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S/Report 24-25 Islam 26 Int’l 27-29

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor Foreign reserves drop to $29.13bn Page 3

Metro 31-33 Money Sense 34 Strange World 35 Digest 36 Vogue 39-40 Sports 41 Columnist 48

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New Year: I’ll stand by Nigerians at all times – Buhari

By Lawrence Olaoye, Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Umar Muhammad Puma

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has told beleaguered Nigerians that he shares in their sufferings, promising to identify with them at all times in his policy.

The President, in a New Year message he personally signed and made available to newsmen yesterday, said his relocation into the fortress of power has not alienated him from the common man.

He stated “I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better.

“When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises. I wanted to be a leader who restores the people’s hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and enduring CHANGE. “I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader.

Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my election campaign.

“In the past seven months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has focused on laying the right foundation for the CHANGE you voted for during our historic presidential election.

“Nigerians will in due course begin to enjoy the fruits of all our ongoing work. The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues

that are of current concern to our people.

“One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the northeast, have already begun to experience major CHANGE is in the war on terror.

“I commend our Armed Forces for significantly curtailing the insurgency which has ravaged the northeast of Nigeria over the past few years.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the area of security. Our Armed Forces will maintain, consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram and violent extremism.

“This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Our crackdown on corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken. I urge the courts to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a place in our country.

Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken.” lso yesterday the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has joined in the call for Nigerians to join hands with the present government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, towards revamping the economy of the country in the new year of 2016.

In a New Year message to Nigerians signed by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki urged for more tolerance among Nigerians to help eliminate violence and crisis across the country.

He stressed the need for effective collaboration between the people and the Federal Government is imperative to overcome the

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nation’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges and to make the nation prosperous once again. he speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has also assured Nigerians that 2016 offers a real opportunity for change in the country.

In a New Year message signed by his special adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the speaker praised the unshakable commitment of leaders at all levels of government to a better Nigeria.

He cited the pro - people 2016 Budget of President Buhari’s administration which is before the National Assembly and said , “when passed into law and faithfully executed will not only lift the common man from abject poverty, it will also usher in the much needed opportunities for innovation and investment that are the engines of economic growth and prosperity.”

The Speaker who expressed hope that happy times will be here again, however, maintained that, “the people must go to work to make it happen as government alone cannot solve all our problems”. ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar similarly called on Nigerians to work in concert for nation building and the consolidation of the dividends of our hard-earned democracy.

Atiku in a statement he personally signed said. “It is crystal clear even to his harshest critics that President Muhammadu Buhari means well for the country and intends to spend big and wisely in capital projects that would bring about needed infrastructure and public amenities that would in turn generate massive employment for ready hands. The least I can ask of you is to support him on his avowed commitment to make Nigeria work for all of us.

“As good citizens, we should not foreclose the chance of great times to come for our dear people and great country.”, Atiku said.

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ormer Senate President, David Mark in a new year message to Nigerians stressed that there is no better time than now for the nation to face the stark reality and declare an emergency on how to diversify the economy.

Senator Mark believes that the economic challenges are surmountable if all hands are on deck instead of hoping against hope on the price of crude oil adding “ we cannot continue to sulk on the failure of yesterday and the mistake of today , but the past should serve as a useful lesson for better tomorrow “, a statement signed Paul Mumeh, Media Assistant to Senator David Mark said yesterday. eanwhile, to ensure a secure, peaceful and hitch-free nation-wide New Year celebration, the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and State Command Commissioners of Police to ensure an effective and efficient deployment of all operational manpower and tools at the disposal of their respective Commands. He has further directed the AIG Border Patrol to ensure that the nation’s borders are effectively manned to prevent any cross-border crime.

A statement by ACP Olabisi Kolawole, Force Public Relations Officerm Force Headquarters, Abuja yesterday said, while saluting the courage and gallantry of officers of the Force for their tireless services in protecting lives and property during the year, the IGP charges Police personnel to continue to be civil in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities. He, however, warned that officers found acting contrary to the Force’s “Vision and Mission” will be appropriately sanctioned.

The Inspector-General of Police, while wishing all Nigerians a very blissful and peaceful New Year Celebrations, assured the public of the Nigeria Police Force readiness and commitment towards ensuring a safe and secure environment.

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Appeal Court sacks Abia gov, Ikpeazu, upholds Darius election Contd from Cover page In a related development, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has cancelled the declaration of Aisha Alhassan, by an election tribunal, as the governor of Taraba State.

The Court of Appeal upheld the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State, following the election tribunal verdict which ordered that Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) be installed as the duly elected governor of the

state.

Ishaku had appealed the tribunal’s judgement asking him to vacate his seat.

The appeal court, in a unanimous judgment on Thursday said that the tribunal had no right to invalidate Ishaku’s election on the premise that he was not validly nominated by the PDP. The court held that the issue of nomination of a candidate by a political party “is clearly a preelection matter which no tribunal has the jurisdiction to entertain”, stressing that the APC and Alhassan have no locus-standi to query

the outcome of the governorship primary election of the PDP. The appellate court led by Justice Abdul Aboky said that the Election Tribunal was wrong in giving victory to Mrs. Alhassan, while nullifying the election of Mr. Ishaku.

His words, “There is no dispute whatsoever in this case that the 1st and 2nd respondents have not said that the appellant is not a member of a political party. From the pleadings and facts, it is obvious that the appellant is a member of the PDP. “The right to complain is

severely limited to participants in the primary election. Whether the primary election was done rightly or wrongly cannot be subject of an election petition. The most important question to be asked here is, was the appellant a member of a political party or sponsored by a party to participate at the election?”

“All evidence before the tribunal pointed to the fact that the appellant was duly sponsored by the PDP and INEC duly received his nomination. INEC did not at any time quert his eligibility to participate in the election.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

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News

Zamfara PDP boycotts Saturday LG polls in protest B

Benue govt. proposes N133bn for 2016

From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Zamfara state chapter yesterday announced that it will not participate in tomorrow’s local government elections been organised by the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC).

At a press conference organised

by the PDP in Gusau, the state capital, state party chairman, Senator Hassan Nasiha disclosed that, the party has already filed a petition challenging the validity of the 2015 gubernatorial elections which is presently before the Supreme Court Abuja, thereby awaiting outcome.

Nasiha further informed that, it becomes necessary for his party to boycott the scheduled

local government election for it was organised by the state government agency, “This is with a view to avoid giving recognition to the government which we are currently challenging its election and validity”.

The PDP chairman has admitted that, the ZASIEC has eventually served his party with the list of programmes contained in a schedule of the tomorrow’s

local government elections but, has turned down the invitation to participate.

“I am using this medium to communicate to all members and supporters of the PDP across the fourteen local government areas of the state, to remain indoors while the so-called local government election runs so that it would help to keep maintenance of law and order in the state”, Nasiha pleaded.

Nasarawa state Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, presenting the 2016 Appropriation Bill before the state House of Assembly, yesterday in Lafia.

Foreign reserves drop to $29.13bn

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that the nation’s foreign exchange reserves declined to 29.13 billion dollars as at Dec. 29.

The bank said on its Website that the drop represented 2.43 per cent from 29.31 billion dollars recorded as at Dec.23

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the foreign reserves have been dropping since July 1, 2015.

The nation’s external reserves stood at 34.49 billion dollars as at Jan 5, 2015 from the 34.47 billion dollars recorded in Dec. 31, 2014.

But shortages of US Dollar has

forced Nigeria’s external reserves into a massive decline hitting a new low of 29.73 billion dollar as at Dec. 11, while the value of the Naira declined in the unofficial foreign exchange market.

NAN also recalls that the central bank had spent around five billion dollars between January and July

defending the Naira, which was hit by the 2014 plunge in oil prices.

The CBN in November said it was able to save 300 million dollars as at August from Bureau De Change (BDC), through its provision that request for forex must be accompanied by the BVN of the customers.(NAN)

enue State Government has proposed to expend the sum of 133,394,092,610.00 billion naira for the 2016 fiscal year.

Governor Samuel Ortom who presented his first budget proposal to the State House of Assembly, christened it as ‘Budget of Trust, Confidence and Credibility’, adding that it is a marginal decrease of the 2015 budget of 135 billion that include a supplementary appropriation by his government.

The governor said of this amount, 67,432,096,140.00 billion naira has been earmarked for capital project representing 50.55% of the total budget for fiscal year 2016 while recurrent expenditure is to gulp 65,961,996,470.00 billion naira which represents 49.45% of the total budget estimate for the year.

He also, explained that the budget has been broken down into sectoral allocation with administration taking 21,963,948,200 billion naira, Economic 58,382,304,240 billion naira, Law and Justice 2,969,111,800 billion naira, Regional 753,900,000 million naira and social 49,324,828,370 million naira.

He further emphasized that his government will make conscious effort towards massive upgrading of existing road network while at the time, opening up the rural areas with access road for free movement of goods and people at the cost of 19.2 billion naira, adding that agriculture is proposed to receive 6.2 billion as against the paltry sum of 725 million naira in the 2015 approved budget.

“One of the pillars of our administration is qualitative education. This government will ensure that education is strong at the tertiary level, stronger at the secondary and strongest at the primary school levels.”

While averring that in the course of implementing the budget, the State would be faced with situations that require tough choices, he expressed confidence that when that time comes, the people will collectively make disciplined and deliberate choice that will further the course of the State, maintaining that Benue will march steadily towards achieving her destiny.

New Year: Abuja Airport records low patronage

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he Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday recorded low movement of passengers as the world prepares to celebrate the New Year on Friday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN observed that both the departure and the arrival sections of both domestic and international wings of the airport were deserted unlike Dec. 24, when there was heavy traffic.

Mr Tony Ameh, Manager, Aero Contractors, told NAN that the rush associated with festive period was minimal, adding that the airline had recorded less number of passengers as against the previous years.

Ameh disclosed that the

airline had more passengers during the Christmas period, adding that the airline had only five flights today compared to the 11 flights it operated during Christmas.

He added that there was no fare hike during the season, explaining that the difference in ticket price was as a result of online booking and on the counter booking.

According to him, aside the fact that the economy is not too good at the moment, a lot of people that travelled to different parts of the country for Christmas are yet to return. ``We have lesser number of passengers this year compared to last year’s and the previous years, and I believe it is due to

the present economic situation in the country. ``During the Christmas period we have more passengers than today because we have only five flights out of Abuja today while during Christmas we operated 11 flights. ``Like today, there is no fare hike unlike during Christmas when there was high demand for seats because if you are buying ticket over the counter you tend to pay more. ``But when you buy your ticket online with some days’ interval, you enjoy cheaper fare but as you are approaching the flight, the fare goes up,’’ he said.

However, Ameh expressed optimism for a better and violence free Nigeria devoid

of terrorism as much as better economic improvement in 2016. ``I wish our esteem customers safe flights in 2016 as they continue to fly with us and I want to remind them that air is the most secured mode of transportation. ``We promise our customers better services, affordable fares, on-time departure and improved service delivery as we pray that God continues to guide us to maintain good safety records,’’ he said.

A traveller, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, told NAN that he expected that government would do better things to the country in 2016, especially in the area of air transportation.

Yusuf said the nation’s

aviation sector had a long way to go in the area of service delivery by the airlines, adding that infringement on the right of passengers was rampant among airlines. ``We have been experiencing problem with the airlines because they disappoint people without apology,’’ said Yusuf.

He however called on the government to improve on its enforcement functions to ensure that air travellers enjoyed the services they paid for. ``After you book a flight, they keep you waiting for two to three hours and in the end cancel flights, and the only thing they can do is refund your money without apology which is wrong..

(NAN)

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News

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Repent and get amnesty, Ganduje tells cattle rustlers

By Edwine Olufu

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ano state government has announced that it would grant amnesty to cattle rustlers who voluntarily declared their arms and expressed sincere remorse in the state.

The governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who made this known while inspecting cattle and other property recovered from rustlers and paraded at Kwanar Dawaki, by the state Police Command, declared that he had set up a committee to consider granting amnesty to repentant rustlers who are ready to assist government in arresting other rustlers.

“Information available to us indicates that cattle rustlers are no longer at ease with their illegal trade as a result of the pressure mounted against them by security agents. That is why we considered amnesty for those who will surrender their arms so that they can be re-integrated into the society,” he said.

“We will train them on skills acquisition programmes and give them jobs in exchange for information that will lead to the arrest of other rustlers in order to bring the problem to an end,” he stressed.

Dr. Ganduje said his government expressed appreciation to the army, the police and vigilante groups for their efforts in flushing out criminals from Falgore and other forests in the state, expressing the hope that Fulani herdsmen and local communities would continue to cooperate with the security men to attain maximum success in their work.

The State Commissioner of Police, Alh. Muhammad Musa Katsina, who briefed the governor, explained that in their recent raid at Falgore forest, the security personnel arrested about 70 suspects and recovered 524 cows, 11 camels, 134 sheep and goats, six donkeys as well as chickens.

He further disclosed that they confiscated over 70 tones of illicit drugs worth N500 million, adding that one of the drug barons showed apprehension and voluntarily handed over about 30 tones to Police.

Counsel to the Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba state, Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN), addressing journalists after the judgment, yesterday at the Court of Appeal, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Change: Repose confidence in NASS, Wamakko urges Nigerians From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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he immediate past governor of Sokoto state and Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has urged Nigerians to repose their confidence in the current National Assembly as to achieve the needed good governance.

He also said that the Assembly is determined to complement President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to turn around the country for better.

Wamakko, who is representing

Sokoto Central Senatorial District spoke in Sokoto yesterday at an interaction session with journalists.

He said the National Assembly is actively part of the popular change mantras of Mr President and will not act differently.

“People should have confidence in the current senate team because the 8th National Assembly is for Nigerians.

“We are actively part of the popular change regime and we cannot be there and act differently.

“Nigerians have high hopes and expectations for their mandate to us, as such, we have no alternative

than to serve them with honesty, commitment and vision,” he noted.

Wamakko also expressed confidence that the 8th National Assembly is ready to enact laws that will have direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians, emphasising that the essence of legislation is to enact quality bills.

He however advised Nigerians not to ridicule their leaders but to always look inwardly on the good services they have been able to offer at the past.

His words: “Nigeria has good leaders with impeccable character different from what is being said to

tarnish it’s image.”

The former governor also frowned at the branding of the National Assembly as “corrupt”, submitted that there was no basis for the senate to be corrupt.

According to him, “It’s time we begin to see and say good of ourselves and especially leaders than the trade of stigmatisation among ourselves.

“Although, every individual has his or her shortcomings in public or private life, but then, we should not persistently duel on the bad than more of the good side of one”, he added.

Suspected insane female kidnapper nabbed in Ilorin From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

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suspected man woman who was allegedly caught while trying to kidnap a child at Challenge area,Ilorin,Kwara State capital has been apprehended by residents.

The suspected kidnapper, according to eye witnesses pretended

to be a mentally retarded person was at early hour of Thursday ambushed at challenge in Ilorin the kwara state capital and handed over to the Nigeria Police.

It was gathered that the suspect was caught while trying to lure a young boy with ball and kidnap him.

According to eye witness, people around the Challenge area

have been observing the suspect movement for the past few months in respect to his behaviour and attitude.

Sources disclosed that the suspect was immediately apprehended and when his dirty clothes were removed two mobile phones were found in his possession.

Eye witness revealed that the

police officers from A Division came to arrested the suspect before team from Police Headquarters arrived and whisked him away.

When our Correspondent contacted Police Public Relation Officer(PPRO),Kwara State Police Command,ASP Ajayi Okasanmi on phone,he said he had not been briefed.

No recruitment scam in NSCDC, says Agency

By Tonias Lengnam Dapam

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he Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday debunked rumours peddled in some quarters that the Corps Top notch and management staff are emeshed in recruitment scam over slot sharing which has created ill feelings in their midst.

NSCDC said that at the moment the Corps does not have Deputy Commandants General.

So who are the substantive DCGs that are having rift with the Commandant General?.

The Commandant General,

Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, who expressed surprise at this negative development in a statement Thursday, said no rift exits within the Corps. According to him, “We are all working together as one family, in the NSCDC irrespective of religion and tribe, we are one big happy family”.

Gana further stated that there is no recruitment or replacement going on in the Service talkless of rift between the Top echelon of the Agency. It is all figment of imagination However, he said, “it is true that the Corps needs more

personnel in order to meet up with the present demand, especially in the execution of the constitutional mandate and to that effect, request for recruitment of more personnel come 2016, is in process .

“However this request has been misconstrued by several persons and without waiting for it to come to fruition chose the path of slander. Wrong signal was sent all along making people to believe that recruitment or whatever they term replacement is going on in the organization.”

Abdullahi called on all meaningful applicants nationwide to disregard the rumours of

recruitment in order not to fall prey to the gimmick of employment scammers.

The NSCDC have therefore, worked out modalities that the moment approval is fully granted, advertisement will be placed in the national dailies and in the electronic media to enable applicants know the criteria to be used. Therefore, every online application, text messages, facebook , twitter and any other social media platform used to cunningly extort innocent applicants should be totally disregarded.

He reiterated that, having made this information known

to the populace in general , any unsuspecting applicant who falls prey having failed to heed this warning should not blame the NSCDC. Meanwhile, the Commandant General has frowned at the incident reported in some newspapers, not Peoples Daily, on the purported release of a petroleum bunkerer in Ogba, Lagos , by the NSCDC Lagos State Command, and has therefore, directed the Lagos State Corps Commandant to thoroughly investigate the issue of the release of the said oil bunkerer and report back to him immediately.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

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News

First Lady distributes relief materials to Borno IDPs From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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ife of the president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari yesterday distributed assorted relief materials to 1,350 women taking refuge at Internally Displaced Persons, (IDP) camp in Borno state.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Fanta Baba-Shehu who represented Mrs. Buhari flagged off distribution the exercise at the Dalori IDPs camp, with pregnant women and and nursing mothers as beneficiaries.

She explained that the gesture was aimed at providing food nutrients to the beneficiaries who were in dare need of nutrition. ``We are here to flag off the distribution of relief materials to 1350 pregnant women and nursing mothers at the Dalori IDP camp in Maiduguri. The items were provided by Mrs. Buhari, for onward distribution to the beneficiaries,’’ she said.

The commissioner revealed that the exercise was sequel to last weeks’ visit of Mrs. Buhari to the state.``On she visit last week, Buhari constituted an 11man committee charged with the responsibility of distributing relief materials to IDPs in the state. That informed our presence here today to flag off the exercise,’’ she said.

She said that the distribution was flagged off at the Dalori camp because it had the largest concentration of women among the IDP camps. ``We decided to start from the Dalori camp because it has the largest number of IDPs about 20,000 persons. More than half of the IDPs are women,’’ she said.

According to her, the president wife was passionate about women and children, hence she initiated the program.``The essence is to touch the lives of the women by providing the materials. The materials will be distributed to all the 24 IDP camps in the state to provide succour to the women.

New Year: Borno restricts vehicular movements

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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ollowing consultations with security agencies, the Borno state government yesterday announced that there would be restriction of vehicular movement as from 5.00pm

Thursday 31st December 2015, to 6.00am on Saturday 2nd January 2016.

The state Commissioner of Information, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, said this in a statement adding that, “the measure becomes necessary in order to further safeguard lives and

property of law abiding citizens in the state”.

“While wishing you a hitchfree new year, members of the public are please requested to be more vigilant and security conscious throughout the period and report any suspicious person or movement to the nearest

security agency.

“We wish to assure the good people of Borno state and indeed all law abiding citizens that every step is being taken by government and military authorities to root out terrorists causing mayhem in the society, “the statement said.

No plans to change uniformsPrisons

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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I-G Solomon Arase (right), launching the automation of police tinted permit and character clearance certificate, yesterday in Abuja. With him are ASP U.M. Arowolo (left) and DIG Dan’azumi Doma (middle).

Photo: NAN

Our commitment to anti-corruption war is total- Gov. Ganfuje From Edwine Olufu, Kano

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ano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that cultural, religious, economic and other variables must be taken into consideration if the war against drug peddling and abuse is to succeed.

He noted that the sale and abuse of drugs has taken a new dimension in the country as not only youths but also women and even cattle rustlers now engage in the unwholesome act.

The governor, who made the assertion while receiving the Acting Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode George, noted that because of the high

population of Kano and its cosmopolitan nature, drug abuse is very high in the state.

Governor Ganduje said his administration would continue to collaborate with NDLEA to tackle the menace adding that it the government has since established a reformatory to cater for drug addicts.

“Only yesterday, about 72 criminals including drug suspects were arrested and on the1st January, 2016, we will destroy a large consignment of hard drugs to signify our intention to deal with this drug problem”, the governor stated.

In her marks, the Acting Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode George briefed

the governor about the country’s National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) which aims to strengthen responses to drugs in order to contribute to the enhanced health, security and well-being of all Nigerians.

Decrying the deteriorating value system in the country, she disclosed that the agency plans to introduce drug testing in schools as part of efforts to tackle drug abuse among youths.

The NDLEA boss expressed appreciation to the government of Kano state for its commitment in tackling drug sales and abuse as well as for renovating the agency’s Drug Rehabilitation Center in Kano.

he Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) has debunked rumour making the rounds in some sections of the media that the service was planning to change its current uniform.

NPS said neither the minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau nor the Controller General of the service had thought of such rumour since their assumption of office.

A statement signed in Abuja yesterday by the NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore, described the report as an imagination of the writer. “I wish to state that the Hon. Minister since assumption of duty has concerned himself with the business of identifying core challenges in the Service and working out practical steps to address them.

“The Controller General of Prisons has neither complained of staff uniform nor did the Hon. Minister at any time take such decision or communicated such about changing the uniform of Nigerian Prisons Service personnel to anyone.

“In the same vein, the CGP has never issued any circular to any State command or Prisons formations to that effect,” he stated.

The statement therefore called the general public to disregard the speculation which he said caused “discontent among some officers and men of the Service”.

Gov. Bindow denies receiving N500m personal gift from Atiku Abubakar

From: From Umar Dankano,Yola

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damawa State Governor Muhammed Bindow yesterday debunked rumours that he received a personal gift of N500 million from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as being peddled in some quarters.

The governor, who made the clarification through phone call with journalists on Wednesday, explained that the money was donated by

the former vice president to facilitate the execution of the 2015 governorship and assembly elections campaign activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

“Contrary to the allegation which has gone viral in the social media; I didn’t receive the sum of N500 million from the former vice president as a personal gift.

“The former vice president donated the money for the APC governorship and state assembly campaign activities and not to

Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow.

“The former vice president demanded to know how much the APC governorship and state assembly campaign committee will need to ensure effective prosecution of the campaign.

“A bill of N300 million was forwarded to him, but he gave N500 million for the exercise as part of his contribution as a party loyalist.

“The money was released by the former vice president after the

conclusion of the APC presidential primaries.

“It is expedient for me to put the record straight because the allegations have gone viral in some online media that I have received a personal gift of N500 million from Atiku Abubakar.

“This clarification is also necessary for posterity and clarity.

“The former vice president is an elder statesman in Adamawa and it is part of his social responsibility as a senior citizen, APC key stakeholder and political

mentor to assist the party in its campaign activities,’’ he stressed.

The governor urged journalists to always cross check their information before publishing same in the interest of fairness and objective journalism.

He also urged journalists to always exercise caution by adhering strictly to the ethics of the profession which emphasized the need to authenticate information, ensure fairness, balance and objectivity in the reportage of events.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

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News

10,000 rustled cattle recovered in Katsina From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he Katsina State Chairman on the prevention of FarmersFulani clash, Kauran Katsina, Alhaji Nuhu Abdulqadir has disclosed that the committee had recovered 10, 000 rustled across

the state.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday in Katsina, Abdulqadir noted that most the rustled cattle recovered from across the state were returned to their rightly owners after verification.

Similarly, the chairman added that two days back another set of

rustled cattle including 335 Cows, 119 Sheep and a dog were recovered while six rustlers were arrested.

He noted that the sit arrested rustlers were transferred to Katsina police headquarters for prosecution, adding that the committee was committed to ending the menace in the state.

Abdulqadir stated that the state government has committed huge sums of money in the fight against the menace of rustling which he said if left unchecked could cripple economic activities in the state.

It could be recalled that the state governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari has during his 2016 budget

speech vowed to tackle head long the menace of catlle rustling in the state.

Masari similarly disclosed that the government has spent over N250 million in the fight against the menace and other criminal challenges in the state threatening peace and economic activities.

Don’t ban hijab, Muslim students tell Buhari From Ayodele Sanuel, Lagos

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L-R: Chairman, Governing Council of Gombe State University (GSU), Professor Idriss Mohammed; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Gombe state, Mr. Danladi Musa, and Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Ibrahim Umar, during an inspection visit to newly constructed students hostels by the Federal Government’s Needs Assessment Team, yesterday in Gombe. Photo: NAN

Adamawa SSG retracts anti Fulani comments From Umar Dankano, Yola

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he embattled Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Dr Umar Buba Bindir, has retracted the alleged hate or anti Fulani comment credited to his person which generated tension and wide condemnation from Nigerians.

Bindir said the speech now trending in YouTube was doctored by some mischief people to malign him.

Bindir said as a Yola Fulani man himself there was no way he would go out of his sense to attack his kinsmen as being portrayed in the speech.

He explained that the

purported speech was made during a courtesy call on him by some engineers where he spoke on lack of development in Yola over the years due to pettiness of the various tribes where cited his tribe, Fulani, as example.

“As a Fulani man from Yola, I decided to give example with our people.

“I am here to say that if the material posted on YouTube ended up annoying other people, demonizing other people and so on, I say Iam sorry.” Bindir said.

He noted that as an educated person that has a successful career world wide, he could not come home now and start anything that could create problem.

NGO advocates life skills for youths

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he Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (WEAN), an NGO, has stressed the need for life skills to be instilled in Nigeria youths, for a better society.

Mrs Angela Daniels, the Executive Director of WEAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the acquisition of life skills would aid the youths to become responsible.

She said: ``There is lack of life skills amongst majority of our young people, both boys and girls, for them to grow up right. ``Life Skills are those skills that are required to enable us make the most out of life; they are usually associated with managing and living a better quality of life.

``With these skills, which include good manners, communication skills, writing skills, assertiveness, soft skills, critical thinking, creative thinking, study skills and independence, our youths will do better in the society. `` They also need to understand that good education matters. ``With good education, no matter how bad the system is, you must always find your feet. ``That is why we have a lot of hoodlums because these group of youngsters do not have the level of education to aid their survival in the system, so they can do anything.’’

Daniels said that different groups in the society should also

be involved in the transference of these skills. ``There should be skills training within our schools, religious groups, social groups, communities and at home. `` This will help to reduce the level of violence that we are witnessing now. ``It will also help these youths to smoothly transit to adulthood where they will not be wife batterers or end up humiliating women outside.’’

The ED of WEAN also tasked mothers on the proper upbringing of their male offspring. ``I urge mothers to take more extra time in grooming the boy child; they should not be given less attention because they are of the male gender.

``I actually blame mothers for the actions of the men who batter women because we are the ones that groom these boys as little children. ``We make them become the men they are and when they begin to humiliate us, we cry. ``So, the mother in the house should be able to instill that discipline in the boy-child, let him understand that he cannot beat the sister. ``If he cannot beat the sister, he cannot beat another girl outside or the wife. ``No mother must accept or tolerate the sight or news of her son beating the wife, no matter what that lady has done, as there are other ways of handling conflicts,’’ Daniels added. (NAN)

he Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit has warned President Muhammad Buhari not to consider or attempt any ban on Hijab.

The Amir (President) of MSSN LSAU, Mallam Saheed Ashafa, said this at the ongoing December Islamic Vacation Course holding at Epe, Lagos on Wednesday.

He said that such consideration would ridicule the war against Boko Haram, adding it was an unnecessary approach.

According to Ashafa, ban on Hijab means that Boko Haram has succeeded in their deceptive ideology and may strengthen their unjustifiable zeal to kill innocent souls.

It would be recalled that President Buhari during a presidential chat late Wednesday said the FG may consider ban on Hijab if terrorists continue to use it to perpetuate evil.

But Ashafa condemned the insight saying that such showed that the FG was still considering some unrealistic approach in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

He added, “The statement by President Buhari is disappointing.

It is an indication that the present administration is trying to apply the faulty approach of the last administration that took us nowhere.

Ban on Hijab is wrong, biased and the greatest approach that can drown the support and popularity of the Buharigovernment.

“The decision to ban Hijab may mean that Boko Haram has succeeded in their mission. Rather than ban Hijab, the government can acquire bomb detective gadgets which can detect bombs from afar. Instead of considering how to stop the wearing of Hijab, the FG should be thinking of how to stop Boko Haram.

“If Hijab ban must be considered, then the government has to also ban use of vehicles, hand bags, cell phones, motocycle and suits because more evils have been perpetuated through them. It’s totally illogical to attach Boko Haram attacks to a dress code or pattern. Our Hijab is a garment of honour; it is an apparel of modesty and an outfit commanded to be worn

by Allah.”

Ashafa, however, condemned Boko Haram and its activities in entirety, but insisted that more practical approaches were needed to defeat the terrorists.

He subsequently commended reports that soldiers are emerging victorious in most of their face-off with the terrorists.

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News

Security: Lagos State Assembly asks job advertisers to register

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he Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday resolved that all job advertisers register with the office of job creation to protect the lives of job seekers.

This resolution followed a motion moved by Mr Moshood Oshun (APC-Lagos Mainland II) on the floor of the assembly.

Oshun, Chairman, House Committee on Finance (State), said that the step had become

necessary because of the fraudulent activities of some job placement agencies and the attendant security threat.

He recounted the ordeal of a lady who recently fell victim to a job scam and was raped to death in the state.

“It is high time we do something to protect the residents who patronise all these job centres. ``These people cannot provide jobs for themselves. Fliers are

everywhere advertising job vacancies; it is a way of extorting innocent unemployed residents.

Many have fallen victim.

“These people do not have any job to offer, the House should call on the ministry of information to sensitise the people on the danger,” Oshun said.

The lawmaker called on the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency to collaborate with security agencies

to check the trend.

He deplored the indiscriminate posting of fliers on walls with telephone numbers directing people to call for jobs.

Mr Rotimi Olowo, the Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, said that the phenomenon had extended to the social media where job adverts were placed with the intent to dupe people.

Olowo said that all human

Gombe Police command loses 33 officers in 2015

Operation Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade, Azare, Major Suleiman Yakubu (2nd left), speaking to newsmen on the Artillery’s operation Along Raga, yesterday in Udobo Distric, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi state.

From David Hassan, Gombe

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Photo: NAN

Army kills 3 robbery suspects, recover arms, money in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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hree armed robbers were in the early hours of yesterday gunned down by military commanding sector 3 of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi in a gun battle along Raga Udubo road in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi state.

The Sector 3 Commander of the 33 Artilery Brigade Bauchi, Major Suleiman Asuku Yakubu, disclosed

resources centres should be made to register with government to secure the lives of residents.

In his contribution, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the House, said, “ we should direct any company advertising job vacancies to register with the office of job creation.’’

Obasa decried the high rate of unemployment in the country.

The House, after a voice vote, passed the resolution. (NAN)

this while addressing pressmen in Bauchi yesterday, said apart from the suspects killed during the fierce gun battle, some other suspects escaped with bullets wounds.

He said, “Following a tip off received from our sources by the sector 3 of 33 artillery Brigade Bauchi operating in Azare area, Thursday morning by 2 am, we move to the spot area at Raga Udubu road in Gamawa Local Government Area and engage the

bandits” “We exchanged fire with the arm robbers whom are suspected to be cattle rustlers in a bid to rob innocent citizens, during the encounter three suspects were killed, others have fled with injuries, items recovered include 3 AK 47 rifles, 4 magazines, 147 rounds of ammunition 7.630 mm special, N294.730 and 3 cutlass “ Mr Suleiman said this was part of their efforts to stampede

the criminal activities such as like insurgency, robbery, Cattle rustling kidnapping in the North East.

Addong that, “the is firm on it stand to bring to an end such activities” Major Yakubu, however commended the anti robbery leader in the Country. Alhaji Ali Kwara for given them all the necessary support to succeed in the operations and the urged the general public to rendered same support by providing useful information to the authorities.

ombe State Police Command yesterday remembered its 33 fallen heroes who died on active service in 2015.

Commissioner of Police in Gombe, Mr. Austin Iwar said the death of the fallen heroes will always remain in the heart of Nigeria Police Force due to their commitment to hard work, and excellence to human development.

He said their contributions to human development while on active service was a huge success which according to him they gave their lives under circumstances but for one reason to serve and protect lives and property of citizens.

The Police boss said even though the families of the fallen heroes had accepted the risk with great bravery of being parents, spouse or children of Police officers had course to remember their lost ones ,adding that the families are the ones who wait up at night to ensure that their love ones are back home they are also the ones who keep the light burning until they do so.

While remembering the fallen heroes, the commissioner said they were steadfast and committed to serve the people of the state and the nation in general.

Speaking further, he explained that no matter their death, they die while having a call to duty, but noted that the days they paraded for duty they answered yes to every assignment no matter the danger of the assignment.

Rivers Police rescue two kidnapped victims, find AK 47 Rifle

By Ese Awhotu

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he Rivers State Police Command yesterday said it has in two separate coordinated rescue operations by tactical unit of the Command at the notorious Ogbakiri

water fronts, safely rescued two kidnapped victims namely Jackson Sunday ‘m’ and Mary Monday ‘f’.

The victims were kidnapped on different days at Rumuodara and Rumuigbo respectively in Port Harcourt.

In a statement signed DSP. Ahmad Muhammad, Police Public Relations Officer, for the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, the Police said, “ On storming the hideout, the suspected kidnappers found guarding the victims engaged our

men in gun duel. Three unidentified suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded while the victims rescued unhurt. one AK 47 rifle, one locally made pistols, twenty rounds of ammunition, charms and a Nissan jeep belonging to Jackson Sunday

were recovered from the kidnappers’ den.”

The Command enjoined the good people of Rivers State to continue to have trust in the ability of the police to tackle any security challenge and all times be security conscious.

Court remands mother, daughter in prison custody for alleged assault

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n Evbuoriaria Magistrates’ Court in Benin on Thursday ordered one Grace Ighodalo, 40, and her daughter, Nancy Ighodalo, to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly assaulting one Maria

Agbonmwanleten.

The Prosecutor, ASP Aigbedion Obakpolor, told the Court that the accused committed the offence on Dec. 26, at No. 66, along Upper Sokponba Road in Benin.

Obakpolor added that the two accused assaulted the victim with wood, knife and slapped her on her face leaving her left eye ball red after tearing her black blouse, valued at N3,000.

The two accused, however,

pleaded not guilty to the fourcount charge bothering on conspiracy and assault.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 516, 351, 451 and 355 of the Criminal Code.

The Chief Magistrate, Frank Idiake, who remanded both accused in prisons custody, said that their bail application would be considered in due course.

Idiake adjourned the case to Jan. 21, 2016, for hearing. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

SEMA sensitizes IDPs on circumcision in Yobe From Doyin Ojosipe with agency report

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Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, laying down copies of the 2016 Finance and Appropriations Bill shortly after his budget speech on the floor of the House of Assembly, yesterday in Damaturu.

Fire razes student hostel in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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ire outbreak has razed a student private hostel known as Malisia lodge at Gwalameji area, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis.

It was gathered that the fire which started around 2 am completely destroyed all the rooms in the hostel and it lasted for several hours before the arrival of the officials of Fire Service who came to put out the

fire.

Although no life was lost because many of the occupants of the lodge travelled for the Christmas festivities, they lost all their belongings to the fire.

Our correspondent confirmed from a tenant, Mr. Jude of the lodge that the fire started from one of the rooms which he suspected had an electrical fault.

“I was in my room sleeping when i started hearing people screaming fire, fire. I quickly

rushed out of my room along with one other tenant in the lodge. The remaining occupants who are predominantly students travelled for the Christmas period” “The whole building was razed down and all our belongings, including school certificates and credentials was completely burnt by the fire. We even called some of the occupants of the lodge to inform them about the incident.

Men of the state fire service later came to put out the fire”, he said

While confirming the incident, the information officer of the state fire service, Abubakar Bala said that 22 rooms were affected in the inferno, adding that the disaster was as a result of an electrical fault in one of the rooms.

“We are always warning residents, especially during this harmattan season to always switch off all electrical appliances before leaving the house because any tiny spark can cause a fire disaster” he said.

Arms Scandal: I’ll prove my innocence in court says Bafarawa From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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ormer Sokoto state and Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, yesterday said his current travails is one of the challenges every politician must encounter in their political sojourn.

Bafarawa who is standing

trial alongside former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), among others over $2.1bn arms deal disclosed this in Sokoto, during an interaction with Journalists.

The former governor also noted that as someone who believes in rule of law, he is confidence of been vindicated at the end.

According to him: “It is

normal challenges face as a politician. If you are in politics, you must expect both good and bad stories about you.

“Whatever happens to someone should be left in the hands of God, but I am sure of been vindicated at the end of the day.”

Bafarawa however declined to speak further when pressed to give an insight on the level of his

involvement in the arms deal.

He emphasised that since the matter is in court, he is ready to prove himself of all the allegations levelled against him.

He urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against corruption in the country, saying that “I also fought corruption to a standstill when I was a governor in Sokoto State between 1999 and 2007.”

he Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said it has concluded arrangements to get 50 internally displaced children circumcised at the Pompomari Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Damaturu.

The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Alhaji Musa Idi, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Damaturu.

Idi said that the 50 children would be circumcised and celebrated with cultural fanfare.

He explained that a date would soon be fixed for the event, noting that some of the children were orphans who lost their parents to the Boko Haram insurgency, while some others were living with their parents at the camp.

He said ``the children are at the Pompomari Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Damaturu; the Agency organised the circumcision ceremony to uplift their physical and psychological spirits. ``The Agency has met with their parents and community leaders and they all have agreed to jointly undertake the circumcision exercise and to celebrate the children together in the camp. ``Medical personnel at the camp clinic and circumcision experts have been mobilised for this very important event in the lives of the children. ``Every child circumcised has a special food package with full chiken to himself according to tradition here, signifying the children’s transition from one stage of life to another.’’

The executive secretary added that SEMA, in conjunction with the state’s resettlement committee led by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, provided 9,000 blankets to the IDPs for use during the harmattan.

He said ``we have also distributed 1,700 bags of millet, 450 bags of rice, 500 bags of maize and 450 cartons of indomie noodles to the IDPs. ``The beneficiaries are from Goniri, Ngirbuwa, Gotala, Gotumba, Gofiri, Shehuri Toro, Muktum, Bulturum Kura, Bulturum Gana, Mandunari and Dadingel communities. ``Government is also constructing boreholes, tents for shelter and classrooms, as well as toilets at Kukareta to improve the welfare of the displaced persons taking refuge in the village,” he said.

2015: NSCDC prosecutes 8 pipeline vandals, arrests 30 others in Edo

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he Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said on Thursday that it successfully prosecuted eight pipeline vandals and arrested a total of 30 miscreants between January and December 2015.

The State Commandant, Walter Akubuiroh, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

He said that besides the eight cases that were successfully prosecuted by

the command; another 18 cases were ongoing at various courts in the state, within the same period.

The commandant also said a total of 12 trucks of various capacities and eight J5 buses loaded with illegally refined crude, were impounded within the same period.

Akubuiroh said the level of vandalism, especially of pipelines, had reduced, when compared to that of the previous year.

He expressed optimism that the command would work to see that

pipeline vandalism was brought to its lowest minimum, in the very near future, if not completely eliminated.

The commandant, however, stressed that the feat could only be achieved with the cooperation of host communities where these pipelines passed through, as well as the general public.

He noted that the NSCDC was carrying out an enlightenment programme aimed at familiarizing the public with the dangers inherent in pipeline vandalism.

He lauded the Federal Government efforts at getting communities more involved in the area of pipeline protection and the need for them to share information with the NSCDC. ``The peculiar case with pipeline security is that some of these communities see pipeline vandalism as their own way of making a living.

They feel that pipeline vandalism is their own way of enjoying the national cake. ``That is why in some

communities, they build a fence around vandals. They protect these people because of the little they are making out of the illegality. ``Another challenge is that these pipelines are in difficult terrains that our men can not readily access. ``We have been carrying out a lot of enlightenment to let people know the danger inherent in this act. ``One thing they should know about is the danger of the illegality, especially in the area of pollution..

(NAN)

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News

Niger lawmaker empowers 370 widows with trade capital From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna

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he Senator representing Niger South Senatorial District (zone A) in the National Assembly, Senator Mustapha Sani Mohammed has yesterday disbursed trade capital to over 370 widows as part of his empowerment programmes.

The lawmaker said this at Wadata Palace in Bida to mark the disbursement of trade capital for Windows in his constituency said that it was part of fulfilment of his campaign promises aimed at empowering widows who constitute a group of vulnerable and assisting them in starting or enhancing those already involved in their businesses.

“Women empowerment especially widows is a major area of interest to me as I represent our Senatorial District in the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, economic development hinged on industrialization, employment, infrastructural provision and youth development constitute my priority “ he said.

He stated that the beneficiaries caught across the 88 wards that constitute the Niger South Senatorial District of Niger state with at least three persons from each wards.

The Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who applauded the lawmakers initiative described as laudable while urging the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money to the benefit of their families, as this will go a long way in cushioning the effect of poverty.

The acting governor Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso represented by the Commissioner of Sports development and youth empowerment, Alhaji Mamman Musa Bosso who commended the Senator on the choice of human development especially the windows just as this will complement government efforts which he described as exemplary to be emulated.

One of the tents provided for Internally Displaced Persons to shield them against harmattan at Malkohi camp, yesterday in Yola. Photo: NAN

Seized goods: Group slams N100m suit against Customs From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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human rights group in Nigeria, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has replied the authority of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos State over its allegation on the illegal seizure of made in Nigeria Goods and some bags of rice belonging to one Mr. Chinedu Ekeze by the Operation Unit officials led by the Comptroller S.J.NADUGU, stating that its petition dated Tuesday 29th, 2015 and forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, ComptrollerGeneral of the Customs, Minister of Interior, and host of others, was not fictitious and baseless as being claimed by its spokesperson, Mr. Uche Ejesiem.

It is equally declared that the rights group had concluded arrangement to slam N100million suit on the Customs service for violating the fundamental rights of the Nigeria citizen to do their legitimate business within the shore of the country, saying that the Court suit was imperative after fourteen days of not releasing the goods in question to the owner by the Customs service authority from the date on the Petition Letter which was Tuesday 29th

December,2015.

The group (CHRSJ) which displayed the evidences of legitimate payment of over N3million teller of the WEMA Bank and related transaction documents issued to the owner of the goods in question dated 27th of November,2015 by the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),including the receipt collected on the made-in-Nigeria Goods to prove its(CHRSJ) position beyond reasonable doubt on the matter.

It also added another documents made for the payment of over N75million into the Customs Service’s Diamond Bank account of Idiroko Border branch with teller Pay-in-slip Number: 7756301, dated 20th November, 2015 by the Zaimma Services Nigeria Limited as part of the payment made on the goods in question.

Reacting to the Statement credited to the spokesperson of the Customs FOU, Zone A, Mr. Uche Ejesiem that the CHRSJ’s petition to the Customs boss, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) over the goods was “fictitious and baseless”, through a statement issued and signed by the rights group’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, which a copy was made available to newsmen

in Lagos on Thursday, urged the FOU Customs’ spokesperson to tell the whole world the goods that was prohibited among the goods in question that were seized by them.

Comrade Sulaiman who also requested from the Unit’s spokesperson to tell the whole world if the country was having two Customs Service which one Command will collect Custom duties on the goods and another Unit of the Customs Service would seize the goods back, saying that the statement credited to the spokesperson was his(Uche Ejesiem) figment of imagination, believing that the concerned authority in the Customs Service would wade into the matter within the reasonable time and sanction all the erring officers that involved in the alleged illegal deal.

CHRSJ boss promised that the group on behalf of the owner of the goods, Mr. Chinedu Ekeze, would soon approach the Court of competent jurisdiction to seek redress and as well apply for N100million compensation over physical and psychological trauma and business loss incurred by the owner of the goods in question as a result of seizure of the goods illegally.

Sulaiman however mainatned that some Customs officials have been in the barbaric, illegal

and unlawful business act as usual by using their official position for illegal and selfish aggrandizement over the years which is against the preaching of present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the development which was inimical to the nation’s revenue generation,adding that ‘’it is on record that they are collecting bail fees between #150,000 to #250,000 from any of their victims”.

According to him “Mr. Uche Ejesieme, the spokesperson of the Customs FOU, Zone A,Ikeja, Lagos State should stop misleading the public and diverting the attention of the people from the subject matter of illegally seized the goods that has been paid Custom duty on it and made in Nigeria goods contained in the vehicle with Registration number:XT 270 BEN. Evidences have shown that the Customs officials of FOU, Zone A have goofed and this will serve as deterrent to any other erring officers who believed that they can manipulate the system to satisfying their desire as usual.

The public will understand that the spokesperson does not know what we are talking about on the issue. He thought that it is the same general issue they used to talk about.

Kano to establish 2 ultra modern centres in 2016 From Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

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he Kano State Government has concluded arrangements to build two ultra modern women centres in the state next year.

The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Zubaida

Abubakar, made the disclosure during a meeting with local government development officers in Kano on Thursday.

She said that the centres would be located at Kofar-Naisa and Gyadi-Gyadi in Gwale and Tarauni local government areas of the state respectively.

According to her, the state government has already

earmarked certain amount of money in the 2016 budget for the execution of the project.

She explained that when constructed, the centres would enhance the socio-economic status of women and generate more revenue for the state.

The commissioner said that the state government also planned to equip the existing

women centres in the 44 local government areas with modern facilities. ``This is aimed at achieving government’s desire toward empowering women at the grassroots.’’

She then urged the officers to continue to discharge their duties accordingly in order to move the state forward. (NAN

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News Educationists canvass employment of more science teachers

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teacher, Mr Matthew Olalonkun, on Thursday canvassed the employment of more science teachers into public secondary schools, to enhance the development of science and technology in Nigeria.

Olalonkun, the Head of Department, Science, Nbari Nbayo Secondary School, Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that most schools could not meet the required teacher: pupil ratio.

He said that science teachers in public schools needed training and re-training, to compete favourably with their counterparts in private schools.

Olanlokun said that the public secondary school science teachers were deficient in the usage of modern techniques and equipment, thus reducing the students’ interest in science.

He said that science was very important to the development of the nation and urged the government to invest massively in it. ``Our government is not encouraging science; we do not have the fund to conduct research and innovations that will put the country on the world map. ``The few scientists who have come up with fantastic innovations do not have the market to sell; people don’t encourage us. ``This is the time for government to shift attention to science and technology education. ``Science is life; it is the key to innovations and discovery.

Most developed countries like Malaysia, Japan, China and Singapore are enjoying the benefit of science. ``Most schools don’t have science teachers and the few ones overstretch their teachers. ``There is urgent need for government to employ more teachers,’’ Olanlokun said.

He said that the students were not interested in science subjects because it was too challenging and required a lot of calculations.

According to him, many science students relocate abroad because there are more opportunities there than in Nigeria.. (NAN)

Boko Haram War: We are winning, FG insists From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has again insisted that the military has largely met the deadline given to it by President Muhammadu Buhari to defeat Boko Haram, despite the recent attacks by the terrorists.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed challenged critics of his assertion that the military has largely met the deadline to take a trip to the epicentre of the war against terrorists in Borno state and then report to Nigerians what they have seen. ‘’The armchair critics who dispute these facts, from the comfort of their living rooms, are free to take a trip to the theatre of war to see things for themselves.

Perhaps then, they will be more circumspecting in issuing reckless statements that give nothing but succour to Boko Haram. I have gone to the theatre of war to see

things for myself. I did not just stop in Maiduguri, I went all the way to Konduga, Kaure and Bama which, as I said, was once the headquarters of the Boko Haram Caliphate,” he noted “In a few days’ time, the deadline issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to defeat Boko Haram will expire. Without equivocating, I will repeat what I said that has sparked a firestorm: Our gallant military has LARGELY met the deadline! I make this assertion with all sense of responsibility and they are backed by facts,’’ He reiterated his earlier statement that the military has massively degraded the capacity of the terrorists to carry out the kind of spectacular attacks they used to execute in the past, like the attacks on the police headquarters and the UN Complex, both in Abuja.

Alhaji Mohammed also said that in just six months of the Buhari Administration, the Boko Haram that was in control of a territory larger than an entire geo-political

zone in Nigeria ‘’has been reduced to a fleeing, bomb throwing, cowardly and disorganized army’’. ‘’Among the areas where Boko Haram has been kicked out is Bama, which was the self-declared headquarters of their Caliphate.

From there, they collected taxes, dispensed jungle justice, deposed and installed Emirs and hoisted their own flag. Today, the town is firmly in the hands of our troops,’’ the Minister said.

He said all Boko Haram can do now is to attack soft targets: Markets, Motor Parks, Mosques and Entertainment centres, killing innocent men, women and children.

He also repeated his appeal to the media to stop glamorising Boko Haram with their reporting of the terrorists attacks, and hailed the newspapers that have already taken it upon themselves to push Boko Haram off their front pages. ‘’I want to appeal to other newspapers to follow suit and cut off the oxygen supply to the comatose Boko Haram (by denying

the terrorists the publicity they so much seek). This is purely an appeal, as we have no intention whatsoever to censor any media organization,’’ the Minister explained.

Alhaji Mohammed also commended the Civilian JTF that has also played a major role in assisting the military to rout the terrorists, noting that what is now missing in the war is the civilian component. ‘’In this regard, we have kickstarted a campaign to raise awareness among Nigerians on the war, so that the citizens will not only support the war but they will also own it. It is the war for all Nigerians, not a war for the military alone. ‘’As the military enters the mop-up phase of this war, what is left now is the onerous task of resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially in the North-east, which is worst-hit by the war. We appeal for support from all Nigerians in this regard, because the government alone cannot handle this task,’’ he said.

Fulani women going to the market yesterday in Mubi, Adamawa state.

Photo: NAN

Wamakko sponsors 107 inmates on skills acquisitions, Quranic recitation From Raji Bello, Sokoto

N

o fewer than 107 inmates of Sokoto Central Prison, yesterday graduated from various Holy Qur’an recitation and course and skills acquisition programmes.

The programme organised by the state command of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) was sponsored by the immediate past governor of Sokoto state and

Senator representing, Sokoto Central in the National Assembly, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

The former governor also donated copies of the Holy Qur’an, clothing materials, various working tools and cash to the inmates.

Speaking at the occasion, Wamakko called on judiciary to ensure speedy trials in order to decongest Nigerian prisons.

He noted that the call was necessary due to the overwhelmed with awaiting trial inmates across the nation.

Earlier, the Prisons Controller in the the state, Hajiya Hauwa Shettima, said 44 of the inmates graduated from the Holy Qur’an recitation and memorisation courses, while 63 graduated from the various skills acquisition programmes.

She noted that the capacity of

the prison is being overstretched due to daily influx of inmates awaiting trials and appealed to the state government to assist in that direction.

Also speaking, the Controller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr Peter Ezenwe, who was represented by Mr Shehu Kangiwa, the Assistant Controller General, Budget and Finance, said that the Federal

Government was committed to prisoners’ reformation.

In his remarks, the State governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was represented by the Sokoto State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Katami, commended the command for organising the event.

Tambuwal also announced the donation of N2 million as welfare package for the inmates.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Page 11

EDITORIAL

States should pay salaries Two, an amendment of the National Minimum Wage Act that requires the least paid public servant should get nothing less than N18,000 should be made. It is unfair to ask a small and impoverished state like Taraba whose share from the consolidated federation account is less than one-third that of oil producing Akwa Ibom to pay the same minimum wage. In the spirit of true federalism, states should be allowed to pay their workers according

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P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has promised the 22 state governments that owe their workers upward of seven months salary arrears an “immediate bailout”. 36 governors met with the president recently at the Presidential Villa, also known as Aso Rock, Abuja where they gave Buhari a 6-point wish list, including a bailout request.

On the latter, the president said a committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would look at the excess crude account to see what is in it so that it will be shared among the three tiers of government.

The ECA currently stands at $2.45b, down from $10b in 2013 when it was last shared. This “shocking shrinkage” is what the governors want investigated. Between them, the 22 insolvent states owe their public servants over N250b salary arrears. On its own part, the federal government’s financial commitments amount to over N500bn, including money owed local contractors and workers’ salaries. It is obvious that what relief they will get from the ECA will be very minimal indeed.

After that what happens? A very important question indeed. Because we must avoid a return to this state of insolvency.

There are several ways to end the financial predicaments of the states.

One, the revenue allocation formular which gives more money to FG than the states should be reviewed in favour of the latter because their responsibilities are bigger; the pressure on them to deliver the dividends of democracy are greater.

We welcome Buhari’s resolute stand against corruption. We assure him that he does not stand alone in this gargantuan anti-graft fight. He is supported by millions of poor but decent compatriots. to financial capacity.

Also, Buhari must resolve the issue of the ECA which he himself has described as being an illegality. Because it is not provided for in the Constitution, this account has consistently been abused and nobody has been questioned.

However, more than these structural encumbrances, at the heart of the insolvency of the state governments is their ninety-nine point nine-nine percent reliance on federally collected revenues. Apart from Lagos, this

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

nation’s economic/commercial hub, no other state can boast up to a billion naira IGR (internally generated revenue). Cheap oil money has made state government very lazy. Now low oil price on the international market means less money coming into the federation account.

Another reason for the poor financial position of the states is outright stealing of public money often by the chief executives of the states themselves. As it is, a dozen former governors have been ‘questioned’ by the state appointed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on corruption related charges.

President Buhari though sympathetic to the states over their plight has nonetheless chided them for the unusually high level of “impunity, corruption and unaccountability” at that level of governance. On the day of his inauguration, the president did acknowledge he lacked the constitutional power to control the states but he wouldn’t stand by and let the drift continue. And at Tuesday’s meeting with the governors, the president warned that those that have stolen “national resources” would be brought to account.

We welcome Buhari’s resolute stand against corruption. We assure him that he does not stand alone in this gargantuan anti-graft fight. He is supported by millions of poor but decent compatriots. Even from outside have come unequivocal pledges of support for the president as he sets out to recover stolen Nigerian wealth. We trust he will succeed because he has proved time and time that he is man of his word.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Director/Editor-in-Chief Rufa’i Ibrahim Hameed M. Bello

Editor, Daily

Chief Operating Officer Ali M. Ali

Acting Editor, Weekend Lawal Sabo Ibrahim

Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

Acting Deputy Manager, Production Aminu Jibril Mohammed Head, Lagos Bureau

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PAGE 12

Opinion

The slave wage reality

By Ebije Israel

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he wage rage between government and civil servants is about to take a turn for the worst. Civil servants want more, governors have admitted they can not sustain payment of the N18,000 minimum wage. As the divide intensifies, exchange of words, threats and zero promises characterise the raging debate of workers wage and the future appears bleak as slave wage beckons.

Long term and short term plans must be fashioned to prevent a downward review of the insufficient N18, 000 minimum wage. In the interim, frivolous spendings, bloated salaries of the executive and legislative arms must be scaled down. Those in government

must make sacrifices to justify the change mantra. In the long run, diversification of the economy will suffice.

Change has come, politicians have promised Nigerians a better deal. Sorry, the economic situation is not favourable, but the time for true sacrifice is now. President Muhammadu Buhari is working hard to steer his administration towards satisfying electoral promises and speed in that direction cannot be overemphasised. It is therefore sad that the governors intend to push the burden of the dwindling economy on civil servants to carry. The implication of their implied resolve is to force civil servants to live below the $2.00 the present wage offers them per day based on the $80.00 the N18,000 represent.

Therefore, between the plunging revenue and the call

for a new wage heralds a rage over wage from all the divides.

Nigerian workers voted for change, meaning change in government impervious to plight of the masses; change from administrative impunity; change from cyclical poverty and not a vote for social, political and economic despondency.

Without money in the pockets of Nigerians, the change mantra may be utterly defeated. The actual meaning of change for the citizens is better life, cheap cost of goods and services, peace and security.

Nigerians may recall that when the N18,000 minimum wage was approved, it was N147 to a dollar. The market price for goods and services can hardly hold the family of an average civil servant. – Is it therefore unthinkable now that essential services are measured against

the constantly rising dollar?

It is indeed imperative to strike a balance between the need to give civil servants a comfortable wage bill within the context of an economy sliding full throttle backwards on its revenue base. The country has been enslaved to its crude-oilbased economy. Now reality dawns.

A possible shutdown of the system is certain once salaries are slashed, as workers will certainly embark on industrial action. The average civil servant is a key driver of the economy and the first implementer of change. They will help fight against corruption once they have excellent or acceptable wage. An average Nigerian civil servant depends on other sources of income to survive.

The instinct to survive is mostly impervious to probity and accountability.

Civil servants have endured the good, the bad and ugly administrations. Nigerian

workers are at the rock bottom of the food chain. They work like elephants and are forced to eat like ants. Now the change mantra has enlightened the proletariats, they will certainly insist on their rights.

It is therefore imperative to reduce the level of recurrent expenditure, averaging 74 per cent of the budget. It is indeed important to shift attention from an oil based economy to other sectors like steel, agriculture and textile presently abandoned.

Nigeria has an estimated yearly demand for rolled steel flat sheets put at 1.2 million tonnes, and most of it still being imported. If the steel sector improves, it will add to the revenue base of the economy, employ thousands of Nigerians, save the over N100bn investment in the sector and give birth to automobile industry and general industrialisation of Nigeria.

– Ebije can be reached at ebije@gmail

Letter to Gov. Ambode on the untoward activities of KAI officers

By Omoniyi Olayemi

Dear Sir,

O

n November 17, 2015, at about 2pm, I and a colleague arrived Lagos from an official assignment in Ogun state and alighted from a commercial vehicle at Oshodi (Isale). We had to walk a few metres and cross over to the other side of the road to board our next respective vehicles. Realising that the next pedestrian bridge in sight was about 200 metres from where we were, and that there was a pedestrian pavement constructed alongside the road median (obviously to aid walking and crossing due to wideness of the road and its proximity to the bridge), we decided to immediately cross over and make use of the pedestrian pavement, while we watched the traffic thin out and make a second crossing to the other side.

As we walked along the pedestrian pavement and chatted away, I noticed two unkempt men walking towards us and I immediately assumed that they were the usual touts (‘agberos’) who are a common sight within that area of the city. Unsure of their intentions as they approached us, I suddenly felt a hand grab me by the belt, and an attempt to tip me over. Instinctively, I fought back, screaming while trying to regain my balance, thinking it was a robbery in broad daylight. A brief tussle ensued between me and my attacker until we both almost got knocked down by a vehicle and then I decided to calm down and safely cross over to the other side where passersby could come to my rescue.

Letter To Governor Ambode On The Untoward Activities Of KAI Officers -By Omoniyi OlayemiSafely at the other side of the road, while being dragged by my shirt and belt, I asked my attacker why he was attacking me and he responded in Yoruba asking me if I didn’t know it was wrong to cross the ‘Express’. Only then did I notice my colleague suffering worse battering in the hands of two attackers dragging him towards a green and

black KAI branded truck parked a few metres ahead. I told my attacker to let go of me and treat me with dignity as I am not a criminal, and that he should note that he ‘arrested’ us on a pedestrian pavement in the middle of the expressway. I resisted being hurled up into the truck while trying to explain, but my attacker got assistance from a collaborator who reached out from inside the truck, grabbed me by my head and they both practically threw me into the truck, alongside my colleague.

Sir, it was after I got up and peeped out through the iron bars of the truck, the same way I see convicted felons do while being transported to and from prison in the ‘black maria’, that I noticed four men in actual KAI uniforms, chatting by the road side while about ten mean-looking touts (a lady inclusive) in plain dirty clothes were all over the road and median harassing individuals (men and women), throwing those whom they overpowered into the waiting truck.

After about thirty minutes in the truck with 10 gentlemen and two ladies, a young man in a pair of jeans and Ankara top came into the truck to inform us that we were being held for breaking Lagos State’s traffic laws and that our fine was 12,000 naira each.

I immediately approached him and told him that I was pressed and need to ease myself. His rude response was that the earlier I took a corner in the truck and did my thing, the better for me. I challenged him for addressing

“

me in that manner and he said he would slap me, that I was speaking in the English language to prove to him that I was educated and that if I did not step away from him, he would slap me over and again (all this he said the Yoruba language).

One after another, those locked up in the truck approached him, and he would take them outside; they would ‘settle’ and he lets them go and then comes back into the truck after about fifteen minutes for the next person.

At a point, my colleague approached him. They went outside and after ten minutes, my colleague called my phone to inform me that he had been released. He said he was told to drop anything he had, so he showed them his almost empty wallet, and then they asked him to go use the ATM. He pleaded saying that his bank account was also empty. After a lot of begging, he said the ‘collector’ told him that he likes him and that God was leading him to allow my colleague to go free.

Letter To Governor Ambode On The Untoward Activities Of KAI Officers -By Omoniyi OlayemiSir, while being held against my will for about four hours, fifteen minutes, I watched these KAI officials (or touts) humiliate Lagos state residents going about their normal business, extorting money from them and inflicting various degrees of bodily harm on them. I watched with keen interest a particular young man who came with his boss, a swollen face and a blood shot left eye, after being previously

I did not leave without overhearing that the official to whom that particular team of KAI operatives report to, is an Alhaji Ajikawo, who had just stepped out of the office minutes before our truck arrived back to base

attacked by these same officials while he was on his way to work. His boss came back with him to challenge them, requesting to speak with their superiors but they spent close to an hour begging, saying that it was a case of miscommunication between the employee and the KAI official and they were very sorry. They both left the scene after trying unsuccessfully to get justice.

Another middle aged man in a suit was practically lifted off the ground and carried across the road by three agents. While he was about to be thrown into the truck, he announced mid-air that he is a lawyer and he knows his rights. They immediately dropped him, took him aside and began to argue with him. He highlighted to them the facts that: 1. There was no sign by either side of the road saying pedestrian crossing is prohibited; 2. The so-called KAI officials were all over the road in plain clothes and not in their uniforms and name tags to identify them as state government officials; 3. The so-called KAI officials are breaking the same law they claim to be enforcing and misleading innocent passers-by to attempt to crossover because of their inclusive presence on the road median and on the expressway themselves; 4. Their mode of apprehension of so-called culprits was improper, inhumane, demeaning, illegal, uncivilised and an infringement of their fundamental human rights.

After much argument back and forth, they let him go and then moved the truck from where we had been (close to the foot of the pedestrian bridge), to the top of the bridge (Oshodi Oke, also called ‘Step’).

From my vantage point in the truck, at the top of the bridge, I could see a dilapidated, rundown building below with the markings “The Lagos State Ministry of Environment…KAI Divisional Office” was also written below it. As soon as we arrived there, they all alighted in a frenzy, like soldiers arriving back home in victory,

alive, and with their spoils of war.

They grabbed every can of alcohol in sight, lit up every stick of tobacco they laid their hands on, frolicked with a few women who had been patiently waiting for their return in a ‘danfo’ bus parked in front of the office. It seemed like a carnival of some sort, rewards from a successful but hectic day of extortion of members of the public.

Finally, at about 6:15 pm, I was let out, asked to ‘help’ myself out of my situation, stressing the fact that I was supposed to be transferred to Alausa, in addition to my fine of N12,000, and that they were only trying to assist me by asking me for a token and then, they would release me. I insisted that I had no money. ATM Card? I said I didn’t own one. The young man in jeans and Ankara top finally announced proudly (as if in an act of his gracious benevolence and magnanimity), “I am in no mood to take anyone to Alausa today”, and so they should let me and the last person remaining in the truck to go.

I did not leave without overhearing that the official to whom that particular team of KAI operatives report to, is an Alhaji Ajikawo, who had just stepped out of the office minutes before our truck arrived back to base.

Sir, you are the Governor of Lagos, the greatest city in Africa. I demand justice. I demand an end to the unruly behaviour of KAI officers in this city.

I demand that they stop to show your government in the worst possible light. I demand better treatment, even if I broke the law.

Your Excellency, it happened to me that day. It could be your child or relative tomorrow. Thank you, Sir, in anticipation of your patience in going through my long heartfelt letter.

“Itesiwaju Ilu Eko, o je mi logun!

Eko o ni baje o!”

Omoniyi Olayemi is a research analyst for a leading business consulting firm in Lagos.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PAGE 13

Comment

The root causes of insecurity at Nigerian airports

By Uche Igwe

I

had an unfortunate encounter with a security agent at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Tuesday December 22nd. I had just passed through the immigration and customs and was trying to find my way to the temporary departure lounge upstairs.

When I tried to use the escalator I discovered that it was faulty. I then turned towards the elevator and also discovered it was faulty. At that point, I turned to one of the officials (I cannot remember which one of them) and tried to complain to him. As we were talking, another immigration official joined us and complained bitterly how many passengers were made to pass through the experience of climbing the stairs. He graphically described the experiences of many pregnant women who had to climb the stairs amidst pains.

At that point I reached out for my camera and asked them if I could take a few pictures and alert relevant authorities. They obliged me and I took a few shots with a hope of passing them on to the Minister of Transportation who we all know will be willing to act promptly on it. Just as I was about climbing the stairs, a security personnel who turned out to be from the Department of Security Services beckoned on me. I was not sure why he invited me but I suspected it was because of the pictures I took.

He told me that his name is Femi

Adegoke – I did not even bother as many of such names turn out to be fake. However true to my suspicion, he ordered me to open the camera and delete the pictures. Of course I refused initially and he seized my camera. I willingly left the camera with him and proceeded to the departure lounge.

I was sure the security official was taken aback by my response. I did not argue with him but rather left a fairly expensive camera with him. He expected me to argue then beg or tip him. As I was about to pass through the final check into the departure lounge, another security agent appeared and beckoned on me. This time he got hold of my passport and sort of seized it. Again I did not protest but dutifully followed him downstairs.

He was joined by the former guy and they struggled to get all my details and probably stop me from travelling.

At that point I had to make a few telephone calls which did not yield much result.

A scene had already started building up. I asked them for my offence and they said that I took pictures of the dysfunctional escalator without permission. I told them that I took permission. The gentleman who permitted me was right there in front of me but I could not point at him. He was already in panic. I tried to explain to the DSS guys (two of them) and another lady that I wanted to help as a citizen to pass the information to relevant authorities. They refused bluntly. They had seized my passport.

In fact they threatened to beat me up.

The DSS fellow told me that if not for democracy, he would have shown me the road to hell. At that point they were more than four on my matter.

After about one hour of to and fro arguments, I decided to delete the pictures, take my camera, head to the departure lounge with a promise to write this piece.

Even as I put that encounter behind me, the level of insecurity in our airports remain a subject of concern to me. Sadly with many security agents littered there doing little. The real issue here is although there are people like Femi waiting to pounce on those who will take pictures, issues of insecurity manage to fall through. I will tell you the reasons.

They are all man-made. There are too many incompetent people masquerading like Femi doing other things than preserving security. They have commercialised security and inadvertently enthroned insecurity.

You will notice that there are so many of them in all the airports all over the country. They concentrate at various screening points where they allow anything and everything to pass through as far as you can ‘grease’ their palms. If you refuse to tip them, they beg you for it. That pathological begging culture in all our airports is the aspect that is most embarrassing.

It makes us a laughing stock before visitors. True.

In a typical case, they will allow your luggage pass through screening and turn around to ask you what you have in them. When you answer, they

will simply tell you…. “Oga we trust you but what do you have for us for Christmas?” Really, so you trust me enough to neglect your duty? Where do you know me? Of course the trust is not without expectation. If a passenger shows willingness to give the officials money then you will get expedited passage. In some cases the security officials volunteer to take you the passenger through other points and explain to his/her colleagues that the person is a ‘trusted’ ‘good’ man/ woman, of course so that each of them can collect something in exchange. I will not talk about the regular outward movement of cash through our airports. We are told of the cashless policy in Nigeria until the Dasukigate!

Another example of abuse of security process, especially at Abuja, happens to concern the handling of access tags. These tags are supposed to be used for privileged access for those escorting VIPs. With the tag, you can enter most places including the tarmac. The tags, which are supposed to be kept in a central location, are meant to be handed only to individuals who have passed through screening and who are legitimately attached to recognised government officials. Rather than that, they are kept in the pockets of security ‘big boys’ at the airport who hand them over freely to their friends and preferred dignitaries. It is a lucrative business and no one cares to screen many of those who carry those passes.

You can imagine the level of danger such a practice can constitute to the

security of the entire airport.

I do not want to mention the issue of malfunctioning or dysfunctional equipment again. It got me into trouble last Tuesday.

I will rather dwell a little more on the incompetence of these security agencies at the airports. It will be nice to know who recruits them. What is the minimum qualification that one needs to have to work in such sensitive locations? Is there a mechanism for security coordination and real time monitoring? Must they security agents be this numerous to be effective?

I know there have been several security breaches in many of our airports including the issue of stowaways. Some of them are being investigated currently and I do not wish to interfere with the process.

However the flagrant abuse of procedure as highlighted above, unnecessary duplication of duties and the corruption/begging culture are some areas that could provide useful insights. Looking at the security architecture at our airports, one continues to wonder why one big breach that could lead to huge losses has not happened. This could be a warning. This could be the warning.

Something urgent needs to be done to rid our airports of multiplicity of do-for-nothing security agents who focus on gratifications and make our airports prone to avoidable security lapses.

Uche Igwe is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Politics, University of Sussex, UK.

Miracles: Tools for exploiting gullible Christians

By Ijabla Raymond

T

he night of every 31st of December is a special time for Nigerian Christians.

It is that time of the year when they congregate in their millions to listen to prophecies and pray for blessings that will guide them throughout the following year.

Watch-night services as they are known often do not end until tithes and offerings have been collected multiple times. Nigerian pastors are ingenious when it comes to extorting money from their members – they persuade members that God will bless them abundantly, but only if the members first bless God with their tithes and offerings. These pastors claim to resurrect the dead and heal all kinds of diseases but when it comes to money they are always powerless, and must always beg for it. They never seem able to explain why an all-sufficient God needs money or why the well-being of the church member is dependent on the donations they make to the pastor.

I do not understand the point of the frenzied prayers that characterise watch-night services neither. As Christopher Hitchens said, “the man who prays is the one that thinks God has arranged matters all wrong and thinks they can instruct Him how to put it right”. Praying is not a sign of faith, it indicates a lack of faith.

You would not pray if you truly

believed in an all-powerful God who has a perfect plan for your life.

Nonetheless, Nigerian Christians say the same prayers every year at watch-night services, which begs the question – is God bothered by their prayers?

One thing is clear – the prophecies are fuzzy proclamations which lack specificity. The prophets all claim to hear from the same God but their prophecies often contradict one another.

Even worse, they do not say anything that matters to the life of the Nigerian. I invite the reader to consider my analysis of Pastor Adeboye’s prophecies for 2015, (http://saharareporters. com/2015/01/02/end-yearprophecies-ijabla-raymond).

Since he made them 12 months ago, the Chibok girls are still missing and no one knows if they will ever be found; Boko Haram (BH) insurgency is still raging on; our national revenue is being threatened by the drop in the price of crude oil, and so on; but none of these featured in God’s conversation with pastor Adeboye when He was drawing up the 2015 prophecies. On the occasion that he tried to be specific, the prophecy turned out to be inaccurate. He had prophesied that, “Daddy (referring to God) says all over the world insurgencies will be considerately weakened.” I am not sure which world daddy was referring to because the terrorist activities of BH, al-Shabbab, ISIS and the

many lone wolves in 2015 on planet earth do not support His claim. At the international level, it appears that God also forgot to tell pastor Adeboye and His other prophets about the Syrian war; the refugee crisis in Europe; the unprecedented floods in Britain; the terrorist attacks in France, Egypt, Algeria, America and Australia; the devastating earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people in Nepal; the blowing up of Russian plane over Egypt by suspected ISIS jihadists.

Or the fact that Russia came to the brink of a war with NATO after its fighter jet was shot down

by Turkey. The reason prophets do everything they can to avoid being specific when they announce their prophecies is that it weakens them and makes them appear as charlatans.

It is usual for Nigerian Christians to respond to any criticism of their pastors with the cliché, “touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm”.

But they forget that the bible also says: “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously.” It goes even further: “But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded . . . . is to be put to death.”

Deuteronomy 18:20,22. To me, this means that the prophet (pastor) is accountable.

The other common excuse Christians make for their pastors is: “the pastor did not force anyone to give money.” This excuse ignores the threats of the devourer being unleashed on people’s health, income, relationships, family or even eternal damnation in hell.

This is a form of psychological control and explains why some members who cannot even feed their families or pay their children’s school fees would borrow money and still pay tithes and offerings from it. The pastors spend the money as they like on luxury lifestyle, real estates investments, private jets, and are hardly ever held accountable. Some of them have built private schools and universities with the tithes and offering of their members but the members cannot afford the fees for their children. Yet, some of these pastors benefitted directly from the free schools built by foreign missionaries.

Nigerians are extremely gullible when it comes to religion and would believe every sentence that starts with the word, “God.” Charlatans understand this vulnerability and have come up with all sorts of schemes to con them. These include prophecies and miracles. I do not believe in miracles because like gods, demons, spirits, witches and wizards, there’s no evidence for their existence. Death certificates and medical reports can be forged.

Deafness, blindness, paralysis,

epilepsy – they can all be faked.

Even death can be faked. A real miracle is watching an amputated limb grow. Real miracles stopped happening from the moment cameras and videos were invented.

Christians should consider why there are no videos of pastors Kumuyi, Adeboye, Oyakhilome, Oyedepo, TB Joshua and others growing the limbs of amputees during their numerous church conventions. You would think there would be at least one considering the massive volumes of videos they have accumulated purportedly showing people who have been cured of all kinds of diseases and resurrected from death. No one who claims to resurrect dead people or heal diseases is to be trusted. Surely, if they can perform these miracles then they can magically manufacture money, and should not have to mentally coerce their members for it.

My heart bleeds every time another poor patient dies because their pastor has led them to believe that their illness has been cured and that it is okay to not take their medications. It is unconscionable to exploit the desperate situations of vulnerable people for one’s gains. Personally, I feel there is need for a specific legislation to prosecute faith healers who cause demonstrable harm to others through misrepresentations.

Ijabla Raymond is a medical doctor and he writes from the UK.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

News TETFUND executes N869.53m projects at Sokoto College - Provost

T

he Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND) has executed more than N869.53 million projects at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, between 2013 and 2014.

The Provost of the college, Dr Dikko Goshe, disclosed this in Sokoto on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Goshe said that the projects were successfully executed under the normal and special interventions windows of the fund.

The provost said the projects included the construction and furnishing of the Schools of Adult, Non-Formal and Special Education, which gulped more than N38.63 million.

Others were the construction and furnishing of School of Early Children and Primary Education at the cost of about N38.63 million. ``All these projects were successfully completed in 2013 under the fund’s normal intervention windows,’’ Goshe explained.

In the same vein, the projects executed in 2013 under the special intervention windows of the fund were the construction of examinations office building and the construction of School of General Studies at about N79.72 million and N189.42 million, respectively.

Goshe said that the 2014 normal intervention projects included the construction and furnishing of a 900-capacity library complex which gulped about N295.9 million.

Besides, the fund spent about N227.2 million in 2014 special intervention window on the construction of office blocks and other external works.

Also commenting on the projects, the College’s Director of Works and Desk Officer, TETFUND, Mr Abdullahi Lawal, commended the fund for ``saving ‘’ most of the tertiary educational institutions in the country. ``The fund helps greatly in bridging the infrastructural deficits in majority of these institutions and most of them would have since collapsed without the fund,’’ Lawal noted.

(NAN)

Members of Omu-Aran Youth Forum during a carnival rally, yesterday in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara state.

Photo: NAN

We don’t have military wing, says Shiite From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Islamic Movement in Nigeria has said it did not operate any military wing.

The President of the Media Forum of Movement, Mallam Ibrahim Musa disclosed this in a press statement made available to the media in Kaduna Wednesday.

The statement added that this has became necessary because of recent government pronouncement that claims the movement has a military wing that is a threat to the Nigerian nation.

This according to Musa is a way to cover up their crimes or worst still, even justify it through these mischievous propaganda campaigns.

“In the past Nigerians were told that the reason the Nigerian Army killed 1000+ members of IMN, attacked & destroyed the Zaria Husseiniyah & attacked the residence of His Eminence Sheikh

Ibrahim, shot him, his wife and killed his children in front of him, was because members of IMN wanted to “assassinate Nigerian Army Chief”. In this video clip another reason was given to justify that Zaria massacre. “Credible information received that the sect is stockpiling arms and weapons in its headquarters (Husseiniyah) “In this propaganda video the Nigerian Government claimed it received “credible information”. The question to ask here is from who did the Nigerian Government received this “credible information”? The fact that they did not find a single bullet in the Zaria Husseiniyah means that information was not credible. It also prove that the Zaria massacre was an Imperialist agenda to ignite a bigger conflict in Nigeria that will plunge the Nigerian nation in to an unending crisis.

“The IMN will not stockpile arms and weapons in a Husseiniyah or in any other place for that matter. Husseiniyah are primarily Islamic centers

for mourning of Imam Hussain (as), the beloved Grandson of the Prophet (sa). Islamic programs and activities are also held in Husseiniyah such as celebrating the birthday anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad (sa) & of Imams. Shia Muslims does these programs in Husseiniyah because Sunni Muslims will not allow them use the Mosques they dominate for these purposes.

“The propaganda video of the Nigerian government also claimed that IMN has “hidden agenda against the Nigerian Military”. But for the entire 37+ history of IMN, none of its members have ever attacked the Nigerian Military.

In fact the IMN has been a victim of Nigerian Military brutality & massacre. The events of last year when the Nigerian Army killed 34 members of IMN that included 3 biological sons of Sheikh Zakzaky is still fresh in our minds. To this day no a single soldier was prosecuted for that massacre.

“Those members of the IMN

that you see marching in that propaganda video are the Volunteer Aid Group of the Movement. Many organizations in Nigeria have such units by various names, whose duties essentially is development of the body and soul as well as community service such as crowd control, provision of social services and the rest. Similar units include the Boys Brigade, Boys scout, Girls guide, First Aid groups of various Muslim associations referred to as Yan Agaji in local Hausa language and so on. So what is strange with the Hurras group of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria? Conducting match parades or learning of martial arts shown in the video is equally not new or peculiar to the Hurras, and is in line with keeping the body and soul physically fit. Hence all previously mentioned groups similarly embark on such activities.

What is strange in the video that should warrant it being an object of clearly a mischievous propaganda against the movement.”, the movement explained.

Bauchi First Lady charges media on responsible, balanced reporting

From Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

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ife of the Bauchi State Governor, Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar has charged media on the need for responsible reporting that is backed by investigative and balanced information base on research to avoid falling into pit holes of misguiding the public.

Abubakar, who was speaking during an interactive session with the state media executives at Bauchi Government House yesterday , said “It is therefore

necessary for freedom of expression, so that different shades of opinions would be heard for the betterment of the generality of people”, urging the media to ensure that what is published to the public is based on investigation, balance and unbiased information.

According to her, the media equally has the role of informing the public about issues as they relate to policies of government, for harmony and good working relationship She reminded the media of

the responsibility vested upon it in educating, guiding and giving information to the people for them to take right and informed decisions.

She explained that the media has the responsibility to inform and work in the best interest of the public, stressing that it only when the public are well informed that they will be able to contribute their quota in governance.

Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar said the media also has the role of challenging policies of government that it feels are not

perfect with a view to drawing the attention of government to get things right.

The Governor’s wife said her personal commitment to the cause of women, children and the vulnerable is a complimentary effort to the commitment of her husband in his pursue to improve the living standard of the people of the state.

“For that I will like to intimate you that I have initiated an NGO called Bauchi Sustainable Women Economic Empowerment and Peace

Initiative for the sole purpose of supporting government to achieve the desired objective of bringing improvement to the living standard of the people of the state”, she told the media chiefs.

Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar solicited the understanding, support, cooperation and collaboration of the media as stakeholders in the enterprise called Nigeria, as well as put all hands on deck to bring peace, progress and prosperity in Bauchi state.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PAGE 15

Gov Gaidam budgets N88.93Bn for 2016 fiscal year From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle), Speaker, Ogun state House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Ishola Adekunbi (2nd left), Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Olusola Bankole (left), Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms. Adenrele Adesina (2nd right), and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Oshinowo (right), after the governor signed the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law, on Wednesday at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, in Abeokuta.

Al-makura presents N77bn 2016 budget proposal to assembly From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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overnor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa state yesterday presented seventy-seven billion, nine hundred and seventy million, one hundred and thirty-six thousand, seven hundred and ninety naira (N77,917,136,799 ) appropriation bill tagged “Budget of Pragmatism” to the state assembly for 2016, according top most priority to education, agriculture and health.

Highlighting the budget Al-makura said out of the amount, the sum of over N43 billion representing 55 percent of the budget is for recurrent expenditures, while the sum of N34 billion representing 46 percent is for capital projects, adding that the budget has a decrease of 30 percent.

Education going by the breakdown of the budget takes the lion share of over N17 billion while Ministry of Environment takes the least amount of N98 million, Works and Transport

is second with N9.5 billion, while payments of pension and gratuities takes N3 billion.

The governor further stated that the 2016 budget would focus on completion of on-going projects, constructions of Lafia International Cargo Airport, expansion of roads improvement of security network across the state as well as boosting of tourism in the state.

Others include the rehabilitation of tertiary institutions in the state, free education from primary to

secondary schools, award of scholarship to students in tertiary institutions, free education to people living with disabilities from primary to tertiary institutions support in the improvement of science, checkmating the standard of education.

Also, the constructions and upgrading of health care facilities in schools across the state; improvement of facilities at the schools of health Keffi and that of nursing and midwifery in Lafia among others.

he budget which is tagged, “Result-based budget for consolidation, reconstruction and self-reliance”, is made up of N41.143 capital and N47.79 recurrent expenditures with the policy thrust of strengthening existing structures that could further move the state to the path of economic growth and development, with particular emphasis on reinvigorating and diversifying internal revenue base.

The governor, while presenting the budget further stated that the aim and objective of the budget would include tapping the abundant solid minerals, tourism and commercial potentials and other endowments that abounds in the state for the enhancement of socioeconomic activities and diversifying internal revenue generation.

He pointed out that the 2016 budget which is an increase of N8.93 billion or 10% above that of last year 2015 is meant to enable the government get more funds to execute more projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the citizens, with the hope that the state’s financial situation would improve for the better in the years ahead.

In the budget allocations, the ministry of works and transport has the highest share of N18.923 billion with capital expenditure of N18.19 billion and N736.2 million as recurrent expenditure, followed by the ministry of education with a total budget of N17.143 billion made up of N5.81 billion capital expenditure and N11.33 billion recurrent expenditure.

Although the budget is lean, he said, coming at a time of mounting economic challenges and therefore demanding financial discipline and belt-tightening adjustments, it is at the same time promising to consolidate current achievements and sustain present pace of development of the state.

Niger Gov presents N74.7billion budget to assembly From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna

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iger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has presented a total budget proposal of N74.7 billion to the State House of Assembly for the 2016 fiscal year.

The governor lamented the fall in oil price saying it has huge negative impact on the economy of the state.

“We are all aware of the effect of the continuous fall in the price of crude oil in the International Market and its negative impact on the economy of the country and the States that depend heavily on allocation from the Federation

Account” he said.

While presenting the budget to the members of the House of Assembly said the budget was prepared to restore the confidence of the people even as education has the highest budget estimate.

He said that the budget which comprises of a proposed recurrent expenditure of N39,501796,081 and Capital Expenditure of N242,355,052 would be financed through Statutory Allocation of N35,792,212,748, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N9,871,299,803, Internally Generated Revenue of N9,391,164,232 and Capital Receipts of N19,689,474,347.

Bello assured that the budget

would be used judiciously added that the government have budgeted to spend N4.29 billion on Education, N3.59 billion in Infrastructural Development, N2.61 billion in Health, N2.53 billion in Agriculture and Rural development; N2.38 billion in Water Resources.

He further said that the budget would focus on wealth and job creation through Youth Empowerment Programmes, Agricultural Development, Construction, Upgrading and Rehabilitation of Health Facilities and Services, Completion of all on-going Road Projects and Construction of new Roads, Completion of inherited

abandoned Water and Electricity Projects, Renovation of Schools using the Whole-School Development Approach and Improvement and enhancement of Internal Revenue Generation.

The governor further stated that the State Government intends to obtain a N5 billion Bond to address income generating projects that will support additional Internally Generated Revenue and contribute to the repayment of the bond to cushion the cost of repayment.

He therefore solicited for patience and support of the people in the state, the Governor stated that the administration will do its best to

restore confidence in the management of its finances stressing that bold steps will be taken to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Honorable Ahmed Marafa in his address urged the executive to intensify its efforts at blocking leakages and avenues for wastages while calling for the immediate implementation of the Treasury Single Account system in the state.

Marafa warned MDAs to be accountable, prudent use of resources available to them just as he assured to do everything possible for speedy passage of the bill.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Politics

Buhari on a vengeance mission - PDP

•••Charges Nigerians to remain focus, not despair

By Ahmed Abubakar

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is on a vengeance mission to use the anticorruption war as a vendetta against members of PDP and associates.

The party also noted that his target is to harass and intimidate members of the opposition with his anti-corruption war.

In a New Year message by the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the party also charged Nigerians in this New Year to remain focused and not be

despaired.

PDP chided the All Progressives Congress (APC) of feeding Nigerians with false propaganda and not prepared for governance.

PDP said: “Nigerians have watched in bewilderment as the so called change agenda of the APC has deepened the socio-economic problems in the country instead of building on the successes bequeathed to them by the PDP.” The party reminded Nigerians about APC,s electioneering propaganda, which demonized the PDP and its achievements in government and even went ahead

to make gargantuan promises to the Nigerian people.

“Today the APC has governed for seven months and PDP can confidently say without any fear of contradiction that the APC was not prepared for governance. The APC is just a gang-up of aggrieved people to take over the realms of power.

“To date, APC does not have a clear agenda as to how to bring about the change they promised.

As a result, Nigerians have seen the APC for all it is worth, ‘an ill prepared party with an ill prepared agenda for governance.

“Nigerians have seen the chaotic

situation at hand orchestrated by the incoherent policy initiatives of APC led government. Yes, this is the reality we face.

“From the confusion in the subsidy question to the insurgency conundrum, from the discredited anti-corruption fight to the confusion in the government’s economic policy!

“Yet the government has by its own acts of omission and commission presented itself as noninclusive and sectional.

“Consequently, we are now faced with worsening fuel crisis; free fall of the naira; job losses; worsening

R-L: Sokoto state Governor, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in a handshake with Speaker, Sokoto state House of Assembly, Hon. Salihu Maidaji, during the presentation of the 2016 Budget, Wednesday in Sokoto.

insurgency; the Shiite/military clash; renewed Biafran agitation and general insecurity.

“In the middle of all this, it is clear that the APC government is pursuing a one -party state agenda considering its inordinate schemes to ‘take over’ PDP controlled states.

“To worsen this state of misgovernance, the only active policy of this government, the anti-corruption fight, is being mismanaged. The PDP supports this policy wholeheartedly because it is fundamental to our drive towards national development as a country. But it becomes counterproductive if it is pursued without following the rule of law and at the same time selectively targeting members of the opposition party.

“For instance, some former PDP members who defected to the APC few months ago, some of them, former governors, who were indicted in their states, are not being investigated. Rather, they are appointed into cabinet positions?”

The PDP further said that Nigerians have become despondent as they asked in dismay, “if the APC is on a vengeance mission.”

PDP however advised that Nigerians must not lose hope “as we boldly march into 2016.”

The party said: “We must repose our faith in God, the only one that can guide the leadership of this country to take actions that would genuinely correct past mistakes, rebuild our economy, give all Nigerians a sense of belonging and secure our country.

“Our prayer is that in 2016 Nigerians will live in peace, love and brotherhood and would be alive to their citizenship responsibility of engaging the government so that it can work for national reconciliation, reconstruction and development The PDP will be at the vanguard of this movement. We are already reforming our Party in order to put us in good stead to play this role effectively.

We did not propose N47 billion exotic cars - Reps Minority Leader

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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inority Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor has refuted claims that the National Assembly is proposing to purchase exotic vehicles worth N40.7 billion Naira, saying President Muhammadu Buhari was misinformed about the issue.

Buhari had during his first media chat yesterday frowned at plans by the National Assembly to buy over 400 new vehicles valued at over N40.7 Billion at a time the nation is facing cash crunch.

But speaking to some journalists in Abuja yesterday, Rep Ogor said the President is being deliberately misled by some people so that he would be in confrontation with the National Assembly, or set the public against the National Assembly.

•••says Buhari is being misinformed He said although vehicles are usually bought for committees’ oversight, there was nothing like car loan, but that what they collect is car allowance, which is paid over the period of four years, saying even the president is entitled to such allowance.

“Even if there are proposal of these nature, they are not for exotic cars, they are for oversight functions and that funds cannot be up to 47 billion Naira, because that amount to 40 percent of the National Assembly budget. I think the figure might be about 3 point something billion, so this information is very wrong and I think to draw the attention of Mr. President to that particular error.

He added that “the National Assembly has not proposed 47 billion Naira for exotic cars except that the proposal is coming directly from the executive. I didn’t see it in the National Assembly budget, it is either they have put it in a different sub-heads because if you are thinking of 47 billion out of the budget of 115 billion that they brought to the National Assembly, then at the end of the day National Assembly may not be able to carry out one single oversight functions in line with the provision of Section 88 and 89 of the Constitution.

Reacting to Buhari’s statement to the effect that if bail was granted to former NSA Sambo Dasuki, he might jump bail, Ogor also said the

president should allow the court to decide on the matter and “not usurp the powers of the court as enshrined in the constitution.”

“I’m concerned that the president was in a way pronouncing Dasuki guilty. If they think that he will jump bail, it is their responsibility to put security around him. The president, I believe as a democrat, must respect the rule of law. I advise him not to allow himself to be used by anybody,” he said.

He said Dasuki took the decision to disburse the funds that he is now alleged to have misappropriated in his capacity then as the National Security Adviser and that since the matter is before the courts, the

president should have nothing to say about it.

“Our laws stipulate very clearly that no man or woman is guilty until proven guilty by a competent court of law. I’m aware that Dasuki has been granted bail almost three times and here the President saying that they can’t grant Dasuki bail, it paints a scenario of situation of some level of dictatorship.

“I urged the attorney general of the federation to give Mr. President the right advice on this. If, Mr. President is convicted that Dasuki would jump bail, he should be able to put security around him than to deny him bail. This is unacceptable in a democratic system and the rule of law”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PAGE 17

Politics

Bayelsa supplementary guber: Sylva resuscitating militancy in N/Delta, says Dickson Interview

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ow prepared are you for the last battle for the election in Southern Ijaw?

It is not the last battle. The battles had been fought and won. If it were in a sane country where systems are working and people have honour, parties and leaders knew what to do. The APC and their leaders would have congratulated me and conceded defeat. I won six out of the seven local governments declared. Even in the seventh local government, his Brass Local Government, I won in six wards and in his four wards, he wrote results, no voting took place. So, Bayelsans have largely spoken. The bad thing is that you gave a security system at the centre that is not attending to the challenges on ground. There is no deterrent, the law has no meaning in Bayelsa where hoodlums undermine the law in the guise of politics; there is no security.

They are the ones with police escorts with SSS supports and so on. Basically, there is nothing for me to prepare; the system is undermining itself. As far as the security is concerned, Bayelsans have spoken and there is no doubt that they would speak again. Southern Ijaw us our stronghold, the APC does not have any elected officials from there; all the Councillors are PDP, Chairmen, PDP; all appointees at the local government levels, PDP; State House of Assembly, all the lawmakers are PDP; House of Representatives members from Southern Ijaw are PDP; senator in the Senatorial district us PDP; so it’s a PDP stronghold.

The community leaders are all be me. So thus us not an election we lose sleep about. The other party and their candidate are not ready for an election. As we speak, they are busy buying, stockpiling and distributing arms. They are training killers in the full glare of everybody and they are not hiding it. They are sewing military and police uniforms for their supporters to kill, maim and destroy people.

The security agencies are aware but they are not doing anything about it. It is the security agencies and the Nigerian state that should prepare for the election. We are on ground; Bayelsans are ready to come out and vote any day. The only regret is that the system has failed us and is not protecting Bayelsans. We want to call on them to do more to protect the voters in Southern Ijaw.

Incumbent Governor of Bayelsa state, Rt, Hon. Henry Seriake-Dickson, in this interview with select newsmen in Abuja accuses his main challenger and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Timipreye Silva resuscitating militancy in the state and the region by arming militants ahead of the supplementary election billed for January 9th, 2016 at the Southern Ijaw Local Government of the state. This is just as he offers suggestions on how to end violence which usually attends to elections being conducted across the country. Lawrence Olaoye was there: What happened to your security programme?

Bayelsa was largely safe and it is still relatively safer than many other states. The rise in criminality and violence is associated directly with the candidate of the APC, Timipre Sylva. You will recall the circumstance under which he became APC candidate.

A sitting governor was held hostage; there were shootings, killings and maiming during their party primaries. So, that is what he has brought to the state. All the criminals and militants who had ran away from the state and were somehow afraid that the law could catch up with them, now have confidence that they have state cover and they’ve not been proved wrong. They are the people moving with the military and police security and all of that. They are doing it with impunity. These guys just want to be sure that the state institutions are behind them and he has provided that cover. This is why they are unleashing terror on people in the name of an election. My worry is the day after election.

What Timipre Sylva is doing; what the state institutions are condoning is a rise of a deadly militia in Bayelsa and in the Niger Delta again. What he has put together is capable of plunging the state and the entire region into crisis once more and that is my concern.

But it seems to me that the federal security establishment

Hon. Henry Seriake-Dickson

dies in see anything wrong with that.

Have you reported the situation to the federal authorities?

They are all aware, there’s nothing to report. They are in support of what is happening hence no one has been arrested for shooting, killing, maiming and destroying people’s homes in the guise of politics. For us in Bayelsa, our impression is that once a criminal is APC or they are working fir a so called APC cause, they are above the law.

That is what is going on but I don’t know where that would take our country to.

What do you think

“

I proposed the amendment of the Evidence Act, the first time in 45 years, and it’s unfortunate that the establishment at the time were not comfortable with my proposals in that amendment that the onus of probing in electoral matters should shift to the body conducting elections. If that were the case, INEC would hold itself to great account

should be done to avoid a repeat if the violence witnessed during the mast election?

Timipre Sylva and those hoodlums should be arrested and prosecuted. The dignity and authority of the state and of the law should once again be made sacrosanct. These people have no feelings that there are laws in this country. They feel they are above the laws. As we speak, Timipre Sylva is busy meeting with these hoodlums, distributing arms to kill and maim because of his desperation for power. All of this is known to the security agencies at the federal level. They are busy colluding with him to harass, embarrass and intimidate law abiding people whom they feel are not supporting them while at the same time giving cover and encouragement to criminals and hooligans who are killing and terrorizing our place. After they have finished with this election, who knows, they may again destabilize our country. For me, Bayelsa will not be used to launch any insurgency. I won’t allow Bayelsa to be used to create any instability in the region and in this country. I won’t also allow any body to destabilize Bayelsa.

That’s where I stand. The security forces are federally controlled and are in the hands of the APC federally

controlled government. If they don’t like what is going on, this criminality in the guise of an election could have been stopped. I have tried my best to bring this to the attention of the public and the agencies concerned.

What would you suggest that Nigerians should do to avoid violence during elections?

It’s simple; there is no problem with our laws.

When I was in the House (if Representatives), I introduced series of bills I thought if passed could have radically altered the political landscape.

Talk of the Internal Democracy Bill; we may need to go back to amend the evidence laws to give INEC the burden of proof.

In every election, the INEC should have the burden of proving that the elections that they have conducted are done in accordance to the rules and that they are free and fair. That burden cannot shift to a petitioner who has no duty to conduct an election.

I think even before we move fully to electronic voting, which I support, they should look into that. I proposed the amendment of the Evidence Act, the first time in 45 years, and it’s unfortunate that the establishment at the time were not comfortable with my proposals in that amendment that the onus of probing in electoral matters should shift to the body conducting elections. If that were the case, INEC would hold itself to great account. From my observation, INEC is making some improvements, the card reader, the PVC are welcome development. They just need to perfect it more. Undoubtedly, with time I believe that more people would buy into my proposal. The security agencies too must gave to do their work, like in the case of Bayelsa, we can’t allow people in the game of an election to keep killing, maiming with reckless abandon in broad daylight and with the cover of state institutions that is criminal. A crime is a crime any day; it doesn’t cease to be a crime because it is dressed in the garb of politics.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Politics

Niger PDP stalwart seeks Gov Bello’s support

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he Niger state Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi has challenged his party members launching attacks on the governor of the state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello saying that he deserves support not attack to move the state forward.

He stated this in a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Minna, that though he has been away in London receiving medical attention, he was dissociating himself from any attack against the government by some PDP members.

Alhaji Kantigi’s position which is coming on the heels of the declaration by the PDP Deputy Chairman, Tanko Beji that the government was witch hunting PDP members, noted that every government has right to ask questions about the stewardship of the outgone government and those who served in such government should be ready to explain.

“After all, the Governor then, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has always told us to put our record straight, even I, have been invited and after my medical treatment, I will come and offer my explanation. This should not therefore be seen as if I am talking or afraid because I am one of those invited by a committee, if they said money is missing government has the right to find out”.

He stated that if Governor Bello fails, it will be the people of Niger state that will fail collectively because they will all bear the consequences hence there was the need to support the government in whatever way possible to succeed.

According to him,” we should rally round Governor Abubakar Bello to succeed in Niger state for the progress of the state after election, we should leave party difference behind and support whoever is in government, we all have our brothers and sisters in the government why then do we fight the government?”

He therefore advised that all the people of the state irrespective of party divide should be ready to support the government to work in the interest of the state, saying that those launching verbal attack against the governor were doing that for their selfish interest.

“We should not resort to media war to wash our dirty linen outside, we should be able to live and support anybody in power for the development of the state” the statement added.

Bayelsa APC lashes at Dickson’s mission to Aso Rock

From Isaac Money, Yenagoa

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ess than two weeks to the re- run guber election that is expected to take place in one Local Government Area and some units across five council areas in Bayelsa state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has described Governor Seriake Dickson’s visit to Aso Rock as a mission to beg for soft landing.

The party, which was elated at the governor’s futility to see Mr. President, expressed dismay at Governor Dickson’s attempt to see President Buhari who he has continued to accuse of bias over

the inconclusive election.

Aso Rock sources disclosed that Governor Dickson’s vain attempt to see President Buhari ended with a visit to the office of the Chief of Staff.

In a statement from Chief Nathan Egba, Director of Media and Publicity of APC Campaign organization in the state, tilted “Bayelsa Guber election: Governor Dickson Meets Chief of Staff at the Villa, begs Buhari for softlanding”, noted that the Governor’s surprise visit to the Presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday, was “an apparent move to lobby President Muhammadu Buhari over the

January 9th re-run election in the state”.

Chief Egba who further recalled how Governor Dickson had accused President Buhari of taking sides said: “President Buhari received series of abuses and name calling from Governor Dickson, however, refused to grant audience to the desperate and violence-prone candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the ongoing gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state”.

According to Chief Egba, “Governor Dickson had repeatedly alleged that President Buhari wanted

to use federal might, including the military and police to rig the election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, former Governor Timipre Sylva”.

The APC stalwart who disclosed that “ Sources in the Presidential villa, Abuja, reports that many people were surprised to see Governor Dickson around, having stayed away from the villa for the past week”, also stated that “Information available indicates that Mr. Dickson’s request to meet the President was turned down and he was rather directed to meet the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari, for his mission”.

Benue state Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom laying the 2016 Budget before members of the state House of Assembly, yesterday in Makurdi.

Media chat exposes Buhari’s undemocratic character – PDP

By Ahmed Abubakar

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at the Wednesday Presidential Media Chat were not only embarrassing but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday also said the President confirmed his partisanship in the muchvaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

“Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as

to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.

“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.

“This extremely shocking dictatorial tendency being brazenly exhibited by the President in total disdain for our laws and judicial institutions portends great danger for our democracy and constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the people, and should be resisted by the citizens before it festers.

“The scorn for the principle of separation of powers, especially

the independence of the legislature, is further manifested in the declared craving to regulate the funding and running of the National Assembly, a matter constitutionally vested outside the jurisdiction of the executive. We are most uncomfortable about his attempt at trying to whip up public sentiments against an independent arm of government, especially the one vested with the constitutional power of appropriation.

“Following from the foregoing, therefore, it may be necessary to suspend the application of our Constitution and allow the President to operate as maximum ruler for four years after which the nation can return to a democracy.

“On the issue of the Chibok girls, President Buhari’s embarrassing declaration of seeking information on the whereabouts and state of the girls betrays an obvious insincerity which is in total conflict with his campaign promises in that regard.

Thus by this declaration, our dear President has accepted failure on

this issue and should therefore apologise to Nigerians for all the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on the past administration by himself and the leadership of his political party.

“On the issue of devaluation of the naira, there is an obvious conflict between the budget speech wherein the president stated that the government is assessing the foreign exchange rate with a view to attracting foreign investments and his categorical pronouncement during the media chat that the naira would not be devalued. We invite Nigerians to note that the president obviously does not understand the currency that applies in the devaluation of the naira (laugh out loud).

“Furthermore, Nigerians were shocked by the President’s labeling Nigerians as ‘very difficult lot’ while responding to questions on the strategy to be adopted in implementing his promised N5,000 social welfare package” the statement added.

Page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

63% of 158 air safety recommendations complied with –says Investigation Bureau

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

I

t emerged yesterday that of a total of 158 air safety recommendations put forward to safety in the Nigeria airspace, 63 per cent has been complied with The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB said the statistic spans a period of 15 years declaring them as been closed with another 14 recommendations partially closed.

Also, the accident investigating

arm of the aviation industry affirmed that air safety in Nigeria has improved in past 10 years following obedience of such safety tips.

Spokesman for AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi told journalists in Lagos that since the year 2000, the bureau had made 158 safety recommendations arising from major incidents and accidents in the sector, of which 63 per cent of has been complied with by affected parties and players in the sector,

14 per cent are at the verge of been completely closed.

Oketunbi added that additional 23 per cent of its safety recommendations remained opened and yet to be closed.

He also disclosed that a Ministerial Committee set up by elsewhere Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka in 2014 also in its recommendations disclosed that no fewer than 100 of its safety recommendations had been closed

with 36 open gaps and 22 partially closed.

He however reiterated that the investigative agency by law had no right to force compliance to its recommendations, but noted that it had safety monitoring exercise, which confirmed if its recommendations had been complied with or not.

His words “Right now, a lot of safety recommendations have been implemented. There are still some

that are open while others have been partially implemented. Since 2000, we have issued 158 safety recommendations and 63 per cent of them have been closed, 14 per cent partially closed and 23 per cent still open.

“That’s the current status on implementation of our safety recommendation; it is very ingenious for anybody to continue to use a data of a year or two years ago to talk about the current status.”

Shoppers making last minute purchase at Wuse Market, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Oil prices end in losses in last trading hours of 2015

O

il prices headed for a second year of steep losses in their last trading hours of 2015 as OPEC supplies created an unprecedented global glut that may take another year to clear.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures traded 10 cents lower at $36.50 a barrel on Thursday, while Brent was 4 cents lower at $36.42 a barrel.

Brent prices are set for a third year of declines after ending 2013 slightly lower and falling sharply over the past two years.

Prices fell 3 per cent on Wednesday as crude inventories in

the U.S. rose 2.6 million barrels last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said, echoing high stocks in Europe and Asia.

“We have brimming oil inventories in Europe. And our predictions are that oil inventories in Asia are going to get closer to saturation in the first quarter. ``This means that most of the global surplus will have to be stored in still available storage capacity in the U.S,” Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodity analyst at SEB in Oslo said.

The immediate outlook for oil prices remains bleak.

Goldman Sachs has said prices as low as $20 per barrel might be necessary to push enough production out of business and allow a rebalancing of the market.

Morgan Stanley said in its outlookfornextyearthat“headwinds (are) growing for 2016 oil.”

The bank cited ongoing increases in available global supplies, despite some cuts by U.S. shale drillers in particular, as well as a slowdown in demand, as the main reasons.

“The hope for a rebalancing in 2016 continues to suffer serious setbacks,” the bank said.

Traders expect some U.S.

oil to be supplied into global markets, following the surprise lifting of a decades-old U.S. crude export ban in December.

The suspension ended a year’s old discount in U.S. crude prices to international Brent CL-LCO1=R. “At a time when U.S. shale is facing headwinds due to the collapse in crude oil prices... U.S. crude oil exports are likely to help reduce congestion concerns in the U.S.,” ING bank said.

Oil began falling in mid2014 as surging output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

(OPEC), Russia and U.S. shale producers outpaced demand.

The downturn accelerated at the end of 2014 after a Saudi-led OPEC decision to keep production high to defend global market share rather than cut output to support prices.

OPEC failed to agree on any production targets at its Dec. 4 meeting in Vienna, cementing its decision to protect market share.

Russia and OPEC show no signs of reining in production, leading traders to establish record high active short positions in the market that would profit from further crude price falls. (Reuters/NAN)

Page 20

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Business

Apple shares to close year with worst performance since 2008

S

hares of Apple Inc, the largest U.S. company by market value, are set to finish the year in the red on notable weakness for a stock that had largely been impervious to pain for several years. * Apple Inc shares are on track to finish the year down 4 percent, its first down year since 2008. * Shares have shed about a fifth of their value since touching

a high of $134.54 on April 28, and are down 17.5 percent since the inclusion of the stock in the Dow Jones industrial average in March. * Declines this year have wiped out about $57 billion in Apple’s market capitalization, about as much as fellow Dow component DuPont Co is worth.

Apple is currently worth about $590 billion.

* Headed into the last day of trading, the S&P 500 was up 0.22 percent for the year-to-date.

Excluding Apple, the index would be up 0.31 percent, according to Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices. * Longer term, Apple remains a boost for the index. For 2014, the S&P rose 11.39 percent. Without Apple? It would have risen only 10.59 percent. Since the bear

market low on March 9, 2009, the S&P is up 204.99 percent, but losing Apple would mean it would have gained just 197.63 percent, Silverblatt said. * During its six-year run of gains, the stock has risen by at least 25 percent in five of those years. * Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn, who first disclosed a significant stake in Apple in

August 2013, owned about 52.76 million shares as of Sept 30. On that day, the stake was worth $5.82 billion. * Wall Street analysts’ still love the stock. Of 49 brokerages, 41 have a positive rating and none hold a “sell” rating. Analysts have a median price target of $145 - implying a gain of nearly 40 percent from current levels.

(Reuters)

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, Co-Creator CC Hub Nigeria, Mr. Bosun Tijani, and Harry Tom Davis, during the announcement of Social Innovation Fund

by BOI, CC Hub and Omdiyar Network, recently in Lagos.

A variety of domestic and international planes sit on the tarmac at Newark International Airport

Investors look to January effect at start of 2016

A

s Wall Street wraps up its flattest year since 2011, investors will have to deal with many of the same issues next year as they attempt to gauge market direction.

While many market participants have a host of worries heading into 2016 that could hurt stocks and keep volatility high, they remain optimistic for gains in 2016 and a strong start to the year could boost that case.

According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, the direction of January’s trading predicts the course for the year 75 percent of the time.

Stocks could get a boost next week from the so-called “January effect,” when stocks that were sold

off in December for year-end tax harvesting rally back in the next month as investors scoop them back up at lower prices.

Of the S&P 500 components, 301 were down 10 percent or more from their 52-week highs and 175 were off by at least 20 percent through Dec. 30, according to Ryan Detrick, market strategist at Kimble Charting Solutions in Cincinnati.

That broad decline was offset by the narrow leadership of the “FANG” stocks - Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Alphabet.

Combined, they comprise more than 5 percent of the weighting in the S&P 500 and have all risen at least 35 percent for the year.

While the overall breadth of

the S&P is not promising, that may leave a broader swath of stocks that could see a rebound next month, according to Jeff Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“The individual investor is in hibernation. There are six distinct stages to a secular bull market and we are nowhere near euphoria, nowhere close, unless you own the FANGs,” said Saut.

Despite the flat performance to finish out the year, stocks grappled with volatility throughout 2015.

The S&P has moved at least 1 percent on a daily basis in either direction 72 times, the most since 2011, according to Standard & Poor’s data.

The S&P 500 notched a record high of 2,130.82 on May 21 as middling economic data eased expectations for a rate hike from the U.S. Federal Reserve. But three months later, the benchmark had fallen into correction territory, a drop of 10 percent from its high, when signs China’s economy may be slowing faster than expected unnerved investors and a Fed rate hike drew closer.

“It turned into a big nothing.

We are essentially where we started the year. We had a lot of volatility in between,” said Ken Polcari, Director of the NYSE floor division at O’Neil Securities in New York.

“In retrospect, actually, it could have been a disaster and it really

ended up kind of flat, so I count that as a win, once you add in dividends.”

Along with the return of many investors next week after the holidays, the economic calendar is more active, culminating with Friday’s payrolls report.

But while recent jobs reports have been closely monitored for signs the Fed will begin to raise rates, the influence of the report may be muted due to the recent hike by the Fed and its intention to continue raising at a gradual pace.

“The Fed knows it needs to be careful and they are going to be careful,” said Scott Wren, senior global equity strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute in St. Louis.(Reuters)

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Page

Business

Katsina Govt set to revive moribund industries

T

he Katsina State Government has set up machinery to strengthen Public Private Partnership (PPP) to revive stateowned moribund industries.

Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, the state Commissioner of Commerce and Industries, disclosed this to

newsmen on Thursday in Katsina.

He said that the measure was aimed at improving internally generated revenue for the state and reduce overdependence on federal allocation.

Yusuf said that the revival of the moribund companies would

also provide employment for the teeming youth in the state.

The commissioner said that the state government had entered into an agreement with private investors for the revival of Kankia Metal Works; Funtua burnt bricks and Daura tannery.

Yusuf disclosed that the burnt bricks were expected to provide job opportunities to about 300 casual workers on daily basis.

He called on wealthy individuals to set up industries in the state so as to complement government efforts in reducing

unemployment among the youths in the state.

The commissioner assured that the state government would provide conducive environment as well as provide assistance to people willing to establish companies and industries in the state. (NAN)

Global stocks slip to close year mixed; oil up modestly to end ugly 2015

S

S P 500 heads for a flat end to volatile 2015

e-mail:fce(t)bichi@ecnx.net tel: 064-231236-7

Federal College Of Education (Technical) Bichi P.M.B 3473 Kano, Kano State Invitation For Pre-Qualification And Tender Introduction: the federal college of education (Technical) Bichi is a beneficiary of trust fund intervention projects.

In view of the above, the college is hereby invites competent and reputable contractors for prequalification and Tender submission in respect of the following Projects.

1. CONSTRUCTION OF ONE STOREY BUILDING FOR SCHOOL OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 2. SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF CLASS ROOM AND OFFICE FURNITURE Pre-qualification Requirements: Photocopies of the following documents are required • Certificate of incorporation/Business Registration • Current Tax clearance Certificate for the last three (3) years • Value Added Tax Registration Certificate • Verifiable Evidence of previous experience in area of interest • Company Profile • Three years Audited Accounts 2003-2005 • Evidence of financial capability • Evidence of compliance with Pension Reform Act, 2004 • Evidence of compliance with the statutory provision of Sections8 (1)-(3) of the Industrial Training Fund Amendment Act, 2011 Collection and Submission of Tender/Pre-qualification documents: Tender documents can be collected from the office of the Director Works FCE(T) Bichi on payment of non-refundable fee of N30,000.00 at the College cash office.

The application of Pre-qualification/Tender documents should be enclosed in a separate sealed marked envelopes “Pre-qualification to tender” for each Project in view or “Tender for” for each Project in view the two documents should be put in a bigger envelope and marked tender and Prequalification for the Project in view and shall be address and delivered to the The Registrar FCE(T) BICHI P.M.B 3473, KANO. Not later than six(6) weeks from the date of this publication. The documents will be opened on the 9th February, 2016 at 12:00noon on the closing date at the College Council chamber Please Note That: a) The participation in the bid does not guarantee any person the right to be selected or awarded any contract. b) The college reserves the right to reject any expression of interest and to terminate the selection process at any time without any liability to the college. c) If at any time during the construction/Procurement process it is discovered that the submission made by any contractor is invalid, the contractor will be automatically disqualified.

Signed: management

tock and bond markets in major economies were set to close 2015 with a mixed performance, while oil prices and emerging markets cemented big losses during a year that provided few safe places for investors.

While equity markets in Japan and Western Europe gained strongly amid ongoing ultra-easy monetary policy, concerns about global growth and a robust U.S. dollar crushed petroleum prices and took down emerging markets, copper and other metals.

Fixed-income also had a middling performance, as riskier high-yield securities fell due to exposure to weakened energy credits.

Short-dated Treasury yields rose, cutting into returns for those bonds.

The MSCI All-World Index .MIWD00000PUS was down 0.3 percent, on track to close the year with a loss of about 4 percent.

For the Wall Street’s most widely followed average, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, it was down to the last day of trading to determine whether the year would end negative or not. The benchmark index was down 0.6 percent for the day, which would make 2015 a down year in terms of price, though dividends mean it will post a positive total return for a seventh straight year.

“As we close out of the year, it’s been a tale of two tapes, with narrow leadership holding up the major indices, while the vast majority of the market continues to underperform,” said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of Sarhan Capital in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 67.73 points, or 0.38 percent, to 17,536.14, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 6.96 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,056.4 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 20.71 points, or 0.41 percent, to 5,045.14.

While U.S. stocks .SPX are just off record highs, they rose only 0.2 percent this year but are tipped for growth next year of around 6 percent.

Brent crude LCOc1 gained 0.4 percent to $36.60 on Thursday, after a 3.5 percent drop in the previous session. It’s set for a slump of nearly 37 percent for 2015, having shed 48 percent in the previous year, as a global supply glut shows no sign of abating.

U.S. crude, meanwhile, is off 29 percent in 2015, after falling 47 percent in 2014.

[O/R] Some analysts like Goldman Sachs say prices as low as $20 per barrel might be necessary to push enough production out of business and allow the market to rebalance.

In Europe, where the ECB is pumping more than a trillion euros into the economy, stocks were down 0.2 percent on Thursday but on track for a 7 percent gain on the year.

With China’s slowdown and sliding oil prices troubling emerging markets, and global bonds on edge as the United States experiments with its first rate-hiking cycle in nearly a decade, these shares are seen as among the best bets for investors.

In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei index, which was closed on Thursday, finished the year up around 9 percent .N225.

Other Asian markets have been hit by worries about China, the world’s second largest economy, and oil prices near 11-year lows.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was up slightly on Thursday but has shed nearly 12 percent this year. Broader emerging market stocks .MSCIEF are down 17 percent in 2015.

The outperformance in European and Japanese equities has a lot to do with a strengthening dollar, which has weakened their

currencies over the last few years and made their exporters more competitive.

The euro EUR= was down 0.1 percent on Thursday, on track for a fall of nearly 10 percent against the dollar in 2015.

Against a basket of major currencies in 2016 .DXY, the greenback has gained 9 percent, with a rebounding jobs market convincing the Federal Reserve to ‘lift off’ on interest rates earlier this month. It was broadly flat on Thursday.

Currency strategists predict the dollar will add another 4 percent next year.

The dollar hit a more than one-year high against Russia’s rouble RUB= on Thursday, and its highest in at least 13 years against the Norwegian crown NOK= the previous day.

Among widely-trade currencies, the five worst performers this year have included the Brazilian real BRL=, with losses of around 30 percent versus the dollar, the South African rand ZAR=, Turkish lira TRY= and the ruble.

In debt markets, German bonds ended their most volatile year since 2011 with yields higher than they were at the end of 2014, showing the limitations of ultra-easy monetary policy with global disinflationary forces at work.

The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield US10YT=RR was at 2.28 percent; it rose modestly in 2015 from 2.17 percent at the beginning of the year.

Much of the year’s rise in yields was in short-dated securities on expectations of higher rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The twoyear yield US2YT=RR rose to 1.05 percent, compared with 0.68 percent at the beginning of the year.

Ten-year yields DE10YT=TWEB closed at 0.63 percent on Wednesday, up 9 bps on the year and far from record lows of 0.05 percent touched in midApril.(Reuters)

Page 22

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Business

CBN Headquarters Abuja

India’s mobile phone user base exceeds 1bn subscribers I

ndia’s mobile phone subscribers’ base has surged to more than one billion users, making it the second country after China to reach the record number, officials said on Thursday A Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report said the total wireless subscribers in the country

rose to more than one billion at the end of October, from 996.7 million the previous month.

The TRAI data showed there were a total of 26 million landline connections in India, which had a population of more than 1.25 billion people.

The Indian mobile market had

experienced tremendous growth in recent years, fuelled by aggressive competition, cheaper mobiles and low call tariffs.

Over the past months, the market appeared to have saturated but there is still growth.

According to the data, 928 million of the total 1.029 billion

connections were active.

The TRAI data shows that the Indian capital, New Delhi, has the maximum penetration of telephone connections for every hundred people, also known as teledensity.

Even in poor states such as Bihar, every resident has an

average of one phone.

Sales of low-cost smartphones have also surged in India.

According to Counterpoint Research, users were upgrading to cheaper smartphones, which now account for a third of all mobile phone sales in the country. (dpa/ NAN)

Adamawa Govt lauded for allocating 50% of budget to capital projects

T

he Adamawa Government has been commended for allocating more than 50 per cent of its 2016 budget to capital projects.

A cross section of residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the budget proposal presented to the state

House of Assembly, said the allocation of N60.070 billion of the total N120 billion for capital expenditure was laudable. ``This budget is commendable; this is the first time we are having a budget where capital expenditure is having the lion share.

``Our prayer is that government will ensure implementation,” Mr Abubakar Mutawalle, a unionist said.

Mr Ibrahim Sale, a Polytechnic staff, also commended the fiscal policy and tasked government on implementation.

In a statement, the department said the price of petrol would fall by just three cents to 12.37 Rand ($0.79) per litre in the commercial hub of Gauteng province, while diesel

would cost 10.05 Rand.

The government adjusts the price of fuel every month, factoring in global oil prices and the Rand exchange rate ($1 = 15.6105 Rand).(Reuters/NAN)

South Africa’s petrol pump price to fall slightly in January

T

he retail price of petrol in South Africa will decrease by 0.2 per cent from Jan. 6, while wholesale diesel will dip by seven per cent, the Energy Department said on Thursday.

Sale observed that the state has serious challenges in areas of infrastructure and any effort by government to address it should be commended.

Similarly, Messrs Marcus Habila, Sani Mohammed, Japheth Musa and Zara Mohammed also expressed satisfaction with the amount earmarked for executing capital projects.

They cited roads and rehabilitation of infrastructures, particularly in areas affected by insurgency, as areas to be accorded priority attention.

NAN recalls that Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla on Wednesday presented a total budget proposal of N120,126,857,430.00 to the

House of Assembly.

The sum of N60,056,234,030 was allocated to recurrent expenditure and N60,070,622,400.00 for capital expenditure.

Speaking on the budget, christened ``Budget of Social change”, Jibrilla said the measure was based on the administration’s commitment to ensure rapid transformation. ``The state government is committing over 50 per cent of its resources for capital development. This is not unconnected with the change mantra of this administration. ``This will no doubt lead us to our desired destination of rapid social change,” Jibrilla said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PAGE 23

Stock Watch: Thursday, December 31, 2015 Company

7UP

Previous Closing Price

185.06

184.5

Opening Price

184.5

High

Low

184.5

Close

184.5

Change

Trades

-0.56 25

Volume

Value

Company

Previous Closing Price

Opening Price

High

Low

Close

Change

Trades

Volume

Value

233,796

43,137,315.02 MAYBAKER 1.26 - - - 1.26 5 26,078 32,955.18

ABBEYBDS 1.25 - - - 1.25 0 - -

MBENEFIT 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

ABCTRANS 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 4 505,000 252,500.00

MCNICHOLS 1.2 - - - 1.2 5 154,383 176,896.62

ACADEMY 0.59 - - - 0.59 0 - ACCESS

4.46

4.46

4.64

4.46

4.5

0.04 321

28,060,764

126,589,999.78

ADSWITCH 1.63 - - - 1.63 0 - AFRIK 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - AFRINSURE 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

MOBIL 138.99 - - - 138.99 20 6,378 854,115.18 MORISON 1.73 - - - 1.73 0 - MRS 49.66 - - - 49.66 1 500 23,590.00 MTECH 0.91 - - - 0.91 0 - MTI 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - MULTITREX 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

AFRIPRUD 2.65 2.7 2.7 2.61 2.61 -0.04 35 553,581 1,479,349.55 MULTIVERSE 0.5 - - - 0.5 1 10,000 5,000.00 AFROMEDIA 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 1 550,000 275,000.00

NAHCO 4.38 4.17 4.17 4.17 4.17 -0.21 19 203,175 850,145.97

AFRPAINTS 2.59 - - - 2.59 0 - -

NASCON 7.18 7.5 7.3 7.16 7.3 0.12 26 1,031,170 7,479,398.60

AGLEVENT 1.02 0.97 -

-

1.02

8 48,971 46,330.44

AIICO 0.9 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.01 18 983,972 898,207.23 AIRSERVICE 1.91 - - - 1.91 3 1,505 2,918.35 ALEX 9.84 - - - 9.84 0 - ALUMACO 7.75 - - - 7.75 1 200 1,474.00 ANINO 0.25 - - - 0.25 0 - ARBICO 5.04 - - - 5.04 0 - -

NB 135 135.2 135.2 129.51 129.51 -5.49 105 1,220,085 161,842,702.19 NCR 11.02 - - - 11.02 0 - NEIMETH 1.03 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 -0.05 6

126,800 124,264.00

NEM 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.01 16 1,774,600 1,241,859.00 NESF 552.2 - - - 552.2 0 - NESTLE 814

822.99 822.99 822.99 822.99 8.99 73

115,282 94,401,035.72

NIG-GERMAN 4.91 - - - 4.91 0 - NIGERINS 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

ASHAKACEM 22.5 - - - 22.5 16 55,698 1,233,876.58 NIGROPES 7.46 - - - 7.46 0 - ASOSAVINGS 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

NNFM 8.99 - - - 8.99 0 - -

AUSTINLAZ 2.09 - - - 2.09 0 - -

NPFMCRFBK

AVONCROWN 1.52 - - - 1.52 0 - BECOPETRO 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - BERGER 9.6 9.61 9.61 9.61 9.61 0.01 9 379,696 3,674,398.56 BETAGLAS 48.51 - - - 48.51 0 - -

0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 0

6

174,000 170,510.00

NSLTECH 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - OANDO 8.5 8.92 8.92 8.48 8.48 -0.02 364 7,671,197 65,761,034.51 OKOMUOIL 28.82 - - - 28.82 21 108,772 3,056,214.60 OMATEK 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - OMOSAVBNK 0.92 - - - 0.92 0 - -

BOCGAS 4.18 - - - 4.18 0 - PAINTCOM 1.14 - - - 1.14 0 - CADBURY 20.1 - - - 20.1 15 82,240 1,655,764.64 PHARMDEKO 2.14 - - - 2.14 1 5,000 10,850.00 CAP 38 39 39 39 39 1 16 166,666 6,492,031.87 PORTPAINT 3.53 - - - 3.53 0 - CAPHOTEL 4.07 - - - 4.07 0 - -

PREMBREW 2.95 - - - 2.95 0 - -

CAPOIL 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

PREMPAINTS 10.93 - - - 10.93 0 - -

CAVERTON 2.63 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 -0.13 7 145,913 366,122.50 CCNN 8.73 9.16 -

-

8.73

7 51,560 458,087.60

CHAMPION 4.17 4.17 -

-

4.17

11 146,282 587,170.36

CHAMS 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - CHELLARAM 3.76 - - - 3.76 0 - -

PRESCO 30.5 - - - 30.5 6 32,910 1,045,950.40 PRESTIGE 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - PZ 25.5 25 25 25 25 -0.5 33 567,539 14,195,538.05 RAKUNITY 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - REDSTAREX 4.2 - - - 4.2 2 19,785 83,097.00 REGALINS 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

CILEASING 0.5 - - - 0.5 2 4,000 2,000.00

RESORTSAL 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 1 100,000 50,000.00

CONOIL 27.41 26.04 -

ROADS 6.6 - - - 6.6 0 - -

-

27.41

8

13,350 330,799.00

0.6 - - - 0.6 0 - 1.06 1.01 1.06 1.01 1.06 0 11 3,520,635 3,661,166.09 ROKANA ROYALEX 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - CORNERST 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - RTBRISCOE 0.5 - - - 0.5 3 78,164 39,082.00 COSTAIN 0.5 - - - 0.5 1 5,000 2,500.00 CONTINSURE

COURTVILLE 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - CUSTODYINS 4.1 - - - 4.1 6 16,101 64,845.03 CUTIX 1.45 - - - 1.45 1 26,666 38,665.70 CWG 2.67 - - - 2.67 0 - DAARCOMM 0.5 - - - 0.5 1 4,000 2,000.00

SCOA 4.16 - - - 4.16 0 - -

SEPLAT 230.04 225 225 225 225 -5.04 20 77,862 17,490,790.00 SIMCAPVAL 103.24 - - - 103.24 0 - SKYEBANK 1.9 1.9 1.99 1.9 1.99 0.09 75 2,020,105 3,920,083.45 SKYESHELT 100 - - - 100 0 - SMURFIT 0.98 - - - 0.98 0 - -MAY-

DANGCEM 162 163 163 163 163 1 33 156,759 25,532,904.96

BAKER 1.26 - - - 1.26 5 26,078 32,955.18

DANGFLOUR 2.31 - - - 2.31 16 31,484 75,328.68

MBENEFIT 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

DANGSUGAR

- - - 1.2 5 154,383 176,896.62 6.52 6.32 6.51 6.32 6.51 -0.01 26 343,221 2,210,542.55 MCNICHOLS 1.2 MOBIL 138.99 - - - 138.99 20 6,378 854,115.18

DEAPCAP 0.58 - - - 0.58 0 - -

DIAMONDBNK 2.87 2.8 2.8 2.74 2.74 -0.13 43 1,315,800 3,645,250.00 IPWA 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - JAPAULOIL 0.5 - - - 0.5 1 10,000 5,000.00 JBERGER 39.5 - - - 39.5 4 1,180 44,879.00 JOHNHOLT 0.96 - - - 0.96 0 - -

MORISON 1.73 - - - 1.73 0 - MRS 49.66 - - - 49.66 1 500 23,590.00 MTECH 0.91 - - - 0.91 0 - MTI 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - MULTITREX 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - MULTIVERSE 0.5 - - - 0.5 1 10,000 5,000.00

JOSBREW 1.51 - - - 1.51 0 - -

NAHCO 4.38 4.17 4.17 4.17 4.17 -0.21 19 203,175 850,145.97

JULI 1.75 - - - 1.75 0 - -

NASCON 7.18 7.5 7.3 7.16 7.3 0.12 26 1,031,170 7,479,398.60

LASACO 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 1 300,000 150,000.00

NB 135 135.2 135.2 129.51 129.51 -5.49 105 1,220,085 161,842,702.19

LAWUNION 0.54 0.53 0.53 0.52 0.52 -0.02 14 910,610 481,548.30

NCR 11.02 - - - 11.02 0 - -

LEARNAFRCA

0.68 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 -0.03 10 1,074,871 699,416.15

LENNARDS 3.15 - - - 3.15 0 - LINKASSURE 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - LIVESTOCK 1.4 1.41 1.41 1.41 1.41 0.01 9 134,400 192,410.51 MANDRID 5.35 - - - 5.35 0 - MANSARD 2.62 2.55 -

-

2.62

8 37,850 99,859.50

Top Gainers Company

Previous Closing Price

Opening Price

High

NEIMETH 1.03 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 -0.05 6

126,800 124,264.00

NEM 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.01 16 1,774,600 1,241,859.00 NESF 552.2 - - - 552.2 0 - NESTLE 814

822.99 822.99 822.99 822.99 8.99 73

115,282 94,401,035.72

NIG-GERMAN 4.91 - - - 4.91 0 - NIGERINS 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - NIGROPES 7.46 - - - 7.46 0 - -

Top Losers Low

Close

Change

Trades

Volume

Value

Company

Previous Closing Price

Opening Price

High

Low

Close

Change

Trades

Volume

Value

ALUMACO 7.75 - - - 7.75 1 200 1,474.00

MULTITREX 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

FORTISMFB 5.42 - - - 5.42 0 - -

NNFM 8.99 - - - 8.99 0 - -

UNHOMES 5.23 - - - 5.23 1 3,750 18,637.50

MCNICHOLS 1.2 - - - 1.2 5 154,383 176,896.62

INFINITY 1.42 - - - 1.42 0 - -

UTC 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

OMOSAVBNK 0.92 - - - 0.92 0 - -

UNIONDICON 11.84 - - - 11.84 0 - -

MULTIVERSE 0.5 - - - 0.5 1 10,000 5,000.00

MANDRID 5.35 - - - 5.35 0 - -

ASOSAVINGS 0.5 - - - 0.5 0 - -

CADBURY 20.1 - - - 20.1 15 82,240 1,655,764.64

ABBEYBDS 1.25 - - - 1.25 0 - -

JULI 1.75 - - - 1.75 0 - -

Peoples Daily, Friday, January 1, 2016

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Why Africans in the UK pay so much to send relatives’ bodies home M

s Elbhiri, who was born and raised in west London, fulfilled her father’s dream when she repatriated his body to Morocco last year, where he was laid to rest in Larache, a small fishing village in the north of the country.

“London was always his home but Morocco was always in his heart,” she says.

This desire to be buried in the place you were born is strong for many first generation African migrants in the UK. The demand is so huge among the British Moroccan community that, according to embassy officials, at least 95% of first generation migrants are buried in Morocco.

A system is now in place to cover repatriation costs.

“There are three Moroccan banks which provide free repatriation and a free plane ticket for a relative to assist the transportation of the body back to Morocco,” says Souad Talsi from the Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad.

She says that if the deceased person is not registered with a Moroccan bank, his or her next of kin can go to the Moroccan embassy and the government will take care of the repatriation charges which can cost around £7,000 ($10,500).

“My father’s dream was for him to be buried in his birthplace and have the call to prayer resonate over his grave,” says Nadia Elbhiri, whose father passed away last year in London.

But for many African communities in the UK, there is often no official financial support and many families struggle to meet the costs.

‘Very stressful’ Ebenezer Commodore found it tough repatriating his uncle’s body back to Ghana this year.

Despite the uncle having lived in London for at least 30 years, Mr Commodore’s family put him under pressure to fly the body home.

“My uncle’s mother rang me and said: ‘Bring my son’s body back home’. There was no way I was going to argue with the head of the family. You just can’t.”

So he had to find ways to raise the funds.

Mr Commodore eventually came up with $7,500, and his uncle’s body was sent home for burial.

In cases like this, many in the diaspora have to keep their loved one’s body in a morgue for several months, until there

is enough money.

“This waiting is very stressful for those who have cultures where burial needs to take place quickly,” says Fortune Huruva, who coordinates the Zimbabwean Burial Community in Manchester city in northern England.

Mr Huruva helped set up the society last year due to a high demand from Zimbabweans living across the UK who are desperately trying to send bodies home.

“We found cases of people isolated when they lost someone and they were in despair over how to get the money.”

He says many will only get closure when their loved ones are buried in Zimbabwe.

“This also affects the extended family in Zimbabwe as they are the ones who will look after the graves.”

But the emotional stress, financial costs and family pressures are so high when it comes to repatriation, that some in the diaspora wonder

The demand is so huge among the British Moroccan community whether it is really worth it.

“It’s a waste of money,” says Junior Chankira.

The 40-year old, who was

living with her husband Martin in Manchester for 16 years, repatriated his body back to Zimbabwe in 2014.

“If Martin was buried here I would visit his grave every week but now I can’t. I come home to an empty flat all for what? For

Londoner Nadia Elbhiri fulfilled her father’s wish for his body to be sent from the UK to Morocco when he died tradition?”

Ms Chankira says that if she had children she would have been able to fight against her

husband’s family’s wish, but she gave in due to emotional stress.

“Our families back home

need to understand that our lives are in the UK now. I know when I die, I will see Martin again, regardless of where I am buried.”

How to repatriate a body from the UK • When the person dies, the funeral director will liaise

with the coroner to get a “free from infection” certificate and an embalming certificate • A loved one provides the deceased’s passport or a photocopy of it • The coroner establishes the cause of death before authorising the release

“

Ebenezer Commodore found it tough repatriating his uncle’s body back to Ghana this year.

Despite the uncle having lived in London for at least 30 years, Mr Commodore’s family put him under pressure to fly the body home.

“My uncle’s mother rang me and said: ‘Bring my son’s body back home’. There was no way I was going to argue with the head of the family.

You just can’t.”

So he had to find ways to raise the funds. Mr Commodore eventually came up with $7,500, and his uncle’s body was sent home for burial.

In cases like this, many in the diaspora have to keep their loved one’s body in a morgue for several months, until there is enough money.

Coffins are loaded onto planes before passengers’ luggage

Some bodies waiting to be repatriated end up sitting in the morgue for months

of the body • The undertakers collect the body from the hospital morgue, weigh and embalm it • The family provides clothes for the body or it is dressed in a white gown • Documentation is obtained from the country it is going to and then the flight is booked • The funeral directors take the body to the airport in a coffin lined with zinc which creates a hermetic seal • When the coffin arrives at the airport, the airline take it as priority • The coffin goes through a private entry • The coffin is X-rayed and goes through security checks • The travel company pick up the coffin from a private area at the airport • The coffin boards the plane first, before all the luggage • At the destination a local ambulance picks up the body • Families can check it is the correct body through a window in the coffin Source: BBC

Page 26

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Islam

Hijab: Matters of the moment

Allah says: “O Prophet! Tell Thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that They should cast their outer garments over their persons (When abroad): that is Most convenient, that They should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oftforgiving, Most Merciful.”[alAhzab: 59]

requirement for modesty and reticence for both sexes, particularly given the women the opportunity to be appraised, not just on gender basis, but also on their abilities and astuteness. Islam has raised the status of women from mere sex machines and lecherousness quenchers to the status of queens as per excellence! Women in Hijab, as suchdeserves by right to be treated with honour, respect and dignity!

I

n the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers till the end of time.

The issues I want raise in this discourse is not about establishing the legality of the Hijab as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the glorious Prophet of Allah, as that has never been an issue to the Muslims or the non-Muslims.

Neither is it about sensitizing the Muslims on the need for them to accept and practice the injunction.

Every Muslim believes in all the provisions of the Shari’ah, as a matter of faith, and secondly without an iota of contention. The Qur’an says in an unequivocally term: “But no, by your Lord, they cannot become true believers until they seek your arbitration in all matters on which they disagree among themselves, and then find not the least vexation in their hearts over what you have decided, and accept it in willing submission.”[anNisa’: 65] The discourse is partially about reminding the society of its significance and purpose since 1400 years ago at a time women were incessantly attacked because they had no protection from the heathenish Arab community. It was one of the reason Allah commanded the Prophet to instruct his followers to distinguish themselves from the pagan women. Allah says: “O Prophet! Tell Thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that They should cast their outer garments over their persons (When abroad): that is Most convenient, that They should be known (as such) and not molested.

And Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.”[al-Ahzab: 59] Thus, Islam is the only religion to accord women with distinctive recognition for their womanish endowment by giving them an everlasting protection from the wickedness and tribulations of men of all time.

Other reasons include the

There is not a single Muslim woman in full Hijab anywhere in the world today, which complains of subjugation, suppression and subdual by Islam. Then why do sluttish and wantonwomen talk on their defence? While the Western secular media is filled with criticism and denigration of Muslim women in Hijab!

Hitherto, the reality is that over 1400 years ago, Islam did not only acknowledged the rights of women to own and dispense of their wealth and properties but also allows them to proffer insightful opinions in the midst of men in a way that grants them the utmost protection and respect; a permutationall other systems fail to offer! Not only that, Islam has permitted them a commensurateselfdetermination of expression, political participation, in addition to business and financial rights!

By their appearances, God has implored the society to hold them in high esteem, and offered them due manifoldhigh respect as mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.

Allah says: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment.

islam explained

By Husain Zakariyya Yawale +234-8052952900 (sms only) islamexplained35@yahoo.com

And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.”[al-Nur: 30-31] Thus, from the very time of the revelation of the Qur’an until eternity, no modernimposition and contempt can change this belief from the psyche of the Muslim nations!

So also it is on records how the medieval responsible Western hard working women dressed themselves; full long dresses and head coverings of various sizes. It was very easy then to differentiate them between the provocative half-naked andgolem mid-night floozies! Just as men are by their natural endowment different from women, so shall their dresses are supposed to be in shapes and sizes.

Last year, 2015, the issue of Hijab has taken an extraordinary dimension by some Niger, Chad and Cameroun. These nations have either partially or completely ban the wearing of Hijab by Muslim women giving that false and unacceptable excuse of security measure against Boko Haram terror attacks. Despite the measure was vehemently despised by all the Muslim religious leaders in these countries, their governments did not only remain adamant and pigheaded, but was

“

very tepid and insensitive of the religious freedom and rights in going ahead with the ban!

The Nigeria President, may secretly be pressured or intimidated, or both by both foreign and local forces, indicated his willingness to enforce the agreement reached at the 48th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS meeting held in Abuja late last year. In fact, to secretly contemplate of experiment such draconian law, will not only be absurd, illogical and incongruous of any democratically elected government, but will cast very thick shadow of doubt as to the ability and capacity of such a government to win its fight on terrorism, so soon!

Accordingly, for such misrule to be introduced in Nigeriaat this material time, will not onlybe unthinkable and unconceivable, but will compound the security issues by volunteering to the terrorists a very easygoing opportunity to complicating the fight of terrorism, the more.The catastrophic effects that will pop up will make the present insurgency a child play. Many sects and Islamic organizations will rise against the move in many facets and facade; may be initially peaceful, and later violently. The Boko Haram in question will have many supporters and sympathizers most especially with the prevalent level of poverty across the nation.

Many mischief makers will take advantage of the scenario and cause untold and unimaginable terror acts in the name of expressing their right to worship as enshrine in the constitution. The Shi’ites followers across the nation will have very cheap means to instantaneously unleash devastating carnage on the populace without any trace!

The purpose of this discourse is to discourage the present people oriented government to down play any ideawhich might be mooted byanybody to contemplate the banning ofHijab in Nigeria. Many unexpected destructive reactions can spontaneously crop up which

The purpose of this discourse is to discourage the present people oriented government to down play any ideawhich might be mooted byanybody to contemplate the banning ofHijab in Nigeria

can expose the weaknesses of the Nigeria security operatives, including the fire power of the Nigerian army at a time the turnaround is making positive impact!

The government should be ready to confront civil and religious demonstrations across the width and breadth of Nigeria, should it not heed this sincere admonishing.

There might also be the emergenceof new terrorist groups in all the regions making it very difficult to be contained even if the decision is afterwardsoverturned!

Consequently, theBoko Haram will have free access to inflict more atrocities on both human and materials due to over stretching of the Nigeria Army! It will thus, be in the interest of peace and development that the government resists any insinuation and contemplation in banning Hijab in Nigeria at this material time.

I am aware of the fact that some unscrupulous members of the society are taking the advantage of the Hijab garb provided to the Muslim women to cause untold mayhem to many innocent Nigerians in many part of nation.

However, these instances are very insignificant compared with the dignity the garb provides to the modest Muslim women the world over.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,Yemen,Egypt, Sudan, Bahrain and many others who have either passed or are passing through what today we are experiencing were able to eliminate the adversities of their home grown terrorists without infringing the rights of their populace. They were able to infiltrate the ranks and files of their insurgents and terrorist groups with women wearing the same Hijabs from the armies, the police and all the security agencies and not only weaken them but subjugated them bloodlessly!They were able to subvert their activities coherently from within, and without giving them the slightest notion of neither their presence nor mission.

Hence,I want advice on collaborating with the governments of these countries in order to learn and share better and effective methods of combating the nefarious activities of those who use the Hijab to cause indescribableinjuries on the public; notwithstanding the many arrested culprits were really not Muslim women or men!

It is my sincere advice to the Nigeria government to never succumb to the pressures of anybody from any quarters as that will spawn more complications and impediments to what we all crave and desire, since many years; peaceful coexistence in diversity!

So, leave the Muslim woman with her Hijab as her right, her choice and her life, and employ effective and stealthily tactics of conquering terrorism!

So please Mr. PMB do not start a war that is long with undefined enemies! Please let there be peace for Nigeria to thrive and develop!

world news

Page 27

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

2016: Prospects of Africa

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

ANALYSIS

By Charles Onunaiju

T

he reason for the narrative of the past few years of Africa on the rise or what is generally called Afro-optimism; i.e., primary commodity-driven boom seemed currently on the wane. Apart from the global glut in the demand of these primary commodities, the prices are on the downward spiral. Oil prices is particularly hit and the continental largest economy and key producer, Nigeria is at a cross road as its oil-dominated revenue receipt takes a plunge.

Many of its thirty six state governments are in heavy arrears of public sector workers who have not received salaries for upward of nearly a year. Some of the state governments have controversially been considering a slash of the paltry slightly above one hundred U.S dollars monthly minimum wage.

Ironically these state governments pocket unaccountable millions of dollars in the so called security vote that can neither be examined by the legislature nor the public. A kind of slush fund, the security vote is guaranteed by the constitution for the exclusive use of the state governors as they deemed fit under a nebulous heading of security, when actually all security agencies are federally controlled. Nigeria’s newly elected government has unfolded a budget with anticipatory deficit financing.

Even though the budget inspired hope of socially sensitive and inclusive economic process, its revenue projections still rest on the unreliable receipts from oil sales.

Meanwhile, the international oil market would take further drubbings as the prices are likely to nose dive. Africa would particularly feel the pinch but it also offers opportunity for structural transformations for economies hitched on the vagaries of primary commodity market. Russia, a non OPEC member, pumps the highest number of 11million barrels per day and China, formerly African reliable customer buys up most of Russia’s crude.

Iran set to return to the international oil market following its historic deal with the West, would likely pump about 2 million barrels daily into the market, further squeezing prize and putting pressure on African producers. Saudi Arabia, leading OPEC producer, has vowed not to cut production,

Chairperson, African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

a fact that would further keep prizes modest. Other primary commodities solid minerals, soya would experience slower demand. However, these trends are natural cycles of the boom and burst that is characteristic of international market place.

The strategy of most successful economies, both emerging and old ones is to secure and guarantee home markets, through the enhancement of domestic consumption. The structural reorientation that is conducive to domestically integrated market is the critical challenge to Africa’s postprimary and natural resource based economy and it requires been weaned off, from the easy rents that accrue from primary commodity dominated economy.

The noose would be tightened further on economies with vulnerabilities to the vagaries of international markets and Africa would be particularly hard hit in this respect. However, what present challenges and difficulties can actually be

“

converted into opportunities if the right lessons are learnt and hard choices made. In the case of Africa, the choice is almost selfevident. To continue shipping her resources abroad for easy rent or to set in motion the process, to build the requisite industrial capacity to process and add value to its resources and reap the comparative advantage of middle economies, without the excess baggage of over capacities.

South Africa, the continent’s major industrial economy is not a particularly happy one.

After appointing three finance ministers in one month, President Jacob Zuma is struggling to get grip of certain economic policy and direction. Not rocking the boat of post-apartheid economic direction has kept the economy going steadily but evidently, leaving behind the huge mass of the mostly black community to whom post apartheid inclusive democratic rule, means and rightly so, a pull to the economic mainstream. Disaffection with

the way things are, have spurred wide xenophobia and the return of left political tendencies to the mainstream political activity.

2016 would be exciting as these dynamics play out, prelude to the general elections in 2017.

As Africa’s economic prospects would be grim, the political and social prospects are not particularly encouraging.

Bujumbura currently burns as Burundi’s political elites dig in, to slug it out in the streets and bushes. If the current entente in Uganda succeeds, the worst could be averted; otherwise the thin lines that held the fragile polity together are set to be overstretched in the coming year. President Pierre Nkruzizah ambitious self-perpetuation is at the root of Burundi’s unraveling, just as in neighbouring Rwanda where the former rebel leader and focused President Paul Kagame has won tenure elongation in a national referendum. Surely, Kagame is one of Africa’s political stars, having navigated his country

2016 might well open the debate of Africa’s future prospects and whether it has possibilities in the context of international neo-liberal political and economic order even as capitalism enters a stage of terminal crises in its core global zone

from the epicenter of atrocious genocide to integrated forward looking society. He was one of rare African leader that met the UN set development millennium goals. He seem considerably popular, but amending his country’s constitution to remain in office have raised alarm and could began a drain on his international standing whose real measure could ebb away his domestic legitimacy, a sure recipe to instability.

Notwithstanding Burundi and Rwanda, Africa’s political life would look considerably miserable as its newest state, South Sudan, may not entirely get its act together and pull back from the brink. The sound bite from Juba where President Sylva kirr holds sway does not send any signal that a consensus needed to end the fratricidal war is insight.

Dr. Riek Machar, the armed opposition leader does not seem to return to juba anytime soon and the gulf between him and his former boss whom he served as vice president seemed as wide as ever.

Nigeria’s battered Boko Haram, deprived of any territory where to pose and pretend as a political entity will desperately haul bombs at any soft targets within its sights but what is certain is that there future is terribly bleak.

The project of neo-liberal political process will trod on, in Africa, with contentious multiparty elections that would hardly resolve any of the endemic burning national questions.

The critical mass of the people will remain marginally involved in the democratization process as they would be engaged in the rituals of voting without sufficient social awareness to integrate into the mainstream of the political process as ultimate guardians.

Notwithstanding, Africa’s existential challenge, its resilient people would ride the roughshod of its numerous travails, relying mostly on traditional civic structures of social intercourse with its entrenched safety nets to weather the socio-economic and political storms.

2016 might well open the debate of Africa’s future prospects and whether it has possibilities in the context of international neo-liberal political and economic order even as capitalism enters a stage of terminal crises in its core global zone.

Mr. Onunajiu, Journalist and Director, Centre for China Studies, (CCS) is based in Abuja.

Page 28

News From Africa

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

South Africa’s King Dalindyebo goes to jail A

South African king who is a nephew of the late Nelson Mandela has begun a 12-year prison sentence for kidnapping, assault and arson.

King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo reported to prison after his legal attempts to overturn his conviction failed.

The case against King Dalindyebo was related to a dispute he had with some of his subjects about two decades ago.

He comes from the Thembu clan, to which Mr Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, belonged.

He is the first monarch to be jailed in South Africa since minority rule ended in 1994.

King Dalindyebo, 51, ascended to the throne in 1989, and has about 700,000 subjects.

South Africa has 10 officially recognised monarchs representing different ethnic groups and clans.

They play a largely ceremonial role, and attend to minor disputes within their communities.

South African Former president Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel of Mozambique followed by his grandson Zuko Dani (Second R), 16 April 2007 arrive in Mvezo at a ceremony to install his grandson

King Dalindyebo conducted a reign of terror, judges say

as chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council.Image copyrightAFP King Dalindyebo was accused of kidnapping a woman and her six children, setting their home on fire and beating up four youths, one of whom died, because one of their relatives had failed to present himself before the king’s traditional

court.

He handed himself to prison authorities in the eastern city of Mthatha in compliance with a court order after a judge refused to extend his bail on Wednesday, the justice ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, Justice Minister Michael Masutha turned down his request

for a retrial, saying there was no legal justification for doing so.

King Dalindyebo had maintained his innocence, saying he disciplined his subjects under customary law.

Sentencing him in October, the Supreme Court of Appeal said: “His behaviour was all the more deplorable because the victims of his reign of terror were the vulnerable rural poor, who were dependent upon him. Our constitution does not countenance such behaviour.

“We are a constitutional democracy in which everyone is accountable and where the most vulnerable are entitled to protection.”

Many people feel King Dalindyebo has disgraced the royal family, and that he will be hardpressed to find any sympathy, correspondents say.

There is already talk of his son, Prince Azenethi Dalindyebo, being crowned as the next monarch.

King Dalindyebo defected from the governing African National Congress (ANC) to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party during his legal battles.

The DA revoked his membership following the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Ethiopia tourism industry infrastructure development

A

ddis Ababa, Ethiopia - A small plaque on this tiny deserted hillock deep in the forests of Kaffa, a province in western Ethiopia, bears an inscription in Amharic and English indicating that this is the birthplace of Ethiopia’s gift to the world: Arabica coffee, as locals will also confirm.

The plaque, hidden in the grass of the overgrown vegetation and invasive forest border, symbolises what has long hampered Ethiopia’s tourism industry. Despite a cultural, historical and linguistic identity quite distinct from the rest of Africa, Ethiopia never became a major tourist destination on the continent.

Where other countries would proclaim the news, beckoning tourists to come, Ethiopia never seemed that bothered by this fact. But this modest attitude is beginning to change.

In August this year the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism made a bold announcement that it intended to triple foreign visitors to more than 2.5 million by 2020, with an ultimate goal of making Ethiopia a feature in Africa’s Top 5 tourist destinations by 2020.

“Key tourism factors such as easy and fast growing air access, personal safety and local hospitality, rapid economic

Facebook ‘Free Basics’ service suspended in Egypt

A

Facebook scheme to provide free internet access to people in developing nations has been suspended in Egypt.

The company’s Free Basics service lets people in some countries access Facebook and some other websites without charge.

But critics of the service say it undermines the principle of net neutrality - the idea that all internet traffic should be treated equally.

Facebook told the Associated Press it was working to resolve the situation.

Net neutrality Facebook’s Free Basics serviceImage copyrightFacebook Image caption The Free Basics service launched in Egypt in October Egyptian mobile network Etisalat began offering the Free Basics service to mobile customers two months ago.

It allowed people to access Facebook and other participating websites without paying for mobile data, which can be expensive in Egypt.

African leaders and the bias of international justice

I A woman tethers her camel at a market in the town of Hayk in north central Ethiopia [James Jeffrey/Al Jazeera]

growth and, above all, fascinating discoveries to be made bode very well for rapid tourism growth,” said Mike Fabricius of South Africa-based The Journey, a tourism consultancy company.

Not everyone, however, is so sure about the wisdom of chasing those numbers. In 2013, the government established the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation (ETO) - mandated to boost tourism destination development and marketing, and enhance the benefits of tourism in a sustainable and competitive manner. This

signalled a decision to take tourism seriously as a means of generating revenue and helping eradicate poverty.

“There are many reasons tourism took a back seat but the number one thing was getting the basic infrastructure in place,” said Solomon Tadesse, the chief executive of ETO. “Now, the government can fully get behind it based on the economic growth of the last 10 years, with the added benefit of how this has also created a good impression with the outside world.”

Tourism in Ethiopia currently generates $2.9bn for the economy each year, close to a million jobs and about 4.5 percent of the gross domestic product, according to the World Bank.

That percentage, however, trails the likes of Rwanda’s 9 percent of GDP, and tourism accounting for about 11 percent of global GDP. In 2013, a travel and tourism competitive index compiled by the World Economic Forum ranked Ethiopia’s tourism industry as 120th globally and 17th in Africa.

f the progress of international law were judged in bricks and mortar, then the International Criminal Court must be said to have had an admirable year. The world’s first permanent global justice tribunal ends 2015 with a move out of temporary premises into a new, purpose-built headquarters.

But as an old saying goes, “buildings should serve people, not the other way around”. A property acquisition may suggest permanence, but the ICC faces 2016 with its future far from assured.

Indeed, the court remains a structure in search of a purpose.

With the world beset by conflict, an equitable system of international justice - and a functioning institution to deliver it - is needed more than ever.

Yet, reckless outsourcing of investigations to NGOs with political agendas, a fixation with publicity over sound prosecutions and the overt use of the Court by European funders to maintain global influence puts the ICC’s long-term future at risk.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Asia & Middle East

Two sentenced to death for murdering Bangladesh blogger

Iran: US lying about Straits of Hormuz rocket tests

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Mourners carry the coffin of Bangladeshi blogger Haider during his funeral in Dhaka on February 16, 2013 [Pavel Rahman/AP]

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wo students have been sentenced to death for the 2013 murder of an atheist blogger in Bangladesh, the first convictions in a series of killings targeting secular writers.

Faisal bin Nayem and Rezwanul Azad Rana were found guilty on Thursday of

murdering Ahmed Rajib Haider, a blogger and activist known by his pen name, Thaba Baba.

Haider was hacked to dea th b y m a che t e -w ie l d ing attackers in February 2013 near his home in Dhaka’s Mirpur neighbourhood.

One of the two students, who

attended one of the country’s top universities, is on the run and was sentenced in absentia.

The fast-track court sentenced six other people to different prison terms, including a life sentence for 23-year-old Maksudul Hasan.

Five more secular bloggers

and a publisher have been killed this year, triggering protests and claims that the government is not doing enough to protect dissident writers and activists.

Local groups have claimed responsibility for murdering the bloggers, branding them enemies of Islam.

China mine rescue: Slow progress to reach Shandong survivors

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escuers have been making slow progress in their attempt to reach survivors trapped in a gypsum mine in China, after it collapsed on Christmas Day. Authorities have revised down the number of survivors who made contact with rescue teams on Wednesday.

State broadcaster CCTV reported officials saying there are now four instead of eight known survivors.

They are among 17 left inside the mine.

Reports say 11 others have been rescued and one is known to have died.

The BBC’s Stephen Evans in Beijing says rescuers have started boring a tunnel down to the trapped miners, and water and liquids have been passed down through a

Chinese media say only 11 workers have been rescued so far, out of 29 miners who were working on the day of the collapse

narrower bore-hole.

But the authorities in Shandong province where the accident happened are warning that the

geology is difficult and progress will be slow, with continuing rock falls and unpredictable torrents of water underground, according to our

correspondent.

In this Dec. 28, 2015 photo provided by ChinaImage copyrightAP It is not clear whether the four survivors who now cannot be located are still alive or dead.

The mine collapse in the town of Pingyi on the morning of 25 December was so violent that it registered at China’s earthquake monitoring centre.

A damaged wall and road after the gypsum mine collapsed on Friday morning, in Pingyi, Shandong province (30 December 2015)Image copyrightReuters Rescuers first made contact with survivors on Wednesday, when they used infrared cameras to peer into darkness at the wrecked mine. The cameras detected the surviving miners waving their hands.

Syria conflict: ‘At least 16 dead’ in three restaurants blasts

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t least 16 people have been killed and 30 wounded in three blasts in a Kurdishcontrolled city in Syria, a monitoring group has said.

The attacks targeted restaurants in Qamishli, near the border with Turkey, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

At least one of the blasts was a suicide attack, the Observatory said.

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind several attacks

in Kurdish areas in recent weeks.

“Three explosions, one by a suicide bomber inside a restaurant, hit Qamishli city in Hasakeh province,” SOHR director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency.

An IS-linked news agency, Amaq, said the group carried out the bombings.

Armed gunmen inspect damage from a suicide bomb in Qamishli, Syria December 30, 2015.Image copyrightReuters Image caption

The inside of Miami Restaurant was completely destroyed Blood stains the ground near a resturant where a suicide bomb blew up in Qamishli, Syria December 30, 2015.Image copyrightReuters Injured people wait to get treated inside a hospital in Qamishli, Syria December 31, 2015.

Image copyrightReuters Qamishli, in Syria’s north-east, serves as a base for the YPG - a Kurdish militia fighting against IS. The city is under shared control of YPG and regime forces.

According to the SOHR, all three explosions happened in a zone controlled by the government.

The YPG is working in conjunction with the US-led air offensive against IS. In October, the militia joined a new US-backed ground alliance, the Democratic Forces of Syria.

The alliance launched an offensive against IS in the northeastern province of Hasaka that month, while Kurdish forces in Iraq seized the town of Sinjar from the jihadist group.

ran has accused the US of lying by claiming Iran test-fired rockets near American warships and other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz last week.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards spokesman dismissed the US claim as a “psychological operation”.

The US has said Iran fired “several unguided rockets” in the strategically important waterway.

The incident threatens to cause new tensions between the two nations following a landmark nuclear deal.

On Wednesday, US military spokesman Kyle Raines said rockets had been fired about 1,370m (1,500 yards) from two US vessels and a French frigate, in a “highly provocative” act.

“Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognised maritime traffic lane is unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with international maritime law,” he said.

Sonny Bill Williams criticised for dead Syrian children photos

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ugby union star Sonny Bill Williams has posted graphic images of dead children on Twitter after a visit to Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon.

Williams, who played a starring role in New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup win, was in Lebanon as a Unicef ambassador.

On Tuesday night he tweeted graphic images of two bodies, adding, “What did these children do to deserve this?”

But the UN children’s agency objected to his use of the images, and said Williams had not consulted its staff.

“We see it as a fundamental infringement of those children’s rights,” Unicef spokesman Patrick Rose told the New Zealand Herald.

Although it was clear that Williams had been deeply moved by his visit to Lebanon, Mr Rose said it was better to provide a “positive framework for people to respond” by offering children clean water and counselling.

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Europe & Americas

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Migrant crisis: Merkel urges Germans to see ‘opportunity’ G erman Chancellor Angela Merkel is to use her New Year’s speech to urge Germans to see the influx of refugees as an opportunity for the future.

Warning against support for xenophobic groups, she says “it’s important we don’t allow ourselves to be divided”.

Germany has taken in more than a million asylum seekers this year, far more than any other European country.

Europe’s response to the migration crisis has been criticised by the outgoing head of the UN refugee agency.

Antonio Guterres told the BBC that the EU had been and continued to be “totally unprepared” for the arrival of refugees and “unable to put its act together”.

More than one million refugees and migrants have reached Europe by sea since the start of 2015, according to the UNHCR. About half are from Syria.

Germany has been the destination of choice for many of those arriving by sea, and it has also attracted large numbers of migrants from Balkan states.

In her New Year’s address to be broadcast on Thursday evening, Mrs

Chicago police to get Tasers and training after shootings

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olice in Chicago are to receive new equipment and training on how to defuse tensions following a spate of fatal shootings of AfricanAmericans by officers, the city’s mayor has said.

Rahm Emanuel says every patrol car in Chicago would be equipped with a Taser gun, which is usually non-lethal.

He said police must learn when they can use a gun and when not to do so.

Protesters have urged Mr Emanuel to step down over a case in which an officer fatally shot a black teenager.

Laquan McDonald’s death led to the city’s police chief being fired and days of protests, Jump media playerMedia player help Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Media captionDashcam footage shows the moment 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was fatally shot by police in Chicago “Just because you train that you can use force doesn’t mean you should,” said Mr Emanuel. “Helping officers make that distinction - and the training that goes with it - is essential.”

Mrs Merkel’s pre-recorded speech is to be broadcast on Thursday evening Merkel acknowledges that the past year has been challenging but she repeats a message she has used on several occasions: “Wir schaffen es” - we can do it.

She warns that integrating the new arrivals will take “time, strength and money”, according to a prereleased text of the speech recorded on Wednesday.

“I am convinced that if we tackle the huge task posed by the influx

and integration of so many people in the right way today, then this will represent an opportunity for us tomorrow.”

The chancellor does not specifically mention Pegida, which has held large “anti-Islamisation” rallies in Germany, but urges Germans not to follow “those with coldness, or even hate in their hearts, and who claim the right to be called German for themselves alone and

seek to marginalise others”.

Children from Pakistan on the Greek island of Lesbos, on Saturday, 26 December 2015Image copyrightAP The migrant crisis has strained relations between EU member states, with some countries introducing temporary border controls despite the bloc’s principle of passport-free movement.

Criticising the EU’s response, Mr Guterres - who is stepping down as UN High Commissioner for Refugees after 10 years - said divisions in Europe meant countries had failed to act.

“For the first time, in meaningful numbers, refugees and other migrants came to Europe - and Europe was totally unprepared for that,” he said.

“But not only it was unprepared then, it is still unprepared today. It was unable to put its act together.”

Instead, he said, countries had served their own interests discouraging migrants from entering their borders by introducing increasingly harsh policies.

Some states such as Hungary, Austria and Slovenia have resorted to building fences along their borders to manage the arrivals of thousands of migrants.

S America: Over 160,000 flee worst floods in 50 years

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ore than 160,000 people have been displaced over the past several days by the heaviest floods to hit South America in 50 years.

At least 144,000 were evacuated from flooded areas near the Paraguay River in Paraguay, the hardest-hit country. About 20,000 were displaced in Argentina and several thousand in Uruguay and Brazil.

The floods, caused by overflowing rivers and torrential rains blamed on the El Nino phenomenon, have been responsible for at least eight deaths: six in Paraguay and two in Uruguay.

The causes of the deaths have ranged from falling trees to electrocution.

Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo, reporting from the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires after visiting the city of Concordia - one of the cities particularly badly hit by the disaster - said that thousands of residents were forced to take refuge in shelters.

“We visited shelters in Concordia that were packed with mostly poor people who had lost everything they owned,” she said.

“The government is struggling to provide people with food and other basic needs ... It has set up a commission to deal with the crisis that will last for at least a couple of months.”

Authorities are preparing to

cope with the possibility of diseases spreading - heightened by the fact that mosquitos and snakes thrive in swamp-like conditions, she added.

Some houses in Concordia had water nearly up to their roofs and people made their way around town in canoes.

Overflowing sewers have also caused homes there to have dirty running water.

“The water [from sinks] is contaminated and bugs are everywhere,” said Josefina Monson, 33, who has been in the shelter with her husband and young daughters since Christmas Eve. “I’m not sure when we’ll be able to go home.”

North Sea workers airlifted as barge drifts near Valhall field

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ore than 300 oil workers are being airlifted from the Norwegian sector of the North Sea after a large, unmanned barge ran adrift in high seas.

Several rigs were affected in the Valhall and Ekofisk oil fields.

The barge broke anchor during a storm. A man died when a huge wave hit another rig earlier in the Troll field off Norway.

BP said it was moving all its workers off the eight-rig Valhall platform as the barge was heading towards it.

The barge is 110m in length and 30m wide and there are fears that it could ram one of the rigs.

Norwegian media said the

Eide Barge 33 had run adrift on Wednesday evening and was some 25km (15 miles) from Valhall.

Helicopters began airlifting staff from Valhall at 02:45 on Thursday, broadcaster NRK said.

BP said it was airlifting all 235 staff from the platform. Production, which had been at 50,000 barrels a day, was being shut down, the company said.

ConocoPhilips also airlifted 145 workers from its Ekofisk oil field north of Valhall. Some were flown to other platforms in the area but the majority were taken ashore, according to reports.

Hours before the barge began drifting on Wednesday, a wave hit the

accommodation block on the China Oilfield Services’ Innovator rig in the Troll oil field off the Norwegian coast at around 17:00 (16:00GMT).

Statoil platform - file photoImage copyrightAP The coast guard told the BBC that the wave must have been up to 60ft (18m) in height.

Three people with injuries were airlifted ashore by Norwegian rescuers, but one later died. He was said to be a Norwegian in his fifties.

Almost 50 of the rig’s 106 staff were airlifted to safety.

In a statement, Statoil said a “heavy wave” had slammed into the installation. The rig was being towed to Bergen under its own steam.

Brussels police detain three over ‘New Year terror plot’

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hree people detained on Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to target Brussels on New Year’s Eve are to be held for a further 24 hours, Belgian prosecutors say.

Another three people who were also detained during the raids in and around the Belgian capital have been released.

Two other terror suspects were arrested earlier this week, and Brussels’ mayor has cancelled New Year festivities.

French authorities are deploying more than 100,000 police to ensure security.

Paris will see its biggest public gathering since the deadly attacks there last month, but the city’s usual firework display will not take place.

New Year: Celebrations mark start of 2016 Belgian authorities say the apparent plots to target New Year celebrations in Brussels are not related to the suspected network behind the Paris attacks.

The mayor of Brussels, Yvan Mayeur, said the decision to cancel the city’s New Year celebrations was based on intelligence suggesting they could be targeted.

The two men seized in Brussels on Sunday morning, named as 30-year-old Said Saouti and 27-yearold Mohammed Karay, both Belgian nationals, can be held for a month, a judge ruled on Thursday.

Both are members of a motorcycle club called the Kamikaze Riders. Some members have links to Islamist groups and to Belgians who have travelled to Syria to fight with so-called Islamic State, Belgian media report.

It was not clear whether the six taken in for questioning on Thursday morning were also connected to the motorcycle club.

Police seized material during Thursday’s raids including computers, phones and materials for playing airsoft - a military simulation game in which players fire replica weapons loaded with plastic pellets.

Separately, Belgian police arrested a 10th suspect over the 13 November attacks in Paris, in which 130 people were killed.

The Belgian national, identified as Ayoub B, was detained on Wednesday during a raid in the Brussels district of Molenbeek. He has been charged with terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PAGE 31

Scene of fire incident at Byazin Across, yesterday in Kubwa Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Dagbalo community groan over noncompensation for farmlands, homes

By Stanley Onyekwere

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ndigenous people of Dagbalo community in Apo District of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are grumbling over non-payment of compensation for farmlands and houses to the affected persons, despite huge budgets appropriated annually for the FCT administration to fund such accordingly.

They lamented that they have been subjected to untold hardship and all manner of unearthed treatment by the past FCT administrations, and therefore called on the Presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives to intervene.

They specially called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider them (Abuja natives) in sensitive positions within his kitchen cabinet, who know and understand names of villages and the direct needs other than those who will only blow trumpet, beat drums in their offices and appropriate peoples land to themselves, families and seedlings.

According to the leader of Dagbalo community, Rev. Danjuma Tanko, the absence of FCT has greatly encouraged the wings of corruption in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

“I want Nigerians and the world to know that this day, no compensation has ever been paid

nor any fund by government or any authority in that capacity to the original inhabitants.

“All correspondence to replace our father’s houses were not honoured, and 2004 during president Olusegun Obasanjo, there was need to expand the city, roads were constructed from Gudu village to Apo village, the community called Akpajenya was partly affected by the road for which our houses were affected.

“And up till now no compensation has been paid even though assessment were made with nos GU/05/73 Danjuma Tanko, GU/05/74/ David Danjuma, GU/06/Mathias Danjuma amongst others names that were omitted by the FCDA officials.

“After the then minister of FCT and now Gov. Mallam Nasir El- Rufai left office, the responsibilities vested on the Director Development Control the former Yahaya Yusuf and 2006 and the same marks and numbers were used for resettlement of Garki community, Akpajenya and Apo community; but Dagbalo community was not mentioned neither was merged with Akpajenya community, “ Tanko explained.

He continued: “I want to clear issues before Nigerians to be able to participate and understand why the original inhabitants are against the policies and activities perpetuated by the officials of the FCDA and FCTA. “90% of names that appeared

on the resettlement exercise carried out by the FCDA were unknown names to the communities while the people of Garki have no more lands to expand building or manage the imbalance offer.

“Dagbalo was worst hit by the direct evil of forceful demolition when at the woke up in the morning of 30th July, 2013 only to be surrounded with armed soldiers led by the FCDA officials and wiped out the entire Dagbalo community without showing any sympathy to our people.

“And all efforts made by our community to stop the inhuman act proved abortive and even as we watched them beat journalists, with seized tapes and smashed on the ground.”

Man docked over breach of trust

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35-year-old man, Olekwu Peter, has appeared in a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ court, Abuja, on a three-count charge of criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The prosecutor, Joel Ani, told the court that the accused, a resident

of 207 Mopol, Nyanya, Abuja, was apprehended by officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) He said Peter induced and collected N15,000 from one Iweayunwa Innocent on false pretext and promised to help

Innocent’s younger brother to secure employment with the NSCDC. According to him, the accused has made a statement and handed over the said sum to the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) which is kept as an exhibit.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 308, 311 and 325 of the penal code respectively.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty and the prosecutor prayed the court to grant him a date to reopen the case.

The Senior Magistrate, Chukwuemeka Ubani, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 and a reasonable surety in like sum.

He said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

(NAN)

PAGE 32

Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Fund seekers watching a magician, during the Maulud Nabiyyi, Christmas and Boxing Day holidays at Millennium Park, on Sunday in Abuja.

Pick-up van loaded with cows and herdsmen, yesterday along Gwagwala Road, in Abuja.

Children fetching water from a borehole, yesterday at Madalla, in Abuja.

Two wheelbarrow pushers observing siesta, on Saturday at Area 1, in Abuja.

Women selling roasted yam, recently at old Federal Secretariat, in Area 1, Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PAGE 33

Metro

Clergyman urges council boss to provide social amenities in Kutunku

By Usman Shuaibu

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he priest in charge of the heavenly kingdom church international, Arch Bishop Lai Balogun, has called on the administration of Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to provide

basic amenities for the people residing at Kutunku community extension IV layout in the council.

The clergyman, who made the call while speaking with our correspondent,decried that the people of kutunku extension 4 layout were been neglected in terms of developmental projects.

Balogun specifically called on the chairman of the council, Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, to provide a transformer to boost electricity supply in the community.

Also, he pleaded with the council boss to drill boreholes, to enable the people to have access to potable drinking water in the

community.

He further urged the chairman to repair the dilapidated roads in the community, so as to ease the pains the people are faced with while traversing the area.

The clergymantherefore appealed to all six FCT council chairmen as well as the FCT

Administration to redouble their efforts towarddelivering the dividends of democracy to the people, especially less privileged ones.

A man hawking hats, yesterday at Lugbe, in Abuja.

Theft: Court orders 12 whips for Scavenger

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Court in Lugbe, Abuja, has ordered that a 13-year-old scavenger, Falalu Kabiru, be flogged 12 strokes of cane for stealing church property.

The Judge, Mr. Gambo Garba, ordered the flogging

of Kabiru, who resides at the Tipper Garage, Lugbe, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of stealing and criminal intimidation.

Garba said that the punishment would have been worse if the convict had not saved the court the pains of protracted

prosecution.

The judge, who warned the convict to be of good behaviour and desist from crime, discharged him and ordered that the recovered items be returned to the church.

Prosecutor Paul Anigbo had told the court that Olusegun Akin caught the accused on April 11,

2015 and handed him over to Lugbe Police Station.

Anigbo said that the complainant claimed he caught the convict removing Aluminum panels at a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Federal Housing Authority Estate, Lugbe.

The prosecutor also said that Kabiru resisted arrest and attempted to stab Akin with a knife, which he brought out from his pocket.

Anigbo said that the offences contravened sections 397 and 287 of the Penal code respectively.

(NAN)

Yuletide: FRSC harps on improved road user awareness

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s yuletide season climaxes, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has restated its commitment to improve on its stakeholder cooperation and road user education.

This was disclosed by the FRSC unit commander, Zuba Unit Command, Mr. Muta’a Chorie, during the its annual

ember month campaign in Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The unit commander said this year’s campaign is aimed at ensuring smooth flow of traffic during the ember months, especially for mass movement during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“As the popular adage says, “It is better to be late than never”, that is the reason everybody should respect the road safety rules; it is not for anybody but for yourself, the people you are carrying and other road users,” he said.

Chorie, who revealed that the theme of this year’s campaign

was “Operation sanity, driving safely into 2016”, stressing the need for all road users to always be careful on the road to avoid road traffic crashes.

In his remarks, secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Zuba branch, MallamIsiyaka Abdullahi, assured the FRSC of

their maximum cooperation as stipulated in their constitution.

“When I get back to my people, I will make sure that I inform them of the importance of driving safely always. If everyone is driving carefully on the road then accidents on the Nigerian roads will be greatly minimised,” he added.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Money Sense

How to manage cash flow

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here’s an old adage about business that “cash is king” and, if that’s so, then cash flow is the blood that keeps the heart of the kingdom pumping. Cash flow is one of the most critical components of success for a small or midsized business. Without cash, profits are meaningless. Many a profitable business on paper has ended up in bankruptcy because the amount of cash coming in doesn’t compare with the amount of cash going out. Firms that don’t exercise good cash management may not be able to make the investments needed to compete, or they may have to pay more to borrow money to function.

“Despite the fact that cash is the lifeblood of a business, the fuel that keeps the engine running, most business owners don’t truly have a handle on their cash flow,” says Philip Campbell, a CPA and former chief financial officer in several companies and author of Never Run Out of Cash (Grow & Succeed Publishing 2004). “Poor cash-flow management is causing more business failures today than ever before.”

Cash flow basics What is cash flow? It’s basically the movement of funds in and out of your business. You should be tracking this either weekly, monthly or quarterly.

There are essentially two kinds of cash flows: • Positive cash flow: This occurs when the cash funneling into your business from sales, accounts receivable, etc. is more than the amount of the cash leaving your businesses through accounts payable, monthly expenses, salaries, etc.

• Negative cash flow: This occurs when your outflow of cash is greater than your incoming cash. This generally spells trouble for a business, but there are steps you can take to remedy the situation and generate or collect more cash while maintaining or cutting expenses.

Profit versus cash flow Profit does not equal cash flow.

You can’t just look at your profit and loss statement (P&L) and get a grip on your cash flow. Many other financial figures feed into factoring your cash flow, including accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, capital expenditures, and debt service.

Smart cash-flow management requires a laser focus on each of these drivers of cash, in addition to your profit or loss. “There is a secret that very few business owners have discovered (and the accounting community has not done a good job revealing): knowing whether you earned a profit (or created a loss) is not the same as knowing what happened to your cash,” Campbell says.

“Profit, as defined by the rules of accounting, is simply revenue minus expenses. Invoicing a

From the basics, to tips on how you can improve it, here is everything you need to know about cash flow management. customer for products or services you sold to them creates revenue.

Actually collecting the money on that invoice is what creates cash.”

A positive cash flow is actually needed to generate profits. You need enough cash to pay your employees and suppliers so that you can make goods. It’s the sale of those goods that helps generate a profit. But if you don’t have the money to make the goods, you don’t end up with the profit. So you really need to structure your business to have a positive cash flow if you want your business to grow and increase profits.

“Growing your business puts a huge strain on cash,” Campbell says. “You almost always have to make investments and bring certain expenses on ahead of achieving the higher revenue and cash flow that comes with successful growth. Maybe you want to open an office in a new city so you can build the business there. Or, you need to build a new facility so you have the capacity to sell to larger customers. Those scenarios (and others) require cash up front.”

How to improve cash flow Most business owners see growth as the solution to a cash-flow problem. That’s why they often achieve their goal of growing the business only to find they have increased their cashflow problems in the process.

Plan for growth and the related cash outlays in advance, so they do not come as a surprise. In the

meantime, the SBA recommends that you take the following practical steps to better manage cash flow, especially for the growing business: • Collecting receivables To speed up the receipt and processing of receivables, the SBA suggests several steps. Spring for a lockbox service, post office boxes serviced by banks so that customers in far flung locations can mail payments there and the checks will be processed by the banks more quickly. Ask customers to preauthorize checks so that banks can draw against their accounts at timed intervals.

Centralize your banking at one bank. Ask customers to pay with depository transfer checks, a relatively cheap fund transfer. You can also try offering discounts to customers if they pay bills quickly.

• Tightening credit requirements - Businesses often have to extend credit to customers, particularly when starting out or growing. But you have to do your research beforehand to determine the risk of extending credit to each customer. Can they pay their bills on time? Is their business growing or faltering? Are they having cash-flow problems? The SBA recommends getting a Dun & Bradstreet report on potential customers and asking them to fill out a credit application. You should also check references.

Another option to extending store credit is to accept credit cards.

This will cost you a percentage, generally from 2 to 5 percent of the sale, but it may be a safer bet

for getting paid on time.

• Increasing sales - If you need more cash, it seems like a no brainer to go out and try to attract new customers or sell additional goods or services to your existing customers. But this may be easier said than done. New customer acquisition is essential to a growing business, but it can take time and money to convert prospects into sales. Selling more to existing customers is cheaper and you may be able to do this by analyzing what they’re buying and why - information that may even lead you to increase your profit margin and, hopefully, generate more cash. But the SBA warns businesses to be careful when increasing sales because you may just increase your accounts receivables and not actual cash if these sales are on credit.

• Pricing discounts - One option to increasing cash flow is to offer your customers discounts if they pay early.

While this practice may impact your profit margin, it may help your management of cash flow by incentivizing customers to make payments earlier than billing cycles typically require.

Your company may also take advantage of this with suppliers and others that you owe, but be careful that your early payments of debt don’t leave you with a cash flow shortfall.

• Securing loans - Shortterm cash flow problems may sometimes necessitate a business taking out a loan from a financial institution. Some possible types

are revolving credit lines or equity loans, according to the SBA. Most of the time this type of borrowing accomplishes its goals, although during the financial crisis many banks were canceling credit lines and calling in loans. Another option is a long-term amortized loan which includes interest and principal until the loan is paid off.

Getting control of your cash flow Campbell suggests asking yourself the following two questions to get a sense about whether you have your business’ cash flow situation under control: 1. What is my cash balance right now?

2. What do I expect my cash balance to be six months from now?

“If you can’t answer these two questions, then strap yourself in for a wild ride,” he says.

“You are on a roller coaster ride that’s about to become really frightening. You don’t have your cash flow under control.”

One way to keep that situation under control is by tracking your cash flow results every month to determine if your management is creating the type of cash flow your business needs. This also helps you get better and better at creating cash flow projections you can rely on as you make business decisions about expanding your business and taking care of your existing bills. www.inc.com

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Page 35

world

Strange

Drinker wakes up in a morgue after being declared DEAD when he passed out downing vodka in Russia... and heads straight back to the party

By Jennifer Newton

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drinker who was declared dead after downing too much vodka in Russia woke up and found himself in a morgue.

And rather than go home to sleep off the after effects of the alcohol, the man went straight back out to re-join his friends.

The man had been at a party in the Khansanky region in Russia’s far east, drinking vodka.

After over indulging on the spirit, he passed out and when paramedics arrived they pronounced him dead and arranged for him to be taken to a local morgue.

He was placed in the mortuary freezer as the facility was filled to capacity with dead bodies.

But soon after, the man started to come round and was taken aback to find himself in new surroundings.

According to local media reports, he pounded on the freezer door and pleaded for help before a security guard reported hearing noises to doctors.

When they opened the door, they found the panicked man who ran from the room before he was questioned by police and then released.

Aleksey Stoyev, a police spokesman told Russian

A drinker who was declared dead after downing too much vodka in Russia woke up and found himself in a morgue (file picture)

newspaper Khasanskiye Vesti: ‘That night the local morgue was filled to its capacity, the bodies were not only on the shelves, but also on the floor of the freezer room, where our ‘dead’ man was allocated.

‘At some point, the man woke up, failing to understand where he was. It was very dark and cold.

In addition his brain was foggy due to the influence of alcohol. In the darkness, he felt someone’s completely cold limbs and in fear

rushed to the door. But it was locked.’

After making his escape, the man decided to return to the party, he had been forced to leave in an ambulance, and found that it had turned into his wake.

And one of his friends was so shocked, that he fainted upon seeing his friend.

But rather than finishing the party, the men continued to drinking to toast the ‘resurrection’ of their friend.

Teenager locked inside fifth-floor home by parents nearly dies after suspending himself with an electricity cable to escape

By Qin Xie

A

teenage boy narrowly escaped death after he passed out while suspended from a fifth floor window by an electricity cable, which had caused him to asphyxiate.

The 13-year-old, known as Hao Hao (not his real name), had been locked at home in Mianxian, central China, by his parents to prevent him from going out to play, according to People’s Daily Online. He was expected to stay at home and study while his parents went to work.

However, things started to go wrong when the boy tried to escape and ended up trapped half way down the building.

Fortunately, he was saved in the nick of time. The incident took place on December 5 but only came to light today.

According to Tan Baoxin, Deputy Director at the local police station, Hao Hao had

already stopped moving when they arrived at the scene.

He was suspended between the third and fourth floors of the building via a cable that could snap any minute.

The situation was critical but there was no one at home and all of the doors to the home were locked and difficult to break.

Tan said: ‘The building was five storeys high. The boy had an electricity cable tied around to his waist, which was attached to a railing on the fifth floor.’ ’We saw a mattress so pulled it over and placed it under the boy so if he did fall then at least there would be a buffer.’

The rescue team proceeded to break the locks to the corridor on the fifth floor with a hammer so that they could lower a rope around the boy for extra support.

Another officer broke through the window of a third floor neighbour and managed to get hold of the boy so he could be pulled in as the rope and cable were lowered.

Suspended: The boy narrowly escaped death when he suspended himself with a cable from the fifth floor

Rescue: He had climbed out of the window so he could go out and play but ended up trapped and needed help

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Page

Digest

Why you shouldn’t give up coffee in the New Year

By Fiona Macrae

I

f you have resolved to give up coffee in the New Year, you can give yourself a break.

For experts say there is no need for most people to avoid coffee.

Professor Clare Collins, of the Dietitians Association of Australia, said: ‘One of the first things that people give up when they go on a health kick is coffee, and that’s a crazy thing to do, because there’s evidence of health benefits.’

Her detailed review of research on the topic concluded that coffee drinkers have a lower odds of developing liver cancer and of dying unexpectedly.

They are also at lower risk of type 2 diabetes, which develops when the body does not make enough insulin – a hormone key in the conversion of sugar into energy – or the insulin they do make does not work properly.

Professor Collins told the Australian edition of Good Food magazine: ‘When you

Coffee drinkers get a host of health benefits such as a reduced risk of cancer and diabetes, experts claim look at the biochemical role of coffee, it seems to have a task at a cellular level that I would explain is a bit like a contract

cleaner: it’s able to come in and speed up some important biochemical processes related to fixing damage in cells or

Despite caffeine’s stimulant qualities, it is ‘unlikely to cause a problem for most people’s health’

clearing away debris so that some of the molecules related to insulin and glucose can work more efficiently.’

Research also suggests that caffeine helps protect the brain against Parkinson’s disease.

Dr Robyn Brown, an addiction specialist at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience in Victoria, said: ‘Put it this way, if I had Parkinson’s disease in my family, I’d probably be drinking coffee every day.’

Other said that despite caffeine’s stimulant qualities, it is unlikely to cause a problem for most people.

And while many pregnant women avoid coffee all together, there is no evidence that up to 200mg of caffeine – the equivalent of one strong, barista-made coffee, or one instant coffee and a cup of tea – poses any risk to pregnancy.

However, coffee is not recommended for people with conditions in which a shortterm increase in heart rate and blood pressure might stress the heart.

And children struggle to metabolise caffeine, meaning they should not start drinking coffee until their teens, say the experts.

The comments come after

research published last month found coffee can help dieters stay slim.

A regular daily intake of two to four cups helps dieters keep flab at bay once they have shed the unwanted fat, said scientists at Hannover Medical School in Germany.

The high caffeine content seems to help the body resist the gradual weight gain that defeats so many slimmers and other caffeinated drinks have the same effect.

Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed stimulant and reports show it can boost daily energy expenditure by around five per cent.

Researchers sad combining two to four daily coffees with regular exercise would be even more effective at keeping the weight off.

In a report on their findings they said: ‘Caffeine consumers have a lower body mass index than those who consume little or no caffeine.

‘And high caffeine intake has also been linked with weight loss.

‘Our research suggests it might also support maintenance of that weight loss.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

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Feature

Insurgency, deadline and matters arising

By Sani Adamu

A

lhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, recently observed that the military had ``technically’’ met President Muhmmadu Buhari’s deadline of Dec. 31 to subdue the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

He noted that the military had also been able to demean the capability of the insurgents to annex territories.

In the light of this feat, analysts observe that the swiftness of the Nigerian military to drag out the Boko Haram insurgents from their hideouts in Sambisa Forest is heart-warming.

Speaking at an interactive session with editors in Lagos recently, the minister also said that ``the war against Boko Haram is largely won’’.

Mohammed maintained that his views were premised on what he saw when he led a group of 33 journalists from both local and international media to the hotbed of the insurgency -- Maidguri, Konduga, Kaure and Bama. ``I have been having a series of meetings with various stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union and Civil Society Organisations. ``The meetings are all geared at ensuring a more effective and seamless communication between the government and the people, which is key to the success of any democracy, as well as forging a mutually beneficial working relationship in the interest of Nigerians. ``The biggest security challenge we face as a nation today is the Boko Haram insurgency that has left thousands dead and injured, displaced more than two million people and crippled the North East, both economically and socially, with a ripple effects felt across the nation. ``You will agree with me that the Buhari administration hit the ground running in tackling the insurgency. ``He first relocated the military’s command and control centre to the theatre of war in Maiduguri and raise the morale of the troops through enhanced welfare and the provision of the necessary fighting tools; and then rallying sub-regional, regional and global support for the war. ``Today, I can report that the war against Boko Haram is largely won. I can confidently say this because just recently, I led a group of 33 journalists, from both the local and the international media, to the hotbed of the insurgency.

President Muhammadu Buhari ``Let me remind you that, until just four months ago, Bama was the headquarters of the self-declared Caliphate of Boko Haram. ``It was the war’s groundzero, from where the terrorists called the shots, collected taxes and dispensed jungle justice. ``The palace of the Emir of Bama, whom they sacked, was their operational headquarters.

Also, Konduga was attacked several times by the insurgents who wanted to use it as a staging post to attack Maiduguri,’’ he noted.

But according to him, today, the entire more than 70-kilometre stretch from Maiduguri to Bama and all the way to Banki are in the control of Nigerian soldiers.

``Our soldiers’ presence can be felt every few metres along the road that skirts the Sambisa Forest. ``Based on what I saw during my trip to the liberated areas of Borno and the briefings I received from the Chief of Defence Staff and the Theatre Commander, I can confidently inform you that our gallant military has largely met that deadline. ``They have so degraded the capability of Boko Haram that the terrorists can no longer hold on to any territory, just as they can no longer carry out any spectacular attack,’’ Mohammed observed.

Explaining why the insurgents are still carrying out suicide bombings and killing of people,

“

the minister said that it was part of the nature of insurgency anywhere in the world. ``Unlike a war between two armies, an insurgency never ends with an armistice; even in countries such as Colombia where insurgency was supposed to have ended decades ago, attacks still happen,’’ Mohammed stressed.

To complement the efforts of the military, he said that his ministry had begun a nationwide national security campaign to raise public awareness on the need to support the military to stamp out the remnant of the insurgents. ``In this time of war, you (media) cannot afford to be neutral. Yes, you must remain professional at all times, and we are not asking you to do anything less, but you must also act in the national interest always. ``Boko Haram is dispersed and largely defeated.

The insurgents are hungry, they are sick and they are desperate and will clutch at any straw, don’t let us prop them up with our reports,’’ he cautioned the media. Also, Buhari stressed in a recent interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation that his administration had technically won the war against Boko Haram. ``I assure you we haven’t failed. Adamawa, Yobe are free from Boko Haram; so, I think technically we have won the war because people are going back to their neighbourhoods. ``Our major problem now is rehabilitation, but the Boko Haram, as an organised fighting force, has been dealt with,’’ Buhari said.

In the same vein, Abdullahi No-Sweat, a 78-year-old veteran journalist, who in the early 60’s and 70s lived and experienced similar non-conventional wars

In the same vein, Abdullahi No-Sweat, a 78-yearold veteran journalist, who in the early 60’s and 70s lived and experienced similar non-conventional wars in places such as Vietnam, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Algeria, applauded the military for routing the insurgents from their stronghold in Sambisa forest.

No-Sweat, who in 1983, was persuaded by former President Shehu Shagari to return to Nigeria from Afghanistan, insisted that ``anyone who knows the intricacies of fighting ideologically-motivated wars would have no reason but to commend the Nigerian military in the last few months.

in places such as Vietnam, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Algeria, applauded the military for routing the insurgents from their stronghold in Sambisa forest.

No-Sweat, who in 1983, was persuaded by former President Shehu Shagari to return to Nigeria from Afghanistan, insisted that ``anyone who knows the intricacies of fighting ideologically-motivated wars would have no reason but to commend the Nigerian military in the last few months. ``Routing the insurgents from their operational base in Sambisa forest in an unconventional war is legendary. ``The United States which initially ruled out negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan later entered into a dialogue through President Hamid Kharzai of the country. ``It will also be recalled that in 1979, the now-defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics pledged never to negotiate with the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. ``But at the end of the day, the Soviets were forced to withdraw from the country after 10 years of intense fighting, so, fighting insurgency is a very difficult task’’. He said what should preoccupy the minds of Nigerians should be how to effectively engage the traditional institutions to play their roles to fish out strange characters in their various communities. ``President Buhari has discharged his constitutional role of providing security to protect lives and property of Nigerians. ``The military has also discharged its constitutional role of defending the territorial integrity of the country. ``But the traditional rulers must think out of the box.

Boko Haram elements live in communities, in villages, in towns, in cities and in neighbourhoods. ``In the past, no one lives in a community without the knowledge of the emir or heads of wards, villages and districts across the entire northern region. ``So, the traditional rulers have a role to play to complement the efforts of the military and other security outfits,’’ No-Sweat said.

By and large, observers insist that irrespective of the feat achieved by the military, government must not ignore other options, including granting amnesty to the repentant insurgents.

Mr James Bamidele, a social analyst, observe that if granting amnesty to the repentant insurgents will stop bombings and killings to guarantee sustainable peace, the government should consider it.

Sani Adamu is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

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Feature

Why did China hold a cremation competition?

I

t was the first-ever national contest for cremation workers, but its very existence cuts to the heart of Chinese ideas about death, land use and a desire to instil national pride in a stigmatised vocation.

How do you win a cremation competition?

Details on the actual challenges were scant in state media reports, which said contestants had to show “technical operational skills” and take an examination on vocational knowledge.

The civil affairs ministry did not respond to the BBC’s request for details.

But a document on its website (in Chinese) lists key national standards which include: furnace preparation, receiving and cremating the body, collecting the ashes, and maintaining and fixing equipment.

A ministry spokesman told Xinhua news agency that an important aspect of being a cremation worker was to have “a diligent attitude, and send off the deceased in a peaceful and holistic manner”.

Family members should also receive their loved ones’ ashes in as pure a form as possible - “as white as ivory and without any kind of impurity”.

The top three winners were from the crematorium associated with Beijing’s famed Babaoshan cemetery, and another one in the city of Nanchang.

What’s it like being a cremation worker in China?

State media featured the stories of several who took part in the competition.

They spoke of the long hours and the difficulties of working all day in rooms that can reach up to 50 Celsius in temperature and managing 600 Celsius furnaces.

“Usually we have to work 10 to 12 hours in each shift. When there’s a peak in our workload, we can get up to 250 to 260 bodies a day, we wouldn’t know when we’d knock off,” said Liu

Yong who works in a Shanghai crematorium.

Cao Lianxing from Jiangsu said cremation workers needed to be highly skilled.

“The bones need to be burnt completely while maintaining their white purity, there cannot be any black smoke. Once the day is done, we have to wait for the furnace to cool down so we can clean it to prevent the remains from clogging it up,” he said.

He added that his crematorium, which only has 10 workers, sees more than 10,000 bodies a year.

What does competitive cremating achieve?

One reason was to boost the profile and indeed morale of cremation workers, given an apparent shortage.

The civil affairs ministry said in a statement that the competition “enhanced society’s understanding of the cremation industry... and gave a strong push to the building of the cremation worker corps.”

A ministry spokesman said cremation workers faced strong social stigma as well as the potential health risk of handling bodies with infectious diseases.

“What they’re still most worried about is society’s prejudice,” he told Xinhua, adding that there were cases of cremation workers hiding their occupation when filling out school forms as they were worried their children would face discrimination.

The government has also promoted the practice to save land for farming and development.

Currently, about half of the 10 million people who die in China every year are cremated, according to figures from the European Federation of Funeral Studies.

As it becomes more widespread, crematoriums appear to be understaffed and overburdened.

Earlier this week the Chinese government hosted an unusual competition. More than 50 of the country’s best battled it out to be crowned the country’s top cremator.

About half of the 10 million people who die every year in China are cremated eager to encourage pride in cremating?

The competition can also be seen as part of a national drive to encourage vocational work.

It was part of a tournament testing the skills of various service jobs, from nursing the elderly to sign language translation. The overall winner gets awarded the National 1 May Labour medal by China’s trade union federation.

Last year Premier Li Keqiang called for reform in vocational education to maintain the employment rate and increase

the number of skilled workers.

Vocational work and schools are still looked down upon by many parents in China, who prefer their children attend universities instead, an irony perhaps, given that Chinese Communist ideology was founded on the importance of the worker.

The drive for more cremations has continued even though it was traditionally considered taboo.

Burning a loved one’s body can be seen as disrespectful.

Chinese culture has a

But why is the state so

Some cemeteries offer biodegradable urns, as seen at this Tianjin cemetery in 2010

“ The Chinese government has been promoting cremation to save land

tradition of ancestor worship.

It is also influenced by Taoist and Confucian beliefs, where “the destruction of the body often meant disconnection from family and ancestry, demolition of the place of return, and disappearance of the person,” wrote academic Christina Han of the University of Toronto in a paper on cremation.

Having a proper tomb to pay respects to is considered so important that there is a special day for it in the Chinese calendar - Qing Ming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, when families gather to tidy the graves of their loved ones and make offerings to the departed’s spirits.

But government drives such as setting cremation targets and making cremation mandatory has had unintended social consequences.

China Daily reported in March on a spike in grave robbing, and elderly people committing suicide before local officials mandated cremation, so they could be buried.

In November 2014 two officials were arrested after they allegedly bought corpses from grave robbers to meet government cremation targets.

Source: BBC

The competition can also be seen as part of a national drive to encourage vocational work. It was part of a tournament testing the skills of various service jobs, from nursing the elderly to sign language translation. The overall winner gets awarded the National 1 May Labour medal by China’s trade union federation.

Last year Premier Li Keqiang called for reform in vocational education to maintain the employment rate and increase the number of skilled workers.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Page 39

Weekend Revue

With Tobias Lengnan Dapam lovelengz@yahoo.com

Diamond hitz top 5 A

t no.2 is t he most

r e g ul a r fa ce o n t h e D M E’ s p l a t f o r m , Q ue e n J u lie t t a also k nown a s quee n of p o p . The diva bl o s s o m s in her single , ‘ NA YOU’ , a t t r a c t i n g f o l l o w e r s across t he c o un t r y .

A

T

opping the chart is Lil Jessica featuring Lil Micky, in a song titled; ‘My Mummy’. The song made waves in the FCT and attracted a lot of followers online.

t no.3, is Jayson Gold with the hit single; ‘Girl on Fire’, which the video is expected next year. The young talented artist has registered his name in the industry and is becoming a force to reckoned with.

A

t no.4, is Mike Wonder, with the cover track; ‘I will pray for you’ which he rendered with a unique guitar solo. The artist is a talented guitarist, who has attracted a lot of fans across the country.

A

t no. 5, is S O L E X with the s o n g ‘Unlimited Rap’.

The song got good recognitions and downloads based on its lyrics and delivery.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Page 40

Weekend Revue Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney ready for “yes I do” in 2016

I

Taylor Kinney and Lady Gaga

f events of 2015 were anything to go by then there will be array of celebrity weddings in 2016.

Already, there were slew of celebrity engagements that happened in 2015, which many feel is a good chance for a few star-studded weddings in 2016.

T o p s among the likely brides and grooms are “Chicago Fire” star Taylor Kinney, who proposed to longtime girlfriend Lady Gaga on Valentine’s Day with a huge hearts h a p e d sparkler.

Amy documentary has ‘inaccuracies’- Reg Traviss

T

he 38-year-old filmmaker doesn’t think director Asif Kapadia has made a film which truly told the story of his late fiancee - who died in July 2011 aged 27 - because there was a certain “narrative” he wished to portray.

He said: “I think it’s a misrepresentation of Amy as a person, as an individual, and in order for the narrative that Kapadia wanted to portray he ended up having to exclude parts of Amy’s life - relationships with various people and literally the way she led her life.

“I think what happened with that is with excluding all of those

Sylvester Stallone Reg Traviss

things, they misrepresented Amy as an individual and as a personality because the Amy that was portrayed in the film is not what she was like as a person and certainly isn’t the way she led her life. So there are a lot of inaccuracies.”

Reg thinks Asif wanted to create something “sensationalist” and also tell a story he thought the audience wanted to see, rather than what was actually true.

He told BANG Showbiz: “He had a narrative he wanted to adhere to, a kind of rise and fall, which I think he probably felt his audience would expect to see.

“When you’ve got someone from a very common background, as Amy was from, who has a phenomenal talent, I think a lot of people find that difficult to get their heads around.

“And what I think they’d like to do is point the finger and say, ‘Oh, great talent but also what a downfall, she couldn’t handle it,’ or whatever.

“I think he felt that his audience would want to see that kind of story because that’s something that a lot of people could probably get their heads around - it’s an easy beginning, middle and end. I think that’s what he did.”

Daniel Craig for Strictly Come Dancing

S

trictly Come Dancing’ bosses are reportedly keen to sign Daniel Craig to next year’s celebrity line-up.

The producers are desperate to secure the ‘James Bond’ hunk for the next series of the BBC One ballroom and latin programme, which will hit screens next September, as they believe his fancy footwork will heat up the competition.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “What a coup to get 007 on the dance floor. The professional girl dancers would all be fighting to be partnered with him.”

And the 47-year-old actor will no doubt be one of the front runners as he previously learnt to jive in 2003 when he played Ted Hughes opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in ‘Sylvia.’

Celebrity choreographer Jack

Murphy, who taught him how to dance for the film, told the Radio Times magazine at the time: “I was nervous because he’s an actor I hold in high esteem, but he was a fine dancer!”

Meanwhile, Jack believes ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ has encouraged people to fall in love with the sport again and given them the boost they need to climb off their sofas.

Daniel Craig

Daniel Radcliffe has savings of almost £60m

D

aniel Radcliffe has almost £60 million in savings.

The 26-year-old actor - who shot to fame playing Harry Potter in the movie adaptations of JK Rowling’s books - holds £59,393,476 in his company Gilmore Jacobs, according to reports filed to Companies House.

This is £2 million more than he had the year before, according to the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Aliona Vilani

Daniel Radcliffe

The new accounts date up until March 2015.

Meanwhile, Daniel recently admitted he finds watching his own movies “pointless” because he is so critical of himself.

He explained: “I stopped watching myself quite recently because it’s never great.

“Sometimes I’ll be happy, but I’ll never be like, ‘Oh yeah, that was awesome.’

“I always focus on the stuff that I would rather have done differently and it’s a bit pointless after a while.”

And he insisted that he was determined to become a huge success after ‘Harry Potter’ because he wanted to prove the doubters wrong.

He said: “Sometimes I think it’s useful for me to believe that’s what people are thinking.

PEOPLES DAILY

Sports

friday, january 1, 2016

Page

41

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Uganda’s club buy motorbikes for players to earn more cash

Club Chairman and a player

U

ganda Revenue Authority (URA) FC one of the country’s biggest clubs has encouraged their players to earn extra cash, by helping them to get into the lucrative motorcycle taxi business.

URA is helping the club’s players to buy motorbikes, commonly known as boda bodas, which are widely used by businesses in Uganda to transport people and luggage.

With the cost of living continuing to rise in the Ugandan capital Kampala, club chairman Ali Ssekatawa said they don’t longer want their players to strictly rely on the income they get from playing football.

The club’s management has, however, asked the players to hire riders and not to ride the motorbikes themselves, due to the risk involved.

There are over 100,000 boda boda taxis operating in Kampala, Uganda

Guardiola is addicted to football —Costa >>Pg 43

“We are looking at a way of having a self-sustaining system and when our staffs are sorted they can play well,” Ssekatawa said.

URA FC is one of the most popular Uganda Premier League sides and has represented the East African country in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions - Africa’s biggest continental club competitions.

The numbers of boda bodas have recently ballooned in Kampala, but so have the number of accidents - rising eight-fold in the past eight years, with businesses looking at safer ways of operating the bikes.

Earlier this year URA FC’s commissioner Doris Akol promised they would help the players with an alternative money-making venture and club chairman Ssekatawa delivered 17 motorbikes to the players at the club’s training ground.

Long-serving defender and Uganda international Simeon Masaba said he favoured the initiative, as it will help the players to earn extra income for their families.

“The club will be deducting our pay for some months so that we pay the percentage for the [running of the] motorbikes,” Masaba said.

The defender added that although the motorbike business is risky, with thieves targeting the boda bodas, he thinks if managed well it could make a good small business for the URA footballers.

“This is a good move by the club and most of us are happy about it,” striker Robert Ssentongo added.

Team coach Kefa Kisaala also received one of the bikes and said he was happy with the move.

However, attacking midfielder Saidi Kyeyune, said he did not agree with the initiative as he thinks it will be difficult to manage.

Aston Villa target Chelsea striker

>>Pg 44

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Page 42

Sport

Nasarawa United begin training ahead of CAF tourney

By Albert Akota

N

asarawa United Football Club of Lafia yesterday said they had begun preparations for the 2016 CAF Champions League and the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The club’s Chairman, Isaac Danladi, said in an interview that the preparations started with training exercise for the players.

Danladi said the club’s success by securing a continental competition ticket at the end of the 2014/2015 NPFL season had served as a motivation to the players and coaching crew.

He however said that the team’s playing personnel would be beefed up to achieve their desire next year.

“Our team has done well. But right now we are almost perfect, and we won’t be making many changes. However, we will beef up the team based on the coach’s discretion.

“We have a capable coach, who understands the players, and the players under-

stand him too, and this is important in any team.

“We have to prepare hard for our continental engagements. We don’t want to be knocked out in the preliminary rounds of our continental competition,” Danladi said.

While acknowledging that most of their players were yet to arrive in the club’s camp, the club chairman said they were being expected in camp before yesterday.

Nasarawa United finished in third place in the 2014/2015 Glo Premier League, after obtaining 63 points from 38 matches played.

Danladi said the club’s management was committed to ensuring that the team surpassed its previous achievement in the upcoming Glo Premier League season.

“Being among the first three in 2014/2015 will encourage us as a team, and motivating our players to give us their utmost best is important at this point in time.

“We need to build on the momentum gathered by the end of last season,” he said.

Nasarawa United

Udoh, Bassey to dump Enyimba Usman to dump CHAN Eagles for club for Akwa United return

By Albert Akota

E

nyimba duo, Mfon Udoh and Ezekiel Bassey, are set for a sensational return to their former club, Akwa United.

The Federation Cup holders who will make their debut appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup next year are looking to bolster their squad ahead of the new campaign.

The Promise Keepers are keen on bringing back the duo with the state governor, Emmanuel Udom, recently holding talks with them.

Udoh scored 16 goals for the

Uyo-based outfit in the 2012/2013 campaign before linking up with Enyimba the following season where he scored 23 goals, the most by any individual in the history of the Glo Premier League.

His teammate Bassey is also a key member of the Enyimba and home-based Eagles sides.

Akwa United recently appointed Belgian trainer, Maurice Cooreman, as their new coach after failing to renew the contract of Zachary Baraje.

N

igeria U23 midfielder Usman Mohammed will not be at CHAN according to one of his reps Midfielder Usman Mohammed is set to become the second Nigeria player to opt out of next month’s CHAN in Rwanda ahead of a move to Norwegian club Lillestrom, according to one of his representatives.

Warri Wolves striker Gbolahan Salami was the first Eagles player to stay away from the CHAN training camp in Abuja because he hopes to sign for a foreign club next week, which will make him ineligible for the competition reserved for players featuring in their various home leagues.

Nigeria U23 star Usman is still with the Eagles training in Abuja, but his representative has insisted he will not be flying out with the rest of the team for a training tour of South Africa on Saturday prior to the CHAN. “We have agreed a deal with Lillestrom along with top Norwegian agent Atta Aneke and Usman will not be travelling with the Eagles to South Africa because he has to report to Lillestrom on January 15,” said the player’s Amsterdam-based representative.

Portuguese club Uniao Madeira have also made a bid for the Usman Mohammed FC Taraba skipper.

Obaroakpo, Chikatara close to Kano Pillars

K

Udoh

ano Pillars are close to completing a deal for home-based Eagles duo, Austine Obaroakpo and Chisom Chikatara from Abia Warriors.

The former Glo Premier League Champions has agreed personal terms with the two players and are now awaiting clearance from Abia Warriors.

The Sai Masu Gida have also concluded plans to sign another player from the club, in the person of Ifeanyi Onyeali, a midfielder who was a key part of the Umuahia-based last season.

The Pyramid City side had a disappointing campaign in the league last season surrendering their title to Enyimba without a fight and finishing in a disappointing eighth position.

The management of the side have been trying to rejig the team ahead of the new season and the arrival of Obaroakpo and Chikatara, two of the best players in the top flight last season will no doubt improve their squad.

The 2015/2016 season is expected to start on January 31.

Chisom Chikatara

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Sport

Guardiola is addicted to football —Costa

B

ayern Munich winger Douglas Costa believes Pep Guardiola’s success is down to an addiction to football.

On December 20, it was announced the Spaniard would be leaving the Allianz Arena when his contract expires at the end of the season, with Carlo Ancelotti taking his place at the helm.

The Bavarian giants are on course for a third straight Bundesliga title under

Guardiola after taking an eight-point advantage into the mid-season break.

Costa says the former Barcelona coach is unlike anyone else he has worked under and changed his view on what the job is about.

The 25-year-old has supplied seven assists since making the switch from Shakhtar Donetsk to Bayern ahead of the 2014-15 season and he feels working with Guardiola has improved his game.

Page 43

Verratti wants Ancelotti reunion at Bayern Munich P

aris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti wants to work with future Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti again.

The Italy international previously played for Ancelotti during the 56-year-old’s spell in charge of PSG, and hopes to be

reunited with his countryman - who will take over from Pep Guardiola at Bayern ahead of next season - at some point, either at club level or with Italy.

“I would love to play under Carlo again one day,” Verratti said at a news conference.

“Maybe we will be reunited

with the national team. He would be a great coach for Italy.

“All the players have fond memories of Carlo. He teaches you a lot and is a very warm person, Verratti is in no rush to leave his current club, though, I am very happy at PSG,” he added.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola instructs Douglas Costa

Diouf hits out at Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher

E

l Hadji Diouf has revived his feud with former Liverpool teammates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in an interview with Sofoot. com.

Diouf, who scored six goals in 79 games for the Reds after joining for £10 million in 2002, told the French magazine Gerrard was an “egotist” who didn’t care about Liverpool winning.

The former Senegal forward has previously accused Gerrard of racism and dismissed Carragher as “nothing” in his autobiography.

In the interview, the 34-year-old said:

“Steven Gerrard is a great club player but an egotist. He didn’t care about Liverpool winning all that mattered for him was getting on the scoresheet.

Asked who he would least like to spend Christmas with, Diouf answered: “Jamie Carragher. I hate him.” He also named Carragher when asked who the biggest turkey on the pitch was, adding: “I found him useless.”

Diouf, who also played for Bolton, also said he “hated” current Wanderers manager Neil Lennon, with whom he clashed during an Old Firm game while playing for Rangers in 2011.

PSG midfielder Marco Verratti with former coach Carlo Ancelotti

Newcastle chase Premier League rivals’ target Saivet

N

El Hadji Diouf

ewcastle United has set their sights on the purchase of Bordeaux versatile midfielder Henri Saivet.

The 25-year-old Senegal international, who has also attracted interest from a host of Premier League outfits including Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Southampton, has eighteen months left on his contract with the French Ligue 1 side, where he started his youth career in 2002.

Also linked with North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, Saivet carries a £3.5 million price tag.

Bordeaux Senegalese midfielder Henri Saivet

PAGE 44

Sport Aston Villa target Chelsea striker

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Bevan hopes of making Olympic Games

G

ymnast Brinn Bevan believes he still has a “small chance” of competing in the Olympic Games in Rio next summer.

The 18-year-old from Essex broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg after landing on a concrete floor while vaulting in November.

Less than a month before his injury, Bevan was part of the first British team to claim a World

Championships medal, when they won silver in Glasgow.

Bevan won a series of junior titles before he claimed bronze in the pommel horse at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

He had hoped to continue that progress at the Olympics in Brazil but, with only 247 days until the Games, he knows it will be a challenge to be ready in time.

Loic Remy

A

ston Villa boss Remi Garde will try to sign Chelsea striker Loic Remy on loan in the January transfer window.

Garde wants the 28-year-old Frenchman to strengthen a Villa side four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League - and 11 from safety.

“Loic is special because he knows the country and the league and he would be an interesting player for the team,” Garde said.

Countryman Garde was assistant manager at Lyon when Remy started his career at the Stade de Gerland.

The Villa boss will hope the

loss of document this is to inform the general public and abuja land registry dep/agis in particular that the original copy of the offer of statutory right of occupancy belonging to daar investment and holdings with new file number misc 50515 and old file number misc 16152 in respect of plot 2202 cadastral zone a04 asokoro abuja is missing and all efforts to trace it had been unsuccessful. this publication is required for record purposes and the appropriate documentation by agis. signed: chief raymond paul dokpesi jnr

PUBLIC NOTICE AGRICULTURAL SKILLS ACQUISITION & ADVANCEMENT CENTRE

The general public is hereby notified that the above-named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Ademola Ibikunle Taiwo 2. Barr. Yusuf Zakariya Dangana 3. Mrs. Nana Khadiza Adebiyi 4. Mr. Damisa Henry Omachonu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote foreign direct investment in agricultural sector.

2. To sensitize Nigerian youths on the potentials of agricultural ventures.

3. To organise technical and vocational skill acquisition programmes.

4. To collaborate with government at all levels for economic development.

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

Signed: SECRETARY

forward can add goals to a side that has scored just 15 times in 19 league games, the lowest in the division.

Remy joined Chelsea in a £10.5m move from QPR last year.

He has started only one Premier League game this season, scoring twice in the League Cup and once in the league.

Brinn Bevan hopeful of making Rio 2016

Woods at 40 with 14-time major champions legacy

I

magine Earl Woods choosing to put a baseball bat rather than a golf club into the hands of young Eldrick, his toddler son.

How different would golf be if Tiger Woods, who turns 40 on 30 December, had chosen to play something else?

As the ailing 14-time major champion struggles to swing a club again, he can celebrate this landmark birthday by reflecting that no-one has had a bigger impact on the game.

The 47-year-old Clarke has played most of his career with Woods as a great friend and rival.

Another of those fronts was Woods’ economic impact. In 1996, when he burst on to the scene, PGA Tour purses totalled more than $100m for the first time.

In the previous six years they had grown at a rate of 3.4%. Then Woods won the 1997 Masters by an astonishing 12 strokes.

It was the big bang moment, the first of 14 major triumphs for the then 21 year old.

The last of those came at the 2008 US Open and by then the PGA Tour schedule was worth $292m. Prize money inflation ran

at 9.3% in that period.

Woods’ greatest rival has been five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, who fully appreciates the way this trailblazer brought so much more money to golf.

Players may have been richer but many were shattered by Woods’ brilliance during his years of domination.

Colin Montgomerie insists one of the reasons he never won a major was that his opportunities were so limited by the prolific American. An in-form Woods only needed to turn up to win the biggest titles.

There was a sense of inevitability at the 2001 Masters when he completed a two-stroke win over David Duval to hold all four majors simultaneously.

No-one else has achieved such a feat and the run began at Pebble Beach in 2000 when Woods won his first US Open with the greatest golf ever played. He was the only man to break par on a course considered too tight for his driving game.

Woods put that erroneous notion to bed with a brilliant opening 65 before finishing 15 Tiger Woods’ career is fading away as the ailing star struggles with injury strokes clear of the field.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

PUBLIC NOTICE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CORRESPONDENT ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, ABUJA CHAPTER

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FRANCA OCHIGBO

- CHAIRMAN 2. WALTER UKAEGBU

- VICE CHAIRMAN 3. CHRISTIAN ONYEKACHI OKENWA

- GEN SEC 4. AMADI NNAMDI CAMILLUS

- ASST.GEN SEC 5. AYOADE OLATOKEWA

- TREASURER 6. VICTORIA IJEOMA CHIMEZIE

- WELFARE/PRO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. To coordinate the affairs of members who covers commerce, industry beats and parastatals under it.

2. To promote unity, peace, progress understanding and welfare among members 3. To provide a forum for members to exchange ideas, share experience and find mutual support and guidance on ethics and skills in reporting trade and investment’s beat.

4. To help promote government policies in a better view to the general publics.

Any objection to the registration of the above foundation should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

Signed- SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE kubwa ward student association bwri area council, fct abuja

This is to inform the general public that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ayuba augustine gazazhin -president 2. abanaze sani john -secretary 3. bitrus philip 4. ishaya abu 5. yako mercy danladi 6. ami nasco 7. bitrus richard 8. abubakar emmanuel 9. ali solomon THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. to provide a united front for our view to the appropriate authorities.

2. to involve ourselves in community develoment, scheme and render services to humanity in all sphere of life.

Any objection to the registration of the above foundation should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

Signed: secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE Change cultivators circuit initiative

Page 45

PUBLIC NOTICE eagle’s mountain arena ministry

This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. pastor iyke friday otuya 2. mrs ngozi akwitte 3. mr. ellioth oware 4. mr. oni michael olayinka funso 5. deacon marcus akpe 6. evangelist margeret otuya 7. mr. ifeanyi chukwudifu 8. arc. julius uchechukwu ibecheole THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. to preach the gospel of our lord jesus.

Any objection to the registration of the above foundation should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR Appointment of New Trustee TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SIJUADE OLUSOLA ILUYOMADE 2. OLUSOLA ADEJOKE DAVID-BORHA 3.OMOTAYO ABIMBOLA OZOMAH 4. REGINA ITAMAOMON JEMIDE THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR KOLA OYENEYIN THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAINS THE SAME.

Any objection to the registration of the above foundation should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE livingscience foundation

This is to inform the general public that the above named initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. carolyn seaman 2. titi fakoya 3. thomas 4. laban onisimus

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. pastor ezekiel odeyemi -chairman 2. pastor charles achonwa 3. pastor (mrs) adesola haastrup 4. dr. odun orioke 5. pastor segun olanipekun 6. prof. gregory erhabor 7. prof joshua ojo THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

-secretary -chair, barbara maigari -jeffery seaman

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. to provide a safe community platform (physical and virtual) for girls and women to connect and share their voices through their stories and life experiences while inspiring one another to make their voices count.

Any objection to the registration of the above foundation should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

Any objection to the registration of the above foundation should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

Signed: secretary

Signed: secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE Holiness power bible ministries

PUBLIC NOTICE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE BELIEVERS COVENANT CHURCH INT’

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor austin chinewubeze udeoha - re-appointed 2.sister juliana eberechukwu udeoha - re-appointed 3.bro. Emmanuel udeoha - re-appointed 4. otitodire Reuben - re-appointed 5. bro emmanuel onuoha - re-appointed 6.pastor ikelede sunday - appointed 7.pastor anietie benjamin umoren - removed

PUBLIC NOTICE GOD’S CHILDREN GREAT TALENT TRUST CAC/IT/ NO.74781

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1. to bring peace and unity among members.

PUBLIC NOTICE girls voices initiative

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Taiwo Kupolati 2. Mrs Adeola Kupolati 3. Daniel Ade-Peters 4. Mr Taiwo James Ajiboye 5. Miss Oluwakemi Jaiyeola Wey 6. Mr Ayodeji Adeosun 7. Mr Uchechukwu Kingdom Ani 8. Mr Richard Mark-Mbaram 9. Miss Tolulope Ruth Akinduro

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. greg wale williams 2. john tunji asaolu 3. kayode ajayi 4. bimbola adeosun 5. afaa abiodun mumini

Signed: secretary

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISION 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

This is to inform the general public that the above named societyhas applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) 1990.

Signed: paul olorum, esq

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEDGED.

PUBLIC NOTICE yoruba society for peace, progress and development

1. to provide a united front for our view to the appropriate authorities.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Pst. Benjamin Iroroevwo George JP. - Chairman 2.Pst. Mrs. Success Iroroevwo.

3.Comr. Oyibo Precious Ogheneochuko - Secretary 4.Evang. OwahUfuoma John 5.Evang. EmajemiteChima Evidence

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAINS THE SAME.

Aims and objectives: 1.To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGES SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISION 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISION 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: Barr.UjuPeace Mbah

PUBLIC NOTICE Floreach sam lnitiative

PUBLIC NOTICE WONDERS ARENA CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1)Mrs Remilekun Faniran Abiodun 2) Mwo lawrence olusesan Abiodun 3) mr samson oyeyiola Faniran- secretary 4)mr Abraham Oluniyi obasa - Member 5) mrs felicia olalere - Member THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.giving better life for the less previledge such as orphans, widow, youths and restoration of the lost dignity of humanity and every child attains.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS Appointment of New Trustee SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISION 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISION 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

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

The trustees are: 1. COLUMBA EKWONNA FERDINAND 2. CHARLES OSONDU NWOSU 3. OKECHUKWU CELESTINE NWOSU Aims and objectives are 1.TO CALL ITS MEMBERS TO ACTIVELY AND FAITHFULLY OCCUPY THEIR SPERES OF COMMISSION IN THE SOCIETY. 2. TO EDUCATE, TRAIN AND EQUIP BELIEVERS AND LEADERS. 3. TO EVANGELIZE ALL NATIONS, PEOPLES, AND LEADERS. Any objection to this registration should be forward 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 UNICOM CHAMBERS SUITE 100 COPPER HOUSE BESIDE SKYBANK, WUSE ZONE 5 ABUJA 092901208

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

dangana

I Formerly Known As, Dangana abdullahi isyaku. Wish To Be Known As, dangana abdullahi. All Former Document Remain Valid, sky bank, first bank plc and the General Public Should Take Note.

MR. EMMANUEL

I formerly known and called MR. EMMANUEL CHIKODI ONYAMECHI henceforth wish to be known and called MR. EMMANUEL CHIKA ONYAMECHI. all former document remain valid general public should please take note.

PRECIOUS

I formerly known and called PRECIOUS TITUS henceforth wish to be known and called PRECIOUS BILLY. all former document remain valid general public should please take note.

BALKISU

I formerly known and called BALKISU DANLADI henceforth wish to be known and called BALKISU DANJUMA. all former document remain valid Sterling Bank Minna and general public should please take note.

MRS. COMFORT

I formerly known and called MISS. COMFORT FAYAM henceforth wish to be known and called MRS. COMFORT DANLADI. all former document remain valid and general public should please take note.

MOHAMMADU

I formerly known and called ABUBAKAR GADZA henceforth wish to be known and called MOHAMMADU A. AGAIE. all former document remain valid and general public should please take note.

MRS MARYAM

PUBLIC NOTICE AFRICAN TRUST FUND FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT

The general public is hereby notified that the above named BODY has applied to the corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under part c’ of companies and allied matter act of 1990.

The trustees are: 1. PROF. DR. WINFRED PINGER. - CHAIRMAN 2. MRS ADETUTU OLUWATOBI OGUNNAIKE- VICE CHAIRMAN 3. HANS-JOACHIM MAURER - SECRETARY 4. WOLFGANG BONSCH Aims and objectives are 1. TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO FINANCE IN NIGERIA. 2. TO SUPPORT SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTREPRENEURS. 3. TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION Any objection to this registration should be forward 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: KINDNESS A.J. ESQ

PUBLIC NOTICE SENIOR GAMES FOUNDATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Paul O. Bankole - Chairman 2. Babatunde Popoola 3. Sam Osamugha 4. Deborah Dele Giwa - Secretary 5. Paul Nanna AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To cater for the welfare of its members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 565 Ndola Square, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed OLUFUNSHO ISAAC

I formerly known and called MISS. MARYAM ALHASSAN henceforth wish to be known and called MRS MARYAM ALHASSAN ALHASSAN. all former document remain valid and general public should please take note.

DANIEL I FORMERLY KNOWN AS WISDOM BAIYA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS DANIEL JAMES WISDOM . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN Valid. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

ICHORO

UMAR

I formerly known and called NWOVU BENEDICT henceforth wish to be known and called ICHORO OGOBUCHI ALO. all former document remain valid and general public should please take note.

MRS. HAFSAT

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS UMAR YUSUF. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS UMAR ALIYU AHMAD. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN Valid.

ALL OTHER AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

DANLAMI

I formerly known and called MISS LADIDI NUHU henceforth wish to be known and called MRS. HAFSAT LADIDI BUBA. all former document remain valid and general public should please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MUSA ADAMU. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS DANLAMI ALIYU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN Valid.

ALL OTHER AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

MRS. OGUNSANMI

EBIZIMOR

I formerly known and called MISS OSANYINBI FOLAKE JANET henceforth wish to be known and called MRS. OGUNSANMI FOLAKE JANET. all former document remain valid and general public should please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS PREYE EKPEGHA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS EBIZIMOR PREYE RAPHAEL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN Valid.ALL OTHER AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

ABSAD

saidat

I formerly known and called ABSAD HUSSAINI ABDULGAFAR henceforth wish to be known and called ABSAD SADIS ABDALLAH. all former document remain valid and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known as sa’adatu bashir, now wish to be known as saidat bashir, all former documents remain valid. zenith bank sky bank and the General public to please take note.

hawawau

Abbati

I formerly known and called tani mohammed henceforth wish to be known and called hawawau abubakar. all former document remain valid. fct ubeb and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known as Auwal Mohammed Buchi, now wish to be known as Abbati Auwalu, all former documents remain valid the General public to please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE EARTHLY TRUTH AWARENESS ORGANISATION

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Ezebube Nriapia 2. Mr. Paul Agbama 3. Mr Innocent Obrozie

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote and sensitize the Society against corruptions Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 565 Ndola Square, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE THE GREEN REVOLUTION ABAYOMI MUMUNI FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above-named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Abayomi Mumuni 2. Fahad Mumuni 3. Oluremi Falola 4. Nabil Mumuni AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To cater for people affected with general crisis.

2. To give its members and the less privileged general academic support.

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

Signed: OKECHUKWU OSUWA ESQ 08026447433

PUBLIC NOTICE LEKKI GARDENS 2 RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

The general public is hereby inform that the above named has applied to CAC for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Chief Olatokunbo Thomas - Chairman 2. Chibuzo Emma-Audu - Secretary 3. Mohammed Baba Lawal 4. Emma Udekwe 5. Sunday Awazie 6. Mrs. Lilian Madu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster co-operation among residents of the Estate.

2. To encourage communal participation in the building and sustaining of a safer and more secure Estate.

3. To provide peaceful co-operation among its members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, CAC, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

Signed: BARR. EZEJI GLORIA 08038769236

PUBLIC NOTICE RESTORE EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The general public is hereby inform that the above named has applied to CAC for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Nwankpa Okechukwu - Chairman 2. Ngozi Okechukwu 3. Nse Ikwo Martina (Ph.d) 4. Ahumibe Ifeoma Gift 5. Nwankwoagu Jude Elochukwu AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To restore the lost glory in education.

2. To improve the standard of education.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, CAC, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

Signed: OKECHUKWU NGOZI 08037230581

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, january 1, 2016

Some Interesting Facts 1. The first automobile race ever seen in the United States was held in Chicago in 1895. The track ran from Chicago to Evanston, Illinois. The winner was J. Frank Duryea, whose average speed was 71/2 miles per hour.

2. Each of us generates about 3.5 pounds of rubbish a day, most of it paper.

3. Women manage the money and pay the bills in 75% of all Americans households.

4. A rainbow can be seen only in the morning or late afternoon. It can occur only when the sun is 40 degrees or less above the horizon.

5. It has NEVER rained in Calama, a town

Leisure

in the Atacama Desert of Chile.

6. It costs more to buy a new car today in the United States than it cost Christopher Columbus to equip and undertake three voyages to and from the New World.

7. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

8. An eighteenth-century German named Matthew Birchinger, known as “the little man of Nuremberg,� played four musical instruments including the bagpipes, was an expert calligrapher, and was the most famous stage magician of his day. He performed tricks with the cup and balls that have never been explained. Yet Birchinger had no hands, legs, or thighs, and was less than 29 inches tall.

9. Daylight Saving Time is not observed in most of the state of Arizona and parts of Indiana.

Ants closely resemble human manners: When they wake, they stretch & appear to yawn in a human manner before taking up the tasks of the day.

quick crosswords

CROSSWORD SOLUTION 119

CROSSWORD SOLUTION 118

Say what?

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A bare wooden floor has never felt cosier with this giant fluffy canine to snuggle up to.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

FRIday, january 1, 2016

QUOTABLE QUOTE Employment generation will be greatly enhanced by the attention that will be given by sectors such as agriculture and solid minerals, which are usually located in rural areas, but can, stimulate growth and massive job creation for the teaming unemployed youth.

-President Muhammadu Buhari

SPORTS Open Letter to Femi Adesina latest

Ikhana backs Enyimba to succeed

S

F

ormer Enyimba coach Kadiri Ikhana believes his exit will not derail the team’s preparations for the upcoming CAF Champions League starting in February.

Despite leading the Peoples’ Elephant to their seventh league title, Ikhana was not offered a contract extension.

Enyimba have reportedly earmarked Warri Wolves coach Paul Aigbogun, Bulgarian Mitko Dobrev and Super Eagles assistant Salisu Yusuf as possible replacements for Ikhana.

The club has snatched Aminu Musa from Giwa to assist the yet to be announced new man at the helm.

“There were no issues. It is the wish of the club. If you want to know why I left the club, call the club management and they will tell you,” Ikhana said.

“I didn’t leave the club voluntarily. And there is nothing wrong with my leaving the team at this time because the players have been together for many years and Enyimba is a name that everybody knows.

“I don’t think my exit will affect the team. I’m an applicant now. If you have a club, maybe I’ll consider your offer.”

Heartland promises fans good football

T

he Captain of Heartland FC of Owerri, Chinedu Efugh, assured fans of the club that it would return to its winning ways in the 2015/2016 Glo Premier League Championship.

Efugh said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. The club finished in the seventh position on the league’s log with 56 points from 38 matches played in the last season.

The captain of the club added that training would begin Jan. 5, 2016, adding that the team will ensure that they leave no stone unturned.

“We will resume training in January and we intend to return to our winning ways with the support of our fans and management; our dedication is a hundred per cent.

“Coming seventh last season was not what we wanted but we are forging ahead and we hope to make our fans proud of us by God’s grace,’’ Efugh added.

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Dear Mr. Femi Adesina. ince I am a victim of association to one of the most vilified and scandalised Nigerians through media trial, this Open Letter is the best opportunity for me to put some issues in proper perspective following some of your public remarks about your old friend.

As you are aware, I have been actively involved in cementing relationship between the media and security agencies in the recent past. Immediately after my premature retirement from the public service by the Jonathan administration, I was invited by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retired), to help in changing the negative media narrative on Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaigns. It was at a period when the Boko Haram was having the upper hand in the propaganda campaign of the war against Nigeria with a section of the foreign media castigating Nigerian troops as “cowardly” “undisciplined” and “ill-trained.”

Among other things, I have the responsibility of consulting for the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), then Chaired by Major General Chris Olukolade, which has membership from critical public institutions including the military, security, intelligence and response agencies. We also created and sustained web portals for providing accurate and timely information to the public.

I must commend Mr. Femi Adesina for playing greater roles on the success of our campaign because as the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, you also encouraged Editors to support our activities through occasional self-censorship to manage negative terrorists’ propaganda.

Being one of the closest Editors to former National Security Adviser, you were always sincere and frank when you met and discussed with Dasuki. You never hid your hardened support for the candidacy of General Buhari of All Progressive Congress (APC).

I remember your annoyance over security clampdown on the media and when you sought Dasuki’s intervention for compensation for media organisations over their loss rather than engaging in prolonged court cases. I was with you on that occasion in his office.

Apart from interfacing between FOSSRA and media representatives at different levels and locations, which you encouraged, Sambo Dasuki too, as National Security Adviser occasionally hosted Media Debriefing sessions where sensitive information was disseminated with supported photos and video clips. Many of such sessions were classified, not

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Friday Column

By Yushau A. Shuaib

Femi Adesina for publication, where atrocities of terrorists; the gallantry of the Nigerian troops and sophisticated equipment deployed for counterterrorism operations were disclosed or shown.

I am glad that not only were you adequately informed of those success stories of Jonathan administration’s war on terror, you even took the pain to pen an opinion article eulogising Dasuki for keeping to his promise of clearing all known terrorists’ camps before the handover to the new government.

As a respected columnist, your article of May 1, 2015 on the back page of the Daily Sun with the title“A little Late But Not too Late,”clearly exonerates Dasuki from some allegations and also reveals some concrete facts of achievements that were not being reported in the media.

It is therefore, baffling that the same Femi Adesina, could brazenly contradict himself shortly after gaining public office in his official statements. Some of us who know your cordial relationship with Dasuki and information at your disposal are indeed baffled by your dramatic turn-around in so short a time.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to point out that not all funds in ONSA are meant for arms procurement.

As you are aware, under its Special Service Office (SSO), funds are expended on training, espionage, communication, special interventions for special causes including NGOs. One of the successful programmes under ONSA is Soft-Approach to countering terrorism, of which deradicalization without the use of force through economic empowerment, education, communication, rehabilitation and counselling were part. The

Presidential Initiative on NorthEast (PINE) was conceived from the Soft Approach.

As a media consultant who has distributed over 1000 releases on behalf of the military and security agencies, I can state the following as a fact from official documents and releases: On August 6, 2015, through PRNigeria, Dasuki named and provided pictures of sophisticated weapons bought for the military, which included: “Alpha jets, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) APCs, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunitions, highly sophisticated surveillance drones, T72 Battle Tanks and modification of F7 supersonic jet fighters.” Even in his official response to your statement against him on November 18, 2015, Dasuki mentioned official acknowledgements of delivery of some of the equipment by the security chiefs.

It is therefore laughable when critics claim that no weapons were purchased when a video from Boko Haram leader Shekau displayed captured sophisticated weapons after alleged mutinous soldiers fled Baga At the twilight of Jonathan’s administration more than 22 towns in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states were recovered and confirmed with video and pictorial evidences through military press releases. Some of the towns recovered before the coming of President Buhari included: Abadam, Askira, Baga, Bama, Biu, Buni Yadi, Damboa, Goniri, Gujba, Gulani, Gwoza, Hong, Konduga, Kukawa, Marte, Madagali, Michika, Monguno, Mubi, and others. A clear testimony to some of the accomplishments was the official DHQ release dated March 16, 2015 with reference No: DHQ/ ABJ/901/32/DDI and a title: “Troops Finally Rout Terrorists from Bama and Last Stronghold in Yobe.”

Even though when you confirmed in the same article while you were still a columnist that “Sambisa Forest is falling” it was actually stormed by Nigerian troops where about 300 kidnapped women and children were rescued with video evidence before the emergence of the current administration.

In an attempt to indict Sambo Dasuki, some media leak unethically expose expenditures of sensitive agencies like National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Service and

others to public ridicules. This is unfair. It was for sensitive nature of issues that we guarded the recruitment of Special M Forces to help in the air while Nigerian troops recaptured the ground. Some would rather call our technical Advisers asSouthAfrican mercenaries. Even when Nigeria financially supported some neigbouring countries to participate in the Multi-National Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) it was deliberately done because they were initially reluctant as foreign powers were not helping Nigerian troops.

Since Dasuki and others are now being arraigned in court, rather than the continued media trial and planned secret trials, let the trial commence in open court to enable prosecutors and accusers present their arguments to remove facts from fictions and reality from illusions.

Sir, as you know that I have tremendous respect for you, I strongly urge you to use your good office to protect the integrity of critical institutions like security and the media from public ridicule as some patriotic officers, media organisations, and publishers are already being indicted without fair trial in the court of law.

While I vouch for your professional integrity, you know for a fact that Dasuki is kind and obediently loyal in and out of office. You know that for sure, Mr. Femi.

As we end 2015, I pray the year 2016 will not be one of media circus but one in which the rule of law will determine official actions and suspects of all kinds will have their rights under the constitution respected. This is my last article on this issue and I do this with the best of intention to protect our institutions.

Yushau A. Shuaib is reachable on blog: www. yashuaib.com, or yashuaib@ yahoo.com

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