Monday, February 3, 2020 Edition

Monday, February 3, 2020/ Jumadal Thani 8, 1441 AH Vol. 33 No. 050 N150

2123 Days after

Abducted wife of Kaduna doctor killed - Police >>pAGE 7

@pmlonline

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

No going back on IPPIS for civil servants -Buhari

page 5

Repatriation of $321m looted assets:

AGF, NSA, 4 ministers head to Washington page 5

 Fulani Cultural Troupe displaying during celebration of the West African Social Activities at the Army Garrison Headquarters, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Adeniran Transport Lassa fever Coronavirus: Buhari cases in ambulance, emerges Surveyor- sends good wishes to General agency warns President Jinping pAGE 2

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

News

CONTENTS News 2-14 Editorial Op.Ed

11 12-13

Politics 15-17 Feature Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

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Transport all Lassa fever cases in ambulance, agency warns From Ahmad Bauchi

Mohammed,

T

he Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency has warned that all lassa fever cases should be transported in an ambulance and not in a commercial car because it can be transmitted to those in the vehicle.

This is as the agency has confirmed seven lassa fever cases in the state in 2020.

The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, who disclosed this to journalists at a Press Conference in Bauchi over the weekend, said that the suspected cases have now risen to 22.

Mohammed said “the last time we told you that we had 15 suspected cases but as at now, the suspected cases have increased to 22. I also told you last time that we had three confirmed cases, four new cases have been added bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to seven” He said “The seven new confirmed cases this year are as follows: Bauchi has two, Tafawa Balewa has two, while Kirfi, Alkaleri and Toro have one case each.

Executive Secretary said “We have two more suspected cases in Giade Local Government and one in Azare, Katagum LGA. We are planning on what to do with Azare

because it is close to Kano state and since there is an outbreak there (in Kano), we are now afraid,” Mohammed said that lassa fever was not new in the state said that all the suspected cases have been sent to the National Disease Control Center in Abuja for testing and authentication.

He said that no death has so far been recorded in the state since the outside this year.

Mohammed added that there was a suspected case that was brought “there from Giade and the patient was bleeding, so they were confused. We in Bauchi are not panicking, we are trained and this is not new to us in the state, so we know what to do.”

He said that Bauchi State has

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye (2nd, L), leading RCCG pastors and members on a prayer walk for Nigeria, yesterday in Lagos.

NGF condemns plateau killings PG 7

Digest

25

Feature

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been helping states like Gombe, Plateau, Kano, on what to do with the new cases in their states.

He said that the agency will soon embark on an aggressive campaign through radio and television jingles and other media to sensitize the public on all preventive measures that they need to undertake to stay safe and prevent the disease from spreading.

Mohammed called on the public not to put emphasis only of rat to human transmission saying that although it (rat) is that initial infection but “most of the infections you get today, are not from rats but from human to human and contact with an infected person must be prevented.”

Photo: NAN.

Sports 30-31 Back Page

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One killed as cult groups clash in Delta community From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

O

ne person has been killed following a clash between two rival cult groups in Orerokpe Community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend.

A suspected member of one of

the groups, one Jacob Onobrerore was allegedly murdered during the melee which ensued during nightfall.

It was gathered that, the fight was informed by supremacy battle between the two prominent cult groups in the area as it has been routine tradition of cultists to

always show supremacy powers in rivalry.

But the Police Commissioner in the state, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwah who spoke to journalists on Sunday, said that Jacob Onobrerore was a member of a confraternity was shot dead by a rival cult group, adding that

investigation was however ongoing with a view to bringing peace to the area.

He said one Goodluck Amadi was arrested trying to deposit his corpse at the Orerokpe General Hospital mortuary and he is currently being detained at the State CID.

Disregard social media list of political appointees, says Kebbi govt From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

A

s a matter of urgency, the Kebbi State government has called on the general public to disregard the purported list of political appointees in the state including Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Advisers

(SAs)’s circulated on social media platforms.

In a press statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Special Adviser of the Governor on Media Malam Yahaya Sarki, said that the attention has been drawn to a purported list being circulated in the social media containing the names of newly appointed SAs and

SSAs by Kebbi State Government.

“Members of the public are informed to disregard that list as it has not originated from Kebbi State Government by any means,” he said.

Yahaya also reminded the public to disregard any information and document in the social media on the state government’s activities

that did not emanate from the office of the Special Adviser to the governor on media.

“The purported list of SAs and SSAs to the governor of the state government being circulated in social media is once again false and baseless and therefore urged the public to disregard the information out rightly,” the adviser said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

News

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

Int’l community praises China’s response to novel coronavirus

By Ochiaka agency report

Ugwu

with

W

orld Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: China’s measures are not only protecting its people, but also protecting the people of the world.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen: Cambodia will not suspend flights from China for the time being. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Cambodia stands with the Chinese people in fighting against the contagion.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian: France highly appreciates the Chinese government taking active and powerful measures to deal with the disease and staying committed to curb the spread of the contagion. France is willing to provide all the necessary assistance to China as long as it needs.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne: The Australian government firmly supports the Chinese government and people in their fight against the new coronavirus epidemic.

Australia appreciates China for sharing information in time and actively communicating with the international community in an open and transparent manner when dealing with the epidemic.

ROK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha: The ROK side highly values the Chinese government and people’s unity and determination to resolutely control the novel coronavirus epidemic, and appreciates the powerful measures China has taken. Facing difficulties, neighbors should support and help each other. The ROK is willing to work with China to meet the challenges and stop the spread of the epidemic, and will provide the necessary medical supplies as soon as possible according to the needs of the Chinese side.

Buhari appoints Adeniran as Surveyor General

By Ochiaka Ugwu

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Surveyor Taiwo Samuel Adeniran as the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF).

In a statement released in Abuja yesterday and signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF), Mr. Abu I. Michael, it noted that this was conveyed in a letter with reference FMPW & H/42935/S.1/

T2/86 dated 29th January, 2020 signed by the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Works and Housing that supervises the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF), His Excellency, Babatunde Fashola, SAN”.

The statement also stated that a letter addressed to Surveyor Adeniran by the Minister states, “I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved your appointment as the Surveyor General of the Federation in

accordance with the powers conferred on him by Section 171 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”.

It informed that the appointment which took effect according to the letter as from 10th January, 2020 is for a term of four (4) years in the first instance and also renewable upon satisfactory performance.

It could be recalled that the new SGoF was Director International Boundary and has served in different Ministries, Departments

and Agencies (MDAs) of the Government manning offices and units responsible for surveying activities.

He has written several awardwinning papers, “Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Using Geospatial Data” was one of such.

“His appointment indicates the President’s commitment of ensuring square-pegs in square-holes for better services and delivery of the dividends of democracy to Nigerians” the statement concludes.

L-R: Acting Executive Director, Project Pink Blue, Comrade Emeka Nwagboso, Founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF) and the First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr Zainab Bagudu, Executive Director, Transcorp Hotel PLC., Okaima Ohizua and the General Manager of Transcorp hotels , Mr. Kevin Brett with other stakeholders, , during the Walk Against Cancer’ awareness campaign, marking the 2020 World Cancer Day organized by project pink blue at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Anambra: Fire razes INEC office in Idemili North LGA

T

he office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra was on Sunday gutted by fire.

Confirming the incident

to journalists, SP Haruna Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer in the state command, said “the fire allegedly emanated from bush a burning.

“However, the extent of damages done is yet to be

determined.”

Mohammed said that on receiving a report, a police patrol team led by DPO Ogidi Division was dispatched to the scene of the fire and the Fire Service Department immediately

contacted.

The PPRO also confirmed that no fewer than seven persons sustained varying degrees of injury in another fire incident at a residential building in Onitsha.

(NAN)

BEDC installs meters to 2,500 households in Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti

By Osaigbovo Benin

T

Iguobaro,

he Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), has installed a total of 2,500 units of prepaid meters for its customers across its franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti.

The Managing Director of the company, Mrs Funke Osibodu disclosed this during an interaction with journalists

at the weekend in Benin on the activities of the company in 2019.

Represented by Edo Chief State Head, by Abel Enechaziam, she said the company’s target was to install 10,000 unit meters for its customers in 2019, but due to some issues it was not able to achieve the target, adding that metering of customers will improve considerably this year.

Mrs Osibodu assured that

the installation of meters will help to curb estimated billing in its franchise states.

She further disclosed that as part of efforts to bring electricity to all the communities in its franchise States, as at October 2019, the company successfully connected 48 communities to the national grid.

He added, “20 communities were connected in Delta, 16 in Edo, six in Ondo while six were connected Ekiti state. These are

communities that has not gotten electricity before,” According to her, to improve electricity distribution and enhancing service delivery to its customers, it has commissioned 32 transformers, eight new injection substations as well as construction of three new 11KV feeders among others She explained that the company’s target this years was to ensure that customers under its jurisdiction will have

not less than nine hour supply of electricity, adding that if the collaboration with other stakeholders is successful, it will increase to not less than 12 hours daily.

While lamenting the vandalism of the company’s facilities, he appealed to Communities to help police the facilities, noting that the vandalism always lead to disruption of electricity in the affected area.

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News

Buhari restates commitment to better healthcare

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s commitment to provide better healthcare for all Nigerians.

He added that his Next Level agenda will focus on healthcare for all Nigerians as the basis of its human capital development efforts.

The President stated this on Thursday at the official launch of the ‘Nursing Now’ campaign, held in Abuja to mainstream the involvement of nurses in policymaking activities of government in the heath sector.

Buhari, who recounted the progress his administration has made towards bringing healthcare closer to the people, said the nation cannot achieve greatness without making health a priority.

He said, “My administration places priority on the health of citizens as a cornerstone of human capital development. Therefore, we will ensure healthcare is positioned as the focus of our Next Level agenda.

“I am pleased to say we have made progress with the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and our commitment is now attracting support from donors and development partners.”

Represented by Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health, President Buhari also said the Federal Government will continue to support nurses and midwives in the country to remain faithful to the values of their profession.

He called on nurses, midwives, and all health professionals to work together to protect and restore the well-being and health of Nigerians; saying, “no nation can achieve greatness, if the people are not healthy.”

Speaking also, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba advocated the removal of regulatory barriers to the upward mobility of nurses and midwives in the healthcare system.

He lamented that many of them were stunted in their careers, despite attaining Doctoral and Professorial status in key areas of specialisation.

Similarly, Comrade Rafiu Adeniji, the President of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM; identified shortage of manpower, inadequate training institutions, and insecurity as part of the challenges hindering the effective practice of nursing and midwifery in the country.

He said, “In most hospitals, when there are terror attacks, nurses are the first victims. Many abducted nurses and midwives are still held captives by terrorists and bandits, but focus is not placed on them.

“While we lament shortage of manpower, there is no doubt that attacks on health facilities negatively impacts the morale of nurses and midwives.”

Adeniji, however, described the ‘Nursing Now’ campaign as step in the right direction towards addressing these challenges as it promotes the involvement of nurses and midwives not only as clinicians but as health policy formulators and implementors.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Group tasks NEDC on implementation of North East blueprint

By Mahmud Isa

C

oncerned indigenes of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States have called on the North East Development Commission, NEDC, to expedite action in implementing the commission’s blueprint for peace to return to the region.

The indigenes, otherwise called North East Development Association, NEDA, made call in Abuja at a press briefing to draw the attention of the NEDC to address numerous socioeconomic challenges in the North East.

Spokesman of the group, Abubakar Umar Bitako explained that nine months after the inauguration of the NEDC,

the commission has failed to provide the expected support to the victims of the insurgency in line with its constitutional mandate.

“This association is calling on the management team of the North East Development Commission, NEDC, to as a matter of utmost urgency wake up to their duties as their silence in the equation of their responsibilities is becoming worrisome.

Northeasterners have started asking questions on their existence, particularly with the recent series of terrorist attacks in the sub-region and display of laxity in the implementation of their wonderful blueprints in terms of both immediate and the long term measures.” Bitako added.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for establishing the NEDC, Mr. Umar Bitako pledged the association’s and the entire people of the North East commitment to assist the commission in finding the short and long time solution to the challenges.

He said “The commission, NEDC was inaugurated on the 8th of May 2019 by Mr. President and a takeoff grant of Ten Billion Naira(N10,000,000,000:00) was given to them and another Twenty-Six Billion Naira (N26,000,000,000:00) was subsequently disbursed to the commission, ie a whopping sum of Thirty-Six Billion Naira(N36,000,000,000:00) is so far in the coffers of the

Commission.

Hence, this amount to Northeasterners, particularly, the victims of insurgency and other related conflict in the sub-region is supposed to be a palliative measures, thus, an alleviation model, but silence in biting the region hard. The question is, when are they going to hit the ground running?”

On what the association need the NEDC to do, Mr. Bitako said infrastructures damaged by the insurgents must be reconstructed and rehabilitate while the displaced victims should be supported to return to their ancestral home.

NEDC was established following the passage of the NEDC Bill and assented to it by the President in 2018.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

News

Repatriation of $321m looted assets: AGF, NSA, 4 ministers head to U.S.

By Lateef Ibrahim and Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A

ttorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, yesterday departed Nigeria to attend a threeday meeting of the United StatesNigeria Bi-national Commission in Washington DC. At the meeting, Malami is expected to, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,sign a tripartite agreement with Nigeria, the Island of New Jersey and the United States of America for repatriation of $321m looted assets, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to recover more stolen funds stashed abroad.

In addition to Malami, the

Nigerian government delegation expected to be part of the meeting include the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd), Minister of Foreign Affairs; Geoffrey Onyeama, National Security Adviser; Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) as well as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Sadiya Umar Faruk.

These disclosures were contained in a statement issued

by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice issued in Abuja on Sunday.

The statement explained that the meeting is an annual event

between Nigeria and United States of America aimed at reviewing bilateral relationship and taking necessary steps to advance mutual interest in all diplomatic areas among the two countries.

According to the Minister, the meeting is not an an adhoc event for addressing impromptu concerns, but a friendly bi-national meeting that holds annually devoid of intervening concerns or relating to the internal affairs of the participating states.

The statement reads, “Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has on Sunday departed Nigeria to attend a three-day meeting of the United States-Nigeria Bi-national Commission in Washington DC.

“At the meeting, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is expected to, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, sign a tripartite agreement with Nigeria, the Island of New Jersey and the United States of America for repatriation of $321m looted assets, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to recover more stolen funds stashed abroad.

“The meeting is an annual event between Nigeria and United States of America aimed at reviewing bilateral relationship and taking necessary steps to advance mutual interest in all diplomatic areas among the two countries.

“The meeting is not an an adhoc event for addressing impromptu concerns, but a

friendly bi-national meeting that holds annually devoid of intervening concerns or relating to the internal affairs of the participating states.

“In addition to the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Abubakar Malami, SAN the Nigerian government delegation expected to be part of the meeting included Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd), Minister of Foreign Affairs; Geoffrey Onyeama, National Security Adviser; Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) as well as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Sadiya Umar Faruk”, it said.

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle); Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma (right), and APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomole during a meeting, on Friday at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Photo: State House

Kogi community attack: NEMA gives succour to 3,000 IDPs

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has responded to the recent attack on Tawari community in Kogi Local Government Area of kogi State with delivery of humanitarian support to provide succour for the affected victims.

Director General of NEMA Engr Mustapha Maihaja presented the humanitarian

support to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Edward Onoja who received the items on behalf of the victims in a brief ceremony at the community.

Maihaja who was represented

by Assistant Director Relief and Rehabilitation Mr Godwin Tepikor sympathized with the victims and requested the state officials and community leaders to cooperate with NEMA staff for direct distribution of the items to the intended

beneficiaries.

Responding, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State Edward Onoja appreciated NEMA for the prompt response and assured that the items would be distributed to the affected persons only.

This was contained in a statement signed by Manzo Ezekiel, Press Officer said Onoja advised the beneficiaries not to sell the relief items as this may defeat the good intention of the

Federal Government towards their plights.

About 3000 persons were displaced by the recent attack on the Tawari community where 25 lives were lost and about 207 buildings destroyed.

The humanitarian supports delivered by NEMA to the community were 750 bags of cement, 750 bundles of roofing sheets, assorted bags of food stuffs as well as building materials and household items.

Container-laden vehicle falls in Lagos, claims one – LASEMA

T

he Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said an accident which involved a 40ft containerladen articulated vehicle had claimed one life while two people sustained injuries in Ogudu, Lagos.

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.

According to him, on arrival at the scene at Ogudu “under bridge” inward Ojota, it was observed that there was a lone vehicle – a Mack truck loaded with 2 x 20ft containers.

“Further investigation revealed that the aforementioned articulated truck with an unknown registration number loss control while driving at top speed.

“It subsequently fell on its side and trapped three persons in the truck.

“The LASEMA responders sprang into action by extricating the victims with the aid of light rescue equipment.

“Two adult males were rescued, while an adult female unfortunately lost her life.

“The two casualties were taken to the nearest Trauma Centre for

medical care. The remains of the deceased are being transported to the nearby morgue for processing,” Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said.

The truck had been recovered by LASEMA’s equipment `Goliath’ (a Kalmar Forklift that can carry up to 45 tonnes of metal), while other agencies managed the resultant traffic delays. (NAN).

Seized Motorcycles (aka Okada) by Officials from the Department of Road Traffic Services (DRTs) Roving Task Team, during an operation against Okada, Keke Napep, rickety and unpainted Taxicabs on restricted route, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

No going back on IPPIS for civil servants -Buhari From Yakubu Minna

P

Mustapha,

resident Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that the current policy on Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) would not be reversed.

He therefore declared that any opposition of the directive is tantamount to economic sabotage.

Represented by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami, President Buhari stated this over the weekend in a speech at the 29th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Minna.

He said that, the policy “is irreversible. “ According to him, “Nigeria is currently besotted with multifaceted challenges and we are equally adopting a multi prong approach in order to combat them. Our effort is appreciable and the successes recorded so far are also encouraging.

“Some of the solutions we have adopted may be painstaking but we are resolute and confident that in the end our country will be a better place for all “Just as we are diversifying our economy tapping into our strings of revenue to revamp our economy we have also remained resolute in ensuring that we

plug the loopholes in public finance so as to eliminate fraud and retrieve funds which can be used to address challenges such as infrastructural deficit and unemployment “It is for this reason that my administration gave a directive that every employee of the federal government of Nigeria including the federal universities must be enrolled in the IPPIS. “This decision, as mindful as its sectoral policy is, is irreversible and as such any opposition to this directive is an unwelcomed tendency towards economic sabotage.”

President Buhari said the government would continue to

revamp the education sector to make it deliver quality education to Nigerians which is why the second largest allocation of N150billion was allocated to the sector in addition to another N272billion to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdullahi Bala said 168 students were withdrawn from the institution during the academic year “for various reasons bordering on poor academic performance misconduct and abscondment.”

Among those shown the exit doors were 120 undergraduate

and 48 postgraduate students, Bala said describing the action “ as very painful but necessary” for the growth of the university and expressed the hope that the decision “ will send a message to the students that we expect the best from them as much as possible”.

Prof. Bala added that a total of 4,502 students were graduated out of which 57 of the first degrees came out with first class saying that 3,597 students received first degrees, while 629 were awarded master degrees. 94 others with doctorate degrees while 182 were awarded with post-graduate diplomas.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

PAGE 6

News

Insurgency: Osinbajo seeks more interventions for IDP’s education

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on stakeholders to lend more support and interventions towards the education of displaced children in the North East.

Osinbajo was the Special Guest of Honour at the Atlantic Hall School’s 30th Anniversary Celebration and Launch of Endowment Fund for Indigent Scholars on Saturday in Lagos.

The vice president said he and some friends had set up a fund and built schools accommodating no fewer than 1500 displaced children in the North East.

He said that thousands of children, especially girls who had lost their parents in the North East, were still displaced.

“Permit me to throw a challenge to the Board of trustees and all of us

here; in Aug., 2015, I paid my first official visit to Maiduguri, Borno State to inspect the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other facilities for the victims of the conflict in the Northeast.

“We counted over 49,000 young children who had lost their parents; almost half of them girls; that was only in parts of the metropolis; there were thousands more.

“The tragedy of conflict and its outcomes in poverty and displacement is stark; governments alone cannot handle it; there are international NGOs here and there but the local private response is still so little.

“I met with a group of friends and set up the North East Children Fund NECT, chaired by Jim Ovia; the objective is to build learning Centres/schools equipped to handle

traumatized children, and give them world class education and care.

“We have built the first accommodating over 1500; we have taken over another school for about 700, and are looking at the prospects of a bigger facility,’’ he said.

He said that the board invited Grange School, Lagos to help in teacher and school experience orientation and it had done a wonderful job.

According to him, in spite of the best efforts of the Borno State government, much more remains to be done.

The vice president commended the selflessness and enterprising spirit of the founders of Atlantic Hall who not only dared to envision the great institution but committed their lives and resources to it.

He said the products of the school had excelled in their various fields of endeavour.

On her part, the Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, lauded the wisdom of the founding sisters who conceived the vision of establishing school.

Represented by Mrs Mary Paul, Managing Partner, Mopson Pharmaceuticals Limited, Buhari said she was heartily accepting being the Grand Matron of the Endowment Fund for Indigent Students.

“Your story is success; as products of the institute have distinguished themselves in the society and in the world at large.

“I am particularly impressed that the Atlantic Hall is not an elitist school but accommodates 20

per cent of its annual intake from the indigent groups as a matter cooperate social responsibility through the empowerment fund.

“Once again, I can congratulate you on your 30 years anniversary and graciously accepts to be the Grand Matron of your endowment fund,’’ she said.

Earlier in her remarks, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Atlantic Hall, Mrs Taiwo Taiwo, said the event was the climax of the institution’s 30th anniversary celebration.

She said building the Nigeria everyone dreams of entailed commitment to the community which should be seen as an obligation.

The event also featured the presentation of awards to some deserving honourees. (NAN)

Foundation empowers 600 women with self-reliance tools From Raji Bello, Sokoto

N

o fewer than six hundred women from Ondo West and East Local Government of Ondo State have benefited from women empowerment programme through Women Advocacy and Economic Empowerment initiatives.

The event was organised by Dr Rhoda Makinde initiatives (DROMI), a Non-Governmental Organization primarily dedicated to women empowerment.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Makinde said the program was founded to bring women of diverse economic backgrounds together to educate, inform, and inspire attendees to take charge of their lives and contribute meaningfully to family, community, and society at large.

Makinde said that, the instrument that was given to the beneficiaries are 114 sewing machines, 99 grounding machines, 41 dryer, 2 mixer as well as cash will also be given to other beneficiaries.

According to her, “this summit will include information on how to use micro loans and save effectively from local banker.

“It is imperative that every woman in this audience be equipped with the skills they need in order to take care of themselves and their families.”

Speaking earlier, the Member House of Representative Ondo East and West Federal constituencies, Hon. Abiola Makinde expressed joy, saying the empowerment will allow women to obtain their right in the society.

He enjoined the beneficiaries to make good use of the instrument given to them so that they can be good to themselves.

Also speaking, the program coordinator, Mrs Dupe Oluronbi said recognition of women’s contributions to economic and social development and of equality between men and women have increasing interest among policy-makers and

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state ( 2nd left), Chief of Staff, Abubakar Inuwa Kari ( L), Director General, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Prof. Adeshola Adepoju and Commissioner of Environment and Forestry Resources, Dr. Hussaina Goje during a visit to the Governor by the FRIN DG, at the weekend in Gombe

Sokoto Correspondents Chapel gets new exco From Raji Bello, Sokoto

T

he Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) in Sokoto State has nominated Malam Habibu Harisu and Olakunle Ma’aruf

as new chairman and treasurer respectively.

The nomination was unanimously endorsed by the members at a Congress meeting held on Sunday in Sokoto.

Harisu, is the State Correspondent of News Agency

of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto while Ma’aruf is the Correspondent of Tribune Newspaper.

The replacement was sequel vacant positions that existed.

The new officials were administered oaths of office by Sokoto State Secretary

of NUJ, Malam Abubakar Imam in accordance to union regulation.

In his remarks, the new Chairman commended members on the decision and pledged to work toward the development of the chapel.

Group congratulates governors on Supreme Court victory

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Governors’ Mandate has congratulated all the state governors on their victory at the Supreme Court.

The Chairman of the mandate, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, in a statement, urged the governors to be magnanimous in victory.

He also urged the losers to join

hands with the governors to work and develop their various states, adding that there is more to be gained than setting the state on fire over issues that are less important.

The Governors’ Mandate Chairman noted that the only way the nation can move forward is when governors are working without distraction, noting that distraction will only set the states

backward and by extension the nation.

He said there is more to be gained when the people join hands together to pursue a common objective of developing the state.

He said: “Elections have come and gone, even the court cases are over. What the electorates need now is development. They want to see the divided of democracy and

the only way these their demands can be achieved is for the governors to concentrate and without that, the governors lose focus.

“I will like to appeal to those who lost at the Polling units and the courts to join hands with the winners to move their states forward instead of doing things that would distract the governors.”

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

News

Abducted wife of Kaduna doctor killed -Police From: Femi Oyelola, kaduna

K

aduna State Police Command has confirmed the killing of Kaduna based medical doctor, Philip Ataga, who was abducted last week by gunmen.

The Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Command, Yakubu Sabo disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Kaduna yesterday.

DSP Sabo described the killing of Mrs. Ataga as unfortunate.

He however, assured that efforts were on top gear to secure safe release of the children who are still with the kidnappers.

According to DSP Sabo, “yes, it is unfortunate, the woman has been killed. We got report that her body was dumped somewhere and our men went in to recover the corpse and the corpse has been deposited at Gwana Awan Hospital.

“As for the children, I can confirm to you that, the children have not been released. Ransom

is being demanded, but I cannot tell the amount. But, we are doing our best to secure release of the children.” PPRO said.

The deceased was abducted on January 24,by gunmen, at her Juji residents in Chikun Local Government Area of the state in company of her two children.

Her captors were said to have demanded a ransom of N120 million for her freedom and the children.

A member of the vigilante

group in the community who was a 200 Mass Communication student of Kaduna State University KASU was killed during the incident.

A source close to the family yesterday said “the bandits killed Mrs. Ataga, dumped her corpse and called her husband and directed him to pick the corpse at a particular location.”

“Her corpse was picked and deposited at the mortuary at the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna” the source said.

According to the source, “having killed the wife, bandits are now asking for N20 million ransom for the release the children.”

The killing of the vigilante member and the abduction of Mrs. Ataga and her children was trailed by mass protest on January 25, when youths in the area, blocked the busy Kachia road, demanding an end to the persistent invasion of their community and abductions by gunmen.

NGF condemns plateau killings From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

G

overnor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State alongside his colleagues of Jigawa and Kebbi States that represented the Northern Governors Forum, NGF, has described as unfortunate, the recent killing of some innocent people in Plateau State.

The governors made their position known when they paid a sympathy visit to Governor Simon Lalong at Government House Jos. Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who led his colleagues of Bauchi and Jigawa States said the visit is to support the security measures taken by Governor Simon Lalong to avert the recurrence of such incident in the state.

He said Governor Simon Lalong being the chairman of the forum, members unanimously agreed to support him to ensure the maintenance of peace and security in the state.

Governor Bagudu emphasized the need for mutual understanding among all the citizens of plateau state regardless of their differences to ensure the development of the state.

Responding, Governor Simon Lalong expressed gratitude to the three governors for the visit, describing it as a morale booster.

Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok- Ete Ibas (right) commiserating with Mrs Margaret Koshoni and her son Mr Patrick Koshoni Junior, when the CNS visited the family of the late former CNS, Vice Admiral Patrick Koshoni who recently passed away , at the weekend in Lagos Photo: DINFO

Attorney - General withdraws criminal case against businessman, 2 others From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

ttorney - General and Commissioner for Justice, Kaduna State has directed the immediate discontinuation of a criminal case between the Commissioner of Police, Yahaya Maikori and two others.

This was contained in letter dated 20th November, 2019 signed by, Aisha Dikko and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday The letter which was acknowledged in the office of the Chief Magistrate Court No 3 Daura Road on the 24th January,

2020 stated that section 211 (1) (c) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) conferred on her the power to discontinue with the criminal case pending before the Magistrate Court.

It would be recalled that in the First Information Report, dated 6th May, 2019 and reported to the Deputy Commissioner of Police Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department by Aminu Aliyu against Yahaya Maikori had alleged that, he sold a housing property located at No 5 Keffi road Barnawa Kaduna to one Anzola Resources LTD, sometimes in the

month of March, 2019 and served the said suspects and his company with a notice to vacate the property.

However, it was contained in the FIR that the suspects, while parking out of the property vandalized the doors of the house and other valuable items worth Nine hundred and forty-two thousand naira were moved away to an unknown destination.

Meanwhile, the counsel to the complainant, J. A Achimugu had earlier written on behalf of the complainant, Alh. Aminu Aliyu to the Attorney General following the A.G’s request to terminate the First Information Report, F.I.R.

According to the letter addressed to the A.G’s office on the 10th December, 2019 by J. A Achimugu and Co stated that his client “who is the victim of the alleged offences in the F.I.R feels very strongly that the request of the Hon. Attorney General is very strange and denial of justice to him from the fountain of justice.

“The desire to terminate the F. I. R in favour of Yahaya Maikori and two others is clearly designed to aid and facilitate their pending civil suit against our client before the High Court of Justice, No 8 of Kaduna State where they are alleging malicious complaint by

our client against them.

“The Defendants who are to be favoured by the request for the termination of the F. I. R have a civil suit against our client rising from the same F. I. R where they are claiming inter Alia the sum of N15M against our client and coming up for hearing on 22rd January, 2020.

“When the Hon. Attorney General wanted to have the parties settle this matter through the Office of the then O/C Legal Police Headquarters, Kaduna, our client did not refuse but Yahaya Maikori never showed up for any settlement.

PAGE 8

News Monarch harps on peaceful coexistence From: Femi Oyelola, kaduna

C

hief of Ninzo in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Umar Musa has urged sons and daughters of the chiefdom to ensure that all their activities are geared towards guarantying lasting peace and development in the area.

He made the assertion when he received the leadership of Ninzo Community Development Association, NCDA who paid him a visit yesterday.

The royal father enjoined all Ninzo sons and daughters to avail themselves during the forthcoming National Congress of Ninzo Community Development Association for them to contribute positively towards the 2020 annual Ninzo cultural festival (Igah Ninzo).

Similarly, the Interim National President of the Ninzo Community Development Association, NCDA Co lDavid king Anto rtd. appealed to people of Ninzo home and away to close ranks and pull resources together towards projecting the Ninzo nation.

A statement signed by the interim National Publicity Secretary of Ninzo Community Development Association, Mr Gambo Santos Sanga expressed the sincere readiness of the current NCDA leadership to organise a colourful Ninzo cultural festival this year.

According to the statement, annual cultural festival which could not be observed in the last three years due to challenges ranging from security and internal cohesion will be stage this year to commemorate the installation and coronation of the Paramount ruler of Ninzo, Alh Umar Musa.

The statement also called on Ninzo sons and daughters to take advantage of the Ninzo Community Development Association Congress with a view to proffering suggestions and possible solution towards a successful Ninzo festival.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Coronavirus: Buhari extends good wishes to Chinese President, Jinping

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has extended his good wishes to President Xi Jinping and citizens of the People’s Republic of China during this trying time.

In a statement made available to newsmen by his spokesman, Mallam Gatba Shehu, the

President said China’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus have been exemplary, as well as the country’s collaboration with international agencies and other countries on the matter.

Buhari noted that China has been exceptionally supportive of Nigeria and Africa, and even more so in recent years; therefore, it

was important to let China know that Nigeria and her citizens are also standing by them during this outbreak.

“With all the efforts being put in, we know that it is only a matter of time before this nightmare passes,” he assured.

The President used the opportunity to thank Nigerians for their hospitality towards

the Chinese nationals in Nigeria, and for not letting the coronavirus outbreak create any disturbance or disrupt the peaceful coexistence between Nigerians and Chinese.

He prayed that God will comfort the Chinese and others who have already lost family members and loved ones to the disease.

L-R: Concern indigenes of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States, Malam AbdulQadir Gaiya, Abubakar Bitako-Hamidu S. Ghani (Bauch) and Awwal Ahmad, during the press conference on the North East Development Commission, NEDC, to expedite action in implementing the commission’s blueprint for peace to return to the region, at the weekend in Abuja.

FG tasks Lotto operators on increased remittance

By Paul Effiong

T

he Federal Government has charged Lotto Operators across the country to increase remittances to it to enable it utilize such revenues generated from the Lotto Industry, to meet the socio economic needs of Nigerians and thereby lift them out of poverty.

Minister of Special duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume gave this charge in a meeting with Lottery Operators, recently in his office The lottery business he noted has grown from a humble beginning to be a multi-billion Naira Industry and as such government is interested

in harnessing wealth in the Lottery industry for the socio economic development of Nigerians.

He therefore urged them to be innovative by developing games that will excite Nigerians.

He lamented that some operators are indebted to the Federal Government from 2007 to 2017 and thus appealed to them to clear their outstanding debts to enable government plough same for good causes in line with the mandate guiding the establishment of the National Lottery Trust Fund.

He reiterated that the Federal Government is making progress against all odds in the provision of rail transportation, Power,

road construction and the Social Investment Programme.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Engr. Festus N.Y. Daudu said that the essence of the meeting was to interact with the operators to see how government can wade in to tackle the challenges faced by operators as they are not meeting up with Lottery obligations as enshrined in the Lottery Act of 2005.

Lottery Operators and Regulators seized the opportunity of the meeting to call for the amendment of the National Lottery Act as it is not realistic in view of challenges faced in the industry

today. In addition to this, they advocated for a legal framework to resuscitate and sanitize the industry.

The meeting also called for the establishment of a Central Monitoring System on which all operators will be connected to for proper monitoring and enforcement as it is being done in other climes.

The Director General National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila and the Executive Secretary National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) Dr. Bello Maigari, called on the operators to see them the regulators as partners in progress as the funds accruing to both agencies are utilized for good causes across the country.

Shiloh gives scholarship to 150 students in Nasarawa

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

I

t was all tears of joy,when a Non -governmental organization (NGO)known as Shiloh Global Development Empowerment Foundation gave over 150 students and pupils of Royal Model Academic New Nyanya in Nasarawa State scholarships of 2020/2021 academic sessions.

President/Chief Executive Officer of Shiloh Global Development Empowerment Foundation Prince Emmunael Ezewuiro, disclosed this during the 15th inaugural ceremony of the Foundation.

He said that over 25 million children out of school system was due to lack of payment of school fees by parents and guidance. ”Shiloh Global Foundation took the educational gap as a desire to bridge in the large gap by embarking of educational rescue missions to save students and peoples out of school. “ Ezewuiro in his paper presentation titled “Harnessing the Greatness in you,and Letting the star among us shine Globally Excellently Greater(A Message of Hope), said that”Nigeria belongs to all of us and we cannot neglect such interventions for those pupils

and students they are our leaders of tomorrow. If we refuse to help today they can turn out to be terror to society in future .

He said “ These talents must be discovered, nursed, harnessed, pursued with passion and the reward will be grand status of global greatness, wisdom, multiplication, authority, wealth among others.

This will bring sense of fulfillment in the global great joinery of life.”

Consequently, the Commissioner of Education Nasarawa State , Aliyu Ahmed commended the NGO’s kind gesture that was very rare.

He urged Nigerians to emulate

Prince Emmunael Ahmed who was represented by the Chief Evaluation Office Masaka Area Inspectorate office,Isahayka Mohammed called on the government to recognized Prince for his generous contributions to the plight of students and pupils in the community,locality and the nation at large.

Earlier, the chairman of the day, the Provost of EL-Elyon Int’ Bible College Seminar Karu, Dr. Silas John pointed out that giving Scholarship Awards like this one that Shiloh Global Development Foundation is doing, should be highly encouraged and commended.

He said this is because it affects the social and economic welfare of society.

Meanwhile, the Proprietor of Royal Model Academic New Nyanya in a Nasarawa State, Bishop Dr. Emmunael Agbaji thanked Shiloh Foundation for the ultimate opportunity given to his school, saying that parents should nurture their children for the divine opportunity.

Charles Nwaidwo, the father of one of the beneficiary student Goodness Nwaidwo appreciated Mr Emmunael for the golden opportunity given to his daughter to have education .

Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Hygiene: EHORECON takes sensitisation to market, park

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), took a sensitisation awareness campaign to Garki Model Market and Jabi Motor parks in Abuja to enlighten Nigerians on importance proper hygiene.

Dr Dominic Abonyi, the Registrar of the Council made the call at the weekend, saying Public health, hygiene and waste management has become very important to everyone to imbibe the spirit of sanitation due to common sickness and dangerous disease in the world.

Dr Abonyi who was represented by San. Kelvin Okofor in his key note address stated that visiting some strategic places that attracts crowds was important.

“If there is no proper hygiene in our markets and parks there will be disaster everywhere. A lot of peoples come to these places for various reasons and it is good we ensure that everyone understands the message so as to ensure safety for all people.

“EHORECON took the public awareness campaign to the market to help all Nigerians and because government began exporting food to other countries.

We must ensure that everything about our products do-not get a minus because of how we keep our markets”.

He added that EHORECON has rejected the idea of open defection in the market and motor parks.

He said, “Our prayer is for everybody to join hands in the enlightenment and sensitisation programme to keep the Nigerian environment safe.

Consequently, Assistant Chief Environment Health, Micheal, “We want to add value to our market by keeping our environment clean and not allowing people to die before sensitizing them.

Meanwhile, the President of Ugwu women in Garki Model market Mrs Jessican Ugwu , adivised women in Nigeria to neglect cutting vegetables in the market.

According to her, cutting such also contributes to contacting of disease.

Also, the Assistant Sectary of NURTW of Jabi motors park, Lawrence Fadipe called on AMAC intervention in order to keep the parks cleans and hygiene, emphasizing if the owners of cars of cars refuse to compliance to sanitation rules they will be handled over to police.

News Insecurity: CAN protests in Benue, seeks Int’l communities support From Uche Makurdi

Nnorom,

T

he Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Benue State chapter has called on the international communities to come to aid of Nigeria over the senseless killings of citizens especially Christians.

Chairman of CAN, Rev Akpen Leva who made the call

yesterday in Makurdi, Benue State capital during a protest at the NKST Church, Iortyer lamented over the high rate of crime in the country including kidnapping and banditry.

The protesters carried placards, some of which read, ‘Enough is Enough,’ Stop killing Christians in Nigeria, ‘Nigeria is a secular State and Release Leah Sharibu.

Rev. Leva who particularly,

frowned at the beheading of a CAN Chairman in Adamawa State, decried that security agencies are shown to be helpless.

“We live in country where cows are honored than humans. Where mass burials are celebrated than wedding ceremonies. Where people claim responsibility for killings and are not arrested. Where there is high number of IDPs

camps. We have no confidence in the leadership. The President and security agencies must sit up. That is why are praying and crying to God to intervene in our situation”, he said.

In a sermon, State Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN Bishop Mike Angou stressed that Christians must awake and be prepared in prayer against enemies of the church in Nigeria.

Stakeholders of Awareness for Good Leadership Peace and Development from three Senatorial Zones after their press briefing to protest against poor educational, economic, non-functional Local Government Areas and failure to assist victims of various attacks of arm bandit and kidnappers, in Katsina .

Photo: NAN

N1bn Pinnacle/ICPC suit: Court rejects bank’s objection

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

J

ustice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a preliminary objection by Zenith bank challenging a suit filed by Pinnacle Communications Ltd (PCL) against the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), and the commercial bank.

Pinnacle Communications had in July 2018, dragged ICPC and Zenith bank to court for unlawfully withholding its money domicile in the bank without a valid court order, and consequently, is claiming N1billion damages against the agency.

Delivering ruling on the objection of Zenith bank (2nd defendant), the court said the application lacked merit, was frivolous and incompetent.

Justice Taiwo held that Okey Ojukwu, counsel to the commercial bank ought not to have filed the preliminary objection in the first place because the December 14, 2018, judgement of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, which voided and nullified the freezing of account of Pinnacle Communications domicile in the bank was explicit and unambiguous.

Ojukwu had in the preliminary objection of the bank claimed that the action it took by withholding the account of PCL was a “lawful act”.

Justice Taiwo said the objection by the bank was filed out of misconception and only amounted to a waste of the court’s precious time.

“The application of the second defendant is an invitation to this court to sit on appeal on the decision of my learned brother Dimgba J. of Dec.14, 2018.

“This court, with all due respect to the second defendant shall not fall into that error.

“The application is not only incompetent and an abuse of court process, it is one brought without carefully and painstakingly understanding the ruling my learned brother gave on the interlocutory injunction” Justice Taiwo held.

Consequently, the Judge reasoned that “This type of application should be discouraged by the court and counsel, and to discourage counsel from filing such frivolous application, the court must come down hard on counsel who filed such applications either on their own or on the instruction of their client.’’

“I therefore find no merit in this application and it is accordingly dismissed having held that the application is frivolous, time wasting, incompetent and an abuse of court process.

“I shall fail in my duty as a judge if I do not award cost.

Therefore, I award N100,000 against the second defendant in favour of the plaintiff,” Justice Taiwo stated.

By the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/779/18, Pinnacle Communications is seeking against ICPC, “A declaration that the act of the 1st defendant (ICPC) in ordering the 3rd defendant to place a “post-no-debit” restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the 2nd defendant (Zenith bank) without any court order and or any valid court order is ultra vires, unlawful, injurious, unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

The plaintiff is also seeking, “A declaration that the act of the 2nd defendant in placing”post-nodebit” restrictions on the plaintiffs account number 1012875804 with the 3rd defendant without any court order and or any valid order is unlawful, injurious, unconstitutional and a breach of

the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

More so, PCL wants, “A declaration that the failure of the 2nd defendant to right the wrongful act of the first defendant (ICPC) in ordering a “post no debit” restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the 2nd defendant without a valid court order is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property.

Furthermore, the plaintiff is seeking “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from placing any restrictions on plaintiff’s account with the 2nd defendant without a valid and competent court order.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant from placing any form of restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the 2nd defendant and or any other bank or financial institution in which the plaintiff maintains any account and or dealings, without a court order and or valid and competent court order.

“An order for the payment of the one billion naira as general, exemplary and punitive damages against the defendant for their unlawful and illegal act.’’

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

News Travel ban: Atiku urges Trump to target failed govt officials

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

F

ormer Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last year’s general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called on the US President, Mr Donald Trump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population.

Atiku’s call was sequel to the latest of the government of the United States of America to place Nigeria on its travel ban list.

The former Vice President, while noting that the current Nigerian administration in Nigeria may have its deficiencies and deep faults, stressed that the Nigeria people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies.

The Trump administration,

Atiku advised, may also consider the pivotal role Nigeria, in partnership with the US, played in bringing peace to Liberia, an American sphere of influence, that now enjoys democracy because Nigerian blood and money paved the way for peace in that nation.

He recalled that Nigeria has also consistently voted in support of the United States and her allies at the United Nations and other multi-lateral world bodies.

He stressed further that Nigerians are, perhaps, the biggest trading partner that the United States has in Africa, “even where we had alternatives”.

Nigerians, Atiku further said, love the United States and have been a major force for the positive development of that great nation, noting that 77 per cent of all Black doctors in the United States are Nigerians.

Nigerians, according to him are also the most educated

immigrant community in America BAR NONE, arguing that the US stands to benefit if it allows open borders with a country like Nigeria that is able to provide skilled, hardworking and dedicated personnel in a two-way traffic.

The statement by the PDP presidential candidate reads, “I received with sadness the policy of the government of the United States of America to place Nigeria on its travel ban list.

“While I understand the reasons given by the Trump administration (the failure of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration to share information and to address issues of terrorism), the ban does not take into account the pro-American sentiments of the Nigerian public and the solidarity previous Nigerian administrations have had with the United States.

“I urge the government of President Donald Trump to

consider the history of USNigerian relationships. Nigeria was one of the few African nations that joined the US led coalition during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991, when the United States championed the liberation of Kuwait.

“The Trump administration may also consider the pivotal role Nigeria, in partnership with the US, played in bringing peace to Liberia, an American sphere of influence, that now enjoys democracy because Nigerian blood and money paved the way for peace in that nation.

“Nigeria has also consistently voted in support of the United States and her allies at the United Nations and other multi-lateral world bodies.

“This is even as we are perhaps the biggest trading partner that the United States has in Africa, even where we had alternatives.

“Nigerians love the

2m Nigerian children risk dying of pneumonia, says varsity don

L-R: Members of the Old Students Association of Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, 1983 set, Mr Chris Nwakwor; president of the association, Mr Thompson Obasi; and secretary, Chief Daniel Osifo, during the presentation of rebuilt-classroom to the school, yeste5rday in Enugu.

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

A

University Don and Professor of Peadiatrics, Professor Dominic Osaghae on Sunday said that about 2million Nigerian children under the age of five could die from pneumonia in the next decade, adding that Nigeria currently records more than twenty percent of childhood deaths from the disease and other major diseases in Nigeria.

Professor Osaghae who spoke journalists at Ground Hotel in Asaba on the critical problem with pneumonia disease, said that boosting efforts to fight pneumonia could avert the over two million child deaths from the disease and other major health challenges in Nigeria, adding that pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid as the disease is a leading killer of children in Nigeria, causing nineteen percent of under five deaths.

Professor Osaghae, Dean, School of Medical Sciences, Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, however listed malnutrition, air pollution and lack of access to vaccines and antibiotics among the drivers of pneumonia, adding that an estimated 809,000 of these deaths would be averted by significantly scaling up services to prevent and treat pneumonia, especially boosting breastfeeding rates as key measures that reduce the risk of children dying from pneumonia including other diseases like diarrhea, mennigitis

United States and have been a major force for the positive development of that great nation: 77 per cent of all Black doctors in the United States are Nigerians.

Nigerians are also the most educated immigrant community in America BAR NONE. Surely, the US stands to benefit if it allows open borders with a country like Nigeria that is able to provide skilled, hardworking and dedicated personnel in a two-way traffic.

“The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigeria people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies.

“Once again, I call on President Trump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population”, the former Vice President declared.

Photo: NAN

NDE empowers 200 beneficiaries with startup capital in Niger From Yakubu Minna

N

Mustapha,

ational Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Niger State has provided starter capital to 200 selected beneficiaries from Suleja Emirate Council who were trained in different petty businesses in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Mahdul Taqwa Foundation.

The beneficiaries were earlier trained by the directorate under Micro Economic Enhancement Scheme (MEES) at the weekend given seed money so as to grow their individual businesses in to fruition hence they were selected

by the Non-Governmental Organization and funded by the Former Minister of Solid Minerals, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari.

NDE Director General, Dr Nasir Ladan Argungu represented by Muhammadu Jimada assured that the agency will not relent in ensuring that Nigerians becomes productive in all spheres and business endeavours urging the beneficiaries to be determined to succeed through hard work and commitment.

He said that starting a small may be hard but growing up the business was much easier a long as there was commitment and determination to succeed

while counting themselves lucky to be selected from the several unemployed.

The DG maintained that the directorate will continued in its core mandates to redress unemployment problems, create job opportunities and empower the citizens of this country, noted that the beneficiaries consisted of youths and majority women making massa, kosayi, akamu and other small local businesses.

In his remarks, Abubakar Bawa Bwari commended NDE for stemming unemployment in the country and federal government planned programmes in providing jobs for millions of Nigerians may not be realized without partnership with the

private and corporate bodies.

He said, “what we have been doing is to plant seeds and hope they grow in to fruits for the benefit of humanity” he stated.

The Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, Bar. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, Commissioners of Information and that of Environment, Local Government chairmen under same emirate council that includes Gurara, Tafa and Suleja were in attendance of the event held in Suleja.

It would be recalled that last year February 6th NDE in collaboration with the same former minister embarked on same empowerment programme.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

PAGE 11

Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

Again, Nigeria in US’ Exceptional courage in governance black book T

By Bridget Agada

P

resident Donald Trump of system and limit the President’s the United States, a week ago, ability to impose such biased and put Nigeria on an expanded bigoted restrictions.” list of countries whose nationals are banned from entering the Reacting to the ban Saturday, United States. The reason given for President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s inclusion is its said Nigeria would alleged failure to meet the work to fix the security and information security lapses that sharing standard of the led to the ban. He said US. While the ban on Reacting to the he wanted Nigeria visas stops immigration to have “productive of Nigerians to the US, ban Saturday, relations” with the President it exempts government US. To that effect, officials. Also affected Muhammadu he has appointed a are Eritrea, Sudan, to lead a Buhari, said minister Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan committee to “study and Myanmar.

The Nigeria would and address” the new ban comes into effect work to fix the visa requirements.

February 21. government security lapses A delegation also is Nigeria’s inclusion that led to the expected meet with on the ban list has ban. He said US immigration received knocks from officials this he wanted Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Wednesday in Nigeria of the US House of Washington DC. to have Representatives.

According to her, the list We understand “productive contravenes American relations” with A m e r i c a ’ s values and poses a threat concerns over the US to the US’ security as Nigeria’s security well as the rule of law challenges and their in the US. She said in a Tweet, implications for American lives “The Trump Admin’s expansion and interests. However, we do of its un-American travel ban is a not believe a ban on Nigerians threat to our security, our values is a solution. What is needed is and the rule of law. Barring more for Washington to strengthen than 350 million people from the existing cooperation predominantly African countries between the two nations towards from travelling to the US, this fighting terrorism, banditry and rule is discrimination disguised as kidnapping in Nigeria. Besides, the policy.”

Trump administration should take note of the Nigerian government’s Pelosi, who is a Democrat, said resolve to “fix the security lapses” the House would move against the the US has given as the reason for ban list, which has been termed as the ban. Millions of innocent, law religious discrimination because it abiding Nigerians must not be targets countries with large Muslim made to suffer for the crimes of few populations. “In the coming weeks, others. Trump should rethink this the House will bring the NO BAN religious profiling of Nigeria in the Act to the floor to prohibit religious interest of mutually “productive discrimination in our immigration relations”.

“

OUR MISSION

OUR PEOPLE

Chairman “To be the market Malam Wada Maida, place of ideas and Oon, Fnge the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the Chief Operating Officer Editor, Daily truth, maintaining the Hameed M. Bello, PhD highest professional and ethical standards while Manager, administration delivering value to Hassan Hammanyaji our stakeholders”

OUR VISION

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

his is a story of exceptional courage in governance and an indication that there are indeed some individuals whose commitment to the Nigerian cause is unflinching. This is also a story of a woman who has dared to do what most men would shy away from with their tails in between their legs for the race is not for the faint-hearted, but for those with courage and a commitment to doing the right thing at all times.

The revelation of the rot in the Niger-Delta Development Commission came to Nigerians as a rude shock. The country was astonished by the level of decadence that has characterized its operations since the year 2000 with the mission of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.

The fact remains that the NDDC has not delivered on its mandate. At best, it has been a lack-luster performance, with very little to show for the humongous resources that have accrued to it over the past 19 years. Pervasive corruption, flagrant abuse of due process, abandoned projects, poor quality project delivery, and many other despicable acts were the order of the day. While the majority of the people reeled in abject poverty, some highly placed smile to the bank and oppress the people with their ill gotten wealth.

It was indeed an eyesore so much so that but for the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari through the appointment of Dr. Joi Nunieh as the acting managing director of the interim management committee of the agency.

I must admit that this was indeed the game changer and an indication that indeed there would be light the end of the tunnel for the people of the Niger-Delta region.

The strategic importance of the NDDC in facilitating the development of the NigerDelta region cannot be overemphasized. It is instructive to state that for change to happen there must be those that are willing to take the bull by the horns at great discomfort. And this is what Dr. Joi Nunieh has done since she assumed leadership of the NDDC. These heroic acts of hers did not come with its attendant consequences because those have benefited from the heist would ordinarily not go down without a good fight. This much they have been doing in an attempt to take their pound of flesh from her for daring to reposition the agency for greater efficiency.

If not for anything, I salute her courage in the efforts she has put in so far despite the avalanche of attacks that have come her way. In a country like Nigeria, there are a few people that would carry on like Dr. Joi Nunieh.

And this lends credence to the famous saying that what a man can do a woman can do better and is doing better.

I can count the number of people that would be this brave even in the face of a threat to life. Instead of trembling, she is in a hurry to achieve results like some others in this present administration that have indeed proved their mettle in governance. This is indeed phenomenal and worthy of emulation by those holding positions of authorities.

How the NDDC disintegrated to this despicable level is a topic for discussion another day because of the various developmental challenges facing the region. It was expected that the NDDC vehicle would have been used to change the fortunes of the region favorably.

But ironically, the reverse has been the case.

This is quite sad. I recall that I stated in one of my writings that for meaningful development to come to the Niger-Delta region, its leaders must put the interest of the people at heart.

I say this for the fact that perpetrators of the rot in the agency are those that claim to be the political and traditional leaders of the region that are quick to grace the pages of newspapers on how the federal government is neglecting the region. At the same time,

they are busy depriving the people of their commonwealth.

There is also an interesting revelation that indeed, these individuals have willing collaborators within the agency that are also beneficiaries of the rot in the system. This fact is also corroborated by the level of insider abuse that has characterized the operations of the agency. This fact even makes the job of repositioning the agency more daunting for Dr. Joi Nunieh.

I have nothing but admiration for her because of her determination to rewrite the history of the Niger-Delta region for good. The case of Dr. Joi Nunieh reminds me of Claudia Escobar, who grew up in Guatemala; Claudia Escobar learned early on what it’s like to live in a country marked by corruption and impunity.

To make a difference and fight injustice, she became a magistrate at the Court of Appeals.

But when she decided to speak up publicly against illegal interferences in the judiciary, her life changed dramatically. Escobar became the lead whistleblower in a case of grand corruption that implicated many high anking political officials, including Guatemala’s vice-president and the former president of Congress.

In her words, she stated that “Of course, I was afraid of the consequences. Immediately after I denounced this wrongdoing, the president, the vice president, and the congressman that I denounced started a campaign to intimidate and discredit me professionally.”

This is the case of Dr. Joi Nunieh that has found herself in waters filled with sharks that are lurking around with their mouths wide open, waiting to devour her by launching scathing campaigns against her person all in a bid to discredit her before the eyes of the general public.

My consolation is the fact the Nigerians and indeed discerning people of the Niger-Delta region would rise in her defense in completing what she has started in the NDDC. I have no doubt whatsoever as regards this because if we must make progress as a country, we must learn to put round pegs in round holes. This is also on the heels of her track record that dates back to her struggles for the emancipation of the Ogoni people with the late Ken Saro Wiwa.

To say she is fearless is an understatement.

She is indeed an amazon whose impact would be felt across the board in the Niger-Delta region in the fullness of time. Those that think they can intimidate her should have a rethink as the more they attack her, the stronger she gets.

Her commitment to sanitizing the NDDC is fierce. This much she has exhibited so far since she assumed leadership of the NDDC. We must admit that it indeed takes much courage to effect a change in a system that has been heavily compromised over the years. I salute her courage in this regard and can only join millions of Nigerians in wishing her well in the task ahead.

In my opinion, what the country owes her is nothing but 100% support in the discharge of her duties. I know for sure that more campaigns would be launched against her all in a bid to demoralize and weaken her resolve to do the right thing in the NDDC. It is indeed my earnest prayer that she does not lose focus on this tedious task. This can only happen if the leadership of the country does not give her the needed support for no man is an island.

Dr. Joi Nunieh has displayed an infectious commitment that should elicit ovation from all and sundry for daring to take the bulls by the horns. If the majority of public office holders can be like her, then we can be sure of sustainable growth and development in the country. I salute her courage and encourage her to continue to weather the storm because it is not yet Uhuru. This is indeed an act of exceptional courage in governance.

Agada, a strategic communication expert wrote this piece from Abuja.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Opinion

The street is a school too?

By Owei Lakemfa

T

onight, the Old United Kingdom (U.K.) walks through the gates of divorce, 47 years after saying ‘I do’ to the European Union (E.U.). Feigning happiness that it is once again single and eligible, and in fact looking for multi partners, the U.K. plans a clock count down to the 23:00 GMT divorce hour, which will be projected on to No. 10 Downing Street, while subdued revelers are hosting a celebration in Parliament Square, where flagpoles will fly the union jack. Also, a commemorative Brexit 50p coin with the words: “peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” is expected to be released.

These, however, will be a far cry from the huge celebrations, including candle light processions, that marked the marriage when the country signed the dotted lines in Brussels, vowing to hold and cherish the E.U. until death do them part. At that January 1, 1973 union, the U.K. had a huge bridal train, including representatives of its political spectrum, led by then Prime Minister Edward Heath, and supported by his predecessors, Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home.

This time, the U.K. is a less confident, divided and broken country with an uncertain future. Even after serving its divorce papers in 2016, triggering it off on March 29, 2017 and deciding to leave exactly two years later, the now less elegant U.K. showed a lot of reluctance to leave the matrimonial home for the ‘free market’, where it hopes to showcase its natural and acquired assets. Even before today, the U.K. had made flirtatious moves to the United States, its former colonies in Africa, and let it be known to its old lover, the E.U. that it still wants to maintain a warm filial relationship.

There were no pre-nuptial agreements, so despite today’s official divorce, the U.K. and E.U. still have a transition period of eleven months to work out the divorce details. These will be on trade and nontrade issues like education, data, security, intelligence, aviation, culture, research and

fisheries.

In the post-divorce negotiations, the U.K. would hope for a free-tariff and quota-free links and the upholding of a no-checking-of-goods understanding with Ireland. With the divorce, the U.K.’s 73 members of the European Parliament will be sent home if they have not voluntarily returned, and it will, during the transition period, continue to obey all E.U. rules without having any say in their making.

However, the post-divorce negotiations will not witness the drama of parliamentary debates and votes that attended Brexit because the parliament’s involvement in approving the negotiations has been removed; its scrutiny is now reduced to ministerial briefs. There is the possibility of the negotiations dragging beyond this year, which will require U.K. asking for an extension. However, Boris Johnson has ruled this out. This gives room for a possible no-deal scenario.

There had been two catastrophic European wars styled as ‘The First World War’, which ran from 1914 to 1918 and ‘The Second World War”, from 1940 to 1945, in which Europe and its allies destroyed not just most of themselves, but also parts of the world. The idea arose that if Europe were to form a union, the likelihood of a Third World War would be highly reduced.

U.K.’s war-time prime minister, Winston Churchill in a September 19, 1946 speech at the University of Zurich, Switzerland told Europe: “We must build a kind of United States of Europe. In this way only will hundreds of millions of toilers

“

be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living.”

To achieve peace, by 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community began a form of European Union. When after years of negotiations, the Treaty Of Rome to unite Europe was signed in 1957, U.K. opted out arguing that it would affect its relations with its Commonwealth countries and that in any case, it desired: a ‘oneworld economic system’ with the pound as a central currency. So, six countries: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg were left to sign what became the European Economic Community, later renamed the European Union.

Within four years, the U.K. changed its mind and decided to join the E.U. marriage, but was rejected. It was again rejected in 1967, principally by French President Charles de Gaulle, who vetoed it. He argued that the U.K. was not a good and fit person for the marriage and that it will not be faithful as it was in a romantic relationship with the United States, which was allegedly using the U.K. as a Trojan Horse to penetrate the E.U. However, when Georges Pompidou succeeded de Gaulle, France withdrew is objections and the U.K.-E.U. marriage was consummated.

The U.K. proved to be an unreliable, if not unfaithful partner. Within two years it was already contemplating a divorce; it put this to a 1975 referendum, but 67.2 per cent said it should remain in the marriage.

When on January 1, 1999 the E.U. adopted a single currency and exactly

To achieve peace, by 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community began a form of European Union. When after years of negotiations, the Treaty Of

O

n January 30 2020, University of Ibadan Campus Humanists and Freethinkers held a talk on the theme: Who is afraid of witches on campuses? The venue of the event was the Tedder Hall Cafetaria. Students from Law, Political Science, Philosophy and Education faculties attended the program.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches(AfAW) organized the talk in response to the growing fears and anxieties over witches on Nigerian campuses, and to mobilize students against witch persecution nationwide. To realize a witch-hunting free Africa in 2030 as envisioned by AfAW, a critical mass of students must be allies and advocates. Unfortunately, pervasive fears of the occult exist and persist in Nigerian schools. In November, christian students at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka protested the convention of an academic conference on witchcraft on the campus.

The Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria also issued statements opposing this academic meeting. Meanwhile, persons who are suspected of witchcraft are attacked and killed across the country. People blame alleged witches for various misfortunes

including sickness, accidents and deaths in the communities. In most cases, young persons are the forefront of witch finding, witch hunting and witch persecution because they are made to believe that alleged witches pose a serious threat to their lives, health, future and progress.

Incidentally there has not been any major effort to combat occult fears and anxieties on campuses.

There were two presentations at the event. Dr Olayinka Olatunde Ayinde, a psychiatrist from the University College Hospital in Ibadan, spoke on witchcraft and mental health. He made it clear that mental health problems had no causal link to witchcraft as widely believed in

“

the society. Dr Ayinde urged attendees to be mindful of persons including some medical officers who associated mental health problems with the occult. People who have mental health issues are believed to be possessed by evil spirits and could spiritually infect others. Thus they are stigmatized and subjected to various rituals that include chaining, starving and violent exorcism. Many years ago, I attended a church program in Imo state where the presiding priest ordered that a man with mental health problems be bundled out of the building because he was spreading demons and could infect other attendees.

In my presentation, I discussed the aims and objectives of AfAW and the need

Earlier in the day, the university’s Diamond FM interviewed me in their morning Safari program where I stressed the need to stop witchcraft accusation and witch persecution

PAGE 13

COMMENT

The French realm within West Africa remains!! (I)

By Mehenou Amouzou three years later, floated the Euro, the U.K. refused to be part of it. It decided to maintain its currency backed by its reserves. So it secured an opt-out.

Also, when the E.U. signed the Schengen Agreement on June 14, 1985, which abolished border controls between member states and introduced a single visa policy, the Schengen, effective from March 26, 1995, the U.K. opted out of this.

Even with the arrangements it had accepted, such as the free movement or migration of E.U. citizens, it began leaning towards discriminating against those from Eastern Europe.

While the E.U. tried to tolerate the U.K. and make the marriage work, even if it meant bending over backwards to accommodate it, the latter remained dissatisfied, even complaining about its financial contributions to the marriage.

Grumbling U.K. went for a second referendum in 2016, whether to remain or seek a divorce. This time, 51.9 per cent voted for a divorce. Then, uncertainty and self-doubt set in. The divorce, called Brexit, which had consumed two prime ministers, David Cameron and Theresa May, also threatened to consume their successor, Boris Johnson. But the U.K. decided to take the leap of fate with or without a negotiated exit.

So when tomorrow comes, the single parent U.K. will be facing a new future – one it did not really plan for but would have to live with. For the E.U., I am sure it has gotten tired of the divorce proceedings and its aftermath, the earlier it sorts out the details and moves on, the better. As for us, Africans, I think we should be smart enough to know that in the wake of its divorce, and search for new markets, new partners and places to exploit as it did in pre-colonial times, the U.K. has our continent fully in its sight.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

Who is afraid of witches on campuses?

By Leo Igwe

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

for students to become advocates against witch persecution. Through its decade long campaign, AfAW plans to dispel witchcraft fears and anxieties on campuses and build a critical mass of students against witchcraft accusation, witch persecution and killing.

AfAW will take its campaign to the tertiary institutions across the country including colleges of education, polytechnics and universities.

Earlier in the day, the university’s Diamond FM interviewed me in their morning Safari program where I stressed the need to stop witchcraft accusation and witch persecution. I told listeners that the AfAW would support victims of witchcraft accusation as well as witchcraft accusers and believers. AfAW plans to work to protect and rehabilitate the accused and then enlighten and educate the accusers.

Some listeners phoned in recounting their ‘witchcraft’ related experiences.

Others stressed the urgent need for public education and enlightenment programs to eradicate witchcraft beliefs and other superstitions.

Leo Igwe is a Public Affairs Analyst.

P

residents, Mr. Macron and Mr. Ouattara, the French and Ivory Coast leaders respectively, have decided upon the synonym “ECO” as the new identity for the pending arrival of the new West African “Common” Currency that will replace the current “FCFA” denominated currency within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-(The now 15 Member State Union established 1975 via the Treaty of Lagos). Can this Fiat currency be considered a help or hinderance to future Financial Independence, development and growth to the West African economic culture when the ECO currency is nothing more than an underwritten extension of the Archaic and Fiat Driven French Franc. Let’s create Money by Decree-A laptop in disguise!!!!! The answer to the World’s problems!!!! I think NOT!!!! Fiat currency is the means to an end!!!! THE END!!! (THE WESTERN WORLD AS WE KNOW IT) The political, economic, social saga and destabilization of the French-speaking Black Africa nations continues to dictate ridicule towards its leaders from frustrated and deprived citizens.

There are many free thinkers who believe that once free and autonomous Africa could revolutionize the World economically and culturally. Africa, a continent blessed with unequalled natural resources and an abundance of faithful and peace-loving people. Albeit somewhat masked with a western veil, Africa is today a continent that has survived Arab, European and somewhat Global influence.

Historically hundreds of millions of African citizens have died in their fight of patriotism and faith whilst others still this day continue to perish due to artificial and fabricated political positional wars. These wars are nothing more than historic rulers and associated parties endeavoring to keep their position of financial strength and control within the African nations. In reality, the associated parties are mercenaries and employees whom are armed, financed and equipped by the Western World.

Why are the majority of leaders in French-speaking Africa unable to provide solutions to the forced upon poverty and cultural problems of their people-Could it be the French Financial Shackles?

There are several countries that have forcibly colonized the African continent on the grounds that they have brought civilization and peaceful religion to the alleged barbaric people of Africa. In reality, it is these alleged civilized people whom have orchestrated the cruelest genocide that this world has ever known.

Historically, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Spain, England etc etc etc, all participated in colonizing countries in Africa until their independence was granted. All these countries once fully independent have maintained limiting relations commercial, sovereign and otherwise with the initial colonizing sovereign nations with the exception of France. It still maintains its right of “the colonizer”, with immense interference in the political, economic, social and military administration. France’ interference is not aimed at the interest of the colonized people but that of its colonial and archaic idea of role, financial control and reign.

The Method of rule by fear Management, iron fist politics and domination over its people and potential relief of such barbaric rule.

For example, the Ottoman Empire was a powerful empire that created immense threat and trouble for the English rule. The convincing strategy used by the English to break the strength and dynamism of the Ottoman Empire was to divide and conquer. The British rule alleged and portrayed many different facets of rule and religion to the multi-faceted Ottoman dynasty.

Via infiltration, they maintained and directed to many different parts of the Ottoman empire the people were Muslim but not Turkish, some Muslim but not Arab, some of no real Ottoman descent at all, some Turkish of no recognized religion, etc.

This strategy of psychologically dividing Muslims into Ethnic groups created very serious confusion within the Ottoman Empire. This broke the solidarity movement that united the Ottoman Empire hence initiating infighting and wars, and thus overtime created patriotic doubt and allowed English rule to successfully dilute and diminish the Ottoman Empire.

The current ECOWAS currency, FCFA (Franc de Colonie Française d’Africa), used by France to underpin its financial hold on Africa, is about to be replaced by ECO via diktat of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in collaboration with the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara. The FCFA currency is a duplicate model which was used by the Germans in France under the Nazi occupation and subsequently trashed after the German occupation ended. Today neither Germany nor any prior colonizing sovereign state other than France use these conquest strategies because the countries have created fierce resistance which have led to the abandonment of such practice. The once almighty British Crown conceded long ago, they must permit local and international currency recognition within its once sovereign realm even after independence of once controlled territories when only having and maintaining military assistance to such now independent sovereign states. The French government continues to use the Nazi model imposed

by France under occupation of certain African nations.

The FCFA currency is a profitable financial rent for the French government and has been deployed for almost a century. The FCFA currency is a serious handicap to future developments. The dates of birth on which the colonial governments mentioned or the governments of today mention ethnicity is with the intention of dividing the peoples of a country, making them believe that they are superior to the others. These divisions of the people allow the colonizers to play with the disturbing games of destabilization and insecurities. They allow the West or foreign powers to play on ethnic and clan division. The national cohesion that will allow the country to move forward and have access to development is nonexistent.

This is a system of governing and developing extreme misery even within ethnic groups or the region of ruling cadres. It will be impossible for a president or a government to meet the minimum needs of its population, such as access to drinking water, health, education, self-sufficiency, etc. One meal a day is an obstacle course. Corruption has become the national anthem of different countries. The country’s development is replaced by economic, political and social gangsterism.

Can the new ECO currency create good conditions in the WAEMU countries and economic growth and prevent the people of the WAEMU from migrating elsewhere?

How the new currency was decreed. In 2018 French President, Mr. Macron received the Ivorian Presidents Alassane Ouattara and Macky Sall of Senegal. One of the important discussions was the devaluation of FCFA. The first area of concern was the ECAC (Economic Community of Central Africa) area where the subject of devaluation was of central importance. The reasons given to media as reasoning for such meetings taking place was the two Presidents Ouattara and Macky Sall of Senegal were to discuss the economy of this region and its malfunctioning.

In 2015, we published two articles: “The Global Banking Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Developing Countries: The Case of Africa”, and in 2016 Africa – A Financier in Danger? We have highlighted the significant financial and economic risks the African countries run and we continue to be concerned for the future. More specifically French Black Africa, still does not awake from its long and deep dormant position.

The French government has the right to liquidate everything to protect itself, including its French colonies in Africa. It is time to reflect collectively and find one or more urgent solutions to the problems.

It is time to remove the so called Western experts and their sovereign entourage for they are not being completely not honest with Africa and its people. It is disappointing that the African countries have not sought independent experts to seriously think about resolving their financial struggles rather than just employing the same old traditional plunge and pillage sovereign charades. To govern is to foresee. Italy and Japan are the two countries that hold the majority of French debt. How healthy is the Italian economy?

There isn’t much difference between Greece and Italy.

Japan has nothing to write home about!!!!-A stagnant Fiat economy for almost a hundred years!!!!!: If today Italy and Japan were to start selling French bonds to raise liquidity, which country can afford or wish to buy such useless valueless paper? Japanese debt exceeds more than 200% of its GDP. The state of the French economy is walking backwards: factories are closing, agriculture is left behind. France once sent and sold everything to market it domestically bred agriculturally speaking-Now those cultural and social industries are dead and buried. France used to deploy the “you reap what you see” attitude. Sarkozy’s then government borrowed more than 10 billion Euros every month just to sustain the financial status quo of Fiat survival. France’ social and cultural expertise has diminished to that of a third world country. A society that once revolutionized the world through its culture and social know-how, is on the verge of bankruptcy.

This devaluation of the WAEMU countries from FCFA to ECO will not solve the problems for these countries and will not create anything dynamic and competitive. What does UEMOA produce? What are the factories processing raw materials-wise from WAEMU? Factories are closing and the ones that remain are in a rudimentary state for this 21st century.

The basis for calculating economic growth rates in French-speaking Africa are different from other countries. The high growth rates of French-speaking Africa have had no impact on the country other than creating misery. The unilateral devaluation of the French Government in 1994 and the current Ivorian President

Alassane Ouattara has chronically damaged Black Africa.

Poverty has increased; retail stores such pharmacies that were once air conditioned before the devaluation are replaced cheap inefficient fans. Pharmaceuticals that require storage in a temperature-controlled climate for patient consumption become toxic yet still dispensed.

Pharmacies are now filled with drugs from India, Nigeria, being manufactured without hygiene and or percentage dose controls. People are dying from very simple and basic medical provision failure; Elected Presidents and Governments, so called Protectors of State and citizens appear to be neglecting their people in favor of a Rolex and a Western World retirement package. They are sending their hard-working loyal citizens to an early grave and care nothing for the African population at large.

The Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in search of his 3rd mandate along with his colleagues still refuses to act in favor of his people directly.

Whilst in the election process they use the veil of deceit, conspiracy and cloak and dagger to portray and position of social and economic assistance yet still without improving the lives of their people. They stand at the lectern and preach their patriotism towards the Black African French speaking community dressed as the political wolf in sheep’s clothing. If only the citizens knew they were listening to the ultimate French Puppet!!!!!!!

Only they are the ones whom are proud of the devaluation of FCFA to ECO which is being imposed unilaterally by the French Government of Macron. From FCFA to the ECO-From the frying pan into the fire!!!!!! French Black Africa goes from FCFA to ECO but still under the occupation of the French imperial government.

The French government and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states. ALLEGEDLY!!!!!!

The French government asserts its policy of noninterference in the affairs of other states on the basis they are sovereign states. This is not always so. Take the two devaluations of FCFA 1994 and FCFA / ECO December 2019. A CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS GIFT-WE THINK NOT!!!!!

In 1994 the French government, Edouard Balladur under the Minister of Economy and Finance, devalued the FCFA by 100%. The French government coerced on the Presidents of Cote d´Ivoire and Senegal whom collapsed and accepted such without complaint.

Accordingly, the three parties then confirmed to the other African presidents the fait accompli. The former President of the late Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadema, whom staged and struggled initially with the devaluation a little, finally succumbed to the economic pressure and publicly confirmed the majority was right. What were the reasons given? Did the government implement such measures to accompany this devaluation? The actions had very negative consequences on the economy of the people of those countries whom the French government claims to have helped, (huge inflation in suicides, strokes, heart attacks, tensions, etc.) The people were left behind without real consideration. The French government claimed the FCFA was an African currency and the African people should manage their currency on the grounds they are sovereign nations!!!! WE THINK NOT!!!! ARE LEADERS ELECTED OR SELECTED??????

in Lagos finds its way to other states, Let tell a story of one young man which this actions by the government affected ( Tade). A resident in Lagos State and an hustler.

Tade, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo university, who studied chemistry as his discipline, graduated with a smiling grade of 2.1, indeed, he has passed through the scary furnace of campus to have graduated with such on institutions like “the great ife”.

Sometimes, life causes the lazy to shine after years of idleness and makes the hardworking loathe like a huge debt to be paid. Meet Ganiyu, one of the fast and furious boys on campus who uses his way to make a way for himself to scale through. After 3 years of tiring job hunting, Tade who has no choice and believes in ” I’d rather be a slave in the country rather than being a night man, eventually ventured into being a tricycle rider. Tade who already had a family of 4, 3 beautiful kids, Tinuke, Timilehin and Teniola

including his 8 months pregnant wife, who is a full house wife, has no choice than to drop his desired white collar job for a transport collar job when he met Ganiyu who is the tarmac chairman for surulaye-gba road to Tiled Road who made a graceful decision to help Tade buys a new keke napep who he’s to pay by installment for a working period of a year Tade who takes responsibilities on his younger ones and leads other welfarism as a man does was exhilarated at the new innovations even without no backup business or trade.

After several years of working as a tricycle rider, Tade still has a sum of #266,985.00 to balance Ganiyu before he could be the rightful owner of the keke napep when he heard of the ban on tricycles and bikes. What a tragedy would that be!

Ganiyu who isn’t a fan of tales has his money to receive irrespective of his utopian

of wisdom on the ban, his pregnant wife then already gave birth to set of twins who already begin their first year in school. His younger brother who’s also in the final year of his studies, studying mechanical engineering needs enough of money to complete his project, Mr. Sadiku already awaiting his 6 months rent fee from Tade, and quite unfortunate Tade’s means of livelihood is dying gradually. When won’t he be depressed? And when will he not commit suicide, cause I once saw him at the top floor of the 16 storey building of a company, who knows of his thought?.

The ban on tricycles and bikes, is it the rightful measure to end insecurity in Lagos state? If yes, what about the citizens who do not have a private car, how shall we convey ourselves?

Lagos ban on commercial tricycles, bikes in Lagos: What did residents stand to gain?

By Opadeji Samuel Olumide

I

t’s no more a news or You may well be aware that the Lagos State Government has banned commercial motorcycles and tricycles effective 1st February 2020. Whether this actions by Lagos State government is well with common citizen or not, Every individual will be impacted by it. It does not matter if you drive by this means of transportation or not every day and citizen have many options among your cars to pick from, this will definitely impact individual business because some employees, collaborators, suppliers and vendors will most likely receive a hit from this pronouncement from the Lagos State government. So, what did common resident supposed to do?

For people who run businesses in other parts of Nigeria, especially commercial cities, please do not rejoice yet that you are not based in Lagos. We know that most of what happens

Opadeji Samuel Olumide is a Public Affairs Analyst.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

PAGE 14

news

Insecurity: Church seeks God intervention From Femi Kaduna

F

Oyelola,

ollowing the escalating cases of kidnapping, banditry , cultism and other security challenges bedeviling the country, the Senior Pastor of House of Purpose Ministry U/Sunday in Chikun Local Government Area of kaduna, pastor Yakubu Yusuf led members of the ministry to seek God intervention to end the menace.

Pastor Yakubu said the security situation facing the country today needs divine intervention to ensure that peace and tranquility return to the land.

He said he is confident that when the church prays there is going to be positive change in Nigeria “We are tired of this killing and slaughtering of people like animals “We know the battle is yours so Lord take over the battle because you are mighty in battle.

“The same way you arrested Saul on the way to Damascus to persecute the Christians ,let your light shine on the perpetrators of this evils and their collaborators “ Our hearts are grieved by the killings of the Seminarian and Juji oh God come the rescue of your people,” he said.

Pastor Yakubu Yusuf called on the Federal Government to as a matter of national importance, tame the unabated killings of Christians particularly in the North and other parts of the country.

Mainwhile one of the four Abducted Seminarians of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna,who were kidnapped on 8th January, 2020,has been found dead.

Registrar of the Seminary Rev. Fr. Dr. Joel Usman.stated this in a statement made available to the media in kaduna yesterday.

The school registrar confirmed the death of Brother Nnadi Michael, the only seminarian in the kidnapper’s den.

Rise against drugs abuse menace, group urges Nigerians From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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igerians have been called upon to collectively rise up and fight the menace of drugs abuse in the country.

A Public Speaker and Trainer, Mr Elisha Mamman, stated this when the President and Founder of The Eye Opener Youth and Women Foundation, Mrs Margaret Julius, paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna on Wednesday.

Mamman who is also the convener of Winning Mindset and Goal-setting Coach, added that no matter how good and skillful a person is, if he abuses drugs, he cannot maximize himself.

“I think the fight is coming

at the right time because this menace is really destroying our youth.

“While growing up, I indulged in it a little bit and I saw the effects of cigarettes. I recalled vividly the feelings then, as nothing make sense but it create in you an unusal urge for more. You can eat food as if you are about to die but would not be satisfied,” he said.

On the way forward, Mamman said the fight against drugs and substance abuse must begin from the home front.

He said parents are to be blame as much as government, saying when a society does not have role models then anybody can model a child. Society requires modeling.

“We must try as much as

possible to tell ourselves that the failure in our society today is a reflection of failure at home.

“Parents are not even at home, as both are chasing after money. I don’t blame those kinds of situation, but you can’t in the pursuit of money ignore children you brought to this world because they will waste your moneys.

“Imagine if every one of us here are influencing millions of youth for good. So apart from the home we need people in the society who are modeling the right behavior. We are too conscious of money.

“We need to love drug addicts and help them. Most of them got into drugs due to lack of love, care, and it seems as if nobody

is interested in them. Talk to a drug addict when he’s calm you’ll discover he’s an intelligent and smart person.

“It is no longer a gender thing because women are also involved in it. So its not about being worried about the young people it is bigger than that. Its about everyone,” he said.

Earlier, President/Founder of the Foundation, Mrs. Julius, said they were in his office to present to him the group’s plan for the year 2020.

She also disclosed that the Foundation would kick-start it activities with a dialogue on drug abuse awareness on February 15, 2020; and urged him to carved out time to host the event.

.Kaduna State Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev, Hyab John, [r] leading the Interdernomination Service fof National Fasting and Prayer over Insecurity in Nigeria, held Albarika Fellowship Baptist Church, yesterday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

Disregard misleading reports on FMC BKD, group tells FG From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

A

collation of Birnin Kudu communities associations popularly known as Muryar Birnin Kudu has called on federal government to disregard the report that 15 students lost their lives along Birnin Kudu - Dutse road.

This was contained in a statement signed and issued to news men by the publicity secretary of the association, Comrade Kabiru Zubairu.

The statement said, the report is not only misleading but an attempt to pre-empt the federal government decision on her choice of site for the establishment of the Teaching Hospital at federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu.

According to the statement, choosing of Federal Medical

Center (FMC), Birnin Kudu or Rashid Shekoni Specialists Hospital Dutse, is a matter that has been put to rest before now.

The statement said, it could be recalled, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie E. Ehanire, had visited the two facilities for assessment and promised to recommend Federal Government for the most suitable facility for the Teaching Hospital.

“As loyal citizens, we will accept in good faith for whatever turns out to be the final decision of the Federal Government, this is our stand.

“However, the people of Birnin Kudu community wouldn’t have reacted to the report but, we deem it necessary to put facts in their right perspective, the report didn’t deemed it right to enlightening

the authorities concern on the possible huge financial implication that could be incurred in term of manpower and facilities, if the federal government should run two federal health institutions in the state.

The affordable services enjoyed by the teeming populace of Jigawa state origin from state owned health facilities may not necessarily be within same purview for same set of citizens in same hospital taken over by Federal Government, looking at the poverty level indices amongst our people in the state,” the statement said.

The statement maintained that, “It’s also noted with concern on the misrepresentation of fact on issue that FMC Birnin Kudu is 60 kilometres away from the University in Dutse.

This is not true as it’s actually 43 kilometres away. More so, there is an alternative road that is comparatively shorter that was recently constructed by Jigawa State Government. The road covers only 36km from the university’s main gate to FMC Birnin Kudu”.

The statement added that, locating FMC Birnin Kudu as teaching hospital will be for the benefit of not only Jigawa state but almost all north-eastern states including Bauchi,Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe, plateau,Gombe, Maiduguri and Jigawa states.

Then the Muryar Birnin Kudu Associations assured their readiness to anticipate the right decision of Mr. President in selecting the right hospital as a teaching site for our medical students.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Zamfara APC asks Matawalle to focus on restoring peace From: Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

he Zamfara State Chapter of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle to pay more attention on fights against banditry, kidnappings and cattle rustling as priority.

This was pronounced by the State Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Lawali M. Liman, while reacting to the report peddled by users of the Social media, that the meeting the party held with the former Governor Abdulaziz Yari last weekend was aimed at plans to disrupt peace in the State.

“Our meeting of last Saturday was organized to eventually assess the popularity of our great party APC, as well as to discuss identified problems and solutions among which were the illegal arrests and demolishing of legitimate houses belonging to innocent members of the opposition party.

“We are law abiding citizens whose common hope was to assist in efforts to restore peace and tranquility in Zamfara State, as embarked upon by every well meaning governments, including present administration led by Governor Matawalle, organizations, groups or individuals in that regard.

“We are indigenes of Zamfara State and were surrounded by thousands of directly linked descendants across the fourteen local government areas of the State, and our concern was to make the lives of good people of the State better than anywhere else”, Lawali Liman said.

The Chairman further lamented alleged plans by the State Government to arrest oppositions and destroy houses of all the popular members of the APC in the State, including 73 year old family house of the 2019 APC gubernatorial

By Lateef Ibrahim

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Nigerians to hold the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) responsible for the negative impacts of the proposed travel sanctions imposed on Nigeria by the United States.

The PDP said this in a statement at the weekend by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The party described the sanction as yet another huge misfortune brought by the Buhari Presidency and the APC “which have continued to wreck our nation with its compromised handling of security issues, in addition to escalated bloodletting and human rights violation under their watch”.

The party lamented that the travel ban will have grave consequences on economic, educational, and healthcare opportunities; hurt family and social ties as well as further put pressure on our overall national economy.

According to the PDP’s statement, “More depressing is that the APC and the Buhari Presidency have been reversing diplomatic gains achieved by previous

Visa ban: PDP blames Buhari, seeks NASS intervention administrations while gradually pitching our nation against other countries of the world with its poor record on security, corruption and human right issues.

“Our party is worried that our nation that, has become a global destination and investment hub under the PDP, is now being pushed back to a pariah status under the incompetent and divisive APC, as reports from other members of the international community, including credible international organizations, have continued to raise concerns on security and human right issues under the Buhari administration.

“Only recently, our nation was rated as third country with the highest level of terrorism in 2019 after Iran and Afghanistan, in the Global Terrorism Index rating by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

“This is in addition to damning reports by reputable organizations including Amnesty International (AI), Transparency

International (TI), European Union (EU), United States Department of State among others, which in various independent reports, raised grave issues of escalated corruption, violation of human rights, disregard to rule of law, abuse of processes, election rigging and poor handling of security issues under the APC. “The APC administration has failed to rejig its security high command despite the calls by Nigerians, in the face of worsening security challenges and mass killings in our country under their charge.

“It is also worrisome that the APCled administration had failed to take a decisive step to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of acts of terrorism including the mass killings in Benue, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ekiti, Kogi and other parts of the country under the current administration”, it said.

Chief of Staff (CoS) and Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, Alhaji Muntari Lawal, (left ) presents to his boss the trophy awarded to him (CoS) by the NGO, Hajj Reporters, for emerging the best Amirul Hajj (Leader of Hajj Delegation) for 2019 Hajj Operations.

What Buhari said on Uzodinma victory in Imo - Oshiomhole Insists Ihedioha never won

By Lawrence Olaoye

N

ational Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari was excited that his party has finally found a foothold in the South-East following the Supreme Court’s victory of Sen. Hope Uzodinma, its candidate at the 2019 governorship election in Imo state.

The APC boss also insisted that the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, who was removed by Supreme Court verdict never won the governorship election because he failed to win the required 2/3 of the 27 local government in the state.

Briefing newsmen yesterday after formally presenting Uzodinma to the President at the State House, Oshiomhole said Uzodinma’s eventual emergence as the state governor was in tandem with Buhari’s vision of uniting the country.

Oshiomhole said “The governor of Imo, Senator Hope Uzodinma is not a stranger to the president, he has been part of the APC family, he has played very decisive roles when it mattered in the affairs of the party.

Upon his victory which was delayed courtesy of INEC and finally retrieved by Supreme Court.

So the purpose of today’s meeting is just to introduce him as the new executive governor of Imo state. And of course President Buhari is very excited that we have established our foothold in the heart of the south east. And it coincides with the president’s vision of uniting the country. Now we can truly say that we not only control the

center, we have governors in each of the six geo-political zones and I believe that is good for our party and for the government.”

Contesting Ihedioha’s declaration as the winner of the Imo guber election, the APC boss said “Now, is there any of us in this room that at a time Emeka Iheidioha was declared, even the returning officer could not show that he scored the constitutional requirement of at least one quarter of the total vote cast in at least 2/3 of a local government. On that criteria alone there is no question in the eyes of the law, Emeka iheidioha ought not to have been declared because he had those numbers only in nine local government areas and of course you know you have about 27 local government areas, 2/3is 15.”

Responding to question on what Imolites should expect from his administration, Uzodinma said “I understand very clearly the challenges in Imo State. Even before now, only few days ago when I got to Imo, I discovered that salaries were not being paid in full.

“The reason being that the money coming from Abuja, the federation account is not sufficient. What I did was to cut down the running cost and forfeited the security vote donated to the governor, I made up the money and we were able to pay salaries 100 percent to all the civil servants.

“I also directed that the local government funds be sent straight to the local government until such a time the state is ready to release 10 percent of their IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) to the local government then we can begin to do the business of JAC - Joint Allocation Committee.”

On reconciliation of aggrieved members of his party, the governor said “On arrival to Imo State I have been able to do after reasonable consultations. I have visited leaders from political class, like you must have heard and seen, the party is properly reconciling and leaders are coming back together even across board.

“Twenty seven members of the House of Assembly, 25 are now APC members, they have decamped to APC. The state chairman of the PDP in Imo State, seven members of his cabinet have decamped to APC. So APC is building and the momentum is growing by the day. So the issue of reconciliation is being given serious attention.”

Asked for his priorities, the governor said they include security, infrastructural development, education as well as agricultural development and revival of moribund industries in the state.

On his reaction to the opposition PDP’s resolve to re-approach the Supreme Court on perceived error in its judgement which returned him as a duly elected governor, he said “going back to the Supreme Court is based on falsehood.

“Because, the number of accredited votes outside the excluded votes is what we are talking about. But if you are going to court, you must go to court to discuss or talk about number of accredited voters including the excluded polling units.

“If you compute the number of accredited voters, inclusive of the accredited voters, the figures are correct. We went to court with the issue of exclusion, we didn’t go to court with the business of election malpractices, violence and all of that.”

The PDP restated that such failures by the APC had continued to bolster insurgents, bandits and kidnappers to continue to launch deadly attacks on Nigerians.

The party added that moreover, the APC have failed to account for hoodlums and political mercenaries it imported from neighboring countries to assist in unleashing violence on Nigerians during the heavily rigged 2019 general elections.

The PDP therefore urge the National Assembly not to relent in its efforts to take decisive action on security, as the travel ban is a wake-up call on our leaders and all critical stakeholders to address the issues at stake.

The party however called on the United States to ensure that the ban does not hurt innocent Nigerians who are also bearing the brunt of the poor handling of security in our country under the APC administration.

Oshiomhole men flout Obaseki order, hold APC rally in Edo

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

L

oyalists of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams oshiomhole, on Saturday flouted the directive of Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, warning that very stiff penalties will be meted our on any individual or group who flout orders from security agencies and government to hold unauthorized APC rallies in any part of the State.

A faction of the State APC Chapter at the weekend held its rally in Edo Central senatorial district.

The organisers however dribbled security agents by earlier announcing Irrua as the venue of the rally only to direct members to Opoji in Esan West where it held.

Security agents had sealed off the Irrua venue apparently in line with Governor Obaseki directives banning political rallies in the state, but the rally held in another venue.

At the rally at Opoji, some former PDP members led by Prince Tony Omoaghe and former Speaker Bright Omokhodion joined the Oshiomhole’s APC faction.

Speaking at the rally, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu said: “They told us in Benin that this rally will not hold, they said many things will happen but as we were coming, the road was good.

“But you know these people are cowards, early this morning at about 3am, they went to Chief Inegbeneki and threw hand bombs.

The first one did not detonate, the second one detonated. If somebody had died, I don’t know what they would have said.

“We have been keeping quiet not because we are afraid, but because we own the house. Obaseki said he would destroy the Edo APC, but we would not allow him”, Ize-Iyamu said.

However, Chief Inegbeneki said his residence was attacked with explosives that destroyed a vehicle and part of the building.

According to him: “I got that information with rude shock. Frankly, I am short of words, it must have been politically motivated. After this successful political rally, I am going to Benin to assess the damage.

He warned: “For those drumming music of war they should be prepared to dance to the music”.

Inegbeneki called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue the people from the hands of Obaseki and his deputy, alleging that “Edo is under siege”.

PAGE 16

poli t ics

Okowa applauds US govt intervention in agribusiness

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

D

elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has applauded the United States Government for its numerous intervention projects through the USAID Nigeria ‘Feed the Future programme.’

Okowa who gave the commendation at an agribusiness finance and investment summit in Asaba, said that the state was happy and proud to be among the benefiting states of the interventions.

The governor, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Julius Egbedi, said that the projects had enhanced the capacity of the state’s human resources for effective contribution to the development of its economy.

He said, “We appreciate the US Government for showing considerable magnanimity in various intervention projects.

“No doubt, these projects have the ability to achieve and enhance the capacity of our state’s human resources” The Chief of Party and Managing Director of Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity, Adam Saffer, said Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture was the prime implementer of the agribusiness investment activity funded by the USAID. He stated that team from the USAID Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity was in Delta State to brainstorm on opportunities and solutions to challenges in the agribusiness sector.

According to him, the five-year programme aims to strengthen Nigeria’s business-enabling environment to encourage investment in the agriculture sector.

The summit, which drew participants from different sectors including financial institutions, was also designed to strengthen the capacity of agribusiness to expand operations.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

PDP advises Bala Muhammed to reconsider his appointments From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

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eoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State, and a veteran politician, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam, have advised the State government to always look for credible, patriotic and experienced politicians to be appointed for political offices in the best interest of the State.

They reacted in Bauchi over the weekend while answering questions from reporters over the recent resignation of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Kari, who resigned his appointment recently.

Rimin Zayam who is a veteran politician and an elder in Bauchi

politics said “there are good and bad sides of resignation of top people at the helm of affairs of the government, sometimes it is worrisome and it may have negative effects, while sometimes it is good for the state, depending on the reason or the offence the officer committed.

He said “during Military era before the military administrator sacks a political appointee, he must state the reason, under democratic political dispensation, the appointees are being appointed at the pleasure of the governor unlike in the past when party stakeholders in the constituency nominated their representative to the cabinet.

“Even where he is not nominated, the governor will send him back to his constituency

to seek for their blessings before he will be appointed, but today many of them are appointed by the chief executive who can hire them and fire them whenever they committed an offence.

“But in the past since the appointee came from his constituency, if there is any problems, elders from the area will go and apologies to the governor and settle the differences”.

He said today if the governor wanted to give a political appointee a soft landing, he may gives him the opportunity to resign and save his image, especially where one committed an offence against the party.

Yayanuwa Zainabari on his part said the appointees that resigned came from the Party before they were appointed but

they resigned without informing the party the reason for their resignation, and the party didn’t receive any report from government on why they resign, adding that everyone has right to resign from a post for his own personal reasons.

He said the party will advise the government to always appoint credible people that has the interest of the state before given them political appointment.

Three people resigned from office, Shitu Musa Zaki, who was the Governors Adviser on Politics, who resigned two months after he was appointed, Nura Manu Soro, who resigned as Commissioner of Finance 35 days after he was appointed and recently Abubakar Kari, who resigned as Chief of Staff to the Governor.

L-R: Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Teslim Folarin; Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Akeem Adeyemi; Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Fatai Buhari at the commissioning of roads and erosion control projects facilitated by Adeyemi in Oyo federal constituency, on Friday in Oyo State .

Photo : Speaker’s Media Unit

Irritants can’t initiate me over 2023 - Omo-Agege

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

D

eputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege has described the failed litigation seeking to disqualify him on account of allegedly being an ex-convict in the United States as a mere distraction.

Omo-Agege who is also the APC Leader for the South-South geo-political zone also said that he has put all such distractions behind him.

He spoke at the weekend in Abuja, where he said some faceless political foes were hellbent on distracting the National Assembly leadership from the path of cooperation with the Executive arm of government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the

people.

Omo-Agege said the failed attempt to remove him as Deputy President of the Senate and as Senator, may not be unconnected with the 2023 political intrigues.

Recall that last week, Justice Othman Musa of the FCT High Court in Bwari Abuja, had dismissed the suit challenging the eligibility of the Deputy President of the Senate over an alleged conviction in the United States of America.

The court held that the case against Omo-Agege in the US was merely a non-criminal trial and awarded N1million fine against the claimants, a hitherto unknown Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organisation of Nigeria, for wasting the time of the court.

Speaking on the matter for the first time since the court judgement, Omo-Agege said that sponsors of mischief and the irritants they used against him miscalculated.

“I am not a politician who can be intimidated by anybody; for those enemies at home, they know me very well but I am sure that those who participated, they did so with cover from others outside of the state who really did not know me well.

“If they knew, like the local enemies that I am not easily intimidated, I am very sure they wouldn’t have gone on this fruitless voyage.

“This is not the first time we have been through this; I pray it is the last time. But to the extent they chose not to make it

the last time, they also have me to contend with because I don’t suffer fools gladly.

“For those who don’t know, they will get to know in the not too distant future.

“But having said that, I saw all of it and those behind it as mere irritants who were determined to distract me and the leadership of the National Assembly from the path of cooperation with the Executive arm (of government) to enable us deliver the dividends of democracy as promised to our constituency during the electioneering campaigns.

“I am glad and indebted to the leadership of the Senate and indeed all of my colleagues who saw through this from the very outset and called it what exactly it is: that they were just people

who were mischievous, doing permutations with respect to 2023 when no one knows who will be alive tomorrow.

“In doing this, they factored in a lot of things but one thing I believe they forgot to factor in is the God factor because if you look at our trajectory, on our own, we are not supposed to be where we are.

“The only reason we are here today is because God said we have to be here; we are not here because we are the smartest, the most intelligent, most popular or most powerful. So, we believe that those who are fighting us are fighting God and that is not the kind of battle you want to be involved in because you don’t have the chance of winning that battle”, he said.

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Leave OmoAgege alone, Urhobo leaders tell detractors

By Musa Adamu

K

ings, elders and religious leaders from Urhobo Kingdom in Delta State stormed the National Assembly at the weekend to express solidarity with the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege, warning all mischief makers to leave their son alone or incur the wrath of Urhobo people.

While stressing that such fruitless exercise leads to self-destruction, the leaders said an attack on their son, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, is an attack on the Urhobo Nation.

Speaking on behalf of the leaders consisting of traditional and religious leaders from Delta Central Senatorial District, members of the apex socio-cultural umbrella body of the Urhobo people, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), as well as the academia, Professor Sam Ibodje said the Wednesday judgement of the FCT High Court, Abuja had further vindicated the lawmaker.

Recall that on Wednesday, Justice Othman Musa of the FCT High Court in Bwari Abuja, dismissed the suit challenging the eligibility of the Deputy President of the Senate over an alleged conviction in the United States of America.

The court held that the case against OmoAgege in the US was merely a non-criminal trial and awarded N1million fine against the claimant, Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organisation of Nigeria, for wasting the time of the court.

Professor Ibodje emphasised the immense role of the Urhobo Nation in the Nigerian project.

While passing a vote of confidence on Senator Omo-Agege, he pointed out that this is the all-time highest position any of its descendants had ever attained.

He therefore urged the Urhobos at home and in Diaspora to be vigilant and resist any attempt to rubbish one of its own.

According to him, DSP Omo-Agege is not only an asset to the Urhobo Nation in particular but the country in general.

He pointed out that political detractors are afraid of the rising profile of the Senator, adding that the Delta Central lawmaker has brought clear-cut path to development through the introduction of six impactful bills in the first five six months of the Ninth Assembly.

He noted that character assassination against Omo-Agege may not be unconnected with the politics of 2023.

He said “We are aware that all these acts of character assassination are motivated by 2023 politics and the rising profile of the Senator in the South-South geopolitical zone.

“The smear campaign also has political undertone aimed at destabilizing the rather stable National Assembly that has achieved a smooth and peaceful working relationship with the Executive arm of government that is moving the nation to the next level.

“It must therefore be noted that any attack on him is an attack on the interest of the Urhobo people; it will be unacceptable and vehemently resisted.

“The Urhobos are therefore using this medium to warn all mischief makers and their sponsors, who covertly work against our son, and by implication against the interest of the Urhobo people, to desist forthwith from such fruitless exercise that does no one any good, but rather leads to self-destruction.

“Any further attempt to distract this great man who, by dint of hard work, has attained such noble heights will not be tolerated by the Urhobo Nation”.

Some of the dignitaries at the solidarity visit include the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, HRM Richard Oghenevwogaga Ebelle; Ovie of Arhavwarhien, HRM Solomon Akporhiere Onojeta; Chief Ogbetuo Godwin among others.

poli t ics

S/Court victory means political retirement for Kwankwaso - Says Ganduje

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

K

ano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has said his victory at the Supreme and the All Progressives Congress’ overwhelming success in the last year’s National Assembly and state House of Assembly polls has signalled Rabiu Kwankwaso’s retirement from politics.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state, is regarded as the strongman of Kano politics.

Ganduje said this when the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abdul’aziz Gafasa, APC leaders in the state and others, presented him four lawmakers after collecting their

certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The governor said “the last straw that broke Kwankwaso’s back” was the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming his victory in last year’s governorship poll in the state.

He said “A few years ago when Kwankwaso was warming up to contest the presidential election, he boasted that he would retire President Muhammadu Buhari from politics.

“He also boasted that he would retire me from politics. But if you take a look at the unfolding political scenario, who then is forced to retire?”

Meanwhile, Ganduje has congratulated Kwankwaso’s father, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso, for his elevation from Majidadin Karaye to the position of Makaman Karaye Emirate – a kingmaker in the emirate.

Ganduje said Kwankwaso’s father deserved the elevation. He said, “I congratulate our respectful father and an elder statesman on behalf of the government and people of Kano State.

“We pray that Allah bless him with the wisdom to enable him to discharge all his assigned responsibilities very well. Our father is very hardworking and very close to his people.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River, Dr Johnson AlaliboSinikiem (L); State Director, Department of State Service (DSS) in Cross River State, Mr Adebayo Illupeju (2nd, L) and others during a visit by the management of INEC to DSS Office in Calabar.

Photo: NAN

PDP has clear opportunity in Edo guber - Gov Makinde

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

G

overnor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stands the chance of winning the coming governorship election in the state.

Makinde, who spoke in Benin at the weekend after a brief meeting with the leadership of the party on how to conduct a free, fair and credible ward congress, said the meeting with the leadership of the party was centred on the people and at the end of the exercise, their they would decide who govern them.

“This electoral committee is put together to conduct the ward congress and delegate election for Edo State. This is a process we are starting and it is centred around the people and at the end of the day, no matter what people do, it is the people of Edo State that will determine who will be their next governor.

“We have been talking to the aspirants and there have been serious engagement sessions since Friday and we are hopeful that Edo is going to be for PDP in the next election,” he said.

The Oyo governor assured the party faithful in Edo that the process of electing their ward leaders would be transparent and without ambiguities.

Makinde stated, “We have taken out time to ensure that the process is transparent, free, fair and credible. So, you cannot say a process is not going to end well when it is just taking off.

“The opposition and their pessimists will say what they have to say but we have to do

what we have to do to give confidence to our party members, the people of Edo State and Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, explosives on Saturday rocked the private residence of a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, in Benin.

The attack came on the heels of an alleged assassination attempt on the life of another APC chieftain and former Attorney General of the state, Mr Henry Idahagbon, in which two persons were seriously injured.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers struck at about 3am with two hand grenades which resulted in serious damage to the building and a vehicle parked in the compound located in the Government Reservation Area.

Inegbeneki, while speaking in his country home at Opoji where he received PDP defectors from the five local government areas of Edo Central Senatorial District of the state, said though he was no at home when the incident occured, it came to him as a shock He said, “I got that information with rude shock. Frankly, I am short of words; it must have been politically motivated. After this successful political rally, I am going to Benin to assess the damage.”

Inegbeneki told journalists he suspected the governor and his deputy over the attack on his house and called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to rescue the people from their hands, as “Edo is under siege.”

“We have said it loud and clear, we are not going to support Obaseki for a second

term,” he added.

Also speaking, another chieftain of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu described the attackers as cowards.

Meanwhile, the APC has suspended some members of the party for instituting a suit against the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

The factional Secretary of APC in Edo, Lawrence Okah, stated this in an interview with correspondent.

Justice S. O. Oriji of an Abuja High Court last Wednesday struck out a suit filed by Messrs Stephen Oshawo, Joseph Ezuduemhoi and Henry Imokhai challenging the eligibility of Oshiomhole to continue to preside over the affairs of the party.

Oshawo and others from Ward 10 in the Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, where Oshiomhole hails from, had gone to court asking it to stop him from parading himself as the national chairman, adding that he had been suspended from the APC in his ward.

But Oshiomhole, in his defence, argued that the applicants do not have the powers to suspend him because they had all been suspended in their respective units in ward 10.

However, when asked whether the members risk any sanction, Okah said those behind the suit had been expelled from the party for taking the party to court.

He said, “The constitution of our party is very clear. Any member who takes the party or officials of the party to court on internal matters faces automatic expulsion. Article 21 is very clear, we don’t discuss it. They are no longer members of our party.”

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Stock Watch: Friday, January 31, 2020 Low

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4.80 1.15 0 2.94 1.94 0 1.27 0.27 0 1.64 0.64 0 6.60 4.60 0 57.00 48.30 0 5.79 2.21 0 9.65 40.05 0 31.50 64.00 0 1.90 1.92 0 18.45 18.45 0 1.72 1.84 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.20 0.20 0 6.10 6.10 0 1.75 1.75 0 186.00 186.00 0 6.00 6.65 0 14.60 14.55 0 1.80 2.00 0 3.37 3.37 0 4.30 4.70 0 14.00 14.00 0 7.35 7.80 0 1.62 1.65 0 1.91 1.96 0 4.95 4.95 99 0.33 0.33 0 21.85 21.85 0 29.60 30.70 0 0.20 0.20 0 12.20 13.05 0 32.60 32.95 0 72.00 72.00 0 1.18 1.18 0 1.53 1.53 0 31.50 31.50 0 0.51 0.54 0 0.20 0.20 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.44 0.44 0 0.30 0.30 0 1.36 1.36 0 0.72 0.72 0 0.52 0.49 0 1.83 1.83 0

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3.80 6.00 ACCESS -0.35 1.94 3.94 AFRIPRUD 0.00 1.27 0.27 AGLEVENT 0.00 1.64 0.64 AIICO 0.00 4.60 8.60 BERGER 0.00 37.00 67.00 BETAGLAS -1.30 6.79 3.79 BOCGAS -0.42 4.65 10.05 CADBURY -0.40 71.50 31.50 CAP -2.50 0.90 1.90 CAVERTON -0.02 08.45 18.45 CCNN 0.00 0.72 1.72 CHAMPION -0.12 23.25 23.25 CONOIL 0.00 0.20 0.20 CORNERST 0.00 0.20 0.20 COURTVILLE 0.00 6.10 6.10 CUSTODIAN 0.00 1.75 1.75 CUTIX 0.00 186.00 186.00 DANGCEM 0.00 6.00 6.25 DANGFLOUR -0.65 14.60 14.60 DANGSUGAR 0.05 1.80 2.00 DIAMONDBNK -0.20 3.37 3.37 EKOCORP 0.00 4.30 4.30 ETERNA -0.40 14.00 14.00 ETI 0.00 7.45 7.60 FBNH -0.35 1.62 1.67 FCMB -0.03 1.92 1.98 FIDELITYBK -0.04 4.95 4.95 FIDSON 0.00 0.33 0.33 FIRSTALUM 0.00 21.85 21.85 FLOURMILL 0.00 29.60 29.60 FO -1.10 0.20 0.20 FTNCOCOA 0.00 12.20 12.20 GLAXOSMITH -0.85 33.50 33.50 GUARANTY 0.55 72.00 72.00 GUINNESS 0.00 1.18 1.18 HONYFLOUR 0.00 1.53 1.53 IKEJAHOTEL 0.00 31.50 31.50 INTBREW 0.00 0.53 0.53 JAIZBANK -0.01 0.20 0.21 JAPAULOIL 0.00 23.25 23.25 JBERGER 0.00 0.44 0.44 JOHNHOLT 0.00 0.30 0.30 LASACO 0.00 1.36 1.36 LEARNAFRCA 0.00 0.72 0.72 LINKASSURE 0.00 0.52 0.52 LIVESTOCK 0.03 1.83 1.83 MANSARD 0.00

Stock Close Gain UPL 2.14 0.03 LIVESTOCK 0.42 0.08 SOVRENINS 0.28 0.13 OKOMUOIL 20.00 0.90 GUARANTY 43.50 0.25

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2.45 2.45 0 2.45 2.45 MAYBAKER 0.00 0 0.21 0.21 0 0.21 0.21 MBENEFIT 0.00 0 0.63 0.43 0 0.43 0.43 MCNICHOLS 0.00 0 1.15 2.05 261 2.05 2.05 MEDVIEWAIR 0.00 0 24.80 184.80 0 184.80 184.80 MOBIL 0.00 0 1.20 0.20 970 0.20 0.20 MULTIVERSE 0.00 0 6.50 3.50 0 3.50 3.50 NAHCO 0.00 0 12.00 18.00 0 18.00 18.00 NASCON 0.00 0 68.50 78.70 0 79.50 79.50 NB 0.80 0 1.78 0.78 0 0.78 0.78 NEIMETH 0.00 0 1.60 2.60 0 2.60 2.60 NEM 0.00 0 52.20 552.20 150 552.20 552.20 NESF 0.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 NESTLE 0.00 0 1.60 1.65 0 1.60 1.60 NPFMCRFBK -0.05 0 4.60 4.80 0 4.60 4.75 OANDO -0.20 0 80.00 76.20 0 80.00 80.00 OKOMUOIL 3.80 0 64.00 64.00 0 64.00 64.00 PRESCO 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 PRESTIGE 0.00 0 12.30 12.30 0 12.30 12.30 PZ 0.00 0 4.20 4.20 0 4.20 4.20 REDSTAREX 0.00 0 0.20 0.21 0 0.20 0.21 REGALINS -0.01 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 RESORTSAL 0.00 0 0.21 0.23 0 0.21 0.22 ROYALEX -0.02 0 640.00 640.00 405 640.00 640.00 SEPLAT 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.21 0.21 SOVRENINS 0.01 0 46.50 46.00 0 46.50 46.50 STANBIC 0.50 0 102.00 102.00 122 102.00 102.00 STANBICETF30 0.00 0 1.97 1.96 0 1.97 1.97 STERLNBANK 0.01 0 203.00 203.00 0 203.00 203.00 TOTAL 0.00 0 6.10 6.10 632 6.10 6.10 TRANSCOHOT 0.00 0 1.15 1.21 0 1.16 1.18 TRANSCORP -0.05 0 9.60 9.60 0 9.60 9.60 UACN 0.00 0 1.74 1.92 0 1.74 1.74 UAC-PROP -0.18 0 7.60 7.80 0 7.90 7.95 UBA 0.10 0 6.00 6.05 0 6.00 6.05 UBN -0.05 0 2.89 2.94 0 2.89 2.91 UCAP -0.05 0 36.30 37.00 0 36.30 36.30 UNILEVER -0.70 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.27 0.27 UNIONDAC 0.00 0 1.00 0.99 0 1.00 1.00 UNITYBNK 0.01 0 2.04 1.97 0 2.14 2.14 UPL 0.17 0 0.23 0.23 0 0.23 0.23 VERITASKAP 0.00 0 4.50 4.99 0 4.50 4.50 VITAFOAM -0.49 0 11.30 11.50 0 11.30 11.65 WAPCO -0.20 0 0.40 0.40 0 0.40 0.40 WAPIC 0.00 0 0.59 0.61 0 0.59 0.61 WEMABANK -0.02 0 21.20 22.70 0 21.70 22.50 ZENITHBANK -1.00 0

Top Losers

Stock Close Loss DIAMONDBNK 1.70 -0.30 BOCGAS 1.89 -0.42 VITAFOAM 2.20 -0.69 DANGFLOUR 3.00 -0.85 UAC-PROP 0.94 -0.28

Pantami urges young innovative Nigerians to monetise social media data

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami has urged young innovative Nigerians to monetise social media data into fortune for themselves.

Dr. Pantami spoke at the 29th Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

He said, the possibility of extracting valuable insights from data present an interesting prospect for embracing datafication, adding that in many cases, these data mines can become a gold mine of resources.

He explained that “Jeffrey Bezos of Amazon, Bill Gates of Microsoft and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook are modern day examples of those who have been able to mine data and transform the insights into fortune.”

He said, another unlikely example is the famous footballer known as Christiano Ronaldo.

“Ronaldo has mastered the art of monetising social media data even more than he has monetised his skills on the soccer field; he makes an estimated $47.8million (about 43.4milliin EUR) per year from paid-Instagram posts, which far exceeds his 31million EUR annual salary from Juventus,” he said.

Speaking on a theme: “Datafication of society: Economic and Security Issues in Producing and Using Public and Private Data in Nigeria”, Pantami noted that datafication of objects transforms their purpose and turns the information into new forms of value.

He said, with the ubiquity of sensors and Internet-of-Things, basically everything can be converted into data.

“From the sensors that count

your steps and track your health vitals, to those that monitor air pollution, to those that assess the radiation from cell sites, to those that detect cracks on roads, to those that predict crop yield. The list of possibilities that sensors and datafication provide are seemingly endless,” he said Listing the perils of big data, the Minister quoted a six-month study, by an Enterprise Security company called Proofpoint, and released in March 2019, over 70% of some major cloud service tenants have experienced the perils of data breaches at least once with 40% of the data subjects acknowledging

that their accounts were compromised.

He said: “in Nigeria, we are developing and implementing policies, standards, guidelines and frameworks that will enable us enjoy the prospects of datafication while also protecting ourselves against the perils.”

Also speaking, the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta said, the commission was working with the relevant industry stakeholders to ensure data affordability and price reduction.

“Despite the fact that Nigeria

has one of the lowest data prices, to be honest with you, we did a presentation to the Minister in order to show consistency to hit the benchmark of the day on fairing a megabyte of data in Nigeria.

“But that is not to say the price is where it is at the moment so the word affordability is the upper most in our mind and that is why there is an ongoing scientific cost stake, which we hope will compel telecommunications operators to lower the cost of data.

“When the study is completed and subjected to the usual stakeholder engagement with critical stakeholders in the

industry, we have to come up with two things; which are price flow and price count.

“The telecommunications company will be allowed to choose a price for data subject to the approval of the NCC. “We hope that at the conclusion of this as well as we intend to sensitise Nigerians on the telecommunication companies they should patronise because the data speed is equally very important.

“We are going to do a cost of data to come up with a lower data price than what is been offered by the telecommunications operators,” he said.

L-R: Manager, Sales and Trade Development, MTN Nigeria, Momoh Okpanachi; Regional Sales Manager, Customer Operations, MTN Nigeria, Chikaodi Ofoegbu; Fashion Designer and awardee of the MTN Turn It Up Empowerment Scheme, Caroline Obi; Photographer and awardee of the MTN Turn It Up Empowerment Scheme, Umar Bashir, and Manager, Sponsorships and Promotions, MTN Nigeria, Njide Ken-Odogwu during the presentation of certificate to the Awardees of the Turn It Up Empowerment Scheme, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Private Equity Firms agents of economic growth -Uduk

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Mary Uduk, has said that Private Equity (PE) firms are important agents of business and economic growth, as they bring capital to business.

Uduk spoke at the Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (UUBO) second private equity summit with the theme: ‘Drivers, Disruptors and Unlocking Value’, held in Lagos, weekend.

The acting Director-General said there was a nexus between adequate capital and business growth as such capital helps businesses grow, generates profits for the investors, creates socioeconomic benefits to the consumers, and enhances overall growth of the economy.

According to her, Nigeria has lots of startups with robust business plans, many profitable unlisted companies with established cash-generating capacity, as well as public companies with solid customer bases, proven products, and high-quality management.

She stated that all these businesses and opportunities were yearning for investments, and PE firms can tap into this.

“I see an improved investment climate, friendly market rules and regulations as well as increased investor education as essential elements for attracting PE investments in Nigeria.

“Towards this, the Commission is working on Rules and Regulations to ease participation of, and disclosures, by more PE funds. Initiatives in registering and developing the FinTech space in the capital market will also provide good

opportunities for PE firms to invest in innovative start-ups operating in in the capital market.

“The ISA 2007 empowers the Securities and Exchange Commission to register PE Funds. Based on their scope and the need to attract investors such as the Pension Funds, many PE firms and Infrastructure funds (often structured as PE), file their returns with the Commission,” Uduk said.

Uduk said The capital market provides the most efficient gateway opportunities for PE firms. The NASD Enterprise Portal, as a collaborative development in the market, aims at aiding PE firms invest in and dispose of eligible companies’ securities in an easy and cost-effective manner.

According to her, As PE activity rises in the country, PE funds can utilise the opportunities provided on our various

organised exchanges when exiting their investments. This will increase the quality of our listed public companies, while allowing PE firms benefit from the market liquidity, efficiency and increased participation available on the exchanges.

“It is therefore my hope that the outcome of this Summit will impact greatly and positively on the PE segment of our market, the capital market in general and our economy as a whole.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, delivering a keynote on ‘Fostering an enabling environment for investment in Nigeria’, said that the federal government would seek to localise at least 40 per cent of its expenditure on stipulated goods and services, to facilitate local markets access for Nigerian made products.

The minister said that government

had realised that building production capacity alongside strategic partners with strong track record in some priority sectors was critical to success.

“Through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, bilateral investment agreements are being modernised with a greater sense of purpose.

“Much of our most recent agreements target countries that align with our ambition of building local production capacity,” he said.

According to him, government will seek a comprehensive approach in mobilising capital, incentivising priority sectors and expanding market access for local producers.

Adebayo said that government would further enhance the ease of doing business and support the growth of MSMEs.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Page 20

BU$IN€SS African Energy Ministers to storm Abuja for NIPS 2020

By Etuka Sunday

A

s is tradition with the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), top African Energy Ministers will storm the International Conference Centre, Abuja from February 9th – 12th, 2020 for the third edition of the summit.

The theme “Widening the integration circle: technology, knowledge, sustainability, partnership,” is quite apt considering the presence of the African Ministers at the summit.

Some of the African Energy Ministers who have confirmed their attendance include H.E.

Noel Mboumba, Minister of Oil, Gas and Hydrocarbons, Gabon; H.E. Foumakoye Gado, Minister of Petroleum, Republic of Niger; Mike Sangster, H.E. Mustapha Sanalla, Libya Minister of Petroleum and Chairman of NOC and H.E. Jean-Marc Thystere, Minister of Hydrocarbon, Republic of Congo.

“It has been our tradition from inception. We gather the best brains and key policy makers from across the continent to chart the way forward and posit strategies for the management of Africa’s huge hydrocarbon resources,” says Mr. James Shindi, Managing Director of Brevity Anderson, the

event producer.

Also expected at the summit are H.E Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary-General, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); H.E Mahaman Laouan Gaya, Secretary-General, African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO); H.E Dr. Sun Xiansheng, Secretary-General, International Energy Forum (IEF) amongst other reputable international stakeholders.

The summit which will be declared open by His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, H.E. Chief Timipre Sylva as chief host, will also

feature key industry players from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector which include Tony Attah, Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited; Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, SPDC/Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria; Michael Sangster-Managing Director & Chief Executive, Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG); Paul McGrath, Managing Director, Exxonmobil; Simbi K. Wabote, Executive Secretary Nigeria Content Development & Monotoring Board (NCDMB); Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Minister of State for

Petroleum Resources, H.E. Chief Timipre Sylva, had earlier declared his readiness to host the global oil community in Abuja in a widely publicised podcast posted on the Ministry of Petroleum Resources official social media handles.

NIPS is a federal government of Nigeria official petroleum industry event with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and all its parastatals including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) are joint hosts.

L-R: Senior Partner at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie law firm, Dan Agbor; Of Counsel at the firm, Dr Myma Belo-Osagie; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Founder of the firm, Udoma Udo Udoma; and Acting DirectorGeneral of Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Uduk, during Udo Udoma & Bello Osagie Private Equity Summit, at the weekend in Lagos .

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

METRO

Page 21

120,300 pupils to benefit from FCT school feeding scheme

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

total of 120,300 pupils from 626 public primary schools across the six area councils in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will benefit from the FCT Home Grown School Feeding programme.

Making this disclosure during the official flag-off of the programme in Karu Model School, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, noted that the programme was designed to improve the health and

educational outcomes of public primary school pupils.

Aliyu added that the programme links local farmers to the education sector by facilitating their access to the school feeding market.

She explained that to ensure efficient service delivery, a feedback mechanism involving the head teachers, health teachers and the class teachers of each school has been put in place, as well as the process of training the head teachers, health teachers and class teachers in each school.

She therefore assured that all stakeholders parents, teachers,

traditional and community leaders who are the gatekeepers, and the vendors who will prepare the meals will be carried along in the full implementation of the programme.

The Minister who specifically stated that the programme in FCT is for pupils in LEAs, however called on community leaders and all stakeholders in the FCT to assist the Federal Government in lifting the burdens off indigent parents who could not afford balanced diets for their wards.

“The programme is targeting about 120,300 pupils that will be drawn from 626 public primary

schools across the six Area Councils of the FCT. Henceforth, pupils will be fed once daily with meals containing the six required nutrients from primary one to three.

“I want to assure you that all stakeholders parents, teachers, traditional and community leaders who are the gatekeepers, and the vendors who will prepare the meals will be carried along in the full implementation of this programme,” Aliyu stressed.

Similarly, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya

Umar Farouk, noted that the Social Investment programmes of the Federal Government were designed to achieve the national objectives of reducing poverty and taking a 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by creating opportunity, increasing resilience, promoting equity and stimulating growth in the country.

Farouk stressed that the programme main objective is to provide one nutritious, balanced meal each school day to pupils in classes 1 to 3 in public primary schools across the country.

WCD: Helpline Foundation advocates for more action

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

s the world marks 2020 World Cancer Day (WCD), a non governmental organization based in Abuja, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, has called for political will of government at all levels to stimulate action on combating one of the world’s most dreaded disease.

President and founder of the group, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, who made the call during a press conference as part of activities to mark 2020 call to action also advocated for personal commitment and individual action to be taken to impact the future and defeat cancer.

Ahmadu revealed that World Cancer Day was designed to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, noting that the day also serves as an occasion to push governments and individuals across the globe to take action against the disease.

Speaking on 2020 theme: “I Am and I Will”, Ahmadu described the theme as apt, stressing that the battle against cancer is a collective responsibility of both government and personal commitment.

She used the occasion to call for early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care, noting that an estimated 40 percent of deaths from cancer are preventable if awareness and early treatment is intensified. This will no doubt spare so many families the agony of losing their loved ones.

According to her, “World Cancer Day aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness about cancer, and pushing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.

“We at Helpline Foundation for the Needy are disturbed because according to the World Health Organization (WHO), if the incidence of cancer continues to grow at the reported cases, the number of deaths worldwide from cancer will increase to more than 13.1 million by 2030”.

Ahmadu equally expressed concerns over the global statistics that shows that more than 70 percent of deaths from cancer, occurs in economically lessdeveloped countries, just as she called on developing countries to design mechanisms for drawing attention to cancer prevention and treatment in their respective states.

Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Sen. Basheer Mohammed (Middle) with two of the beneficiaries from the NCFRMI/NDE trained fashion designers, during the fashion Design graduation of 65 IDP women at Malaysian Garden, IDPs Camp, yesterday in Abuja. the two beneficiaries are wearing clothes they made themselves.

Photo: Mahmud Isa.

We paid SSAEAC N29m Check-off Dues -TCN clarifies

Lassa Fever: FCTA ups awareness campaign in markets, parks

T

s part of precautionary measures against Lassa Fever disease, the FCT Administration has upped its sensitisation of residents, by taking the awareness campaign to motorists, traders, students in Markets, parks and educational facilities across the Territory.

Accordingly, officials of the Public Health Department of the FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat, over the weekend educated residents in the Territory on measures to curb the outbreak and spread

By Etuka Sunday

he Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday refuted the allegation by the national arm of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) which stated that TCN is yet to remit its N29m Check-off dues.

TCN said, the publication was geared towards attempting to incite staff based on deliberate misrepresentation of information.

It said, the allegation which was published in some dailies and online media on Monday,

27th January 2020, stated that outstanding check-off dues that ought to have been paid them by the end of December 2019, as agreed in a meeting held with TCN, the Union and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, is yet to be paid.

TCN hereby state that the meeting was held with the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment, not with the Minister of Labour as was stated in the publication and that check-off dues to both the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and Nigerian Union of Electricity

Workers (NUEE) have been paid up to January, 2020.

We further note that at the said meeting with the Permanent Secretary, an Accounts Reconciliatory Committee was set up consisting of three TCN staff and three SSAEAC members, to collectively examine the payment records by TCN and reconcile with SSAEAC records, in order to determine if there are any outstanding payments due to the Union. This was duly carried out.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Ndidi Mbah in a statement noted that the company

usually remits Union Checkoff dues within two weeks after salaries are paid.

It said, “remittance was suspended for SSAEAC after March 2019 payment, because the Local Chapter of SSAEAC complained that the percentage of the dues due to them from the Check-off dues paid to the national body was not being remitted by SSAEAC national. The suspension was lifted on the directive of the Permanent Secretary and this was complied with.

“We therefore urge members of the public and the stakeholders in the power sector to disregard

the insinuation of labour faceoff in the company as TCN has fully discharged its obligations by paying the Union check-off dues to-date.

“The company is committed to expanding the grid and is very sympathetic to issues of staff capacity development and welfare which is why today, staff of TCN are the most productive in the power sector. This can be proven by the responsibilities they undertake, including the installation of most of the over 75 power transformers installed across the country in less than 3years,” the statement said.

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

of the disease in the nation’s capital.

Speaking during the exercise at Garki Model Market, Education Officer, Mrs Hanatu Bitrus, of the Health Promotion and Educational Unit, FCT Public Health Department, noted that although there was no confirmed case of Lassa Fever in FCT, the department would not relent to put necessary preventive measures in place within the Territory.

Bitrus, who represented the of the Head of the Unit, Hajia Hauwa Suleiman, urged the residents to avoid contact with

rats, maintain environmental hygiene and cover all foods and water properly.

She also cautioned the residents against exposing food and of other consumables where rats could have access to it.

According to her, “ “We started since last week. Today we are here in Garki Model Market to sensitize the residents of FCT on how to prevent Lassa Fever from coming into the Territory.

“We use English, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Gwari languages in the sensitization to ensure that language doesn’t serve as a barrier.”

The FCTA official enjoined

women to wash cooking pot properly before and after use and block all rats hideouts as well as discard any food eaten by rats.

On her part, Manager, Garki Model Market, Mrs JamimaAbulele , said the leadership of the market had taken proactive step to safeguard traders and customers against the disease.

Abulele said the management of the market was always proactive as it fumigate the market bi-annually in line with the international best practice. ” On hearing the outbreak of Lassa Fever in some FCT neighbouring states, we quickly

embarked on sensitisation for the traders and sent circulars to all shops, traders and everybody visiting the market. ” We have done our normal fumigation of the market but because of outbreak of Lassa Fever we are going to fumigate the market to make sure the environment is safe.”

She however commended the FCT administration for its efforts at educating the FCT residents on how to protect themselves from contracting the disease.

Abulele therefore pledged total support of the management of the market to the ongoing sensitisation campaign.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Page 22

world news

Trump impeachment: Failed witnesses vote paves way for acquittal

U

S President Donald Trump is set to be acquitted in his impeachment trial after senators voted against calling witnesses or admitting new evidence.

Democrats hoped four swing Republicans would vote for witnesses, which would have extended the trial without in all likelihood changing its outcome.

In the end, only two of the four Republicans voted with Democrats.

The trial now moves forward to a vote on whether to acquit President Trump, which he is all but certain to win.

Senior members of President Trump’s Republican Party pushed from the outset for a speedy trial with no witnesses or new evidence. Above all, they wanted to avoid senators hearing from former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

According to reporting by the New York Times, Mr Bolton writes in his forthcoming book that the president directly instructed him to withhold military aid from Ukraine in exchange for dirt on a Democratic political rival, Joe Biden.

Testimony from Mr Bolton about his involvement in the Ukraine affair threatened to significantly undermine the case made by the president’s lawyers during his trial.

Trump was impeached on two charges - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The first charge stemmed from an allegation that he pressured Ukraine to damage Mr Biden for his own political benefit. The second from an allegation that he purposefully obstructed the Congressional impeachment investigation.

The final vote on whether or not to acquit Mr Trump will be held on 5 February.

What happens next?

The Senate will vote on Wednesday 5 February on whether to convict or acquit the president on the two articles of impeachment brought against him.

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said there would be four votes on Friday night on Democratic amendments, followed by closing arguments on Monday, speeches from senators from Monday to Wednesday, and a final vote on Wednesday - the day after President Trump’s State of the Union address.

A two-thirds majority in the chamber of 67 votes is required to remove him from office. The Republicans control the Senate with a 53-47 majority over Democrats, and no Republican senator has signalled that they plan to vote for Mr Trump’s removal.

Eyes will instead fall on several Democrats in Republican-leaning states who have indicated they may vote to acquit. Any Democratic defections would be a symbolic victory for the president that he will likely use to his advantage on the campaign trail in the coming months.

The battle over witnesses intensified a week ago after reports emerged that Mr Bolton might have highly damaging testimony about the president’s involvement an alleged quid pro quo with Ukraine.

Mr Bolton’s forthcoming book reportedly alleges that the president personally directed the scheme to get dirt from Ukraine on Mr Biden, a former US vice president. The revelations threatened to undo Republican arguments that no impeachment witness had first-hand testimony of the president’s involvement.

But the slim chance of Mr Bolton being called to give

Trump testimony to the Senate slipped away from Democrats on Friday, after two of the four Republican senators they had hoped would

defect confirmed that they would not.

Could Bolton be a gamechanger?

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said in a statement late on Thursday that, while the Democrats had clearly demonstrated the president’s actions were “inappropriate”, they had not proved to be impeachable offenses.

“The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did,” he said.

“I believe that the constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another moderate, said in a statement on Friday afternoon: “The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but

Brexit: Britain ‘will not be aligning with EU rules’ - Raab

B

ritain will “not be aligning with EU rules” in any post-Brexit trade deal, the foreign secretary has said.

Dominic Raab argued agreeing to stick strongly with EU regulations would “defeat the point of Brexit”.

But Irish PM Leo Varadkar said the UK needed to commit to a level playing field to get a free trade deal.

Talks to negotiate a free trade deal between the UK and the EU are due to start next month, following the UK’s formal withdrawal from the bloc.

On Monday Boris Johnson is expected to set out his position ahead of those talks, where he will tell the EU he is prepared to accept customs checks at Britain’s borders if he cannot secure the sort of trade deal he wants.

One option the PM could support would be a Canadastyle free trade deal which allows tariff-free trade for the majority of goods, but would not cover the UK’s service industry - which accounts for more than 80% of UK jobs.

Reports in recent days have suggested EU chiefs want the UK to continue to follow EU rules on standards and state subsidies while accepting the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in any trade disputes.

The PM is expected to say that he will accept no alignment and no jurisdiction of the European

The Grand Place in Brussels was illuminated in Union Jack

courts when talks start in March.

He is also preparing to say he would rule out relaxing rules on workers’ rights, food hygiene standards and environmental protections.

‘Rigid red lines’ Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Varadkar said it was possible for the UK to have a “Canada-style agreement”.

However, he added: “Canada isn’t the UK; you’re geographically part of the European continent, we share seas and airspace and our economies are very integrated.

“And one thing we feel very strongly in the EU is that if we are

going to have tariff-free, quotafree trade with the UK, which is essentially what we have with Canada on almost everything, then that needs to come with a level playing field.

“We, for example would have very strong views on fair competition and state aid.”

A level playing field is a trade policy phrase for a set of common rules and standards that prevent businesses in one country undercutting their rivals over those operating in other countries in areas such as workers’ rights and environmental protections.

He also cautioned against

“setting rigid red lines” for the post-Brexit trade negotiations arguing “it makes coming to an agreement more difficult because the other side doesn’t feel like it has got a fair deal unless those red lines are turned pink.”

Mr Raab said the UK would enter trade talks “with a spirit of goodwill” but added “the legislative alignment - it just ain’t happening”.

Brexit: What is a level playing field?

Labour’s John McDonnell said Mr Johnson’s desire to diverge from EU rules “contradict” what the PM had previously said on protecting environmental, consumer and employment rights.

“On the one hand he said there will be [protections] on the other hand he is sabre-rattling saying that won’t happen in the negotiations,” he said.

But Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed the prime minister’s approach arguing it was in the UK’s “national interest” to be “a competitor on their [the EU’s] doorstep.”

The government also wants to make progress in striking free trade agreements with countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The EU’s own approach to the negotiations needs to be agreed by all 27 member states - which would be unlikely to happen before the end of February.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Refugees in South Africa: ‘Give us a place where we can be safe’

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Somalia declares emergency over locust swarms

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undreds of refugees and asylum seekers have been crammed into a church in the centre of the South African city of Cape Town for four months.

They are desperate to move to another country, as Vumani Mkhize reports.

The air is thick with the smell of too many people confined in one space.

Blankets, making up temporary beds, are strewn all over.

The cacophony of children’s playful laughter rises above the scene, but it cannot mask the plight of the more than 500 refugees and asylum seekers who have sought refuge inside Cape Town’s Central Methodist Church.

Last October this group, made up of people from across the continent, staged a sit-in protest outside the offices of the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR), demanding to be resettled outside South Africa.

Armed with an eviction order, police tried to forcibly remove them and images of stun grenades and weeping children desperately clinging to their mothers shocked the nation.

At the time the UNHCR said it had been “encouraging [the protesters] to participate in constructive dialogue to address their grievances”.

“South Africa is a generous host country with progressive asylum policies and laws,” it added.

In their time of need the church offered the group sanctuary. They have remained there ever since.

Nadine Nkurukiye escaped unrest at home in Burundi and has been living in South Africa for 13 years, but has not been granted asylum.

While in South Africa, a place where she thought she was safe, she was attacked and raped by a man who remains at large.

“There is no help, there is no-one who can show you the way to go,” Ms Nkurukiye tells the BBC as she wipes away her tears.

Her voice breaking as she recounts her horrific ordeal, she says her problems are compounded by South Africa’s inefficient asylum process, where applicants can spend years waiting for refugee status.

“What I’m only asking is for the UNHCR to help us, to give us a place where we can be safe. Where they can accept us like human beings, because South Africa doesn’t treat us like human beings,” Ms Nkurukiye says.

Since 2008, there have been numerous outbreaks of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals from the rest of the continent in townships across the country.

South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world, with the gap between the rich and the poor growing, and African migrants are caught in the middle of this divide.

They are often targeted in the communities where they live, accused of stealing jobs and resources.

Last year, following a bout of violence, President Cyril Ramaphosa described it as “totally unacceptable” and said there was “no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries”.

Refugees in South Africa have to regularly renew their asylum visas at the department of home affairs. Waiting in long queues and faced by documents they do not understand, many have grown weary of the process.

“I’ve seen clients who have been here for over 10 years... living in limbo, renewing that asylum paper,” says Sally Gandar from the charity Scalabrini, which works with migrants and refugees in Cape Town.

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The UN says the situation in the Horn of Africa is the worst in 25 years

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omalia has declared a national emergency as large swarms of locusts spread across east Africa.

The country’s Ministry of Agriculture said the insects, which consume large amounts of vegetation, posed “a major threat to Somalia’s fragile food security situation”.

There are fears that the situation may not be brought under control before the harvest begins in April.

The UN says the swarms are the largest in Somalia and Ethiopia in 25 years.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Kenya has not seen a locust threat as severe in 70 years, according to the UN Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO).

However, Somalia is the first country in the region to declare an emergency over the infestation.

Somalia’s unstable security situation means that planes cannot be used to spray insecticide from the air.

In January, the FAO called for international help in fighting the swarms in the Horn of Africa, warning that locust numbers across the region could grow 500 times by June.

The swarms spread into east Africa from Yemen across the Red Sea, after heavy rainfall in late 2019 created ideal conditions for the insects to flourish.

Locusts can travel up to 150km (93 miles) in a day. Each adult insect can eat its own weight in food daily.

In December, a locust swarm forced a passenger plane off course in Ethiopia.

Insects smashed into the engines, windshield and nose, but the aircraft was able to land safely in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Tanzania rush for sacred oil kills 20 worshippers

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t least 20 people have been crushed to death and 16 others injured during an outdoor religious service in Tanzania.

Worshippers were attending a Pentecostal service at a stadium in the northern town of Moshi on Saturday evening when the incident occurred.

Moshi district commissioner Kippi Warioba said attendees rushed forward to be anointed with blessed oil.

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli sent his condolences and called for better security at such large events.

The service was held by pastor Boniface Mwamposa, who refers to himself as “the apostle”.

Survivors said Mr Mwamposa told hundreds of people gathered at the service to pass through an area where “blessed oil” had been poured over the floor.

The crowd rushed forward to try to step in the oil in the hope of being cured of sickness.

Peter Kilewo, who attended the service, described the scene as “horrible”, telling AFP news agency that people were “trampled on mercilessly, jostling each other with elbows”.

He added: “It was like the preacher had thrown bundles of dollars about.”

Police said Mr Mwamposa was being held for questioning.

Mr Warioba said the authorities were

looking into whether more casualties were taken to other local clinics, health facilities and hospitals.

“The incident took place at night

and there were many people, so there is a possibility that more casualties could emerge. We are assessing the situation,” he told Reuters.

South Africa: Search for killers of miners ‘stoned to death’

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olice in South Africa have launched a manhunt for killers of nine illegal miners who were stoned to death in a western district of Johannesburg.

The bodies of the miners from Lesotho were found lying in the streets of Matholeville, while another seriously injured victim was rushed to hospital.

Thousands of illegal miners, known as “zama zamas” (“those who try their luck” in Zulu) work in the country.

Violent clashes between rival groups of workers are commonplace, reports

say.

Friday’s attack came about 24 hours after the police raided the area.

Police have arrested 87 people for questioning, but they are seeking more information. $400m payout for South African miners The human cost of South Africa’s mining industry “We condemn this barbaric attack and we will ensure we leave no stone unturned in making the people of Matholeville and

Roodepoort to feel safe,” said Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Elias Mawela in a statement.

“The suspects will be arrested as soon as possible and the police will not sleep until we find them,” he added.

The police chief also said he had summoned officers from other units in Johannesburg to join in the manhunt.

South Africa is one of the most violent countries in the world. According to the government data, at least 58 murders a day were recorded last year.

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raq has named a new prime minister after four months of protests.

Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, a former communications minister, was appointed by President Barham Salih.

His predecessor Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned in November, amid mass anti-government demonstrations. Hundreds of protesters have been killed.

Mr Allawi now has a month to form a new government, which he will lead until early elections. He immediately expressed support for the protests.

Earlier this week, local media reported that President Saleh had given parliament an ultimatum to decide on a new prime minister before he took the decision himself, after previous candidates were rejected by protesters.

In a video released on his social media accounts on Saturday, Mr Allawi announced that he had been nominated and called on Iraqis to continue protesting until their demands were met.

“If not for your sacrifices and your bravery, there would have been no change in the country,” he said. “I believe in you, and for this reason I will ask you to continue protesting.”

He promised to hold those responsible for the killing of protesters accountable and to combat corruption.

Mr Allawi, who is Shia, studied and worked in Lebanon and the UK before entering Iraqi politics following the 2003 invasion. He served as minister of communications twice.

President Barham Salih (R) instructs new Prime Minister Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi

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Coronavirus: First death outside China reported in Philippines A

man has died of the coronavirus in the Philippines, the first confirmed fatality outside China.

The patient was a 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan, in Hubei province, where the virus was first detected.

He appeared to have been infected before arriving in the Philippines, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

More than 300 people have died in the outbreak so far, the vast majority from Hubei. More than 14,000 people have been infected.

The US, Australia and an increasing number of other countries have barred the arrival of foreigners from China and are requiring their own citizens to be quarantined.

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has overtaken that of the similar Sars epidemic, which spread to more than two dozen countries in 2003. But the mortality rate of the new virus is much lower, suggesting it is not as deadly.

What do we know about this death?

The man travelled to the Philippines from Wuhan, via Hong Kong, with a 38-year-old Chinese woman who also tested positive last week, the Philippines Department of Health said.

Officials said he was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Manila, where he developed severe pneumonia.

The man is thought to have had other pre-existing health conditions.

Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO representative to the Philippines, urged people to remain calm: “This is the first reported death outside China.

However, we need to take into mind that this is not a locally acquired case.

This patient came from the epicentre of this outbreak.”

According to local news outlet Rappler, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the patient was “stable and showed signs of improvement”,

Indonesian nationals were sprayed with antiseptic after they arrived back from Wuhan but his condition deteriorated rapidly over 24 hours.

“We are currently working with the Chinese embassy to ensure the dignified management of the remains according to national and international standards to contain the disease,” Mr Duque said, adding that the man would be cremated.

The Department of Health was now trying to track down people who were on the same flight as the man so that they could be quarantined, he said, as well as any other people the man and woman may have come into contact with, such as hotel staff.

The man’s death was confirmed shortly after the Philippines announced it would immediately halt the arrivals of any foreign travellers from China.

It had previously restricted only those from Hubei, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak.

What is the latest from China?

Authorities said 45 more deaths were recorded in Hubei province by the end of Saturday, bringing the death toll in the country to 304.

Nationally, there were 2,590

new confirmed infections. The total number of infections in China is now 14,380, state TV quoted the National Health Commission as saying.

Estimates by the University of Hong Kong suggest the total number of cases could be far higher than the official figures. More than 75,000 people may have been infected in the city of Wuhan, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak, experts say.

A new hospital in the city will start admitting coronavirus patients from Monday, state media report.

The Huoshenshan Hospital which has 1,000 beds and was built in just eight days - is one of two dedicated facilities that are being constructed to help tackle the outbreak.

On Sunday, the government said it would pump more than $170bn (£128bn) into the economy as concern grows about the wider impact of the epidemic.

Which countries are restricting arrivals?

The US and Australia have said they will deny entry to all foreign visitors who had recently been to China, where the 2019-nCov strain

of the coronavirus first emerged in December.

Other countries including New Zealand, Russia, Japan, Pakistan, Iraq, Italy, Indonesia and Singapore have also announced travel restrictions.

On Sunday, South Korea said it would bar entry to foreigners who had recently visited Hubei.

In the US, citizens and residents returning from Hubei will be quarantined for 14 days. Those returning from other parts of China will be allowed to monitor their own condition for a similar period.

The Pentagon said it would provide housing for 1,000 people who may need to be quarantined after arriving in the US from abroad. Four military bases in California, Colorado and Texas would provide up to 250 rooms each.

Another confirmed case in the US on Saturday - in Massachusetts - brought the total number there to eight.

Australia said any of its own citizens arriving from China would also be quarantined for two weeks.

Coronavirus: China to pump billions into economy amid growth fears

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hina is to pump a net 150 billion yuan ($22bn; £16.3bn) into its economy on Monday to help protect it from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

China’s central bank said the move would ensure there was enough liquidity in the banking system and help provide a stable currency market.

The virus has so far infected more than 14,000 people and claimed 305 lives - all but one inside China.

The money will be deployed when China’s markets reopen on Monday.

It comes after a holiday to mark

the Lunar New Year was extended in the hope of reducing the spread of the virus.

Financial regulators in the country have said they believe the impact on China’s already slowing economy will be “short term”.

But analysts say the impact of the virus - which has left major cities in full or partial lockdown - could harm growth if it lasts for a prolonged period.

China’s travel and tourism sectors have already taken a hit over an unusually quiet Spring Festival break,

while cinemas were forced to close to try to contain the virus.

Foxconn, Toyota, Starbucks, McDonald’s and Volkswagen are just a few of the corporate giants to have paused operations or shuttered outlets across China.

Slowing economy The country saw economic growth of 6.1% last year - the slowest in around three decades, in part because of its prolonged trade war with the US. A partial trade deal easing tensions was struck earlier this month, but many tariffs remain

in place.

Economist George Magnus, associate at Oxford University’s China Centre, told the BBC the size of central bank’s injection reflected “policymakers’ concerns about the state of the economy”.

“The coronavirus repercussions on the economy mark the latest in a series of setbacks in the economy over the past year, including a handful of bank failures sparking contagion fears, forcing the central bank to become ever more generous with the provision of liquidity to markets.”

Female genital mutilation: Parents arrested after death of girl in Egypt

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olice in Egypt have arrested the parents and aunt of a 14-year-old girl who died while undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM).

The doctor who allegedly performed the procedure in the

province of Asyut was also held.

All four were detained after the victim’s uncle alerted the authorities, officials told the BBC. FGM was banned in Egypt in 2008 but the country still has one of the highest rates of the practice

in the world.

According to the UN children’s agency, Unicef, 87% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years in Egypt have undergone FGM, with 50% of Egyptians believing it “is a religious requirement”.

In the latest case, Nada Abdul Maksoud suffered complications after the surgery at a private clinic in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Asyut, the Shorouk News website reported.

The girl’s death caused an

outcry from rights groups in Egypt.

The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and the National Council for Women urged authorities to prosecute those responsible, the state-run website Akhbar el-Yom said.

EDUCATION

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

2020 UTME: JAMB parades 38 CBT operators on cybercrime

FG gets N220billion World Bank Loan for Education

Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

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oint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) paraded 38 Computer Centres across the country that has engaged in cybercrime which would greatly affect the chances of “innocent” candidates in the coming 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to JAMB, some of the CBT center operators were found to have extended their unique Virtual Private Network (VPN) access codes to unaccredited locations and computer systems contrary to rules of engagement The de-listed centres were originally supposed to register students planning to sit for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME) The closure of the centres followed various infractions, including extortion uncovered by the Board The affected centres are in Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Oyo and Rivers.

Three centres in Adamawa, Delta and Enugu were also asked by JAMB to suspend the registration process over allegation of extortion of candidates either directly or by proxy.

Four other CBT centres in Gombe, Niger, Osun, and Zamfara were directed to stop registration for technical deficiency during third party examination, that is aptitude test conducted on behalf of other organizations.

Some of the suspected persons that masterminded these fraud were invited to the JAMB headquarter in Abuja, where they were paraded before security officers, drawn from the Nigerian Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC. .Meanwhile between January 17-January 23, 2020 JAMB has raked in N2.27 billion as proceeds from sales of forms to candidates and conduct of independent examination for other organizations.

The Board said the extension and some other infractions were done without the consent of JAMB, and neither were the candidates aware they were engaged in illegal registration which would automatically deny access to the examination hall on their scheduled date.

JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, expressed disappointment that the fraudulent activities of CBT center operators and promised to prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to other CBT operators who might want to engage in irregularities.

Oloyede disclosed that JAMB was able to detect the cybercrime due to its sophisticated technology which has placed JAMB ahead of the fraudulent activities of CBT center operators anywhere in Nigeria.

He said that an exact number of affected candidates are yet unknown, but the system put in place would detect the candidates, and also deny them entry into the examination hall.

However, he assured affected candidates that its system is looking into the discovery and the affected CBT centers would be sanctioned, while the fate of affected candidates would be looked into so that their chances would not be ruin by the inordinate ambition of CBT center operators.

Oloyede advised candidates to visit accredited CBT centers and quit patronizing people who disguise as helpers or assistants who would end up defrauding them and ruining their chances of having a stress-free experience.

He said: “On examination day, many candidates and their parents would besiege CBT centers, shouting and accusing JAMB of being incompetent. Many of them would confess that they patronise unregistered locations. But our system always detects these infractions and punishment applied.”

he Federal Govt has secured N220 billion loan from the World Bank for the implementation of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme in seventeen states.

The government said 13 states from both the North West and North East as well as Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers state will benefit from the loan.

It noted that the loan would be given to the states as grant to enable them address the challenges of out-of-school children as well as strengthen basic education.

Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba disclosed this at the launch of the programme in Yola, the Adamawa state capital .

The minister, in a statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Bem Gong, in Abuja, said the objective of the BESDA programme is to increase equitable

access for out-of-school kids, improve literacy and strengthen accountability at the basic education level.

He said the states were picked based on the prevalence of the number of kids that are out-ofschool.

The minister said the federal government began the implementation of the BESDA programme in 2018 at the federal level.

He added that key activities at the federal level to kick-start implementation of the programme by the focus states have been completed by the government.

Nwajiuba said that benefitting states are expected to commence implementation of the programme in line with specific steps and guidelines provided under the project.

He said Adamawa state has successfully commenced the implementation process of the BESDA project.

According to him, ensuring that out-ofschool children are in school is not only a moral and legal obligation but also a productive

investment that will guarantee the future of “our children as enshrined in the Child Rights Act of 2003.”

Adamawa state Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri commended the efforts of the federal government for bringing the BESDA programme to the state.

Fintiri disclosed that he directed the implementation of the programme two months after assumption of office to show the enthusiasm of the state towards the programme.

The governor said that a strong implementation team, which included traditional and religious leaders in all the local governments, had been put in place to ensure the success of the programme.

According to the governor, about 50, 000 children have already been taken-off the streets in the state.

“The training of teachers otherwise known as facilitators for the program has already been completed. Efforts are on to integrate the amajiri and tsangaya systems into the BESDA program,” the governor said.

Acting Director, Library Services, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Okon Umoh, (4th right front row), Staff with the section of Library officials from Federal Unity Schools, during the workshop on Application of Information and communication Technology in School library Management, organized by Library Services department of the Ministry, recently in Abuja.

Photo; Justin

NECO seeks partnership with DSS To Tackle Examination Malpractice Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

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he National Examinations Council (NECO) has sought for patnership with the Department of State Services (DSS) to check malpractice in the conduct of the Council’s examination.

The Chairman, Governing Board of NECO, Dr. Abubakar Saddique who led the Acting Registrar and other management team on a courtesy visit to the Director-General of DSS in Abuja, said such collaboration would ensure the credibility of the Council’s examination.

He explained that the Council has put in place measures aimed at checking examination malpractice, but noted that without adequate security architecture, such measures would not yield the desired results.

Dr. Saddique stated that among the measures introduced is the biometric capturing of candidates to check impersonation at examination centres.

The chairman therefore appealed

to the personnel of DSS to strengthen their collaboration with NECO to prevent any form of malpractice before, during and after the conduct of the Council examination.

The Acting Registrar/Chief Executive, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Gana, in his remarks, enumerated some reforms introduced under his leadership in the Council to include the development of an intractable, robust, secure and user-friendly corporate website, introduction of full-scale biometric capturing of candidates at examination centres, procurement of additional 20 pick-up Hilux Vans for examination logistics and full payment of Duty Tour Allowance to staff among others.

Gana noted that NECO has enjoyed the full support and co-operation of DSS through the provision of covert operations which had helped in reducing incidence of examination malpractice.

He opined that “the world is experiencing rapid changes resulting from rapid development, these

changes revolve around two major phenomena of emerging Technology and Globalization”.

According to him, while these two phenomena have their advantages, they also come with disadvantages, especially when abused resulting in the scourge of examination malpractice assuming a global dimension.

The Acting Registrar also sought for the collaboration of DSS in building an intractable open and secure filing system for the Council to prevent possible incidence of tempering with staff records, especially in the face of the on-going Staff Certificate verification exercise.

Gana appealed to the DirectorGeneral to ensure that fraudsters who attempt to compromise NECO examinations are not only arrested and investigated, but prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

The Director-General, Mr. Yusuf Bichi, in his address, pledged the continued support of his Department in ensuring the credibility of NECO examinations.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, february 3, 2020, 2019

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Feature

CLASSIFIED

Lina Ben Mhenni: The woman who blogged Tunisia’s revolution

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his is a story of a “family and a country”, a tearful woman said to me as people slowly gathered on the hilltop of the Jallez cemetery in the capital, Tunis.

Hunched over, and clutching a small bunch of flowers in one hand, she smiled faintly when I asked where she and Lina Ben Mhenni first met. “Under the teargas,” she said.

The prominent Tunisian blogger and civil rights activist died this week following a long battle with the auto-immune disease, lupus.

Hers was one of the few voices that told the world of the killings and crackdown on protesters in Sidi Bouzid - where the uprising that eventually toppled autocratic President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali began.

The start of the Arab Spring • 2010December - Protests break out over unemployment • 2011January - President Ben Ali ousted as protests continue • 2011December - Rights activist Moncef Marzouki becomes president • 2014January - New constitution agreed • 2014 December - Beji Caid Essebsi wins presidential election Source: BBC Monitoring But her fight for human rights and free speech started long before the revolution and was influenced by her parents.

Ben Mhenni’s father, Sadok Ben Mhenni, is a left-wing activist and former political prisoner.

Her mother was also involved in political activism.

In the hours after her death, social media was full of messages of grief. A veteran Egyptian journalist described it as “a loss for anyone who believes in freedom”.

And even President Kais Saied paid his respects, saying: “There are women who history does not forget. There are women who make history.”

Women carried the coffin The funeral attracted fellow campaigners, as well as family and friends, including schoolteacher Hala, who did not want to give her other name.

She crossed paths with Ben Mhenni many times over the years.

“Freedom, better education and health - that’s all we wanted.

When we failed, she pushed us because she was always present,” she said.

The funeral procession from her family home mirrored Ben Mhenni’s youthful years - it was passionate and defiant. Her coffin was escorted on the shoulders of women - breaking with Islamic traditions that usually reserve this task for men.

At the cemetery, hundreds of women and men gathered and in

Hundreds of Tunisians attended the funeral of 36-year-old blogger and activist Lina Ben Mhenni, mourning the loss of a brave voice who fought for radical change. The BBC’s Rana Jawad joined them.

Lina Ben Mhenni’s mother and father, who had been a political prisoner, inspired her activism another unusual move, broke into applause when the coffin arrived.

It felt like a pensive college reunion spanning nearly three generations.

Many appeared to be there to remind each other of a shared struggle in the past and a new one for the ideal Tunisia they want to see.

Ali Hamouda, who had lived most of his life in Paris and moved here during the revolution, hugged a young woman he had not seen since another protest in 2014.

“A lot of the people here know each other from the streets… we are gathered around moments and memories. It’s like we lost a part of a mosaic,” he explained.

On a hit list

For others there paying their respects, they described feeling “like we have no-one else representing our generation”.

She was not universally loved, and her international fame created a backlash among some.

But she was widely respected for sticking up for her principles.

In January 2016, I drank multiple espressos with Ben Mhenni in a cafe in central Tunis to talk about how the country was faring five years on from the revolution.

Back then, she was accompanied by a close protection police officer who had been with her for almost two years, after the ministry of interior found her name on a “hit list of a terrorist cell”, she explained.

In her late 20s at the time, Ben Mhenni rose to prominence in the early days of the 2011 revolution through her blog Tunisian Girl.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

She was not happy with the situation she was in, but continued her activism and writing regardless.

“We allowed reactionary forces to confiscate our revolution,” she said reflecting on what had happened.

“I don’t have confidence in our politicians any more. We’ve been talking about a youth revolution, but the youth were excluded.”

Much has changed here since the time of Ben Ali’s rule and the first few turbulent years that followed his downfall.

For those watching from the outside, the dominant headlines have been on Tunisia’s “great strides” in introducing groundbreaking laws promoting gender equality and freedom of speech.

The country has introduced a progressive constitution and had several democratic elections.

At a time when the world was looking at Tunisia as a shining example of post-revolution success in the region, Ben Mhenni - and others like her today - hold its progress to a much higher standard. She felt the country was regressing politically and economically, and she never minced her words.

In more recent times she spoke extensively about the poor healthcare system.

She uploaded her last blog post a week before she died, with a stinging review of Tunisia’s political blocs.

“We forget their absurdity, corruption, repression, and even violence,” she wrote after her opening line describing Tunisians as having a “short memory”.

Power of the youth For some Tunisians, Ben Mhenni personified the ideals and goals of what many on this continent and beyond expect from their present and future rulers fairness, justice, and freedom.

Her father’s close friend Taher Chegrouche - also a left-wing activist - told me “she represented the opposite of what we have today on the political scene. She never wanted anything in return.

“There was a purity in her heart and she believed in sacrifice” to achieve her goals.

When I interviewed her in 2016 she exuded friendliness, generosity with her time, and passion for her beliefs.

But there was a layer of pessimism, disappointment and exhaustion. I asked her if there was anything she was happy about.

She momentarily beamed as she spoke of the youth’s resilience: “I’m happy because there are some people who didn’t give up.

“I’m happy with the youth who are very active in civil society, and I am happy with civil society which more or less has saved the country many times.”

Source: BBC

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.OMOSAIDE ERNEST EROMOSELE 2.OSANEBI FELIX 3.OMOSAIDE NKIRUKA BLOSSOM 4.ABIDDE JEFFERY EPAMOWEI 5.ESIRI AVWEROSUO BENJAMIN

- CHAIRMAN, - SECRETARY, - MEMBER, - VICE CHAIRMAN, - TREASURER.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.SHOWING TO MEN HOW TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF FAITH. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Public Notice

MESUA EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) PROF JOHNSON NNA (2) MRS. WILLIAMBA NNA (3) PETER NBOTEM (4) MR. JOHN BIRAH (5) MR. BARINEE NDEE (6) MR. OTU SIMON MAURICE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To facilitate community development through the empowerment of rural people 2. To transforme rural livelihoods through support for entrepreneurship, training and skills development.

3. To provide support for the elderly, widows, orphans and vulnerable youths through access to medical services, shelter, education and advocacy Any objection therefore should be addressed to the Registrar-general Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed : Omonuwa Ogiemudia Esq. Solicitor

Public Notice

THE AGJES SPARKLE FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.OLUYEDE JUMMAI RAHAMAT. 2.LOTANNA ANULI AMINA EGWUATU THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF AGJES SPARKLE FOUNDATION ARE : 1. Educate, train and support jewellers, precious metals practitioners and gemstone miners and marketers on skills improvement and beneficiation of products to improve marketability 2. The foundation will deliver this support to women, men and youths.

Public Notice

CAVEAT EMPTOR

Notice is hereby given to the general public that by a Deed of Assignment and an Irrevocable Power of Attorney executed simultaneously, Messrs KARIN OIL AND GAS LIMITED appointed Messrs. PEACEGATE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD as the true and lawful attorney over Plot No. 12, consisting of an area about 700 square meters located within Kpeyegi-Jikwoyi Light Industrial Area, Abuja and covered by a Customary Right Of Occupancy (R of O) No. MZPT/LA/05/MISC7043 dated 14th March, 2001.

Notice is hereby further given to all land speculators, land grabbers, land agents, public and private institutions, corporate organizations, citizens and persons wherever resident that the said Plot No. 12, consisting of an area about 700 square meters located within Kpeyegi-Jikwoyi Light Industrial Area,, is the sole property of Messrs PEACEGATE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD legitimately acquired by it and is not for SALE. Any person or organization that purports to alienate, sell or buy any interest in the said property does so at his peril.

BE WARNED! SIGNED : EMINENT CHAMBERS 08133090972.

Public Notice

ALOY LANDLORDS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) DR. GEORGE OLATUNJI TUBI (2) DR. OLUWOLE UMAR SANDA (3) MRS. MARGARET OBIAGELI IKEBUDE (4) MRS. FADEKE ADESOLA ADE-AFANU (5) MR. ABIODUN OLATUNJI BECKLEY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To develop, secure and provide for the welfare of the neighborhood of Akinola Johnson Close, Lucina Joseph Street, Odeku Close and Yesufu Sanusi Street.

2. To facilitate community development of Akinola Johnson Close, Lucina Joseph Street, Odeku Close and Yesufu Sanusi Street of Lagos State.

Any objection therefore should be addressed to the Registrar-general Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed : Omonuwa Ogiemudia Esq. Solicitor

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALTAR OF MERCY AND FAVOUR MINISTRY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.Empowerment/reaching out to the less privileged and people with disability.

2.Providing support to the orphans through donations of basic needs to orphanage homes.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.Community development.

2.Youth Empowerment 3.Project Management 4.Educational Reformation.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY. Address - Behind Prince Guest Inn, Along Mada Road, Nassarawa Eggon, Nasarawa State.

Public Notice

FRESH OIL AND GRACE TESTIMONY MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

(1) EMERUWA AUGUSTINA AMARACHI - PRESIDENT & FOUNDER.

(2) EMMANUEL IFEANYI JOSHUA - SECRETARY (3) EMMANUEL CHINEDU CALEB - TREASURER

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST .

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Public Notice

BREEZE OF LIFE BIBLE CHURCH

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. APOSTLE ASUN MONDAY AGHAS - PRESIDENT 2. PASTOR (MRS) ASUN OGHENEWAIRE VERALYN SECRETARY 3. PASTOR OMAMOKE VICTOR - VICE PRESIDENT 4. DEACONESS OTARIGHO MERCY OMOJEVWE - MEMBER 5. DEACONESS UZO DORCAS - MEMBER

SIGNED : BARR. NGOZI CHIEMENEM.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ODOH ELIZABETH ONYABAHI 2. OBAJE GABRIEL UMOLO 3. EKELE CALEB AUGUSTINE 4. ENEKELE MARTHA ENUWA

ChairmaN SecREtary 4.Minister Yerima 6.Delight Yerima 8.Favor Yerima

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) NWOBODO AGATHA OLUCHUKWU, (2) NWOBODO CHUKWU JOSEPH, (3) EZECHIEDO EJIKE DONATUS, (4)LAWRENCE OLABODE OLUWASEYI.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Donald Ebuga 2.Abel Asele 3.Abiodun Omiunu 5.Esther Kuje 7.Godswill Yerima 9.Ovey Alaku

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

CONCERNED WOMEN OF CHARITY FOR GLOBAL IMPACT INITIATIVE

Biridge the Gap Citadel Initiative THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO ALL MANKIND. TO EQUIP MEMBERS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

Public Notice

Public Notice

Public Notice

pilgrims life chapel international

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1.pastor Attah Emmanuel ogezi - founder and president.

2 Evang Elizabeth Williams - secretary 3. Attah Naomi Igwe- member 4. Mr Victor Edeth Asuquor - member 5 Emmanuel Funmilola Ocloo - member

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Public Notice COMMUNITY MOSQUE BRAINS AND HAMMERS ESTATE GALADIMAWA ABUJA THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Tahir Ahmed 2. Abdullahi Suleman 3. Ismaila Bakari THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. Community development and promoting religious values.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

CLASSIFIED LEGAL Notice IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE Whereas the person whose name is set out in the first column here under died date and place stated in the said column.

Whereas the person whose address had claimed relationship with the said deceased is set in the second column here under has applied to the High Court of Justice for GRANT OF LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such person unless a notice to prohibit the grant there of is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice Birnin Kebbi, within TWENTY ONE DAYS from the date of publication of this notice.

SCHEDULE Name and Address of Deceased Applicant Name and Address AMINU SHEHU

AMINU MUSTAPHA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE USMAN ABBA AMINU ABUJA GESSE PHASE 1 AREA, BIRNIN KEBBI KEBBI STATE Who died on the 14TH AUGUST, 2019 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 22ND JANUARY, 2020 HUSSAINI ABDULLAHI Probate Registrar

Public Notice

ENBAGO YOUTHS AND SPORTS FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. AIHASSAN JOSEPH - CHAIRMAN 2. AIHASSAN JEREMIAH - SECRETARY 3. EDADOGHWAYE UFUOMA JENNIFER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. AIMED AT USING SPORTING ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF THOSE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed : NNEOMA NGOKA 09033956587

LEGAL Notice IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE

Whereas the person whose name is set out in the first column here under died date and place stated in the said column.

Whereas the person whose address had claimed relationship with the said deceased is set in the second column here under has applied to the High Court of Justice for GRANT OF LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such person unless a notice to prohibit the grant there of is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice Birnin Kebbi, within TWENTY ONE DAYS from the date of publication of this notice.

SCHEDULE Name and Address of Deceased Applicant Name and Address USMAN ANGO KABIRU ANGO THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AREA KANGIWA GUMKI AREA TROOP KAMBA DIVISION KEBBI STATE KEBBI STATE

Who died on the 09TH MARCH, 2019 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 28TH JANUARY, 2020 HUSSAINI ABDULLAHI Probate Registrar

Public Notice EDOKPOLOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CLASS OF 94 WORLDWIDE.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) Orhue Nowoghomwenma Elvis Chairman (2)Clement Omogiade Enoyogiere Edokpolo vice chairman (3) Nosakhare Edomwonyi General Secretary (4) Dr. Patrick Akpofure Ekpebe Treasurer (5) Eki-udoko Clement legal adviser (6) Amen Hudson Omorogbe legal adviser (7)OSASMWEN OKAEBEN Europe coordinator THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : a. To seek, uphold and promote high academic, spiritual and moral standards in our Alma Mata. b. To establish good relationship between the old students and the school. c. To create a spirit of unity among all members irrespective of their state of origin, tribe, sex, religion, status, educational qualification or political affiliation.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: MUDIAKALO REMWKALO ESQ. 08030528365

Public Notice

Biridge the Gap Citadel Initiative CHANGE OF NAME OF THE SOCIETY OF BOILER & PRESSURE VESSELS INSPECTION ENGINEERS

The General Public is hereby notified that the above mentioned ASSOCIATION is hereby changing its name from THE SOCIETY OF BOILER & PRESSURE VESSELS INSPECTION ENGINEERS to THE SOCIETY OF PRESSURE VESSELS INSPECTION ENGINEERS. OLD INCORPORATED TRUSTEE NAME THE SOCIETY OF BOILER & PRESSURE VESSELS INSPECTION ENGINEERS NEW INCORPORATED TRUSTEE NAME THE SOCIETY OF PRESSURE VESSELS INSPECTION ENGINEERS REASONS FOR CHANGE: FOR THE GROWTH OF THE ASSOCIATION AIMS AND OBJECTIVE REMAINS SAME TRUSTEES REMAINS SAME Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 240 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed ____________________ ______________________ CHAIRMAN SECRETARY

MRS. HABIBA I formerly known as miss. Habiba Haruna now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Habiba Haruna mukaila, all former documents remain valid. Authority concerned and the general public should please take note.

MRS. OSEGHALE I formerly known as MRS. AIGBEFO JULIET now wish to known and addressed as MRS. OSEGHALE ORIASOCHE JULIET EHI, all former documents remain valid. Authority concerned and the general public should please take note.

SPACE FOR SALE

Sports monday, february 3, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

German Open: Quadri, Omotayo to feature at ITTF World Tour

By Albert Akota

N

igerian duo of Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo will take part in the maiden edition of the ITTF World Tour German Open.

This was revealed by the ITTFAfrica, in a statement released yesterday.

The tournament will hold at GETEC Arena in Magdeburg from today January 28 to February 2, 2020.

Omotayo had earlier said he would compete in some of the elite tournaments this year as part of his buildup to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“I hope and believe I can make it to Tokyo 2020 because I know that my winning the African Games means more hard work and that is why I am going to compete in some of the elite tournament this year.

I am starting with the German Open with the hope that playing against the best in the world would toughen me and also help me to be in shape for the African Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tunisia next month,” Omotayo said.

Also, 2019 ITTF Africa Cup Champion, Omar Assar of Egypt will lead a six-man Egyptian continent in the men’s singles event of the German Open.

Aside Assar, other Egyptian stars expected to be in action in Magdeburg are Assar’s sibling, Khalid as well as veteran Egyptian, Ahmed Saleh. Others are Mohamed Shouman, Karim Elhakem and Mahmoud Helmy.

Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo

Liverpool backs Klopp over plan to miss FA Cup replay

J

urgen Klopp has the full backing of the Liverpool hierarchy over his plan to stay away from his club’s FA Cup fourthround replay with Shrewsbury.

Klopp said after Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the New Meadow that none of his first-team squad would be involved in next week’s game, which will be on either 4 or 5 February, in the middle of the first week of Liverpool’s winter break.

It is understood Klopp has already told his first-team squad they are free to spend next week as they like before returning to training on 10 February.

The Football Association said every club agreed to this season’s FA Cup fixture schedule and knew fourth-round replays might cut into their winter breaks, as is also the case with Tottenham, Southampton and Newcastle.

NFF will appoint coaches into national teams in February- Sanusi >>PG 30

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

S p r

t

Bryant death is shocking, NFF will appoint coaches into says NBBF national teams in February- Sanusi

T

he leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation is in shock following the death of basketball legend and multiple NBA winner, Kobe Bryant.

The NBBF board reacting to the sad news that filtered in on Sunday night described the death as shocking which has thrown the global basketball family into mourning.

Speaking through it’s President, Engr Musa Kida he described Kobe Bryant as not just a basketball legend but a global icon who took the world by storm and left his mark on the sand of time.

He described the the unfortunate incident involving the basketball star alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others who died in the fatal helicopter crash as one that will leave a dent on the sporting community for ever.

We join the world to mourn a man that has given everything to entertain the world through basketball.

“We commiserate with his immediate family, the Los Angeles Lakers franchise where he played his entire NBA career, the entire NBA management and

F

ormer Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo who is the most capped player in the history of The Super Eagles of Nigeria, has said that he is excited to be part of the maiden edition of the Unity Cup in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

“I feel so elated that the present minister of Youth and Sports Development is passionate about the development of grassroot football. This man has got what

Public Notice

Witnessworld Mission

it takes to sanitize the sports industry. His vision is clear which grassroot development, infrastructure and athlete welfare are” “As you can see today, it is all about the grassroot. I have seen some good players here in Ogbomosho who if nurtured and developed properly, will rise to stardom” “Kudos to Mr. Sunday Dare for discovering young talents at the grassroot level”, the former Super Eagles captain concluded.

T

he General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi has revealed that appointments into all national teams’ coaching crew, aside the Super Eagles, will be made in February.

“The consultants saddled with the responsibility of recruiting and recommending are expected to turn in the chosen coaches for the Super Falcons, U-23 Eagles, Flying Eagles, Falconets, Flamingos, Golden Eaglets and Future Eagles for the NFF executive to approve and announce the appointments,”

Sanusi said.

“We know we have some qualifying matches starting with Under-17 women team early March, and we shall hopefully announce list of successful coaches for the approval of the executive committee of NFF. “The consultants are working round the clock, and hopefully, the list of those recruited should be out in February.”

Sanusi continued: “We expect the consultants to do a thorough job and recruit the best coaches among those who applied. I can assure Nigerians that the NFF will employ the best coaches for our national teams soon.”

Over 100 coaches were reported to have applied to the NFF, for the jobs of handling the five national men and women teams. Some of the coaches that applied included Christopher Danjuma, Paul Aigbogun, Edwin Okon, Manu Garba, Kennedy Boboye, Abdu Maikaba, Fidelis Ilechukwu, Bala Nikyu and Agan Edat, to mention a few.

Sanusi was silent on the Super Eagles job, ostensibly because of more time could take for the NFF to negotiate and agree a contract extension with Gernot Rohr who is already at the tail end of his three year contract, or otherwise hire a new coach.

Nadal beats Kyrgios to reach Australian Open quarter-finals

N

adal battled past rival Nick Kyrgios in a thrilling fourset match to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Nadal, 33, had not dropped a set this tournament before 23rd seed Kyrgios provided his biggest test so far.

Kyrgios, who wore a Kobe Bryant basketball shirt in the warm-up, battled hard but Nadal came through 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4).

Nadal will face Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem in the last eight.

Nadal and Kyrgios have not always seen eye to eye with the rivalry blowing up last year after a tempestuous meeting in Acapulco.

Afterwards the 19-time Grand Slam champion said Kyrgios’ behaviour “lacked respect” before the Australian responded by calling him “super-salty”.

Yet the appreciation for each other’s ability, despite their wildly contrasting styles, has rarely been in doubt and was typified by their firm handshake at the net following a riveting contest on Rod Laver Arena.

“When Nick is playing like he did today with this positive attitude he brings a lot of things to our sport,” said Nadal, who won his only Australian Open title in 2009.

“I encourage him to keep working like this because he is one of the biggest talents of our tour.”

MERCY OF GOD INT’L GOSPEL CENTRE

Public Notice

NAOMI PAUL MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) Omoruyi Osas Dogood .

(2) Omoruyi Celestina .

(3) Enatoh Susan .

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ININO PAUL OYARELEMHI PRESIDENT 2. IGBINOVIA OSAMUYIMEN SECRETARY 3. UWERIBE GRACE AFORKEOGHENE

1.To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To Preach the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

SIGNED : TOBE LORDLY ESQ.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

Public Notice

By Albert Akota

Public Notice THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE :

Yobo eulogizes Dare over Oyo Unity Cup

By Albert Akota

CLASSIFIED THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) KPADOBI DANIEL 2) ECHEBIRI SAMUEL CHIBUEZE

people all over the world who has been affected by this unfortunate incident.”

Speaking further, Kida described Kobe Bryant as an inspiration to many kids in Nigeria who wanted to take up basketball as a profession.

We are going to miss him. We pray that his soul and the eight others find eternal rest.

Apart from being an 18time All-Star with five NBA championships he was also a twotime Olympic gold medalist with Team USA.

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, february 3, 2020

Public Notice

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public on the Loss of Original Right of Occupancy in respect of Plot no. 1513 Cadastral Zone B11 in KAURA DISTRICT ABUJA, with file no.

MISC 110468, bearing AKFAR ASSOCIATE NIG. LTD.

This is to inform the general public on the Loss of Original Right of Occupancy in respect of Plot no. 1516 Cadastral Zone B11 in KAURA DISTRICT ABUJA, with file no.

MISC 110469, bearing AKFAR ASSOCIATE NIG. LTD.

All effort made to trace the said document prove abortive. If found contact the nearest police station.

All effort made to trace the said document prove abortive. If found contact the nearest police station.

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Public Notice

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public on the Loss of Original Right of Occupancy in respect of Plot no. 103 Cadastral Zone B02 in DURUMI DISTRICT ABUJA, with file no.

NG 10213, bearing ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO.

This is to inform the general public on the Loss of Original Right of Occupancy in respect of Plot no. 104 Cadastral Zone B02 in DURUMI DISTRICT ABUJA, with file no.

NG 10129, bearing ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO.

All effort made to trace the said document prove abortive. If found contact the nearest police station.

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monday, february 3, 2020

SPORTS latest

La Liga wants Espanyol partial stadium closure for Williams’s incident

L

a Liga wants the Spanish Football Association to punish Espanyol with a partial stadium closure after Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams said he was racially abused at their ground.

After the 1-1 draw on Saturday, Williams, 25, said: “No black player or any player ever wants to hear that.”

La Liga is attempting to identify the fans involved and bring criminal charges of hate crimes against them.

The Spanish FA is scheduled to discuss the issue at a meeting on Wednesday.

Bryant: Investigators work to determine crash cause

U

S investigators are working to determine the causes of the helicopter crash that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant in California on Sunday.

There were no survivors from the crash which happened in foggy weather. Investigators are expected to focus on this and on any mechanical failures that may have occurred.

Nine people died in the crash, including Bryant’s daughter, Gianna.

Tributes from fans and public figures have been pouring in from around world.

Taye Taiwo andthe Oduamadi

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SPACE FOR SALE

Not the Best of Times “Oga, nothing has changed”. hose were the exact chilling words of Ahmed Salkida. I had expected him to come with some cheerful news. Sadly, he came with this cheerless news in that forlorn, dusty and decrepit motor mechanic’s park in the heart of Abuja sometime in 2015.

The ace reporter had come out of hiding from a foreign country to hold a meeting with Nigeria’s top security men. He had all along been hesitant for the meeting. I urged him on stressing the point that the group that had taken over government in Nigeria earlier that year was a more responsible one than the one that was booted out.

For six years (2009 -2015) Nigeria was at the brink of catastrophe. Insurgency was nothing new to Nigeria at that time. We experienced the first Tiv riots in 1960, just before independence, the second Tiv riots in 1964, the Western Nigerian riots (operation wetie), the first coup and the return match, the civil war and all.

Then, the Maitatsine uprisings. As a reporter, I was in Kano 1980, Maiduguri (Bulumkutu) 1982 and Yola 1984. As bloody and messy as the uprisings were in these three theatres of war when I went there, they were still a child’s play compared to what Boko Haram unleashed on Nigeria from 2009.

The human and material waste in the North East, beginning from Maiduguri, spanning out to Borno and Yobe states and gradually engulfing the expansive landmass of the whole of the region - Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba. The inferno went far beyond these borders; Plateau was on the front line, the endless bombings in Jos and Kaduna; the carnage resulting from days of bombings and street fights in Kano; the bombings of strategic places in Abuja – the national police command headquarters, the United Nations office in Abuja, Sanni Abacha barracks, the Banex Plaza, Nyanya Bus terminal and many others.

T

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Monday Column

Emmanuel Yawe royawe@yahoo.com 08024565402

Ahmed Salkida emerged from the blood and fire as an unusual personality. He established a network of contacts right into the vortex of Boko Haram hierarchy.

What do journalists do? They report news. How do they get the news? They get it from sources/contacts. Teachers of journalism always emphasize the need for balance in a good story; the good reporter has to get the two sides of the coin to be able to turn in a good copy to his editor.

But by establishing contact with Boko Haram to get the two sides, Salkida attracted society’s wrath.

The story of his adventures, finally leading to his flight – what I usually call Salkida’s hijra – is something else. It has been told before; it is still worth retelling some other day.

Back to 2015 when Buhari took over power as President from Goodluck Jonathan.

Some of us heaved a sigh of relief. Here was a war tested general; some of us never saw him at the war front during the civil war but I had a rare privilege when in 1983 I was the lone Nigerian news reporter on the trail of his all-conquering military band that invaded Chad, almost conquering Ndjamena to the amazement, some say charging, of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, President, commander in chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. He and his men fought bravely

“

and rubbed Hussein Habres and his men’s nose.

Given this background, I was sure he was going to do the same with Boko Haram.

The President gave a good account of himself in the first few months in office as commander-in chief. His new field commanders gave the insurgents a bloody nose. For the first time, Boko Haram was not only on the defensive but in retreat. He reached out to and collaborated with the neighboring countries that had provided succor to the insurgents, freed a substantial number of the school girls that were held captive and after seven months in office, he told the BBC proudly on December 24 2015 that Boko Haram was “technically defeated.”

My meeting with Salkida in the bush motor mechanic park was held before the heroic presidential declaration that Boko Haram is “technically defeated.” Before the meeting, I was under the illusion that our man was winning, the way he won before my eyes against Habre in 1983. After the meeting, I became more circumspect. Now I know better. It is glaring. Even the blind can see insecurity everywhere in Nigeria. These are not the best of times.

There have been grumblings against the security chiefs for the wrong reasons in my view – based as they are on their ethnic and even religious origins.

Whatever are the motives

My meeting with Salkida in the bush motor mechanic park was held before the heroic presidential declaration that Boko Haram is “technically defeated

of those complaining, the fact still remains that the capacity of the security chiefs to keep us safe either from Boko Haram, kidnappers, herdsmen and other marauders has been called to question. Something ought to be done.

In desperation, Nigerians have resorted or are resorting to self-help. The emergence of such extra official security forces such as civilian Joint Task Forces and vigilante groups are all signs that the official security outfits have run out of gear and steam. The emergence of Amotekun has taken off the cover over the can of worms. The National Assembly has passed a vote of no confidence on our national security system.

The war commanders may have their problems. We must however pay adequate attention to the office of the National Security Adviser. This is the engine room that should provide the intellectual stretch for adequate strategic thinking that is so much lacking today.

Last Thursday, Mr. Olatunji Omirin a reporter of the Daily Trust was arrested in Maiduguri, handcuffed and detained by military men who were not happy with his reports. The National Security Adviser should know that the job at hand for him and his men is not a job for hunters; it is not also limited to using brute force and intimidating the civil populace.

DAN GAYE Transport Lassa fever cases in ambulance, agency warns News

Prevention is better than cure!

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