Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Edition

Tuesday, July 6, 2021/ Dhul-Qaadah 26, 1442 AH

Vol. 37 No. 011 N200

2631 Days after Malam Wada Maida (1950-2020), founding Chairman, Board of the Peoples Media Limited

@pmlonline

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Southern govs: DSS, police, others must seek permission before operations >>>page 10 •Set Sept 1 deadline for effecting anti open grazing law

Minister slumps at Bauchi rally page 5

L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria and Guest Lecturer, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Serving Overseer, Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chairman of the University Council, Senator Lanre Tejuosho and the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Okuwatoyin Ogundipe after the 2019 Convocation Lecture, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: CBN

FG spends N60 billion yearly to maintain vandalized pipelines -Lai page 5

How Covid-19 stimulus Kajuma abduction: S/Court hears motion for leave package saved 2m jobs Troops rescue 26 to appeal $15b judgment -Osinbajo students against Nigeria, October 7 pAGE 14

pAGE 5

pAGE 3

NSCDC warns applicants against fake recruitment list in circulation pAGE 7

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Stock Watch Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

24

We need strong institutions to fight corruption – ICPC boss T he Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC), Prof.

Bolaji Owasanoye, says Nigeria requires strong institutions and systems to fight corruption and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs).

He made the recommendation while delivering a lecture to participants of Executive Intelligence Management Course 14 of the National Institute for Security Studies in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on Monday.

In his paper entitled: “Governance, Corruption, Rule of Law and Security in Africa”, Owasanoye said that the solution to corruption, economic and security problems bedeviling Nigeria lay in building strong institutions and

systems with active collaboration from state and non-state actors.

“Corruption and weak governance are mutually reinforced. corruption and weak governance impact on development, peace and security in multiple ways.

“Diversion of public budget in the expenditure side of revenue, direct looting of treasury, IFFs, tax evasion, misapplication of funds, deliberate elephant projects, and contract and procurement abuse have huge implication for development.

“Without development, there can be no peace or security and without peace and security, development is a mirage.

“Massive investment in infrastructure is the route to

development” he said.

In a related development, the ICPC Chairman has called on Sub-Saharan African Countries to reverse illicit financial flows and prioritise asset recoveries towards minimising the menace of corruption in the region.

Owasanoye, who gave the charge at the virtual conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa, called for the utilisation of proceeds from recovered assets to tackle the problem of poverty in the sub-region.

Delivering a paper entitled: “Understanding the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR)”, the ICPC boss said Africa could not eradicate poverty or meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) without prioritising asset recovery and

Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (3rd R), presenting a mosquito net to an aged woman, during the Free Medical Outreach

by Nigerian Army as part of the activities to mark the 2021 Army Day celebration in Abuja on Monday (6/7/21). With him are: District Head of Mpape Village, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim (2nd R) and Acting Corps Commander, Medical Service, Nigerian Army, Col. Idris Solebo.

Reps decry lack of project documents by Ecological Fund Office Page 4

Digest

25

Feature 26 Sports 30-31 Back Page

32

We want to hear from you The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish.

You can send your news and pictures to: adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com

Phones for News: 08142929046 08024432099

domestic resource mobilization.

“The sure way to diminish corruption is to improve domestic resource mobilisation in the region and also to reverse illicit financial flows.

“It would be a dream to assume that we would achieve it without meeting the basic results that have been set for basic mobilization,” he noted.

He further stated that the world had lost huge revenues to corruption and illicit financial flows, adding that the country had recovered up to 700 million dollars of assets in the last six years.

Owasanoye called on heads of member states to adopt a policy on the use of asset recovery and management for development goals.(NAN) (www. nannews.ng

COVID-19: Nigeria’s active cases now 1,356 as NCDC records 56 new infections

T

he Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that Nigeria’s COVID-19 active cases stood at 1,356 with majority in stable condition, as it registered additional 56 infections on Sunday.

In its verified website, the public health agency stated that the 56 new infections were

registered from Lagos – 47, the FCT – 6, Ogun – 2, and Gombe – 1.

“Monday’s report includes nine state with no reported cases: – Sokoto, Rivers, Imo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Oyo, Ekiti and Kano,” it stated.

The agency noted that the new cases bring the total case load in the country to 167,859.

It added that four more patients recovered after treatment and were discharged from isolation centers across the country.

The NCDC noted that 164,382 cases have been successfully treated in the country, while zero deaths were registered as at July 4, leaving Nigeria’s total number of deaths at 2,121.

The NCDC said that the country had successfully tested 2.3 million samples out of over 200 million Nigerians.

It added that a multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 2, continues to coordinate the national response activities.

(NAN)

Two former presidents congratulate me over choice of Soludo —Governor

By Victoria Ikeano

G

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has revealed that two former presidents are among the numerous persons that had called to congratulate him on the emergence of former governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, Professor Charles Soludo as the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the November governorship election in the state. The governor made the disclosure in an electronic mail he sent to some of his aides and which this correspondent scooped.

In the mail, Obiano said that

he had been receiving a deluge of congratulatory and solidarity messages since Soludo’s win at the party’s primary election. He stated that the messages came from “development partners, the organized private sector, bishops, clerics, market union leaders, professional associations, the organized labour, traditional rulers, town unions, student bodies, two former presidents, numerous former state governors, academics, writers, ndi Anambra in the diaspora, National Assembly members, heads of national and international agencies, people with physical

disabilities, petty traders and so on”.

According to the governor, “almost every person who matters in our dear state has called me to thank the people of Anambra state for choosing Soludo as the governor in waiting”. He predicted that Soludo would win some 90 per cent of valid votes that would be cast in the forthcoming election because of “the immense popularity of his nomination among all Nigerians who want the best for Nigeria, starting with Anambra State”.

Governor Obiano likened the applause that greeted choice

of Soludo from all divides and sectors as APGA’s flag bearer for the gubernatorial election in few months time, to his 2017 reelection in which he won overwhelmingly in all 21 local government councils of the state, a record which experts assert is unequalled as yet.

Recall that Professor Soludo has picked Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, a medical doctor with specialty in public health as his running mate. His selection has equally received high praise. According to Ody Chukwube, “the whole of Anambra went agog”, when Ibezim was announced as the deputy governorship candidate.

Page 3

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

News

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

T

he Supreme Court has fixed October 7, 2021, to hear the motion seeking leave to appeal the £2.556 billion judgment entered by the Federal High Court in 2014, against the Central Bank of Nigeria, Union Bank of Nigeria, the Minister of Finance and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The judgment obtained by Petro Union Oil and Gas Limited, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, in 2014 for the sum of £2.556 billion also carries an interest of 15% per annum from 22nd June 1995 until payment. Today, that judgment sum together with interest is in excess of £12 billion (about $15.5 billion).

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal also affirmed the judgement of the lower court.

However, not satisfied with the judgment, the appellants approached the court for leave to appeal the judgment.

The judgment, which Petro Union obtained was given jointly and severally against all the four Respondents and attracts interest at the rate of 15% per annum between 1994 and 2014 and thereafter at the rate of 10% per annum until it is paid.

When the case came up yesterday, the controversy over how the proceeds was to be shared and who had the right to represent Petro Union came up

FG warns NSIP independent monitors to be patriotic

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

F

ederal government has warned the engaged Independent Monitors (IM) of National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) to ensure sense of patriotism, diligence and sincerity in their assignment.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk gave the warning in Minna during the official distribution of engagement letters and tablets to trained independent monitors.

She explained that their service was for a duration of one year contract from June 2021 to May 2022 with a payment of N30,000 monthly stipend after meeting up to eighty percent monthly deliverables.

Hajiya Faruk noted that the devices were locally made and equipped with application for use to report and monitor activities in their respective designated areas.

Represented by the ministry’s deputy director, planning research and statistics, Safiya Sani said President Muhammadu Buhari created the programme from 2016 to lift one hundred Nigerians out of poverty through numbers of social interventions.

Niger Focal Person and Governor’s SIP, Special Adviser, Barrister Amina Gu’ar advised beneficiaries to be hardworking, sincere, fair and focused in carrying out their required mandate, assuring of her maximum support for the programme’s success.

Ag News Editor, Tobias Lengnam

S/Court hears motion for leave to appeal $15b judgment against Nigeria, October 7 again.

Consequently, two lawyers, Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN and Onyechi Egwuonwu, announcing separate appearances for Petro Union.

Egwuonwu informed the court that he was briefed to institute the case leading to the judgment at the Federal High Court and that when the matter got to the Court of Appeal, he invited Gadzama to lead the legal team for Petro Union as the “instructing counsel”.

He also told the court that following his application to disqualify Gadzama from further appearing in the matter and to be disbarred, Gadzama hurriedly informed the court of his intention to withdraw his appearance in the case and followed this up by filing an affidavit to the same effect.

He argued that, having done so, Gadzama is estopped from changing his mind and continuing to act as counsel to Petro Union.

He further argued that having been instructed on a contingency fee basis which means that his fee is tied to a portion of the judgment sum and having been instructed through an irrevocable power of attorney, he could not be pushed out of the case.

After the court tried in vain to get the two warring lawyers to amicably resolve their disagreement, the court enquired from three persons representing Petro Union who their lawyers are and they each confirmed in open court that their lead lawyer is now Gadzama and that they had asked Egwuonwu to work together with him to no avail.

Following this confirmation, the court informed Egwuonwu that he could no longer be heard in the proceedings.

This paved the way for Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN leading other senior lawyers for the Appellants, to introduce his pending application.

Lawyers for CBN, Minister of Finance and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Damian Dodo, SAN and Ghazali, SAN informed the court that they were not opposing the application of the Appellants but Gadzama told the court that he had filed a preliminary objection to the application.

In view of the contentious nature of the application, the court adjourned hearing in the case to 7th October, shortly after the court resumes from vacation in demonstration of its intention to give priority to the case likely to have a huge impact on Nigeria’s fledgling economy.

The Petro Union saga commenced in 1994 when the company got a cheque from a branch of Barclays Bank in the UK with a value of £2.556 billion and presented it at one of Union Bank’s branches in Lagos, under the pretext that it was meant to construct three petrochemical refinery complexes in Nigeria and establish a bank.

While the required due diligence investigations were being carried out, one Mr. Okpala, the Managing Director of Petro Union, inundated the Bank and the CBN with visits and demands for the release of the cheque.

Eventually, both the CBN and Union Bank advised Petro Union that Barclays Bank in the UK had been

contacted and it confirmed that the cheque could not be given value to because the company that purportedly issued the cheque dated 29 December 1994 (a company, known as Gazeaft Limited) did not exist on the Register of Companies in the UK. The response similarly affirmed that the account on which the cheque was drawn was closed on 21st September 1989 whereas the cheque was issued on 29 December 1994 - five years after the account was closed.

Despite the foregoing startling discovery and decisive response, Petro Union and Isaac Okpala persisted with their demands and this culminated in a petition by the company to the Lagos office of the EFCC, for alleged offences of stealing and criminal conversion against the CBN and Union Bank.

Following, the petition, the EFCC investigated the allegation by interrogating the CBN through a letter dated 12th January 2005. In a letter dated 27th January 2005, The CBN responded to the query by the EFCC wherein it denied the allegations of Petro Union.

The EFCC also made other efforts to investigate the allegations including corresponding with Barclays Bank in the UK. Having concluded its investigation, the EFCC issued a letter dated 10th May 2005 addressed to the Managing Director of Union Bank exonerating the Bank from any wrongdoing.

However, Petro Union in February 2012 instituted an action at a Federal High Court, Abuja seeking sundry reliefs against (1) CBN, (2) Union

Bank, (3) Hon. Minister of Finance and (4) The Attorney-General of the Federation following the allegation that Union Bank of Nigeria received the sum of £2,556,000,000.00 on behalf of Petro Union and transferred the sum of £2,159,221,318.54 to the CBN while retaining the sum of £396,778,681.46 as commission.

In support of this startling claim, Petro Union alleged that the money is kept in an account in the name of a company called Goldmatic Limited at the CBN and tendered a purported CBN Statement of Account of Goldmatic Limited. The Federal High Court, Abuja Judge before whom the claim was filed, Honourable Justice Abdu Kafarati accepted the purported CBN Statement of Account as conclusive evidence that CBN had retained the money alleged to belong to Petro Union, ignoring the elementary fact that globally a central bank cannot open an account for a private entity - the CBN is statutorily empowered to act as bankers to government and bankers to banks.

Although Petro Union and its directors allegedly knew these facts to be false from the onset, they pursued the case up to the Court of Appeal where they obtained judgement to establish that the £2.159 billion was lodged in the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Union Bank, therefore, appealed to appellate courts to set the case aside, urging the courts to deliver justice in the matter especially, after the arrest, detention and ongoing criminal prosecution of Petro Union and its officers at a Lagos Federal High Court.

Bandict Adopted Bethel Baptist High School Students at Maraban Rido in Chukun Local Government Area Kaduna. pic by Shehu K. Goro

Lions Club restates commitment to achieve 5 global causes

L

ions Club International 404A1, says it will seek new local partnerships that will help achieve its five global causes in order to extend the impact to more beneficiaries.

Ms. Fortune Wagbatsoma, the new district governor, spoke about her goals for the club for the Lions year 2021/2022 recently in Lagos.

The Nigeria News Agency (NAN) reports that the Lions Club’s five global causes include

reducing the prevalence of diabetes and improving the quality of life for those diagnosed.

Others prevent avoidable blindness and improve the quality of life of blind and visually impaired people; and ensure that all members of the community have access to nutritious food.

The club also serves to help those affected by childhood cancer survive and thrive, and to sustainably protect and restore

the environment to improve the well-being of all communities.

Wagbatsoma said in a statement that global causes present significant challenges to humanity, adding that the club is committed to meeting those needs.

The club governor said the district’s new year, which began July 1, would focus on improving the club’s service journey by creating “bonds of kindness.”

She said the new theme emphasizes the value of strong partnerships and team efforts within clubs, zones and communities.

According to her, the club can gain significant acceptance within the communities it serves by creating alliances with local development groups, businesses, state and local governments, cultural and social associations, among others. (NAA)

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

News Reps decry lack of project documents

by Ecological Fund Office

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund yesterday queried Ecological Fund Office over lack of documents of the erosion and flood control project at Kuchiako 1 District, New Hope Avenue, Kuje, Abuja.

This was just as the Committee directed the Ecological Fund Office (EFO) to produce the contractor handling the project and also demanded that all the details concerning the project must be made available before Thursday.

This was as the result of the

Niger APC zones guber ticket to Niger South

committee’s oversight function to projects carried out by the EFO in Abuja on Monday.

The Committee, led by Rep Ibrahim Isiaka, was piqued that the contractor was not on ground and no information about the project was made available to them.

He said they were not on a jamboree and directed that the commissioning of the project must be put on hold.

“The committee members are feeling that the contractor treated them with disdain. We are just from Karshi and here we are here in Kuje in the spirit patriotism and nationalism and call to duty by the National Assembly and in line with the provision of the constitution of what we should do.

We are now doing it and you see the

frustration. It is so sad to come and meet nobody.

“The only thing we are told is that they want to commission the work. We have see nothing to commission here and we are going to pass this to the EFO. The contractor is not responsible to us though. But the EFO is responsible to us and answer questions from us because we directly oversight them.

They will in turn inform the contractor.

We have nothing to commission here as far as the committee is concerned and until we resolve such, I am afraid there is nothing to commission.

“If the contractor is recalcitrant, then we move to the next to stage and suspend the contractor from taking any job on any of the projects in the EFO. It is going to be a resolution. We would

present it on the floor of the House. We are not threatening anybody but the right thing must be done,” he said.

The committee had earlier visited the site of the construction of hydraulics structures and road improvement works on eroded Tudun Wada to Karshi Road (phase 1) and emergency surface protection works on the reclaimed earthwork along Tudun Wada Karshi Road, Abuja (phase 2).

Isiaka said the project would improve the lives of the people in the area.

He said the EFO has done well under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Of course, the ecological office itself under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, we

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

have gone to several project sites and we are short of saying that the indicators are there that there is a paradigm shift totally away from what the ecological fund was known for,” he said.

He called for oversight by various levels of government on projects carried out by the EFO. “The 36 states and the FCT benefit from this fund. The 776 local government areas benefit from this fund. I appeal to other levels of government, we cannot directly oversight the states and local governments, but if every level of government do their part, we will get there. Details have been submitted to us. We would go back to our base and do a proper assessment and come out with the best judgment of what we have seen on ground,” he said.

L-R: President, Nigeria Airforce Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mrs Elizabeth Alao; Representative of the president of NAOWA, Mrs Omozojo; President, Defence and police officers Wives Association, Mrs Victoria Irabor; Inspector general of Police IGP Alkali Usman Baba; President, Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) Hajiya Aisha Gambo; and POWA president, Hajiya Hajara Akali Baba during the DEPOWA courtesy visit to the IGP at the force headquarters, yesterday in Abuja.

N

iger state chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) has unanimously resolved to zone the 2023 governorship position to Niger South Senatorial District (Zone A) to produce the next governor.

The agreement was reached yesterday in a critical APC stakeholders meeting held at government house in Minna.

The meeting was attended by governor Abubakar Sani Bello and his deputy Ahmed Mohammed Ketso.

Gombe gov inaugurates Amina Mohammed skills Acquisition Centre

Page 5

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

News FG spends N60 billion yearly to repair, NEMA trains agencies maintain vandalized pipelines -Lai *** Loses 200,000 barrels per day to wanton damage on capacity responses to T disaster

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

he federal government said it spends 60 billion naira yearly to repair and maintain vandalized pipelines.

This is as the government revealed that it lost an average of 200,000 barrels per day to the wanton damage to pipelines.

Speaking yesterday at the 20th edition of the town hall meeting on protecting oil and gas infrastructure in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said protecting oil and gas infrastructure was sacrosanct for all.

Lai said the town hall meeting on protecting oil and gas infrastructure was very important, considering that the destruction of infrastructure has socioeconomic and environmental implications.

The Minister stated that according to statistics, “between January 2019 and September 2020, 1,161 pipeline points across

the country were vandalized.

“Apart from the impact on the nation’s earnings, consider also the environmental problems caused by the incessant vandalism, in terms of freshwater pollution, air pollution, soil pollution among others and you will appreciate the enormity of the problem”.

He explained that, “with oil providing 80 per cent of Nigeria’s budgetary revenues and 95 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, one can only imagine the impact of the incessant destruction of oil pipelines on the economy.”

He maintained that, “to have such laudable efforts of the government thwarted by some unpatriotic citizens through wanton destruction of critical infrastructure is totally unacceptable.

“To have railway tracks subjected to wanton destruction, bridge railings removed, manhole covers pilfered, street lights and

other power infrastructure, oil pipelines, telecoms facilities and critical aviation infrastructure damaged or stolen do not augur well for our growth and development.”

He also pointed out that, apart from endangering the lives of fellow innocent citizens, such unpatriotic acts take a toll on the government’s limited revenue, as it seeks to replace, rehabilitate or totally reconstruct such destroyed infrastructure.

The minister emphasized that, with far less resources, the administration has recorded more infrastructural development than was achieved in all the 16 years of the previous Administration.

He stressed that, “as this government strives to bridge our nation’s infrastructural deficit, we must do everything in our power to stop the wanton destruction of public infrastructure.”

Similarly, the minister of state

petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva, said since 2014 an average of about 39 million barrels crude oil is deferred annually due to incessant pipelines vandalism.

“In 2020, about $1.538 billion of revenue was deferred while 37million barrels was lost due to 94 incidences.

“An average of $2.163billion of revenue has been deferred annually since 2014 as a result of incessant pipeline vandalism”.

Sylva who was represented by the GMD NNPC, said the effect of pipeline vandalism has increased impact on piracy, lost of government revenue and human and property damage among many others.

Meanwhile, the minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio and the minister of Environment, Mohammed Abubakar both revealed the negative impacts cause by pipelines vandalization in their sectors .

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By David Hassan

G

ombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says his administration’s campaign manifesto falls in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs which place emphasis on human capital development for social and economic emancipation of the people.

The Governor stated this at the commissioning ceremony of the Amina Mohammed skills acquisition centre located along Gombe bye-pass constructed by the SDGs in partnership with the Gombe State Government.

The centre is designed to be a strategic instrument for the economic empowerment and to cater for various life-skills trainings for young men and women in many areas.

Yahaya who used the occasion to pay glowing tribute to the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Hajiya Amina Mohammed said the skills acquisition centre been would not have come to reality without her personal effort.

He described the contribution of Amina Mohammed to the cause of humanity as cutting across all social, political and cultural boundaries, saying the Government and people of Gombe State are proud of her achievements and will continue to remain grateful for her love and magnanimity to the State.

NDDC Board: Community appeals to Buhari to consider Imo for MD position

T

he Urashi Peoples’ Congress (UPC) called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider appointing the director general of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the region.

The Urashi Peoples Congress is an umbrella body for the OilProducing Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo. The community appealed in a letter to the president signed by its coordinator, Mr. Reginald Uwakwe.

The UPC lamented that appointments to key positions within the NDDC were skewed in favor of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta states out of the nine states that made up the commission.

The group pleaded with the president to reverse the trend because he violated the law establishing the NDDC and could threaten the functioning of the commission if not corrected.

“We, the Urashi Peoples Congress (UPC), an umbrella body for all oil-producing LGAs in Imo State, wish to draw your attention to the urgent

need to correct the imbalanced leadership appointments of the NDDC. “The appointment bias that has endured since the existence of the commission has taken on a critical and sensitive dimension that is very worrying.

“This development, if not corrected, is likely to threaten the operations and truncate the activities of the Commission,” the community noted in the open letter.

“In chronicling the beneficiaries of the imbalanced appointments, the community emphasized that; “It is relevant to inform you that a compromise has been found whereby the position would be turned within the nine oil-producing states.”

Uwakwe said, “The states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.

“However, the appointments to key posts implicitly confirm that the post of chief executive of the commission, in particular, has been biased in favor of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta.

“For the record, from 2001

to 2021, the list of directors general and their states includes: Dr Godwin Omene, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, both from Delta state; Timi Alaibe, Bayelsa; Chibuzor Ugwuoha and Dr Christian Oboh, both from Rivers.

“Others are Nsima Ekere and Dan Abia, both from Akwa-Ibom; Nelson Brabaifa, Bayelsa; Joy Nunieh, Rivers; Kemebradikumo Pondei, Bayelsa; Okon Akwa, Akwa Ibom while the executive directors of finance / administration and project were only from these four states, ”he said.

“Your Excellency, the crux of the matter is that this particular section of the law has not been observed for the past 21 years the commission has come into being.

“This is because only the four states mentioned above have benefited from the leadership positions.

“The authorities have done this continuously without any member of the other five states complaining.

“Essentially, a quick review of subsequent appointments will further confirm that no one from

Abia and Imo states has been appointed to leadership positions.

“Either as managing director or previously as executive directors,” Uwakwe added.

He explained that the mood of the Southeast NDDC members caught in this situation quickly turned to frustration, helplessness and discouragement.

“Sir, it is also imperative to note that the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ohaji / Egbema and Oguta in Imo have the highest gas field in all of West Africa, currently being explored

by Seplat Energy Plc, SPDC and ANOH Gas Processing Company.

“These two LGAs at Imo house the largest number of oil wells and flow stations in Nigeria,” he said.

“We would like to draw your attention to the fact that this problem has crystallized into a worrying magnitude capable of disrupting activities in the Niger Delta and derailing the successes recorded by the Commission so far,” said the coordinator. . (NAN) (www.nannews, ng).

(NAN)

L-R: President, Nigeria Airforce Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mrs Elizabeth Alao; President, Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) Hajiya Aisha Gambo; Inspector general of Police IGP Alkali Usman Baba; President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association, (DEPOWA) Mrs Victoria Irabor, Representative of the president of NAOWA, Mrs Omozojo and POWA president, Hajiya Hajara Akali Baba during the DEPOWA courtesy visit to the IGP at the force headquarters, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kajuma abduction: Troops rescue 26 students From:Femi, Oyelola, Kaduna

A

joint team of the Nigeria Police, Army and Navy Operatives have rescued 26 of the abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School Kujama in Chikun Local Goverment Area of Kaduna state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Muhammad Jalige stated this in a statement made available to the media in kaduna yesterday.

The statement stated that the Command received a report that armed bandits in large number had gained access into the school

in the wee hours of yesterday.

According to him, the bandits’ shot berserkly, overpowered the school’s security guards and made their way into the students hostel where they abducted an unspecified number of students into the forest.

ASP Jalige added that on receipt of the unfortunate incident, a joint team of the Nigeria Police, Army and Navy Operatives were immediately mobilised to the area with a mission to rescue the abducted students unhurt. “ The Operatives gave the bandits a hot pursuit occasioned by a tactical application of weapons

and succeeded in rescuing twenty six (26) students including a female teacher safely. “ However, the rescue Operation is still ongoing to ensure that all victims are safely returned. Officers involved in the said operation are charged to ensure no stone is left unturned with a view to successfully accomplish the rescue mission since resources will be availed them without delay. “ The Command is therefore encouraging parents not to be deterred by the recent bandits’ activities in the state targeting schools and learning institutions

as strategic measures will be emplaced to forestall further occurrence of such dastardly act of criminality against innocent children.

“The Command is saddened by the incident and call on all stakeholders on security to unite particularly at this very critical time to safeguard schools in order to guarantee a safe and secured learning environment and other meaningful businesses.” the statement. reads Meanwhile, two persons are said to have lost their lives following the bandits invasion of the school.

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted a special training on mass casualty and hazard management for emergency responders to improve their capacities for efficient response to disaster situations in the country.

Addressing participants at the training in Abuja, Director General of NEMA Mustapha Habib said it was in line with objective to save more lives during disasters through efficient response by the stakeholder organizations.

This was contained in statement signed and issued by Manzo Ezekiel, Head Media and Public Relations NEMA. The NEMA DG who was represented the Agency’s Director of Search and Rescue Air Commodore Edward Adedokun said the training was “another opportunity for all participating Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to acquire new skills, share experiences and re-strategize to heighten our level of preparedness and sharpen our alertness level to achieve the goal of mass casualty handling, which is to save more lives as possible.”

He also explained that the training was necessitated by challenges of natural and human hazards, noting that “these hazards are further escalated by the worsening impacts of climate change through annual flood and draughts as well as activities of armed groups with huge humanitarian consequences.”

The NEMA DG also emphasized the benefits of collective efforts in disaster management, adding that “synergy of efforts and interoperability of various components through joint trainings and exercises, information sharing, expertise and resource utilization in order to achieve the desired results.”

Also speaking, Director General of Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency Alhaji Idris Abbass said the positive response of stakeholders to the training was an affirmation their willingness to collaborate and partner together for efficient disaster Management in the country.

NEMA’s Deputy Director Search and Rescue Mr Ishaya Isa Chonoko led a team of resource persons for the training of the stakeholders on areas that include mass casualty handling in firearm, Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) attacks and Medical Standard Operating Procedures among others. Participants at the training were drawn from the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, FCT Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service and other agencies.

PAGE 6

News

AMAC Chairman withdraws marshal guards from transport engagements

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido, has withdrawn the Area council marshal guards from transport activities within the area.

This was contained in the press release signed by the Special Assistant to the Chairman on media and public relations, Chief Dayo Lawal and made available to Peoples Daily in Abuja.

The release said the chairman took the decision as a result of certain developments in the interest of the general public in the Area Council.

The release noted that the marshal guards had since been redeployed to the statutory assignments in order to assist the conventional security agencies in ensuring a secured society.

The release warned that any group of people found in the Area Council with the uniforms of the marshal guards carrying out illegal transport activities would be dealt with.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Trade Minister slumps at official function in Bauchi From Ahmad Bauchi

Mohammed,

M

inister of State for Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Yalwaji Katagum yesterday slumped while delivering a speech at the official commissioning

of North East Zonal office for the implementation of Nigeria Agribusiness and agro industry development initiative in the state.

Yalwaji was in Bauchi to commission the North East Zonal office of the programme.

While delivering her speech,

the minister held her head and suddenly slumped.

Her aides and other officials at the venue acted promptly and rushed her to the hospital.

Eyes witnesses said the officials took her to the Trauma center of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching

Hospital (ATBUTH) for immediate medical attention.

It was reported that the Minister on Sunday night featured in a live program on Globe FM radio and had other personal engagements which might have exhausted her before the official programme on Monday.

Buhari charges security agencies to intensify efforts for early release of kidnapped students

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari Monday directed the military, police and intelligence agencies to ensure safe and early release of all kidnapped victims, expressing concern over attacks on Kaduna and Niger States, largely targeted at students.

Senior Spacial Assistant to the

President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

While noting ongoing deployment of additional security personnel to all troubled areas, the President urged security outfits to “act swiftly” to rescue all school boys and girls in the affected states and ensure safe

return, the statement said.

President Buhari, according to the statement, said the disturbing incidents of kidnapping students, mostly in Northern states, was already threatening to undermine efforts in boosting school enrolments in states that were adjudged educationally backward.

He called on state governments to ensure compliance with UN-supported Safe Schools Programme, which the administration had adopted.

The President described kidnapping as cowardly and despicable, condemning it as an assault on affected families and the nation.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo welcoming the President, Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON to the Naval Headquarters for a courtesy visit ,recently in Abuja.

Photo; .DINFO NHQ

FCT: Gwagwalada Chair charges contractors on completion of projects

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT, Hon. Adamu Mustapha Danze, has charged the Area Council Contractors to deem it necessary to complete the ongoing projects for the benefit of the people in the area.

Mustapha Danze gave the charge during a meeting with the contractors in Gwagwalada, saying that he was ready to make the funds available for the completion of the projects.

“Go back to sites and ensure the completion of the projects for the overall development of the Area Council” the chairman said.

The meeting received the presence of Head of Administration, Head of Department of works and the acting council treasurer among other senior staff.

In another development, the Gwagwalada Council boss had met with the security agencies of the Area Council for the protection of the lives and properties of the citizens in the area.

K

The University of Calabar and the Garden City University College, (GCUC) Kumasi, Ghana have pledged to collaborate on capacity building and training of Midwives.

This was made known when a team from the GCUC paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Florence Obi, in Calabar.

Mr Albert Acquah, GCUC

Founder, who led the team, said that because of the strategic importance of the Midwifery profession, there was need to share ideas and knowledge to further uplift the profession.

He explained that they had come to seek collaboration with UNICAL on the training of Midwives, expressing optimism that the collaboration would be sustained.

He expressed hope that the

Assembly suspends Kano anti-corruption boss for 1 month From Mustapha Adamu, Kano ano State House of Assembly has suspended the chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado for alleged violation of the public financial management law.

Rimingado’s suspension followed his refusal to accept an accountant officer posted to the commission by the Office of the Accountant General of the state.

The suspension also followed a petition recieved from the office

of the Accountant General, read by the speaker of the assembly, Engineer Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari during plenary on Monday.

According to Chidari, the petition alleged that the chairman of the anti corruption agency rejected a new accountant posted to the Commission by the office of the accountant general which is clear indication of violating the rule of law.

He explained that, the public financial management law, gives the office of the accountant general the mandate to appoint accountants for ministries,

departments and agencies across the state.

After recieving the petition the law makers urged the Kano state house of assembly to take appropriate action by suspending the chairman of the Kano state public complaints and anti corruption commission for one month to enable the house committee on public petition as well as other adhoc committees conduct investigation.

Members representing Warawa, Sumaila, Rogo, Kiru, Gwarzo and Bagwai were in the opinion that, the suspension of

the anti corruption boss will give the committee the previlaged to conduct the investigation successfully.

The house unanimously agreed to suspend Barrister Muhyi for one month while members of public petition committee, anti corruption committee, public accounts committee were asked to investigate and report to the house within two weeks for appropriate action.

Recall that Rimingado has recently launched a probe at the state Ministry of Works and Housing over some contracts.

UNICAL, Ghana varsity pledge to collaborate on training of midwives collaboration would open vistas of opportunities for youth employment and skills acquisition.

Responding, Obi reaffirmed her administration’s position to lead the African continent in Midwifery training for a better health care system.

Obi said that the visit would allow for collaboration in building and training midwives through the

GCUC in Ghana.

She said that the place of midwives in the health care sector was very essential because it is the entry point in life.

“Our mothers have no reason to die during pregnancy because the place of midwives in the health care sector is very crucial because for me, that is the entry point,” she said.

According to the VC, UNICAL

has the cream of trainers and experienced teachers, who are always ready to bring their wealth of knowledge to bear when duty calls on them.

“We are happy that we have a crop of such professionals that can deliver on the training of midwives.

“We don’t only have experience in the field but experience in the classrooms,” she said.(NAN)

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, has warned applicants against fake recruitment list in circulation.

To this end, the NSCDC boss set up a committee of enquiry to investigate the individuals or group of persons behind the fake 2019/2021 replacement and recruitment supplementary list currently in circulation on social media.

He said, “the purported list of successful applicants for NSCDC job going viral on social media came as a shocking news to the Corps which has not released or published any recruitment list whatsoever, hence, the need to alert members of the public to this fake, mischievous, misleading and perfidious list capable of sending wrong signals to Nigerians especially applicants from different parts of the state” A statement issued yesterday

by Olusola Odumosu, NSCDC spokesman said the Corps however wish to set the record straight and state unequivocally that the list did not emanate from the Corps nor the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Correctional Service Board but the hand work of some unscrupulous elements who are taking advantage of the economic situation in the country to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

“Members of the public are therefore warned to disregard the

CRIME News

NSCDC warns applicants against fake recruitment list in circulation fake recruitment list currently being circulated across the country as a ploy by nefarious individuals and mischief makers to defraud innocent job seekers, some of whom have been made to part with different amount of money

in their desperation for NSCDC recruitment.

“The CG reiterated that, the NSCDC recruitment list will be published in the mainstream media once it is ready, he however assured Nigerians that in due

cause, the perpetrations of this callous act shall be nabbed and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“He enjoined members of the public to avail the Corps of any information that may lead to

the arrest of these criminals who have been defrauding Nigerian, warning all and sundry that NSCDC would not be held liable for anyone that falls prey to the antics of criminals and fraudsters in the name of recruitment”.

Edo vigilante, two others in cult war

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro

P

olice authorities in Edo State said three persons have been killed in different locations in connection with a renewed two rival cult groups clash in Edo State that started a week ago, leaving residents in panicky mode.

The recent incident happened on Saturday evening at a Lotto Betting Shop on Saturday evening on Ologbotsere Street, off Benin Technical College (BTC) road in Egor Local Government Area of the State.

Gunmen suspected to be members of rival cult group have killed a member of Edo State Community Security Network (EDSN) simply identified as Endurance, better known as “DMX”, leaving residents of the area in panic.

Spokesman of the Nigeria police, Edo State Command, SP Kotongs Bello confirmed the incident to our Correspondent on Sunday afternoon.

He revealed that, “Three persons have died so far since the fight between ‘Man fight’ and ‘Aye’ which started since last week.

“One of the killings occurred on Friday evening, the two others happened on Saturday morning and evening.”

L-R; Deputy National President, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Kabir Ado Minjibir, National Vice President North West MHWUN, Comrade Hussaini Hamisu, National President MHWUN, HRM King Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, National Vice Chairman / President NVP- THINCF, comrade Hassaini Ahmed, National publicity MHWUN, Comrade Ezenwa Francis and the Union National Vice President South East, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, during a welcome ceremony for the National President of the MHWUN to the union National Secretariat, as the New king of Ogbodo VIII, Amayanabo of Opu-Nembe Kingdom, Nembe Bayelsa State., held recently in Abuja Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Indigenes petition IGP over officer’s death in ‘suspicious manner’

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

C

oncerned indigenes of Ikabigbo Community in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Baba Alkali Usman, asking for investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a police Sergeant, Mr. Zekeri Bilal Dauda who served at the Edo State Police Command headquarters, Benin City.

Sergeant Zekeri attached to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) went on official duty with his colleagues last Saturday but reportedly died in an accident on the Benin-Auchi by-pass.

Addressing journalists in Benin yesterday on behalf of the Community, Hon. Zibiri Mohammed, the immediate past Secretary to Etsako West Local Government alleged that his colleagues at the Command,

called his family members on Saturday night that Zekeri died in accident during official duty on Benin-Auchi by-pass.

“We mobilized to the station and met the three other officers whom they went on the official duty together but sustained no injury in accident in which the impact resulted in bursting the skull of our son”, he said.

Mohammed said the discovering raises questions and suspicious about the claims of his colleagues in the vehicle who didn’t even sustained a scratch on the body.

“Upon questioning, the colleagues explained that the accident happened while on duty along Benin Auchi bypass but when asked about his phone, they couldn’t produced it which further raises more suspicious coupled with the minimal impact on the vehicle that involved in the accident that resulted in a broken skull.

“On a proper look at the vehicle, we

saw that the two tyres on the driver’s side of the vehicle were blood stained and also a whitish substance that appeared to be part of the content of the broken skull”, he added.

He said on calling the deceased cell phone, someone answered and said he picked the phone at G.T junction, adjacent to Ambrose Alli University College of Medicine, Ekpoma where the alleged accident happened, in which his colleagues claimed happened in Benin.

“We have recovered the phone from the person at Ekpoma who also gave us more revelations that it was not an accident but clear case of murder by his colleagues.

“We are appealing to the state police Commissioner, AIG Zone 5, headquarters,Benin and the InspectorGeneral of Police to investigate the matter to unravel the circumstances surrounding our son’s death”, he stated.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

PAGE 8

News

Xploits consulting trains 170 People on Agribusiness in Benue, Plateau

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

X

ploits consulting limited in partnership with Access Bank trained 170 people in Benue and Plateau states on Agribusiness.

The focus of the training was on fish and snail farming.

The Principal Partner of Xploits consulting ltd, Dr Tayo Taiwo, said 86 people were trained in Makurdi and Otukpo Local Government Areas of Benue State while 84 were trained Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas of Plateau state.

Represented by the Director Communications, Mrs Grace Taiwo, Principal Partner said the whole essence of the training was to improve the livelihood of the participants which by extension will help alleviate poverty and also contribute to the ongoing efforts targeted at diversification of the Nigerian economy by igniting the participants interest in Agribusiness.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mrs Cynthia Agbese expressed delight at being a part of the training and called on Xploits consulting ltd to take the training across the federation.

Meanwhile, Agribusiness training was facilitated by Xploits consulting ltd with support from Access Bank plc.

Obasanjo confirms Durban as new venue for IATF2021 F ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo says that the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) has been rescheduled to take place in Durban, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21.

He said this in a statement issued on Monday by African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank).

Obasanjo, who is the Advisory Council Chairman of IATF2021, said that the decision to move the trade fair to Durban was made by the Advisory Council of IATF2021 at its 10th meeting held virtually on May 25.

The fair, organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat was formerly scheduled to hold in Kigali, Rwanda from Dec. 8 to Dec. 14.

Obasanjo added that relocating

IATF2021 to Durban would save time on the calendar.

“This decision was arrived at after formal consultations with the Government of Rwanda, who indicated that logistical constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely affected the progress of construction of a new facility to host the event.

“It would also enable African countries and corporates, as part of their recovery strategy, to take full advantage of the trade fair, which is also an important component of the implementation of the AfCTA under which trading commenced this year.

“We have once again been able to shoulder the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is affecting all sectors worldwide and forcing governments, corporates and individuals to take unprecedented measures to ensure public safety and keep economies running.”

According to him, the council has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the measures that are being taken by the AU and Afreximbank under the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) as well as other initiatives to procure vaccines for the continent.

He added that it was believed that a significant number of people would have been vaccinated by November and this would allow it have a successful event.

Obasanjo assured participants that the council would continue to work with the Government of South Africa to ensure that all the COVID-19 measures were complied with during the trade fair as the safety of both residents and visitors was paramount.

He commended the Government of Rwanda, Afreximbank, the AU, the AfCFTA Secretariat and all IATF stakeholders for showing

L-R: Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund, Hon. Ibrahim Adekunle Isiaka, Consultant Fasad Engineering Nigeria Ltd, Engr. Abubakar Salisu, and Director Soil Erosion and Flood Control Ecological Fund Office (EFO) Engr. Felix Okeke, during an oversight function of the Committee on Ecological Fund to the site of the Road and Bridges EFO, yesterday in Karshi, Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigeria’s AUDA/NEPAD peer review excellent- AU

By Paul Efiong, Abuja

T

he AU delegation who are in Nigeria on Country Review Mission (CRM) on the Peer Review process has described Nigeria’s self-assessment report of its second peer review as excellent and amazing.

Prof. Janneh Abdoulie, Head Panelist on AU CRM, stated this in Abuja, at an interactive session with critical stakeholders, Civil Society Organisations as well as media organisations.

The UA team mission is to assess the ongoing Peer Review of member states of the African Union Development Agency and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA/NEPAD), across the continent.

It is recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari has just given approval to Nigeria’s selfassessment of the nation’s second Peer Review report of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for validation.

Briefing the newsmen, Abdoulie appreciated President Buhari for the foe giving approval to Nigeria’s self-assessment record to go ahead with the peer review process in the country.

“The review process in Nigeria is very professional, transparent, and impartial manner.

“It’s important that we do this and we just want to salute Nigeria for what we’ve seen so far, that the degree of inclusiveness has been very high, it’s an amazing process,” he said.

great resilience in adapting to the uncertain environment arising from the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

He also congratulated the Government of the Republic of South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government.

Obasanjo thanked them for the swift efforts being made to ensure that IATF2021 safely accommodates the growing number of participating governments, exhibitors, buyers, conference delegates, and visitors that have confirmed their participation in the event.

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala, said the province was honoured to host the gathering as it implements its own Economic Reconstruction, Recovery and Transformation Plan.

He said the province’s approach was to carefully balance the protection of lives against promoting and sustaining livelihoods. (NAN)

15 Borno indigenes in Edo IDP drop out of varsities, send SOS to Zulum

N

o fewer than 15 Borno indigenes in the internallydisplaced persons (IDP) camp in Uhogua, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo, have been forced out of school by management of the camp due to financial challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDPs, who dropped out of schools, were in various levels in different tertiary institutions across the country.

Some of the drop-outs, who spoke with NAN in tears, expressed sadness that their hope of attaining education so that they could be useful to themselves, the society and the country had been cut short.

They appealed to Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno to come their aid so that they could continue their education.

John Ayuba, an IDP from Gwoza in Borno, disclosed that for more than two years, the IDPs of Borno origin in the camp had tried in several ways to reach Zulum to appeal to him to take over their education and help them pay their fees.

He noted that in spite of their efforts, they had gotten no response from the governor, adding “we don’t know why the governor is not responding to our cries”.

Another IDP from Borno, Usman Philemon, told NAN that the least the governor could do for them was to encourage them by sponsoring their education.

“It is not by our making that we have become IDPs, but since we have found ourselves in this condition, we cannot afford to become useless in life. That is why we have decided to pursue our education.

“When we finish, we will come back home to help develop the state and give back to the state its investment in us.

“Imagine in this camp, we have about 12 of us from Borno studying Medicine, another 12 studying Law and five studying Chemical Engineering.

“The management of the camp has been sponsoring us from secondary school up till now, but today, things have become very difficult for us; they can’t meet up with the sponsorship again.

“This has forced some of us to drop out of school.

“We are still appealing to our governor to come to our aid and help us achieve our educational dream so that we be useful to the state and become worthy ambassadors,” he said.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of the camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, told NAN that the 15 IDPs, who dropped out of school, were from the 63 IDPs presently in various higher institutions of learning across the country.

He explained that it was quite painful to the management that some of them had to stop schooling, adding that it was due to the present realities in the camp.

Folorunsho said that the management of the camp could no longer fund the education of the IDPs due to financial constraints and other challenges which the management was trying to cope with.

He added that the management of the camp had been responsible for their education since the insurgency forced them out of their state and

they found shelter in the camp more than seven years ago.

The coordinator also stated that the management tried to reach out to some persons and even state governors where the IDPs came from, but no response had been received.

According to him, it has been quite challenging from the period of COVID-19, adding “it has been very challenging to pay their fees.”

The coordinator, however, disclosed that aside the 15 IDPs from Borno, three from other states were also affected.

Speaking on the last UTME, the coordinator said that 134 out of the 150 IDPs enrolled were able to write the exams.

He explained that the 16 IDPs, who didn’t write, couldn’t get their centres until after the exams.

“As I speak to you, those ones are just hoping that they will be called again to do the exams,” he said.

Folorunsho further disclosed that out of the 134 IDPs, who sat for the examination, more than a quarter scored above 200.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

PAGE 10

News

Bandits, kidnappers targeting key sectors of society-Kaduna Speaker

From: Kaduna

Femi,

Oyelola,

F

ollowing abductions at the Leprosy Training Centre, Zaria at the early hours of Sunday and students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna on

Monday, the Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani said the criminals now target key sectors of our society.

He expressed this in a statement signed by his SA Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Dahiru

Danfulani on Monday in Kaduna.

Zailani who commiserated with families of those affected, promised that the Government and the House will do everything possible to ensure the protection of lives and property.

“We woke up this morning

to yet another depressing news of abduction of students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna.

“This is not a cheering news, coming a day after the abduction at the Leprosy Training Centre, Zaria,” he said.

Southern govs: DSS, police, others must seek permission before operations

By Egena Sunday Ode

G

overnors of the Southern states have demanded that security agencies must take permission before conducting any operation in their domains.

In a communique issued at a meeting in Lagos yesterday, the governors, under the auspices of Southern Governors Forum, insisted that as chief security officers of their respective states, they deserved to be informed of any security operation about to be undertaken in their states.

According to the communique, the governors frowned at what they described as selective administration of criminal justice, saying that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and human rights.

“The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty; “Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed; “The forum frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights,” the communique said.

Signed by the Governor of Ondo State and Chairman of Southern

Governors Forum, Rorimi Akeredolu, the communique also “set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States.”

The Southern Governors Forum, according to the communique, also demanded that the 2023 presidency should be ceded to the region for equity and fairness.

The communique said the governors “Re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.

“The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.”

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) recently passed by the Senate, the : forum commended the National Assembly for the progress made in its passage but rejected the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community

as recommended by the House of Representatives.

“The forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins,” the communique noted.

“In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum reject the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the Electoral Act; and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in preelection matters on the Federal High Court,” the communique said.

L-R: Anchor, Female Advocate for Inter-Ethic Relations (FAIRER), Asouzu Chiamaka Glory, Team Leader of FAIRER, Zubaida Baba Ibrahim and Manager of FAIRER, Nafisa Bello, during the press conference on the advocates for peace and unity in Nigeria by FAIRER, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ortom laments dilapidation of facilities in Teaching Hospital From: Makurdi

Uche

Nnorom,

B

enue State Governor Samuel Ortom has lamented over vandalism of facilities at St. Catherine Primary, where he finished his primary education.

The Governor made the lamentation yesterday during a tour of projects in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

Governor Ortom said he attended the school from 1973 to 1976 and on completion of primary

six, proceeded to Idah secondary Commerical College now in Kogi State, regretting the high level of dilapidation of facilities at the school.

“This is a special school to me and I am here to see things for myself. I have seen the high level of dilapidation of the school. The fence is off and I heard that it is the den of cultists. We were able to get security men to chase them away from here. But as you can see, some of the structures have been damaged by these cultists

and a lot of furniture stolen. The gate was broken by hoodlums.

They have been arrested and are facing prosecution.

“We intend to capture this school in the next renovation and upgrading of schools across the State. I have already directed the chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board and his team to do an assessment and immediately provide seats to the school. I urge parents and management of the school to safeguard the school property as we also, intend to

recruit more teachers for the school”, Ortom said.

At the State Teaching hospital, the Governor also, decried the decaying infrastructure and announced the release of 150 million naira for repair of leaking roofs and the men’s ward.

He disclosed that government release of 3.2 billion naira to renovate and equip schools in the State will certainly go a long way to give the schools a new status, adding that they will recruit additional 2,000 teachers.

Leave Oyetola out of your parliamentary politics -Aide

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

C

hief Press Secretary to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun state, Ismail Omipidan, has advised the Minority Leader

of the Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Kofoworola Adewumi to leave the State Governor, out of their parliamentary politics.

Ismail Omipidan, stated this in a statement made available to the

media in kaduna yesterday.

Alhaji Omipidan cautioned thelawmaker to stop fishing for trouble where none exists.

Reacting to the statement credited to Adewumi, in which

he accused the governor of being hostile to the opposition lawmakers, Omipidan, described the lawmaker’s position as not only misleading, but also lacking in logic and concrete facts.

Anambra Election: AA urges youths not to be intimidated by popular parties, big candidates

M

r John Ikeotuonye, Action Alliance’s (AA) candidate for the forth coming Nov. 6, Anambra Governorship Election has urged the youth to vote wisely and not be intimidated by popular parties and their candidates.

Ikeotuonye said this on Sunday in Abuja during the hand over of his “Certificate of Return” as the duly elected candidate of the party for the governorship election.

Ikeotuonye also advised the youth to shun all forms of violence, bribery and corrupt practices before, during and after the election.

“I thank my chairman, the electoral committee, the delegates and the electorate of this party for finding me worthy and taking the decision to elect me as the party’s candidate.

“I also thank Mr Bonaventure my closest opponent during the primaries whom I have now selected as my running mate; I salute his will and sportsmanship to concede and still accept to be a running mate.

“It is time for us to deliver Anambra from the hands of those who have run the state for many years with no measurable achievement.

“Things are about to change in Anambra state, because we the youth have come to change the narratives.

“I urge my fellow youths to go out on that day to cast their votes wisely without fear or intimidation of stronger parties and their candidates.

“They should also shun violence and other corrupt electoral practices,” he said.

Ikeotuonye said that once power and leadership were handed over to the youth of the state, changes and development would become evident in the state.

He said that the opportunity for the youth to reclaim, rebuild and rebrand the state was now.

According to him, the youth are known to be nation builders, world and global changers and we can build anything and change the narrative of any industry positively and this election is the opportunity we have been waiting for.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the certificate of return was presented to Ikeotuonye

by Mr Kenneth Udeze, the party’s National Chairman, at the party’s head office in Abuja.

Udeze presented the certificate upon the acceptance of the satisfactory report of the party’s primaries held at Awka in Anambra and as presented by the Chairman of the election committee.

Udeze urged Ikeotuonye to fly the party’s flag gloriously and prayed that he emerges winner in the governorship election just as he emerged winner in the party’s primaries.

The issuance of the certificate of return was witnessed by members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and members of the party’s National Think Tank Committee (NTTC). (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

PAGE 11

Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

The Abuja sub-regional parley

I

t is on record that President Muhammadu Buhari had summoned an extraordinary summit of heads of state and government of Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The sub-regional leaders called up were the Presidents of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum and Central African Republic, Prof. Faustin Touadera Others were Lt. Mahamat Idriss President of the Transitional Military Council of the Republic of Chad, while Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, was represented at the meeting. The rest were representatives of Mohamed AlMenfi, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya, and the Sudanese President.

President Buhari, who is the chair of leaders of LCBC member-countries, had asked for a minute silence in honour of the late Chadian President, Marshal Idriss Deby, who was killed by rebels on April 19. Apart from Chad, the extraordinary summit would deliberate on Gen. the issue of Islamic State and Deby, the challenges that they pose to the member states as well as the Lake Chad environment.

President Buhari, It observed that the resilience of who is the chair of Boko Haram and leaders of LCBC the Islamic State member-countries, in the Lake Chad had asked for a Basin had been unprecedented in minute silence in recent times

“

honour of the late Chadian President, Marshal Idriss Deby, who was killed by rebels on April 19

The leaders were expected to discuss the growing security threats in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, political relations and economic ties as well as the situation in Chad.

The Executive Secretary of ICBC and Head of mission of the Multinational Joint Task Force are expected to make presentations on the situation in Chad. The head of the country’s transitional government, Lt.-Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby, would OUR MISSION

also address the summit on developments in his country as well as other relevant issues.

The leaders were also expected to discuss the issue of transfer of water from the Central African Republic into the Chad Basin. The lake is drying up at a terrifying speed, forcing a southward migration of several farming and fishing communities.

A communique on the outcome of the summit was expected at the close of the deliberations of the sub-regional leaders later yesterday. We wish them the best.

OUR PEOPLE

“To be the market Chief Operating Officer place of ideas and /Editor, the leading player Hameed M. Bello, PhD in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while HEAD, ADVERT delivering value to patrick UGAMA our stakeholders”

OUR VISION

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

Heroes of our nat’l teams: Of Samson Siasia vs FIFA “Sports do not build character; they reveal it.” - Heywood Broun.

T

he 1993/94 squad of the Super Eagles of Nigeria remains the most famous and illustrious in our national sports history. Not even the then golden boys of 1993 under-17 world cup, and the dream team that won gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Georgia could compare with them.

Some of them still formed the backbone of that triumphant team at the Olympics.

They fostered uncommon renaissance in the nation’s soccer evolution. They went against the odds to win the African Cup of Nations in Tunis in 1994, and still qualified for our first world cup appearance, after beating Algeria 0-1 at the July 5 stadium in Algiers, in the qualifiers final game.

They gave our generation the mellifluous memory that our parents had in 1981 when Nigeria last shone at the mundial. It was euphoric. We memorized every details of each of the 23 players and the technical crew. That was during the dark days of junta regimes. Nigeria was gloomy sociopolitically, and the citizenry hungered after some soul-lifting events no matter how transient, that would relieve them of the looming psychosocial depression, occasioned by maladministration. Then came that edition of the Nation’s Cup. And Nigerian contingents were winning. So you can imagine the joy!

The excitement was so wild, even the Khaki boys in political leadership of the time had to join in according the players heros’ welcome. At the reception, they promised each of them a house in any state of their choices. This promise lingered until last week when President Buhari through the Works and Housing Minister, Rt. Hon. Babatunde Fashiola redeemed them.

Motivated, they went ahead to make an impressive outing at the World Cup in U.S that same year.

That set gave us stars that hoisted our national colours in many foreign competitive leagues across Europe and Asia. From them came Stephen Keshi who rekindled the national pride of our flag when he coached the 2013 contingents who lifted the continental trophy 20 years after.

He thus became the first player to lift the title both as a player and coach. Amazing troupe!

This is why it was shocking to see FIFA disciplinary committee indict and charge one of those paragons of excellence -Samson Siasia, with ‘attempted’ bribery and corruption two years ago. Samson Siasia was a striker who combined well with the brutal midfield forces of Emmanuel Amunike and Daniel Amokachi to gift us honours those days. He would later became a coach himself of the under-23 and senior national teams that won medals for the country as well.

His mentorship legacy was personified in the emergence of Mikel Obi (easily the most decorated Nigerian player and second in Africa, only behind Samuel Etoó), and Taye Taiwo etc. In all his dealings, he was driven by quixotic passion for the advancement of the game more than mere craving for fame or mercantilism. He

soared in his career with so much love for the round leather game.

This was the same man, that FIFA’s Adjudicatory Chambers found guilty of complexities in an attempted match fixing scandal. He was slammed with life ban from football related activities (both national and international) with a fine of CHF50,000 (fifty thousand Swiss francs) in 2019. Knowing he was innocent of the charges and doesn’t deserve such harsh judgement, Siasia appealed against it at the Court of Arbitration for sport (CAS).

The case tarried till a fortnight ago, when the court accepted that its judgement was inordinately faulty and reduced the sanction to five years, backdated to 2019 without fine. I had wanted to put up some commentaries in his defence but it would be misconstrued as prejudicial to the litigation process.

Now that the final pronouncement is made we can safely remind them that they can’t dent or diminish his reputation in the beautiful game. His examplary conducts far outweigh the offence he is being accused of committing, albeit passively.

A similar scenario played out when Paraguayan court felt they could dim the the light of universal royalty which Brazilian international football ace, Gaucho Ronaldinho is enjoying in his retirement life, when they slammed a six-month jail term on him for alleged forgery. Millions of his fans the world over took to their social media platforms to pass vote of confidence on him and re-assert their unflinching support for him irrespective of whatever the law, in its willful ‘blindness’ choose to see in him. Throughout those trying periods the two time world best footballer of the year award winner enjoyed massive followership of sports lovers, his conviction notwithstanding. Even his former club, Barcelona FC retained his ambassadorial endorsement deal with them.

Our own Siasia needed a colossal support of such magnitude from us. Twice I saw him on national TV screens during the tough period of his trial, soliciting support from NFF, CAF, and other stakeholders of our national and continental football. He needed the warmth of those he made proud in his days.

He has three years more to serve out the sanctions and he is by this piece assured of our support. Let him keep faith for his heroism remains inviolable despite the sanctions. He will come out of it stronger for according to William Arthur Ward: “adversity causes some men to breakdown; while it causes others to break records.” He will bounce back. If there is anything sports revealed of Siasia all these years, according to Heywood Broun in our opening quote, is his spartan will of patience and tenacity, uncompromising integrity and selfless spirit to invest his energy in building future stars for the country and the world at large.

God bless our heroes past!

Eze Jude Ogechukwu (B.MLS), Medical Laboratory Scientist is reachable via Mobile: +2348062494912. ezejudeogechi@gmail.com

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Africa and the challenge of development

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

I

t is no longer news that recently, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph N. Ari, officially presented the ITF Mobile Android GSM smart phone to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The DG said at the presentation that the ITF mobile phone, which was comparable in quality to any other brand of Android Phone in the world, was assembled by the ITF Model Skills Training Centre (MSTC), Abuja, as part of the implementation of the vision of the incumbent Management of the ITF with particular emphasis on research and development. The Phone was produced with 100 percent locally sourced material. It is proof that given the enabling environment and opportunities, Nigerians will unleash their creative potentials.

Definitely a cheerful development, but such joy easily gets abbreviated when one remembers that the shadows still linger of similar feeble attempts in the past which ended in shame.

There exists also new awareness that, this challenge is by no means unique to Nigeria as a country but cuts across Africa.

Ringing apprehension is that the continent is the second most-populated in the world (1.2 billion people), yet, sadly represents only 1.4% of the world Manufacturing Value added in the first quarter of 2020.

This is further exacerbated by the fact that out of over 51 countries in Africa as continent, only South Africa qualified as a member of BRICS, an acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

This worrying concern about how off track Africa has gone in all facet of technological development and

advancement recently came flooding during a conversation with C.N Oragwu, a Former University Academic in Physics, at his Lagos residence.

Aside from the facts that the conversion stems both the title and partially formed the content of this piece, he (the host) during the conversation critically highlighted how his new book entitled; Technology and Wealth of Nations, which is set for presentation to the public in July 2021, chronicled the slanted and unsustainable effort different African governments made in the past to bring their nations out of technological woods, as well as outlined the way forward.

There is also another distinction to make.

Similar to construction of any business strategy, where it is acknowledged that three main players must be taken into account; the corporation itself, the customers and the competition-as each of this ‘strategic 3C’s which form the strategic triangle is a living entity with its own interests and objectives; but must be taken care of by any organization desirous of survival, likewise, the book is evident with some strategic antidotes that signals solutions to Africa’s hydra-headed and multi faceted technological challenge. A fact that more than anything else qualifies it a most read for policy makers in Nigeria and Africa as a continent.

The above is not the only explanation as he went ahead to make further distinction.

Separate from thoughtfully and masterfully examining the inspirable relationship between technological development and economic progress of nations, the book, deftly argues with facts that the point of sail of all economies is the introduction of the manufacturing sector or the industrial economy. He establishes that Africa’s prolonged economic plight

is centered on the two fundamental challenges of a manufacturing economy.

It traces Africa’s economic backwardness to its roots – a key problem that has kept our policy makers handicapped and our economies crippled. With documented facts on the institutionalized crippling policies and organized sequences of stagnating events of the colonial masters, the author asks: Why is it that Europe, which hosted the industrial revolutions in the 17th and 18th centuries, did not permit technological education in Africa in about 50 years of colonization, and prefers to send aids afterwards?

Of course, the above question in my views may not be lacking in merit considering the fact that Africa presently is dotted with projects built with aids from Europe, United States of America (USA) and lately, China.

For a better understanding of this piece, let’s take a look at the Chinese development aid to Africa.

Going by reports, Chinese development aid to Africa totaled 47% of its total foreign assistance in 2009 alone, and from 2000 to 2012 it funded 1,666 official assistance projects in 51 African countries. Also, the Brookings Institution Aid Data study found that at least 70% of China’s overseas aid was sent to Africa from 2000 to 2014.

Some of these projects includes but not limited to; the African Union building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which cost $200 million to build and was handed over in 2012. Recently also, China announced its willingness to give the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a $31.6 million grant to build a new headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

China’s scarves have found their largest African market in Egypt, which imported supplies worth $45 million in 2014. The

nations also have a healthy exchange of carpets, with multi-million dollar supplies traveling in both directions. – Dozens of African hospitals have been built with Chinese funds in recent years. China’s largest commitments in Africa are to infrastructure projects, such as Nigeria’s $8.3 billion Lagos-Kano rail line, largely funded through Chinese loans.

Whatever the true situation may be, I believed and still believe that there exists something troubling technologically that characterizes Africa more as a dark continent.

More so, looking at the current happenings and commentaries within the continent, it is obvious that fairminded and well-foresighted Africans are in support of the position as conversed by the book. In fact, many have at different times and places argued that though Africans may have overtly shown remarkable improvement in their culture and civilization. That notwithstanding, for the fact that after almost 60 years of independence, African countries continually look up to China for aid, covertly tells a story of a continent lacking in capacity for taking responsibility for its actions and initiatives for values.

On the way out of the continent’s technological debacle and the current wealth disparity among nations (industrial and industrial economies), lets again cast a glance on what the book is saying.

It(the book) argues that the current wealth disparity among nations (industrial and industrial economies) represented by highly industrialized Europe, North America and Japan on one hand and most developing (non-industrial economies) countries, in particular, those in subSaharan Africa, on the order is primarily the difference in the technical capability and capacity to produce and manufacture modern technologies and to use the

technologies to produce and manufacture globally competitive industrial goods and to sustain the commanding tasks of science and technology in the economy The disparity it added, has since considerably widened and will continue to widen as long as the developing countries depend almost totally on industrial nations for the technologies and industrial inputs they need to sustain their economies.

Consequently, the only way to bridge the wealth gap is for the developing countries of the world to build their domestic endogenous capabilities and capacities to produce modern technologies and competitive industrial goods in their own economies. He concluded.

Catalyzing the process will again necessitate African leaders borrowing body from Asian tigers in order to raise Africa’s industrial soul. They need to analyze and understand the essential ingredients of foresight in leadership and draw a lesson on how leadership decision making processes involve judgment about uncertain elements, and differs from the pure mathematical probability process.

Find out why Asia after grappling with the problems of unemployment in the region, their leaders came to the conclusion that the only way to survive was to industrialize.

Finally, Sir Joseph N. Ari, may be write in his claim that in terms of quality and performance, our phone is comparable or even superior to most Android phones currently in our markets, however, it important to underline that for us to succeed, there are certainly an infused lesson policy makers in Nigeria/Africa must draw from the above explanations.

Utomi, is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via;jeromeutomi@yahoo.

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Comment

Eswatini: Protests still engulf the kingless African kingdom

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

H

undreds of trucks have been parked stranded at the Oshoek Border Post waiting to cross into Eswatini. Oshoek Border Post is the biggest economic hub for Eswatini. Many goods from South Africa get into that country through this port of entry. Some of the truck drivers say it is not safe for them to be waiting at the border. They say the acts of looting might also escalate into South Africa while waiting for the situation to return to normal in Eswatini.

In a small landlocked African nation of about 1.3 million people, the demand for good governance and sustainable development and better citizen’s welfare by prodemocracy and developmentconscious groups have driven King Mswati III of Eswatini into political exile.

King Mswati III, who came to the throne 35 years ago, runs absolute monarchy and rules by decree. His critics accuse the 53-year-old monarch, and his 15 wives, of leading a widely lavish lifestyle and treating opponents harshly.

Official historical documents indicate that he was crowned in 1986, at the age of 18. His expensive taste, from cars and planes to houses, has angered Eswatini citizens, many who live below the poverty line. This is not the first time the people have protested against the king – in 2019, civil servants went on strike, accusing Mswati of siphoning money from public coffers for his own use.

Since his disappearance from power, there have been several measures to deal with the violent protests announced by the government. That however, the government has vehemently denied disappearance of their leader.

His whereabouts still not disclosed.

Over the weekend, Eswatini acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (Troika) delegation had arrived on factfinding mission and, to assist in ensuring peace following violent protests which resulted in damage to property and loss

of lives.

The Troika was led by Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Lemogang Kwape. “SADC stands ready to support the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini in their quest to bring peace and calm that will lead to the socio-economic development of this country, something that we in the region cherish.

We look forward to a candid engagement with all the stakeholders. We will interact with the government and then proceed to interact with civil society,” Kwape said.

Eswatini acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said he met the SADC delegation on Sunday. “It is our goal for the country, as shared by the founding principles of SADC, that we and the region always maintain peace and stability for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

Government has set up a team, led by the minister of foreign affairs to work with the troika and ensure that these engagements are sustained,” Themba Masuku said.

The Troika had

preliminary engagements with Government and civil society representatives including church groups, the Law Society, Trade Unions, Human Rights Commission and others on Sunday.

There have been violent protests in Eswatini for over a week with people burning property and looting shops.

Demonstrators are calling for multiparty democracy in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.

According to the South African Broadcasting Corp., the demonstrators set fire to several shops in Matsapha town in central Eswatini.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters demanding democracy in the country that has banned political parties since the early 1970s.

The organization also claimed that several people were shot with live bullets in a crackdown by the army and Swazi police. It’s understood that several government buildings, businesses and trucks have been set ablaze by demonstrators during clashes that started late last month

in the Manzini district.

Hundreds of trucks have been parked stranded at the Oshoek Border Post waiting to cross into Eswatini. Oshoek Border Post is the biggest economic hub for Eswatini.

Many goods from South Africa get into that country through this port of entry. Some of the truck drivers say it is not safe for them to be waiting at the border. They say the acts of looting might also escalate into South Africa while waiting for the situation to return to normal in Eswatini.

Eswatini exports sugar, soft-drink concentrates and cotton. Despite being the smallest landlocked country in the Southern hemisphere, and the second smallest country in Africa, it has a hugely diverse range of attractions. It’s major overseas trading partners are the United States and the European Union. Eswatini is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU).

Kester Kenn Klomegah is a Public Affairs Analyst.

China builds moderately prosperous society, achieves centenary goal

Nigeria: What the future holds for the younger generations?

By Lu Ya’nan

By Kasim Isa Muhammad

“By the time we celebrate our centenary, we will have developed our society into a moderately prosperous one with a stronger economy, greater democracy, more advanced science and education, thriving culture, greater social harmony, and a better quality of life.”

T

he above remarks made by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in a report delivered to the 19th National Congress of the CPC almost four years ago were a solemn promise made by the CPC to the Chinese people and history.

Maintaining its original aspiration and forging ahead over the past century, the CPC has delivered an outstanding answer sheet to the Chinese people and history.

Surging comprehensive national strength, improved structure, faster economic development China’s total grain output surged from 113.18 million tonnes in 1949 to 669.49 million tonnes last year. The country accounts for nine percent of the world’s arable land and six percent of the world’s fresh water, but supplies food for around 20 percent of the world’s population. It has firm control over its food supply to ensure its food security.

From a country that was not able to produce steel nails on its own to the world’s largest producer of over 200 types of industrial products, China now has all the industrial categories listed in the United Nations industrial classification.

The country was the first in the world to control the COVID-19 epidemic, resume work and production, and achieve positive economic growth last year. Its GDP exceeded 100 trillion yuan ($15.46 trillion), which is expected to account for more than 17 percent of the global economy and rank the second in the world. The per capita GDP of the country has been maintained above $10,000 for two consecutive years, making China one of the upper-middleincome economies.

Diversified forms and more complete systems leading to improved democracy The making of the Civil Code, milestone legislation that will better protect people’s rights and offer strong legal support for the country’s development, vividly mirrored how the socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics is reflecting the will of the people. To make the Civil Code, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the highest legislative body of China, organized 10 deliberations, solicited public opinions 10 times, and held three discussions among NPC deputies. During last year’s

“two sessions,” the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body, over 100 amendments were made to the Civil Code.

China has adhered to and improved the system of the NPC and the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, as well as improved the system of self-governance at the primary level of society. The constant development of the socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics has completed the systems, enriched the forms and expanded the channels of democracy.

Fruitful results of innovationdriven development, faster progress of science education Fruitful results have been achieved by a series of major projects, including lunar missions Chang’e, Mars missions Tianwen, manned space missions Shenzhou, navigation satellite network Beidou and unmanned deep-sea submersible series Haidou. Besides, “intelligent manufacturing in China” has also made its name with the maiden flight of China’s domestically produced large airliner, the record-breaking Chinese high-speed rail, and the export of the third-generation Chinese nuclear power technology. Under the innovation-driven development strategy, the numbers of Chinese R&D personnel and patent applications have ranked the first in the world for six and eight consecutive years, respectively.

The average amount of schooling of working age population has been raised to 10.8 years in China, and the country has become one in the upper middle group of the world regarding education.

Advanced facilities, faster industrial development, prosperous culture Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is not only on the material level, but also concerns ethical and cultural construction. As of the end of 2020, China had a total of 3,203 public libraries and 3,510 museums, and it topped the world in terms of the number of film screens. Besides, radio and TV programs covered 99.4 percent and 99.6 percent of the population, respectively. The continuous upgrading of public cultural services is leading to prosperous development of the cultural industry.

Enhanced public services, improved social security, harmonious society Social justice and legal guarantee systems have been further improved as a series of measures came into effect in recent years, including the direct settlement of hospitalized expense in places away from one’s hometown, eased restrictions of household registration in major cities, and equal schooling of migrant workers’ children.

By 2020, China’s basic endowment insurance has covered nearly one billion people and medical insurance over 1.36

billion people. The world’s largest social security system is bringing development results to the whole nation in a fairer manner, creating miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, both of which are rare in the world. Last year, the country further proved the advantages of its governance by achieving major strategic outcomes in the fight against COVID-19 over a short period of time.

Eliminating absolute poverty, people living in plenty China has made absolute poverty a thing in the past. It has lifted 98.99 million poor rural residents under the current poverty line out of poverty, with 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 poor villages removed from the poverty list. Overall regional poverty has been eliminated, and the arduous mission of removing absolute poverty is completed. It is the first developing country to meet one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals directed at poverty, contributing more than 70 percent to the global poverty reduction endeavor.

Last year, the annual per capita disposable income of Chinese residents reached 32,189 yuan, allowing them to enjoy healthier food, fancier clothes, more convenient transportation and richer entertainment.

Lu Ya’nan writes in from People’s Daily

B

y looking at the current situation and Nigeria’s stalking on social and economic impacts, the youths have lesser opportunity to get involved in governmental issues.

To say Nigeria has failed is an understatement. Nobody can predict what the future holds for the younger generations and profiteers alike. With the recent abductions of school children, kidnapping on the major highways, an increase of tuition fees by the Kaduna government, showing that Nigeria is on the brink of collapse if care is not taken. Nevertheless, the most perturbing question running on my mind and fellow, ordinary Nigerians is who will bring succor at this time of unprecedented crises?

We all know that Nigeria got its independence sixty years ago and it will clock sixty-one in few months to come, but unfortunately, the country lacks direction. Innocent citizens are being killed daily, graduates roaming streets looking for jobs; while senior politicians are

buying luxury cars, taking their children abroad to study, while the children of the poor are left in dilapidated classrooms. With this, no one can predict the future of Nigeria as a nation.

With all the above-mentioned problems militating against the country seeming not enough, the Kaduna state governor Nasiru El-rufai came up with the idea of increasing tuition fees, despite his state facing serious challenges of insecurity. Unfortunately, instead of the governor providing a lasting solution to the problems bedeviling the state, he chose to add salt to the current problem people of Kaduna are wallowing in. I often ask myself this question; do the children of the poor have a future in this country?

Yes, the answer to the question is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf because when you fail to educate the children of the poor that voted you into office, you will never know peace, it’s high time the governor thought and have a rethought.

Nonetheless, the recent statistics establish that 25 million graduates are unemployed. This shows that the future generations

will not invest in education, because when a country fails to employ the gargantuan population of its graduates, they will only engage in nefarious activities; such as gangsterism, kidnapping, banditry, militancy, and all heinous activities, we need to wake up from our deep slumber in providing job opportunities to our youths.

It’s pertinent to note that statistics also establishes that 900 schools were destroyed in Nigeria recently, more especially in the northwestern part of the country, but unfortunately, many Nigerians don’t find this worthy to talk on, rather talking on the Twitter ban, even though we all know how some unpatriotic Nigerians are using the app to spread hatred, disunity, unsubstantiated stories that will bring about conflict in the country.

Have we forgotten the slogan saying children are the leaders of tomorrow?

Yes, there is a need to ask this question when the so-called leaders of tomorrow stay at home because their parents cannot afford their tuition fees, are they even leaders of tomorrow when

their leaders fail to protect their lives and properties?

By looking at the current situation and Nigeria’s stalking on social and economic impacts, the youths have lesser opportunity to get involved in governmental issues.

In some developed countries, technology has been playing a key role in successful programs, advancing tech power, and engaging youths in learning something to generate a source of income. There are so many obstacles in Nigerian technological development and a very big challenge for the youths. The government invests insufficient funds in technological methods which seem to be a modern pillar of providing a massive number of job opportunities.

However, the youths probably graduate from various universities, come out with outdated skills, and have no chance of getting a job. The government needs to introduce a program in the universities for a change of method in teaching, entrepreneurship, and ways to inspire the youths.

Also, international

investments are advised to enlarge ways of poverty alleviation from millions of youths living without any hope here in Nigeria. Building up companies and carrying out regular works will help to make a way out of these obstacles.

Youths can also be involved in politics, for there’s so much hope there and it can remove the pain of Nigerians. The vibrant minds have the zeal to change many things here in Nigeria but some uncertain beliefs came to destroy the future of youths into politics.

When the government provides job opportunities and tackles the issues of insecurity the future generations will write the name of our leaders in a golden slate of history.

Now, in Nigeria the only thing we need is to collectively work together, our problems are beyond political affiliations, ethnicity, religion, and sectionalism, yet we need to take a deep breath and ask ourselves what the future will hold for the younger generation.

Kasim Isa Muhammad is a 200 level student department of Mass Communication University of Maiduguri

PAGE 14

NEWS

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed commitment to improving on stakeholders’ capacity on mass casualty management.

Declaring open a training for emergency stakeholders on mass casualty handling, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, NEMA DirectorGeneral, called for timeliness and professionalism in disaster response.

The training which was organised in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), also received technical support from the British High Commission and the U.S. Embassy.

Ahmed, who was represented by Air Commodore Edward Adedokun, the Director, Search and Rescue of the agency, said the training would provide an opportunity for all participating MDAs to acquire new skills, share experiences and re-strategise in saving many lives as possible in cases of disaster.

He said that the impact of any disaster on lives and properties, depends largely on the swift and effective response of crisis management actors.

“In combating today’s threats, capabilities required to go beyond those of any single agency.

“It entails synergy of efforts and interoperability of various components through joints trainings and exercises, information sharing, expertise and resource utilisation in order to achieve the desired results.

“It is common knowledge that person’s affected by disasters and crises needlessly die or are permanently confined to wheel chairs as a result of lack of initial care on one hand or unprofessional handling by the spontaneous responders or first responder agencies on the other hand,” he said.

He, however, urged the stakeholders to use the acquired knowledge from the training to contribute their quota in reducing disabilities and mass fatalities, which is usually the aftermath of large scale disasters.

Also speaking, Mr Idriss

Media urged to avoid stigmatization on GBV survivors From Umar Dankano, Yola

A

damawa state commissioner for women affairs,Hajiya Lami Ahmad has urged media practitioners in the state to avoid reports that promote stigmatization of victims of violence against women and child.

He stressed that such reports usually exposed the survivors to discriminations capable of basterdizing the ongoing efforts to bring the menace to an end.

The commissioner who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Soso Benco Ali made this appeal yerterday while opening a 4 day workshop for journalists in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

NEMA builds stakeholders’ capacity in mass casualty management Abbas, the Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), also called on the participants to learn, update their knowledge and ensure timely response in cases of disasters.

He added that it was important

to improve on the alertness level of emergency responders in order to achieve the goal of mass casualty handling.

Mr Aduku Akoji and Mrs Zuwaira Aliyu, both participants from the Federal Fire Service

and FEMA respectively, added that the training would provide an opportunity for them to be better equipped for effective crisis management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training,

which had both theoretical and practical sessions, had in attendance representatives from the Ministry of Health, NEMA, Federal Fire Service, Civil Defence, FRSC, Nigeria Police Force, FEMA, Red Cross, among others. (NAN)

How FG’s Covid-19 stimulus package saved Over 2m jobs -Osinbajo

By Egena Sunday Ode

N

o fewer than 2 million jobs have been both created and saved with the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) introduced by the Federal Government to mitigate the harsh effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

Although the target of N2.3 trillion estimated to be spent under the plan has not been achieved yet, the Federal Government appropriation part of that total being N500 billion has been completely released by the end of May, making it possible to attain several objectives of the ESP directly supporting a few million Nigerians.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this at a virtual meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee

*Over 6 million farmers enumerated to benefit from agric sectoral support measuring implementation he presided over on Monday.

He said while a total of 2,100,021 jobs have been saved and created all together, the breakdown of the figures indicated that 1.3 million jobs have been retained through interventions in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) space, including the Payroll Support. The 774,000 jobs from the Public Works Programme and 26,021 Jobs from construction /rehabilitation projects across the country were among those freshly created.

On the implementation of the ESP, a statement by the Laolu Akande, media aide to the Vice President, quoted Osinbajo to have

said the 100% release of funds appropriated in the budget for the programme was commendable and urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to expedite action on the release of funding components of the ESP that are dependent on financing from the bank.

According to the him, “our budget funds were released in total. I thank the Honorable Minister of Finance for ensuring that it was done promptly, which means, in effect, that as far as the budget goes, we have been able to do what we practically promised to do.

“I know that if we were able to infuse N2.3 trillion into the Nigerian economy, we will not have the

employment figures that we have today, we will not have the problems that we have today, they will be significantly reduced. Even with what we are able to do with the budget, growth figures at least indicate that things have not degenerated as badly as many had thought.

“So, you can imagine what we could have done if we were able to fully implement what we thought we would be able to implement.

Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case. We hope that in the next couple of weeks, we will be able to get some good response on more funds that we expect to get from the CBN which will help us to make some progress on the implementation.”

From left: Chief Executive Officer, Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Dr Abdul-Ganiyu Obatoyinbo; Permanent Secretary, Career Management, Malam Mamman Mahmudu; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Idowu Olusola, during the inauguration of training program for the reinforcement of planning officers cadre in the service in Abuja on Monday(6/7/21).

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Lagos passes bill stopping parade of suspects by police, others

By Christiana Ekpa with agency report

T

he Lagos House of Assembly, yesterday, passed an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state barring the police from parading suspects before the media.

The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”

The bill further stipulates conditions under which a policeman can arrest without warrant.

Such a person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments.

A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter.”

The bill adds that a person who is arrested “shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release”.

The bill stipulates that suspects should be accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity.

They must not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and be brought before the court as within a short period.

After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.

IPAC rejects exclusion of electronic transmission of results from Electoral Act

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has rejected the alleged moves by the National Assembly to remove the Clause which provides for electronic transmission of election results to the INEC server in the ongoing 2010 Electoral Act amendment.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Ambassador Agbo Major, the council also cautioned the National Assembly against moves capable of derailing the nation’s democracy.

IPAC said such moves amounts to a coup against Nigerian people who desire and deserve credible elections, adding that it will turn the recent stakeholders meetings and public hearings on the matter with federal legislators to mere jamborees.

The statement said “It is unacceptable and repugnant to free and fair polls that have impeded our democratic process.

“IPAC as the umbrella body of

the 18 registered political parties

by INEC and a critical stakeholder submitted its memoranda on Electoral Act and Constitution amendments, and demanded for electronic voting system and transmission of results in the quest for free, fair, credible, transparent, generally accepted, inclusive and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

“This was the consensus of all stakeholders at various meetings and public hearings. It is unfair and unjust for the leadership of the National Assembly to thwart and sabotage the will, desire and expectation of Nigerians for credible elections that meet international standards.

“More importantly, political parties are deregistered for failure to win a legislative seat among others.

It will be an uphill task for political parties not in government to win elections if the process is grossly flawed.”

IPAC also said election is the beauty of democracy as sovereignty

resides in the people, adding that the mandate of the electorate in a free and fair election must be respected.

It warned that to do otherwise, is an invitation to anarchy that characterized most elections in Nigeria since independence in 1960.

“The National Assembly must rise to the occasion, defend the nation’s frail democracy and expunge the obnoxious Section 50(2) of the proposed electoral bill which states, “Voting at election under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedures determined by the Commission, which may include electronic voting PROVIDED that the Commission shall not transmit results of the elections by electronic means.”

“This provision makes mockery of the entire electoral amendment and dashed the hopes of patriotic Nigerians of having key reforms in the electoral process.

“With the insertion of the antipeople clause into the bill legislators have shown clearly that do not mean

well for Nigerians and undercut the gain made by INEC during the last Edo and Ondo Gubernatorial Polls which they also plan to do during the upcoming Anambra Polls coming up November 6, 2021.

“IPAC demands immediate expunging of the clause to save Nigeria democracy and credibility of the nation’s elections.

“The purpose of the electronic voting and transmission of results is to guarantee the sanctity of the ballot box, thus curb rigging and flagrant manipulation of electoral outcomes as results are often mischievously doctored and falsified at collation centres.

“Those who smuggled in this obnoxious provision into the Bill are the real enemies of our democracy who want to maintain the status quo to enable them hold on to power against the wish of the people.

The offensive provision must be expunged forthwith and the Bill passed immediately”, the statement said.

L-R: Gombe state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Chairman APC Governorship Appeal Committee for Anambra State Presenting the report of his committee to the Yahaya,National Secretary, APC Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee,Sen.James John Akpanudoedehe, at the Party’s Secretariat, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

2023: Northern group launches ‘operation show voter’s card’

Electoral Act: Presiding officers can’t determine outcome of amendment - Lawan

A

P

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

group under the auspices of Tinubu-Arewa Youth Political Support Group has launched a programme tagged: “Operation Show Voter’s Card” that will ensure

transparency in the coming 2023 election.

This was contained in a statement signed by Salisu Dawaki, and Lawal Musa; President and Secretary of the group respectively and made available to the media in Kaduna

yesterday.

The statement stated that over three million registered voters will be mobilized for the “Operation Show Voter’s Card”.

The group stressed that even though the task is herculean, but it is

necessary for the benefit of the people.

“We had an interface with the relevant stakeholders across board for wider consultations. This is in addition to series of physical and online meetings of the group and coalition members.”

Youths endorse Bello for 2023, threaten legal action if…

T

he Bello North Central Youths Support Group (BENCYSG), has threatened to sue Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, if he failed to join the 2023 presidential race.

The group said this in a statement by its Coordinator, Mr Wilfred Mustapha and Secretary, Ms Hajara Lawal on Monday in Abuja.

It also pledged to obtain the nomination form for the governor.

The group said that Bello was the only qualified presidential material from the North Central capable of uniting the country.

It maintained that it remained resolute and firm to mobilising youths and eligible voters in the sub region and beyond in support of Bello for 2023.

“We, youths from North Central have already sent our preaction notice to Gov. Yahaya Bello.

“In an event he dare succumb to any pressure to withdraw (God forbid) from the race, we will ask our team of lawyers to sue him.

“This is because he is the only one that is capable of delivering the desired change and uniting the country for progress owing to

his track records.

“Fundamentally, the regionalism and zoning system favours Bello more than any other contender,” it said.

The group added: “He comes from a region (North Central) that has never produced the president or vice president since the country return to democracy in 1999.’’

(NAN)

By Musa Baba Adamu resident of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly are not in any position to determine the outcome of amendments to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill under consideration.

Lawan made this known against the backdrop of insinuations and misgivings by some Nigerians that the leadership of the National Assembly was bent on accommodating contentious clauses in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill presently before it, that would stop the transmission of election results electronically.

Speaking at the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners of the Public Complaints Commission in Abuja, the Senate President disclosed that the upper chamber would consider the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill within the next two

weeks upon presentation of a report by the Committee on INEC. He, therefore, advised Nigerians to engage their representatives in both chambers of the National Assembly on whatever issues they feel strongly about in the bill.

Lawan said, “The National Assembly is embarking on the amendment of the Electoral Act, probably by next week or within the next two weeks.

“It is very important that those who feel very strongly about any amendment that they think should be effected in the Electoral Act should contact or talk to their members of the House of Representatives as well as Distinguished Senators.

“I want to state categorically here that presiding officers are not the ones to determine what is carried or what is not.

“So, it is very important that in the same way, the Public Complaints Commission is utilized properly by the general public.”

The Senate President further charged

the newly sworn-in Commissioners of the Public Complaints Commission to shun acts that would stifle fairness, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

Lawan reminded them that the Commission is a machinery for the control of administrative excesses, non-compliance or non-adherence to administrative procedures or abuse of power.

“It is principally an organ of government setup to redress complaints lodged by aggrieved citizens or residents of Nigeria against administrative injustice”, he said.

The Senate President assured the Commission of the support of the National Assembly in the area of funding and amending the Public Complaints Commission Act 1975, which has not been amended in the last fortyfive years since its enactment.

“We are not unaware of some challenges confronting the Commission, the a National Assembly is making efforts to overcoming

the challenges facing the Commission, and that is largely funding.

“The Ombudsman institution is acclaimed worldwide as the machinery for the control of administrative excesses and providing the due reliefs and redress to citizens and foreigners residing in Nigeria”, Lawan added.

Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the Public Complaints Commission was conceived to, amongst other things, address issues of Human Rights abuses.

“It is clear that the Public Complaints Commission is a product of necessity due to Human Rights abuses, societal victimization, high-handedness and other forms of practices of maladministration.

“Such ugly practices had long been noticed in Nigeria of all places, and promoted the birth of the Commission in 1975, and its metamorphosis into a statutory vehicle in 2004”, Gbajabiamila said.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

POLITICS

Southern Governors demand 5% for Host communities in new PIB passed

by NASS

By Musa Baba Adamu

G

overnors under the umbrella of Southern Governors Forum, have rejected the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) passed by the National Assembly last week, demanding the retaining of 5 percent of oil revenue as Trust Fund for Host Communities, as against the 3 percent passed by the Senate.

This was contained in a communique released after their closed-door meeting in Lagos State on Monday, which was signed by the chairman of the Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu,who is also the Governor of Ondo State.

They also rejected the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

“The Forum commends the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB; “The Forum rejects the proposed 3% and supports the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives; “The forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins; “However, the forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle,” the communique read in part.

Osun Caretaker nominees: APC members storm State Assembly, demand revision of list

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

ome members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obokun, Ola-Oluwa and Iwo local governments have taken their grievances to the premises of the Osun State House of Assembly.

Storming the House of Assembly in their hundreds on Monday, the protesters said they

came to confront the legislators to register their displeasure over the lists of caretaker committee nominees for their local councils.

The protesters accused their leaders of betrayal and switching names of their preferred candidates before the list was approved by the legislators last week.

They demanded the Assembly to step down the lists of nominees

as presented to them by the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

While demanding the legislators to revisit the harmonised list submitted by the party leaders in the local governments.

The protesters alleged that the list of nominees they prepared in conjunction with party leaders at the local government level had

been replaced.

In his response the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye assured the protesters that the Assembly would look into their demands.

He also appealed to the protesters to maintain the peace, be calm and patient as the House was on top of the situation and will look critically into the matter.

CLO asks NASS to reject Onochie’s nomination as INEC commissioner

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Akwa Ibom State Branch, has urged members of the National Assembly not to clear Ms Lauretta Onochie as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner.

Recall that Ms Onochie who is currently serving as the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media was nominated by the President as INEC Commissioner in October 2020.

Her nomination has generated some backlash from members

of the public as many groups, individuals have condemned her nomination.

However, the State Chairman of CLO, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, reacting to the development in a press briefing in Uyo, on Monday said Ms Onochie’s nomination was a breach of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The CLO said Ms Onochie, is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, adding that if the National Assembly peradventure clears her, Nigeria will be drifted to a one-party system.

The CLO, however, observed

that Section 156(1)a) and third schedule, Part 1, Item F, Paragraph 14(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) stipulated that any person in active politics or a cardcarrying member of a political party should not be appointed into INEC, which is the electoral umpire.

Part of the statement read, “Ms Lauretta Onochie currently serving as the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media has openly declared membership for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“She had also campaigned for President Buhari in 2015

and the CLO is of the view that if her nomination is confirmed by the Senate, it will mar future elections and cast doubts on the independence of INEC. “Ms Onochie, being a cardcarrying member of the APC, is not qualified for such appointment as stated in relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

“Section 156(1)a) and third schedule, Part 1, Item F, Paragraph 14(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) outrightly disqualified any person in partisan politics and card-carrying member of a political party from being appointed into INEC as an electoral umpire.”

From right: Leader of the Federal Government Assessment and Advisory Team for the Implementation of Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme, Dr Abdulateef Shittu; Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Prof.

Ivara Esu; Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong; Commissioner for Youths and Skills Acquisition, Mr Signor Omang-Idiege and others, during a courtesy visit by the Federal Government team to the Deputy Governor in Calabar on Monday (5/7/21).

Zamfara: Reps member hails Matawalle’s switch from PDP to APC

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he lawmaker representing Gwaram Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, in the House of Reps, Yusuf Shutu Galambi, has described the recent defection of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the best decision taken in his political career.

The member, in a statement, thanked

Matawalle for bringing Zamfara State back into the mainstream of national politics with his move to the ruling party.

He explained that with the defection by Matawalle, there was no doubt that APC has taken control of six out of seven states in the North-west leaving only one state to the opposition, the PDP. He, however, described Matawalle’s defection as a blessing to the party and his state.

“As a colleague at the National Assembly,

Bello Matawalle has proved to be a dependable ally, generous, hardworking, strategist, visionary leader who is always ready and passionate to bring development to his constituency,” he opined.

He enjoined Governor Bello Matawalle to show magnanimity as a leader of the party in the state by carrying everyone along to take Zamfara State to greater heights.

Galambi believed that the continuous defection of PDP members to APC is a testimony to the fact that the party has

already taken a lead ahead of the 2023 elections.

The House member thanked Governor Bello Matawalle for the courageous and fearless steps taken to move to the winning party- APC, notwithstanding the threat, mischief and intimidation by his former party, the PDP, describing it as long expected.

He asked Zamfara people to give the governor all the necessary support and encouragement needed to take the state to greater heights.

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Anambra: APC interest to prevail in appeal report - Party scribe

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John James Akpanudedehe, has said that the interest of the party will guide in taking decisions on the outcome of the Anambra state APC governorship primary election, which was won by Senator Andy Ubah.

Speaking on Monday when Governor Inuwa Yahaya- led Appeal panel submitted its report on the disputed primary, Akpanudoedehe said that whereas the party is supreme, its decision will be guided by report of the committee.

The APC scribe expressed the party’s appreciation to the committee for responding positively to urgency of the case brought before it “I stand on behalf of the party chairman to thank you immensely for the rapid and expediency and the urgency that you have given to this assignment.

“Thank you very much. We are a progressive party and the progressive parties are very straightforward and we’re honest in our dealings.

“I want to assure you that the Caretaker Committee Chairman and the Caretaker will look critically with objectivity to this report. Even though, I don’t know what is contained in this (report), at the end of the day, the party supremacy and the party direction will be guided by what you have done”.

The Gombe State governor had earlier remarked that all the contestants in the primary were summoned to appear before the panel, stating that the issues were judiciously trashed.

He said “As I promised, we did justice to the assignment.

We heard their complaints. We went through the petitions and we have written our report based on the materials that we got that could help us to prepare our recommendations.

“I wish you wait for the National Caretaker Committee to come out with report but We believe justice has been done “Virtually all the aggrieved aspirants attend the meeting. We summoned all of them. It was not only the contestants. Even senior stakeholders from the South-East particularly from Anambra state.”

He said the committee had to sit all through the weekend because of the urgency of the matter before it.

POLITICS

NASS, Finance Minister brainstorm over 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP

By Musa Baba Adamu

P

resident of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday brainstormed with the Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, over the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

Speaking at the meeting, the Senate President said the meeting was convened at the instance of the leadership of the National Assembly to deliberate on projections in the 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP needed to facilitate the early presentation of the 2022 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari in September this year.

Lawan, in his welcome address, recalled the commitment of the Ninth National Assembly towards the early passage of the nation’s annual budget.

He explained that the

development was responsible for the 100 percent implementation of the 2020 Appropriations Act which, according to him, would be achieved also in 2021.

The Senate President added that the interaction between the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance on the 20222024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework would facilitate the early presentation of the 2022 Appropriations Bill in September this year.

He said, “We all recall how this Ninth National Assembly committed itself Ab initio to ensuring the passage of the Appropriations before the end of December of every year, to enable the implementation of the Appropriations Act to start January of every year.

“So far, we have achieved that in the 2020 budget and 2021 budget as well. This has significantly improved the implementation of the Appropriations Act, culminating in

the 100 percent implementation of the 2020 budget, and we are optimistic that the implementation of the 2021 budget would also achieve 100 percent.

“The 2022 Appropriations Bill would be predicated on the MTEF/ FSP 2022-2024. [And] it is very important that this interaction takes place so that the National Assembly is able to consider the MTEF in very good time to allow the Executive arm of government prepare the Appropriations Bill for 2022.”

Speaking, the Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, recalled that Nigeria was able to make a quick exit from recession in the third quarter of 2020 despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.

According to her, this had an attendant “negative growth” on the Nigerian economy as a result of the significant and sudden drop in crude oil price in the international market.

The Finance Minister disclosed that although the Nigerian economy experienced more revenue earnings in 2020 from non-oil sectors, other sectors such as transport still remain in the negative.

“The economy since then has sustained a tepid growth in the first quarter of 2021, with a growth of 0.51 percent consolidating our exit from recession in the fourth quarter.

“The growth of the Nigeria economy, we are pleased to say, is driven largely by the non-oil sector, which has risen to 0.79 percent, masking the deterioration in the oil sector.

“The sectoral growth in the nonoil sector was primarily driven by telecoms and agriculture sectors as well as other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“Significant concerns still exist in the performance of trade, as well as transport sector which are still in a very strong negative growth”, she said.

Vice President of Arewa Women Business Forum, Jamila Makka, (left), President of the Forum, Mrs. Tina Bawa Present an Award of LIFE PATRON to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Talked (Middle) and the Secretary of the Forum, Aisha Shatima Rabo, recently in Abuja.

APC major nightmare, threat to PDP in Oyo - Alao-Akala

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

F

ormer Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has become a major threat to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Alao-Akala made this disclosure while speaking in Ibadan, the state capital on Monday.

Recall that the incumbent Governor, Seyi Makinde, who won the 2019 gubernatorial election on the platform of PDP defeated APC candidate, Adebayo Adelabu.

Alao-Akala has, however, declared that the APC which is the major opposition political party in the state, has become a nightmare and a major threat to the PDP. The former Governor who noted that women would be given optimum priority in the party, made these declarations at a stakeholders meeting of the leaders and elders of APC ahead of the forthcoming party congress scheduled to commence in the 3rd week of this month.

Alao-Akala who is the Chairman, Elders Advisory Council of the party, admonished stakeholders in the

party to shun violence.

He alleged that the agenda of PDP is to throw spanners of confusion into the scheme of things in APC, because APC has become a nightmare to PDP in the state.

Alao-Akala while speaking further alleged that PDP plans to infiltrate APC camp in order to destabilize the party.

“I can tell you categorically that we have become a major threat to the PDP in Oyo state.

There is serious confusion amongst them.

“Our unity has become a headache to them, they never expected us to come together and form a formidable force that

we all see today.

“The PDP is seriously rattled by our deft political moves. They plan to infiltrate our camp, they want to destabilize us.

“They plan to use every available opportunity to turn the table against us and we must not allow them.

“We should eschew violence and discord in the forthcoming Congress, we should allow a level playing ground in choosing who will steer the ship of the party as executives.

“We will not allow imposition, we will not allow thuggery and brigandage, we will not allow any form of violence.”

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Stock Watch: Monday, July 5, 2021 Low

OPEN Volume Close High

2.80 3.15 0 1.94 3.94 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.64 0.64 0 4.60 8.60 0 37.00 68.30 0 3.79 4.21 0 9.65 10.05 0 31.50 34.00 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 2.45 2.45 0

Top Gainers

Symbol CHANGE

Trades

5.80 6.00 ACCESS -0.35 3.94 3.94 AFRIPRUD 0.00 0.27 0.27 AGLEVENT 0.00 0.64 0.64 AIICO 0.00 8.60 8.60 BERGER 0.00 67.00 67.00 BETAGLAS -1.30 3.79 3.79 BOCGAS -0.42 9.65 10.05 CADBURY -0.40 31.50 31.50 CAP -2.50 1.90 1.90 CAVERTON -0.02 18.45 18.45 CCNN 0.00 1.72 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 2.45 2.45 MAYBAKER 0.00

Stock Close Gain UPL 1.14 0.13 LIVESTOCK 0.52 0.01 SOVRENINS 0.21 0.03 OKOMUOIL 60.00 1.80 GUARANTY 23.50 0.55

Low 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OPEN Volume Close High

Symbol CHANGE

Trades

0.11 0.21 0 0.21 0.21 MBENEFIT 0.00 0 0.43 0.43 0 0.43 0.43 MCNICHOLS 0.00 0 1.05 2.05 261 2.05 2.05 MEDVIEWAIR 0.00 0 124.80 184.80 0 184.80 184.80 MOBIL 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 970 0.20 0.20 MULTIVERSE 0.00 0 3.50 3.50 0 3.50 3.50 NAHCO 0.00 0 18.00 18.00 0 18.00 18.00 NASCON 0.00 0 78.50 78.70 0 79.50 79.50 NB 0.80 0 0.78 0.78 0 0.78 0.78 NEIMETH 0.00 0 2.60 2.60 0 2.60 2.60 NEM 0.00 0 552.20 552.20 150 552.20 552.20 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 Copyright © 2019 NgTradeOnline

Top Losers

Stock Close Loss DIAMONDBNK 1.30 -0.10 BOCGAS 2.59 -0.22 VITAFOAM 3.50 -0.39 DANGFLOUR 6.00 -0.45 UAC-PROP 1.74 -0.18

Emefiele pledges better deal for Nigerian SMEs

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has pledged the Bank’s readiness to increase its development finance interventions to further support start-ups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Mr. Emefiele made the pledge while delivering the 51st Convocation Lecture of the University of Lagos, Lagos, on Monday, 5 July 2021, noting that increased access to finance for start-ups and SMEs was highly essential for the nation’s economy to grow.

Speaking on the topic: “National Development and Knowledge Economy in the Digital Age: Leapfrogging SMEs in the 21st Century,” he stressed that special consideration should be given to the strengthening of physical and ICT infrastructure to enable SMEs perform more efficiently and become globally competitive.

He highlighted the critical role of vibrant and growing SMEs to the growth of the economy and the creation of jobs for Nigerian youth, noting that special consideration needed to be given to the strengthening of physical and ICT infrastructure to enable SMEs perform more efficiently and become globally competitive.

While noting that the potential of SMEs in enhancing economic growth was hampered by limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure and poor digital penetration, Mr. Emefiele enjoined the Government and the private sector to provide more support in addressing the challenges of SMEs in the country. Specifically, as users of new technology, he urged that

policies should incentivise the adoption of innovations that will improve SMEs competitiveness and productivity. He also tasked all relevant stakeholders to deepen reforms that will improve human capital development through skills enhancement and proper linkage of research to the SME sector.

Citing examples of other climes that have continued to harness the benefits of the knowledge economy to accelerate economic growth, through the contributions of SMEs, Mr. Emefiele charged tertiary institutions in the country to tap into the educational trends that are significant drivers of productivity in advanced and emerging markets, in order to reshape the existing curriculum, enhance the learning experience of students and foster innovation amongst the faculty and staff in

Nigerian institutions.

The CBN Governor further opined that enhanced collaboration between universities and players in key sectors of the economy such as agriculture, manufacturing and ICT were necessary to enable implementation of sound ideas generated from the universities.

He, however, noted that universities in many developing countries had little or no formal linkages to industry, thereby, resulting in the production of illequipped graduates.

Mr. Emefiele therefore challenged Nigerian tertiary institutions to ensure effective collaboration with industry players in key sectors of our economy, in the training of relevant manpower to minimize mismatches between the skills required by firms and the educational qualifications of

Nigerian graduates.

Speaking on the role of the CBN in the development of SMEs in Nigeria, the Governor reiterated that the Bank had rolled out massive developmental interventions in some critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, especially in agriculture, manufacturing and SMEs. He said attention had also been paid to advancing knowledge and innovation through various initiatives targeted at promoting youth’s entrepreneurship, research and development.

Congratulating the graduating students, Emefiele urged them to take advantage of some of the Bank’s directly aimed at supporting SMEs such as the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS); Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF);

Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP); Agri-business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS); Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI); Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) and the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).

Emefiele, who disclosed that the CBN had also prioritized financial inclusion as a deliberate strategy to reduce the percentage of adults excluded from financial services, urged the graduating students to be part of the solution to a greater Nigeria.

According to him, “...despite the hues, cries and complaints about this country, this remains the land of indescribable opportunities, the land where finding a simple solution to a common problem can lead to unimaginable financial prosperity.”

Outgoing President, Rotary Club of Jos Metro, Taiwo Joshua (L), his successor, Jennifer Laha (2nd L) with other Rotarians, during the handing of the Outgoing President to the newly President in Jos on Monday (5/7/21).

NDIC, BPSR partner to enhance innovation in service delivery

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Bello Hassan has expressed the readiness of the Corporation to partner with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) towards enhancing innovation in the delivery of services to depositors and its other stakeholders.

NDIC MD/CE made this

disclosure while receiving the Director-General of the bureau, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi and his management team on courtesy visit to the Corporation.

The Director, Communication & Public Affairs Department, NDIC, Bashir A. Nuhu in a statement quoted the NDIC boss as saying that the commitment of the Corporation to effective service delivery informed the Board’s swift approval for the establishment of an

Efficiency and Innovation Unit in the Strategy Development Department in compliance with the directive of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

While stating the Corporation’s support for external assessment of its performance, Hassan expressed the belief that the Self- Assessment Tool (SAT) developed by the bureau would complement the Corporation’s existing mechanism for assessing the effective

discharge of its mandate as well as assist it in achieving the Federal Government’s objectives of significantly strengthening governance and accountability in service delivery to the citizenry.

Earlier in his presentation, Dasuki Arabi explained that the IT-based self-assessment tool of the bureau is designed to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of reforms as well as disseminate information on all aspects of public service, amongst other

objectives.

He expressed optimism in the Corporation’s implementing the bureau’s self-assessment processes and its commitment towards putting innovation as a top priority to promote excellence in service delivery.

He said the BPSR would continue to collaborate with the NDIC as well as other government agencies in assessing their performance to ensure optimal discharge of their mandate to the populace.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Page 20

BU$IN€SS

Durban announced as new host of Intra-African Trade Fair 2021

By Etuka Sunday

T

he second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) has been rescheduled to take place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 15 to 21 November 2021. The Trade Fair was previously due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 8 to 14 December 2021.

The decision to move the Trade Fair to Durban was made by the Advisory Council of IATF2021 at its 10th meeting held virtually on 25 May 2021. This decision was arrived at after formal consultations with the Government of Rwanda, who indicated that logistical constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely affected the progress of construction of a new facility to host the event.

Commenting on the decision, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, IATF2021 Advisory Council Chairman and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, commended the Government of Rwanda, Afreximbank, the AU, the AfCFTA Secretariat and all IATF

stakeholders for showing great resilience in adapting to the uncertain environment arising from the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“We have once again been able to shoulder the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is affecting all sectors worldwide and forcing Governments, corporates and individuals to take unprecedented measures to ensure public safety and keep economies running,” said Chief Obasanjo.

“Relocating IATF2021 to Durban saves us time on the calendar and will enable African countries and corporates, as part of their recovery strategy, to take full advantage of the Trade Fair, which is also an important component of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement under which trading commenced this year.

“Having undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the measures that are being taken by the AU and Afreximbank under the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) as well as other initiatives to procure vaccines

for the continent, we believe that a significant number of people would have been vaccinated

by November and this will allow us to have a successful event. We will continue working with the Government of South Africa to ensure that all the COVID-19 measures are complied with during the Trade Fair as the safety of both residents and visitors is paramount.

“We congratulate the Government of the Republic of South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and thank them for the swift efforts that are being made to ensure that IATF2021 safely accommodates the growing number of participating governments, exhibitors, buyers, conference delegates, and visitors that have confirmed their participation in the event,” added Chief Obasanjo.

Welcoming the conference, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala said: “As KwaZulu-Natal, we are honoured to host this important gathering of the world as we implement our own Economic Reconstruction, Recovery and Transformation Plan. Our

approach is to carefully balance the protection of lives against promoting and sustaining livelihoods.

“Based on plans announced by our President Cyril Ramaphosa on rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination programme in South Africa, we will be ready in November to host our brothers and sisters in Durban for this Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021),” said Premier Zikalala.

“We look forward to welcoming the delegates to the Trade Fair. This gathering is one of the most significant strategic interventions to remind us of our interconnectedness, and of the urgent need to promote intra-Africa trade to reignite economic opportunities and create much-needed jobs for all our people. In this regard we applaud the IATF2021 Advisory Council under the leadership of former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for this bold decision as we soldier forward to a better Africa for all,” added Premier Zikalala.

Registrar/ Chief Executive Officer, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, Executive Commissioner Legal & Enforcement Securities and Exchange Commission Mr Reginald Karawusa , Head Legal SEC Mrs Anastasia Braimoh and Head Registration Exchanges, Market Infrastructure and Innovation Department SEC Mr Emomotimi Agama during a Meeting between The SEC and APCON in Abuja yesterday.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

METRO

PAGE 21

Judiciary’s support key to managing Abuja says FCT Minister

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has identified the support of the Judicial as key to effective management of Abuja as a city and Territory.

Bello, noted that FCT as a creation of law in all its ramifications, the FCT Administration requires judicial backing to be able to achieve its mandate as managers of the Territory.

The Minister made this known during a courtesy visit to the FCTA by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba.

“The FCT is a creation of law in all its ramifications and that is why for us that are saddled with the responsibility of running this territory, we are very conscious, very appreciative and also very concerned with matters of law and order.

“That is why among all the institutions of government that are closest in enabling us to be able to achieve our mandate as managers of the Territory.

“I think the FCT Judiciary is number one, because without your support, I don’t see how we can manage Abuja as a city and as a territory. I’m saying so with a high sense of responsibility and appreciation”, he stated.

According to him, in order to

expand the Court Infrastructure and improve access to Justice, the FCT Administration will support the FCT Judiciary for the establishment of the Garki Division of the FCT High Court.

While congratulating Justice Garba, the Minister stressed that his appointment came at a time when the FCT needed people of the caliber of the new Chief Judge.

He added that Justice Garba had made the FCT the center point of his career for so many years and very few within the system possessed as much expertise and institutional memory as he does.

He also congratulated the

Chief Judge on the elevation of 6 Justices from the FCT High Court to the Court of Appeal and said it was a thing of pride to the FCT. Bello equally expressed his appreciation to the Justices of the FCT High Court and acknowledged their efforts in the maintenance of law and order in the Territory.

Speaking earlier, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba, said the FCT Minister has provided exemplary leadership in an exceptionally difficult time which he said was an eloquent statement of the Minister’s commitment to the FCT judiciary and the rule of law.

Chief Judge also said: “As

an arm of government, ours is a tradition which expresses itself in conviction that a country’s strength lies in the success of its judiciary.

“It is highly commendable that the Hon. Minister has demonstrated manifest interest and commitment in supporting the FCT Judiciary with the view of facilitating quantitative and qualitative administration of justice in line with international best practices.

“This reinforced the FCT High Court’s positive image in the country as one of the courts with the modern system of justice that is fair and impartial, regardless of gender, religion or colour”.

SEC issues Interoperability Framework among CSDs

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission has issued an Interoperability/Financial Markets Infrastructure Link Framework among Central Securities Depositories to enhance the efficiency of trading and settlement functions as well as align the market with international best practices.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Management of the Commission in Abuja weekend.

Interoperability means the technical and/or legal compatibility that enables a system or mechanism to be used in conjunction with other systems or mechanisms.

According to the SEC, the Nigerian capital market has witnessed remarkable growth in the last few years in terms of size, market participants and tradable instruments. This has impacted the market structure in terms of composition and interconnectedness.

In the secondary market particularly, there are currently multiple trading platforms and Financial Market Infrastructures (FMIs) which provide comparative services in depository,

trading, clearing and settlement activities.

“Consequently, Interoperability arrangement has become necessary in order to enhance the efficiency of trading and settlement functions as well as align the market with international best practices.

“According to the Committee on Payments & Market Infrastructures and International Organization of Securities Commissions (CPMIIOSCO) Principles on FMIs, FMI link is a set of contractual and operational arrangements between two or more FMIs that connect the FMIs directly or through an intermediary. The Interoperability arrangement will potentially liberalize trading and settlement activities, enhance efficient deployment of capital as well as cost effectiveness in the market.

The SEC stated that it is in this regard and the need to ensure the efficiency of the market and the protection of investors that the framework is being issued, adding that “in the Interoperability arrangement, as recommended by the CPMI-IOSCO Principles for FMIs, relevant provisions have been made for identification,

monitoring and management of interlink risks by the respective CSDs with the overall objective of reduction in systemic risks”.

“This framework is being issued in line with the mandate of the Commission to regulate the capital market with the objective of ensuring protection of investors, maintaining fair and efficient market as well as reduction of potential systemic risks in trading, clearing and settlement ecosystem.

In this regard, the Commission states that all Securities Exchanges and Central Securities Depositories (CSDs) are required to comply with the following: Take necessary steps to put in place requisite infrastructure and systems for implementation of the framework, including any amendments to the relevant rules and regulations; Bring to the attention of their members and Participants the provisions of this framework as well as publish the same on their websites; as well as communicate to the Commission, the status of implementation of the provisions of this framework within three months of the date of issuance of the framework; As part of the interoperability

Requirements CSDs shall: establish a peer-to-peer link to facilitate Interoperability with each other and put in place the required infrastructure, systems, processes and risk management for the effective operation of the interoperable arrangement and not subject each other to normal Participants (membership) rules; allow for fair and open access to their services based on reasonable risk related access requirements; and have adequate reconciliation procedures to ensure that their respective records are accurate and current; The Commission said the interoperable arrangement shall allow investors and Participants settle fixed income securities on a beneficial ownership basis through any CSD in which they maintain CSD account(s) irrespective of the Issuer CSD in which the securities are domiciled and/or the investor CSD account of the counterparty; Investors shall have the option to maintain any CSD account(s) in a single CSD of their choice or maintain any CSD account(s) in multiple CSDs of their choice or consolidate any existing CSD account(s) into a single CSD

of their choice and execute a trade across multiple Exchanges under the interoperable arrangement provided that the fixed income securities are listed on the respective multiple Exchanges. Consolidation of any CSD account(s) shall be subject to relevant KYC due diligence requirements and on the basis of beneficial owner authorization; Also, participants shall have the choice to maintain any CSD account(s)/ membership in a single CSD of their choice or maintain any CSD account(s)/membership in multiple CSDs of their choice or consolidate any existing CSD account(s)/membership on the basis of beneficial ownership into a single CSD of their choice and execute a trade across multiple Exchanges under the interoperable arrangement provided that the fixed income securities are listed on the respective multiple Exchanges; while investors and Participants shall under the interoperable arrangement settle their trades successfully irrespective of the Securities Exchange where the trade is executed provided that the fixed income securities are listed on the respective multiple Exchanges.

A cross-section of beneficiaries of mosquito nets, during the Free Medical Outreach by Nigerian Army as part of the activities to mark the 2021 Army Day celebration in Abuja on Monday (6/7/21).

Entrepreneurship: WADHI unveils Kowgo App for women, SMEs in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

n initiative to ensure financial inclusion, and access to savings and loans has been launched for women-owned businesses and other vulnerable persons involved in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Abuja.

The innovation known as Kowgo application, was powered by the Women Arise Development and Humanitarian Initiative (WADHI) and supported by Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

It was gathered that the

application which is accessible on google play store is designed to enable women business owners and SMEs access loans and keep business records.

Speaking during its official launching at the ACCI arena, along Abuja Airport Road, at the weekend, the ACCI President, Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said the Kowgo application would help women via digital applications at their market and revolutionalise how women do business.

DAl-Mujataba, who noted that the initiative is a partner in progress with the ACCI, explained the

application would facilitate wider content to the outside world.

Also, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotions Council, Segun Awolowo, who was represented at the event, noted that the council is ready to work towards successful deployment of the application into the market space.

Similarly, the Commonwealth Women Business Network team that joined virtually also lauded the innovation, acknowledging it is a testament to increasing roles played by women in the society.

The commonwealth team added that women are fast rising

around the world, showing resilience, saying that Kowgo app is an audacious action and a big development in the society.

On her part, WADHI Convener, Esther Eghobamien Meshelia, promised to work constantly round the clock to ensure more incorporation for women and women businesses, as the application encourages financial inclusion and ensures market access.

According to her, “WADHI is aimed at accelerating socioeconomic growth through empowerment of women, girls and

vulnerable groups.

“The initiative was established to help provide appropriate platforms and management systems that support, harness and expand development opportunities that enable beneficiaries to progressively grow their entrepreneurial capacities.”

Other speakers at the event ranging from foreign embassies, traditional leaders, corporate sector leaders, to government agencies, among others lauded the initiative while promising support for efficient utilisation of the innovation.

Page 22

world news

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Covid: Most rules set to end in England, says PM

F

ace masks will no longer be legally required and distancing rules will be scrapped at the final stage of England’s Covid lockdown roadmap, Boris Johnson has confirmed.

The rule of six inside private homes will be removed and work-from-home guidance abolished as 16 months of on-off restrictions on daily life end.

The PM said he expected the final step would go ahead as planned on 19 July.

This will be confirmed on 12 July after a

review of the latest data.

Further updates on school bubbles, travel and self-isolation will follow in the coming days, Mr Johnson told a Downing Street news conference.

He said that even after the removal of the legal requirement to wear a face covering, he would continue to wear one himself in crowded places “as a courtesy”.

Mr Johnson said the ability to end a vast majority of legal restrictions in England was thanks to the success of the vaccine

rollout in breaking the link between cases and deaths.

But he warned cases were predicted to rise to 50,000 a day later this month and that “we must reconcile ourselves, sadly, to more deaths from Covid”.

The prime minister explained: “If we don’t go ahead now when we’ve clearly done so much with the vaccination programme to break the link... when would we go ahead?”

He added: “We run the risk of either

opening up at a very difficult time when the virus has an edge, has an advantage, in the cold months, or again putting everything off to next year.”

Self-isolation orders for those who test positive would continue, Mr Johnson said, but he suggested there would soon be new rules for fully-vaccinated contacts.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs he would probably make an announcement regarding a new regime for close contacts on Tuesday.

running into the flu season.

That is when the NHS is under most pressure, while a Covid infection followed by flu in quick succession puts the vulnerable even more at risk.

The move is not without risk. The government is banking on the wall of immunity built up by the vaccination programme stemming these rises soon.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in charge of their own coronavirus rules.

The Scottish government has said it may continue to require masks in certain settings even after 9 August, when it is hoped the final curbs will end.

Ahead of a review on 15 July in Wales, ministers said people would need to learn to live with Covid. Rules in Northern Ireland have just eased, with another review due on 8 July.

The final stage of England’s roadmap, step four, was delayed last month to no earlier than 19 July amid surging virus cases linked to the Delta variant.

Mr Johnson said step four should proceed on that date, subject to the 12 July review.

Announcing what the next stage of the pandemic will look like in England, he confirmed: • an end to limits on attendance at weddings and funerals • table service rules at bars and restaurants and venue check-in requirements will be scrapped • limits on named care home visitors will be lifted • council powers to enforce rules will expire • large-scale events will not legally require certification

It means nightclubs will reopen for the first time since the pandemic began, while drinks at the bar will return in a boost to the hospitality industry.

Social distancing requirements, including the 1m-plus rule, have prevented many venues from operating at full capacity during the pandemic.

Face coverings are currently required, for those without an exemption, on public transport and in shops as part of regulations backed by law.

The prime minister said that while Covid certificates to prove vaccination or test status would not be legally mandated, businesses could choose to require them.

Responding to Mr Johnson’s announcement, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said “lifting all protections in one go, when the infection rate is going up, is reckless”. BBC

England tries something no country has

N

o country in the world has attempted to lift restrictions like this - in the face of rapidly rising cases driven by the new, more infectious Delta variant.

Some say it would be better to wait until autumn when all adults will have had the chance to get a second vaccine dose.

That may sound good in principle, but scientists advising government seem to be backing a summer lifting.

Unlocking was always going to drive up infections. And the problem with trying to delay that is the risk of a surge in cases at a much worse time.

By the autumn schools will be back and we can see the huge disruption the rise in cases in recent weeks has had.

People will also be outdoors more in the summer months, which could help flatten the peak.

But perhaps most importantly you risk

China will stick to its path, make sure destiny of its development and progress remains firmly in its own hands

By He Yin, People’s Daily

“

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people will keep moving confidently forward in broad strides along the path that we have chosen for ourselves, and we will make sure the destiny of China’s development and progress remains firmly in our own hands,” said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi made the remarks at a ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC on July 1, showing the world China’s determination to stick to its path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“We must follow our own path—this is the bedrock that underpins all the theories and practices of our Party. More than that, it is the historical conclusion our Party has drawn from its struggles over the past century,” Xi pointed out.

What kind of path a country chooses depends on whether this path can truly solve the historical issues troubling the country.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a fundamental achievement of the CPC and the Chinese people forged through innumerable hardships and great sacrifices, and it is the right path for China to achieve national rejuvenation.

Foreign friendly personages believe that China has, under the leadership of the CPC, created a miracle of rapid economic development and long-term social stability rarely seen in the world, which fully demonstrates that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the road to success.

By upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the CPC and the Chinese people have pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, and enabled China to catch up with the times and even begin to lead the times.

Shaking off sufferings and securing glorious achievements in the past century, the Chinese people have become more aware of the great significance of the hardwon socialism with Chinese characteristics for China.

By upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the CPC and the Chinese people have created a new model for human advancement and expanded the routes of developing countries to modernization.

A country’s development path determines its destiny; and finding a development path that suits their own national conditions has been an important long-term task for developing countries.

The success of China’s development path has brought new hope to many developing countries.

Martin Albrow, British sociologist and fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the success of the CPC lies not only in leading China to making extraordinary achievements, but in providing a new governance model for the world.

The CPC has led the Chinese people in firmly following a development path that suits China’s national conditions, and secured tremendous achievements in uplifting the livelihood of the Chinese people and rejuvenating the Chinese nation, said Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, adding that the successful experience of the CPC is worth learning from by other countries.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a road established based on China’s realities, and a path formexid through open innovation.

China has in the past years succeeded in pioneering a development path that suits itself by drawing on both the wisdom of its own civilization and the practices of other

An art performance titled “The Great Journey” is held in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the National Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2021. (Photo by Liu Xianguo/People’s Daily Online) countries in both the East and the West.

In exploring this path, China refuses to stay insensitive to the changing times or to blindly follow others’ footsteps.

The CPC and the Chinese people have blazed a development path suitable for China, and found a governance pattern that agrees with China’s national conditions. They are willing to share China’s development experience with any other country in need.

The CPC and the Chinese people are also eager to learn what lessons they can from the achievements of other cultures, and welcome helpful suggestions and constructive criticism, according to Xi. “We will not, however, accept sanctimonious preaching from those who feel they have the right to lecture us,” Xi stressed.

Under the leadership of the CPC, China

will never succumb to any external pressure, or change its established development pattern and development path, according to Ong Tee Keat, chairman of the Centre for New Inclusive Asia, a Malaysian think tank focusing on the studies of the new dynamics of Asia.

Bearing in mind the dream of realizing national rejuvenation, China has embarked upon an even more magnificent journey.

Marching along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the country is determined to win greater victories in the future.

The CPC will continuously lead the Chinese people in achieving miracles in the history of human development and creating a more prosperous and beautiful future for mankind together with the international community.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

N

E

e w s

gypt will release the container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March, after it agreed a compensation deal with the vessel’s owners and insurers.

The two sides said the Ever Given would be allowed on Wednesday to leave the Great Bitter Lake, the canal’s midway point, where it has been impounded.

The deal’s terms were not revealed, but Egypt had demanded $550m (£397m).

The 400m-long (1,312ft) Ever Given became wedged across the canal after running aground amid high winds.

It was freed six days later following a salvage operation that involved a flotilla of tug boats and dredging vessels, and during which one person was killed.

Global trade was disrupted as hundreds of ships had to wait to pass through the 193km (120mile) waterway, which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and provides the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe.

UK Club, which insured the Ever Given’s owner Shoei Kisen for third-party liabilities, announced on Sunday that a “formal solution” had been agreed with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to settle their dispute over compensation.

“Preparations for the release of the vessel will be made and an event marking the agreement will be held at the authority’s headquarters in Ismailia in due course,” it added.

The SCA said the event would be held on Wednesday, and that participants would be able to watch the ship leaving the canal.

Neither side disclosed the amount of compensation, but SCA chairman Osama Rabie said it would receive a tug boat as part of the deal.

The SCA initially asked for $916m, including $300m for a salvage bonus and $300m for loss of reputation. But UK Club rejected the claim, describing it as “extraordinarily large” and “largely unsupported”.

The SCA later lowed its demand to $550m, but the owners

F

r o m

Page 23

A S I A

Ever Given: Egypt agrees deal to release ship that blocked Suez Canal

The Ever Given has been anchored in the Great Bitter Lake since it was refloated and insurers reportedly offered to pay $150m.

This satellite photograph shows how the Ever Given was

wedged across the canal Mr Rabie said in May that the Ever Given had struggled to steer and ran aground despite the

efforts of two escort tugs because it was moving at a “very high” speed and its rudder’s size “was not appropriate”.

UK Club said that while the Ever Given’s owners and insurers “fully acknowledge that the SCA is entitled to compensation for their legitimate claims arising out of this incident”, they were concerned by the allegations.

“It is important to clarify that whilst the master is ultimately responsible for the vessel, navigation in the canal transit within a convoy is controlled by the Suez Canal pilots and SCA vessel traffic management services. Such controls include the speed of the transit and the availability of escort tugs.”

The value of the goods inside the Ever Given’s 18,000 containers has been estimated at $775m. They include products for large multinational companies like Chinese PC manufacturer Lenovo and Swedish furniture giant Ikea, as well as those for smaller businesses like UK-based clothing company Snuggy and bicycle maker Pearson 1860.

Alarming reports of Eritrean refugees killed in Tigray - UN

T

he UN’s refugee agency says it is “alarmed” by reports of attacks on Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region.

A spokesperson for the UNHCR’s Ethiopia office told the BBC they received reports, “from online and other sources”, that hundreds of Eritrean refugees in the western town of Shire have allegedly been killed”.

“We take these reports very seriously and have immediately reached out to our staff, partners, and Eritrean refugees in Shire,” Neven Crvenkovic said in an email to the BBC. “We have so far not been able to corroborate any of the allegations

received but we continue collecting relevant information to help assess the veracity of these reports,” he added.

Rights activists say they have received reports that many refugees were brutally killed by local militias. But it is difficult to confirm the reports as there is a communication blackout in the region, following the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Tigray last week.

“The primary responsibility of ensuring the security of the camps lies with the authorities, and we continue to liaise with both local authorities and the Ethiopian refugee agency, Arra, to ensure the security and protection of

refugees in the camps,” said the UNHCR. However, it is not clear how federal authorities can guarantee the safety of the refugees, as they were no longer in Tigray Around 100,000 Eritreans were in refugee camps when war broke out in Tigray in early November.

Two of the four camps were later discovered destroyed. Many of the more 20,000 refugees who had been sheltered in the camps are still unaccounted for.

Eritrean forces who had been fighting on the side of the Ethiopian government army were accused of kidnapping refugees.

Eritrean authorities denied the

allegation.

Shimelba and Hitsats camps were located in north-western Tigray, not far from the Eritrean border.

As aid agencies left the camps, the refugees were left with no food and other critical supplies for months.

Some were later able to move to other relatively safer camps in the south-western part of the region.

The UNHCR says land has been allocated in the neighbouring Amhara region to set up a new camp.

There are around 200,000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, according to government reports.

Cyprus: Nations send help to tackle worst wildfire in decades

S

everal nations have answered Cyprus’s appeal to help tackle a huge wildfire, described by officials as the worst in the country’s history.

The UK, Greece, Italy and Israel are among those helping, including with firefighting aircraft.

Cyprus said missions to drop water had helped to reduce fire outbreaks, but warned that blazes could resurge.

On Sunday, four people were confirmed to have died in the fires, which have been fanned by strong winds.

The blaze has spread through the southern Limassol district and forced the evacuation of several villages.

More than 20 sq m (50 sq km) of forest and farmland have been destroyed, along with power lines.

Firefighters are racing to prevent the wildfire from spreading to the Machairas National Forest Park.

“It is the worst forest fire in the history of Cyprus,” Director of the Department of Forests Charalambos Alexandrou told local television.

The wildfire started on Saturday, and is quickly spreading The European Commission’s head of crisis management, Janez Lenarcic, said on Saturday that a co-ordinated response was under way. The EU’s emergency Copernicus satellite is tracking the blaze, the commission said.

Several aircraft are already tackling the flames, assisted by British troops stationed on the island.

The British Royal Air Force, which has a base at Akrotiri near Limassol, tweeted images of two helicopters taking part in the operations.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Republic of Cyprus as we work together to overcome this tragedy,” said

the commander of British Forces Cyprus, Maj Gen Rob Thomson.

RAF helicopters help tackle huge fires in #Cyprus #cyprusfires #84Squadron #prayforcyprus @RoyalAirForce pic. twitter.com/0apPWA9CfJ On Sunday, Cyprus’s Interior Minister Nicos Mouris confirmed that all four people who died in the fires were Egyptian farm workers.

Their bodies were found about 600m from their burnt-out vehicle near the village of Odos. A local policeman told AFP news agency that it appears they fled the vehicle and became trapped among the flames.

President Nicos Anastasiades described the fire - in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains - as “a tragedy”.

In a tweet, he said it was “the largest fire since 1974” - referring to the year Cyprus was divided following a Turkish invasion -

and had caused loss of life.

He pledged that the government would “provide immediate assistance to the victims” and their families.

Mr Anastasiades visited a relief centre in the village of Vavatsinia on Sunday morning, before travelling on to other affected areas.

Meanwhile, police have arrested a 67-year-old man on suspicion of arson.

A witness saw a man driving away from the village of Arakapas, north-east of Limassol, at the same time the fire started on Saturday, police said.

Cyprus has been experiencing a weeklong heatwave, with temperatures reaching up to 40C (104F).

Experts say that climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves.

However, linking any single event to global warming is complicated.

PAGE 24

N

e w s

F

r o m

A S I A

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

China’s national rejuvenation a historical inevitability

By He Yin, People’s Daily

T

he important speech delivered

by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC sparked positive responses from the international society.

The world believes China has gone through an astonishing century, during which it made an unprecedented leap forward and the most remarkable achievements.

Marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, the country is presenting the world a mighty force of the CPC to lead the Chinese people to achieve new glories on a new journey.

As Xi put it, the founding of a communist party in China was an epoch-making event, which profoundly changed the course of Chinese history in modern times, transformed the future of the Chinese people and nation, and altered the landscape of world development.

During the past 100 years, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people to achieve great success in the new-democratic revolution, socialist revolution and construction, reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, and socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, writing the most magnificent chapter in the millennia-long history of the Chinese nation.

From an underdeveloped poor country, China has grown into the second largest economy of the world today that is steadily moving toward

An art performance is held in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the National Stadium in Beijing, capital of China, on the evening of June 28, 2021. (Photo by Liu Xianguo/People’s Daily Online) global center stage. It has achieved on its achievements, its capacity for China’s success hinges on the tremendous transformation from governance and its ability to change, Party. History provides ample standing up and growing prosperous the CPC will still be China’s leader, evidence that without the CPC, to becoming strong, and China’s architect and mentor”. there would be no new China and Xi solemnly declared that China no national rejuvenation. The national rejuvenation has become a has realized the first centenary goal international society is searching historical inevitability.

Recently, British scholar Martin of building a moderately prosperous for an answer to why the CPC works Jacques said that the CPC over the society in all respects. The CPC has in China. Argentine newspaper El past century “has arguably been the fulfilled its promise to the history Economista said in an article that world’s most successful political and the Chinese people. The world the CPC has tackled every challenge party ... the CPC’s extraordinary generally believes that the exciting during its development because of success is because it found a way achievements have enhanced the its practical attitude, foresight and ... of combining a huge reforming confidence in global poverty reduction, sophisticated planning, which is the capacity with a profound rootedness and set a reference for countries to key to the success of the party during in Chinese society and culture”, promote inclusive development. its 100 years of development. Russian adding that “one thing is sure, based media organization Sputnik believes

that the CPC has always played a leading role as China turned from a country invaded by Western powers to the world’s second largest economy.

Under the leadership of the CPC, China will inevitably further enhance its global influence.

The Party has in the people its roots, its lifeblood, and its source of strength. “Any attempt to divide the Party from the Chinese people or to set the people against the Party is bound to fail. The more than 95 million Party members and the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people will never allow such a scenario to come to pass.”

Xi’s remarks further made it clear to the international community that the CPC and the Chinese people share a same future, and the Chinese people are the largest source of confidence of the Party in governing the country. It is because of such confidence, China is quite sure that it can definitely fulfill the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Today, a hundred years on from its founding, the CPC is still in its prime, and remains as determined as ever to achieve lasting greatness for the Chinese nation. Today, the image China presents to the world is one of a thriving nation that is advancing with unstoppable momentum toward rejuvenation. Today, the country is rallying and leading the Chinese people on a new journey toward realizing the second centenary goal.

The Party will continue to work with all peace-loving countries and peoples to promote the shared human values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, and strive to keep the wheels of history rolling toward bright horizons.

Solving absolute poverty a great and glorious accomplishment of Chinese nation

By People’s Daily

T

he Chinese nation has, after century-long struggle, eliminated absolute poverty for the first time in its history of thousands of years, realizing a dream diligently pursued by the Chinese people and making a giant stride toward its rejuvenation.

“Through the continued efforts of the whole Party and the entire nation, we have realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This means that we have brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China, and we are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.”

The above declaration made by Chinese President, Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC on July 1 on behalf of the Party and the Chinese people has excited a strong sense of national pride and patriotism of the Chinese people.

A moderately prosperous society has been an ideal social state the Chinese people have strived for since ancient times. The CPC, since the very first day of its founding, has made seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for

A harvester runs in the field to reap wheat in Sihong county, Suqian city, east China’s Jiangsu province, June 4, 2021. (Photo by Zhang Lianhua/People’s Daily Online) the Chinese nation its aspiration and mission.

In the early days of China’s reform and opening-up, Deng Xiaoping, the late Chinese leader widely regarded as the “Chief Architect of China’s reform and opening-up”, first described a unique Chinese path to modernization by the term xiaokang, which is translated as “a moderately prosperous society”, and explicitly put forward the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in China by the end of the 20th century.

The goal was achieved as hoped through joint efforts of the whole Party

and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups. By the end of the last century, the living standards of Chinese people had been raised to an overall level of moderate prosperity.

After basically achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society, it remains the Party’s firm commitment to the people to comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society of a higher level for the benefit of more than 1 billion people by the time when the CPC marks its 100th founding anniversary, Xi said last year during the formulation of the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan

(2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the LongRange Objectives Through the Year 2035.

The goal embodied keenly the ideal of the Chinese people today and reflected profoundly the unremitting pursuit of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. It was the Party’s solemn promise to the people and history, and also the common aspiration of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people.

Since the strategic plan for building a moderately prosperous society was proposed by the CPC Central

Committee at the initial period of the reform and opening-up, generations of CPC members have taken the desire of the people for a better life as their goal and devoted themselves to it, eventually achieving remarkable fruits in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

In 2020, China’s GDP exceeded 100 trillion yuan ($15.46 trillion) threshold, while the per capita figure surpassed $10,000. Over the past eight years, the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line have all been lifted out of poverty, marking a complete victory in the battle against poverty. China has established the world’s largest social security system.

Its basic medical insurance scheme has covered over 1.36 billion people, and more than one billion people have subscribed to basic old-age insurance.

While accomplishments that will “go down in history” have been achieved in its development one after another, the country has grown more prosperous and stronger and its people happier.

“Through tenacious struggle, the Party and the Chinese people have shown the world that the Chinese nation has achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong, and that China’s national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability,” Xi said in the July 1 speech.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Page 25

ADVERTORIAL

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

Page 27

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED public NOTICE

public NOTICE

public NOTICE

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

TANIMOWO PELUMI OMOJOOLADE FOUNDATION

KIDISHIKA UNITED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

This is to inform the General Public of LOSS OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF STATUTORY RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R OF O) IN RELATION TO PLOT KYAMI/E23/1824 WITH FILE NUMBER: MISC 108125,KYAMI, ABUJA. (1) The loss of the original certificate of Statutory Right of Occupancy (R of O) issued in favour of New Tiger Head Nigeria Limited with respect of Plot No: Kyami/E231824 with file No:108125.

All efforts made to trace the said Document proved abortive.

If found please return to Engr. Oyeyemi Isaac Oyebode of Block B Suite 75/76 EFAB Mall, Area11 Garki FCT, Abuja or contact the nearest police station.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). trustees (1) TANIMOWO PELUMI ENIOLA - CHAIRMAN (2) ABIODUN ADETUTU - MEMBER (3) TANIMOWO OLUFEMI ALLEN - SECRETARY. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (1) To improve the lives of the less privilege people through provision of education, healthcare and human capacity building.

(2) To canvas and promote healthy living among the youths and less privilege (3) To provide psychosocial and educational supplies among the less privilege..

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

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). trustees 1. WABEKWA SANI JOSEPH. (CHAIRMAN) 2. DR. WAMDEO YIMAU YOHANNA. ( SECRETARY).

3. HON. IRMIYA HENRY ( MEMBER).

4. LUKA MARKUS (MEMBER) 5. GADZAMA BITRUS AHMADU. (MEMBER) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: TO PROMOTE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND INTERACTION AMONG MEMBERS. 2. TO PROMOTE UNITY, PEACE, WELFARE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF IT'S MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY. 3. TO PROMOTE THE INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE ASPIRATIONS OF MEMBERS. 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

COMMUNITY OF TRUE WORKSHIPPERS

THE WORD PASTURE CHURCH I T NUMBER 74420

Asuni NewsDirect: NOVONZE AID INITIATIVE

trustees 1. OGA ONYETE MOSES - CHAIRMAN 2. OKEH BONIFACE 3. OGA OKONU LOVETH 4. OGAH OTOR SILAS JOSIAL AlAGI OJENYA ESQ - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 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

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEES TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED. MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990 OLD TRUSTEES ARE : 1. CHIWUZOH FRANKLIN (retained) 2. ADEGBEMIGUN ADEFEMI -(removed) 3. ANDREW EGWARE-(removed) 4. ENDURANCE ALIU-(removed) 5. UKALA JAMES-(remove) NEWLY APPOINTED TRUSTEES: 1. ENEGEDE CHUKWUKA EMMANUEL - APPOINTED 2. AKENZUA AILOBAFE ENEHIKHARE - APPOINTED 3. ISAAC DANIEL EFEMENA - APPOINTED 4. ASABUOHIEN FAITH GABRIEL - APPOINTED NEW TRUSTEES UPON CHANGE ARE; 1. DR. CHIWUZOH FRANKLIN 2. ENEGEDE CHUKWUKA EMMANUEL 3. AKENZUA AILOBAFE ENEHIKHARE 4. ISAAC DANIEL EFEMENA 5. ASABUOHIEN FAITH GABRIEL. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN SAME ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGED 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 BY 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 ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). trustees 1. AZUOMA KENNEDY CHIMOBI 2. AZUOMA ONYEDIKACHI PEACE 3. JOEJIM ALABOSO KEBOSO 4. EJEH FORINCLAY OJOBO. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To support those with high blood pressure and it's complications (hypertension).

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

CHRIST OUR SALVATION INTERNATIONAL

HE KING'S RECONCILIATION ORPHANAGE

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 2020.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). trustees 1) Pastor Williams Nelson...President (2) Susan Idahosa... Secretary (3) Faith Nelson-Anighoro (4) Monday Idahosa AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1)To cater for the welfare of orphans, the less privileged children and the aged in the society.

(2)To organize workshops and skill acquisition programmes for destitutes and the unemployed.

(3)To rehabilitate internally displaced persons., 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 : Chinenye James Esq (08126019093)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BABALOLA MEMORIAL OLD GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ILESHA

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED BY: SECRETARY Tel: 08066812246

public NOTICE

AFI UDA VILLAGE 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 ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). trustees 1. Sir Cyril Etuk - Chairman 2. Itiaba, Michael Patrick 3. Tom, Attah Effiong 4. Ekuwem, Xavier Edet 5. Edet, John Etim - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide assistance to indigent persons in Afi Uda community 2.To provide scholarships and educational opportunities to deserving members of the community 3. To promote peace and progress in the community 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

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). trustees 1, ADEGBESAN IRENE OLUFUNKE - CHAIRPERSON, 2, EKEADE OLUFUNMILAYO ADEBUKOLA - VICE CHAIRPERSON, 3, ADEBAYO FOLUKE YETUNDE - SECRETARY, 4, ADEOYE CLARA BOLAJI, ASST. GEN. SEC, 5, FOLORUNSO JANET OLANIKE- TREASURER, 6, AKINYEMI FLORENCE MOJISOLA- FINANCIAL SECRETARY, 7, JEGEDE GRACE EMIOLA- MATRON, 8, ADESIDA REMILEKUN FUNMILAYO- MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL GIRLS, LADIES AND WOMEN WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE SCHOOL, BABALOLA MEMORIAL GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ILESHA, TO EXECUTE PROJECT FOR THE SCHOOL, COMRADESHIP AND OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SCHOOL, MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND THE PUBLIC, 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

public NOTICE

Destiny Restoration and International Gospel Ministry

NKATA UMUIGBO FOUNDATION CAC/IT/NO/133174

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

This is to notify the general public that the above name has applied to the corporate affairs commission (CAC) Abuja for Removal of trustees. under Part F” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.

trustees 1. Ayuwe Faith Alelegwu 2. Ayuwe Chukwuemeka Emmanuel 3. Ayuwe miracle Chinoso

THE TRUSTEE ARE: 1. Nwafor Grace Chisom- Removed 2. Orjichukwu Emeka. - Removed 3. Onochie Gerard Odiakaosa- Retained 4. Ojukwu Anthony Uzochukwu- Retained 5. Okwuanaso Precious Mmesoma Retained.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To preach the Gospel of JesusChrist..,

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME :

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

THE LORD’S AMAZING GRACE REVIVAL MINISTRY

ZAMAN LAFIYAINITIATIVE FOR GENDER TRANSFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

SIGNED : BY BARR. OKOH PRECIOUS.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS I Jerry Sonny Ugokwe of block B22, flat 16th Street, App legislative quarters, Abuja wish to inform the general public and Abuja geographic information system (AGIS) of the loss of my land document, right of occupancy (R of O) at Dutse. District, Abuja-FCT, cadastral zone B14 measuring approximately 1441.48sqm, plot No. 474 covered with C of O No. C8BUW88CCZ69DERA05AU10.

All efforts made to trace the said missing document proved abortive, please if found kindly return to the nearest police station. General public take note.

public NOTICE

public NOTICE

public NOTICE

CHINEMEZE HOUSE OF BROTHERS CLUB

IHIALA SOCIALS CLUB IGWEBUIKE (PORT HARCOURT BRANCH)

MALAM HABU OF SHEIKH MAIHULA 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 ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.DORIS LAZARUS - CHAIRMAN 2.MOSES GAMBO 3.MRS. LILIAN HARUNA 4.SUNDAY BOULEOBI GIDEON 5.COMFORT GHAMIDO - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To preach and spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To administer healing, deliverance, salvation, restoration and prophetic declarations on both the saved and lost souls.

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.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Aishatu Ibrahim 2. Mustapha Bello 3. Usman Mohammed Inuwa 4. Rukaiyya Ibrahim 5. Safiya Shehu Mahdi.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : To improve access and quality of education, promote gender transformation and peace.

Objectives: Support education by raising community awareness and ownership, increase literacy rates through sensitization, advocacy, capacity building and collaboration with stakeholders Promoting Gender transformation by demystifying Gender Equality, Equity and promoting gender mainstreaming/inclusion in all programming Women and youth empowerment through provision economic, life and social skill 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.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED 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: SECRETARY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UBOZOR CASMIR CAMILLIUS 2.

IKEBUDE ROMANUS CHIKA 3.

AWAH UCHENNA KINGSLEY 4.

OBIDIASO IFEANYI POLYCARP 5.

ILOKWU CARL CHIMEZIE 6.

CHAZULUMEH CHAMBERLAIN CHUKWUMA 7.

JESOMBA OBIDI PATRICK AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR IDENTITY WITHIN AND OUTSIDE ABUJA EVEN GLOBALLY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED 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: SECRETARY

public NOTICE

public NOTICE

I-AM FIRST-ELEVEN MINISTRY

SEYI ODEYEMI FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “F” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2020

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC),ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “F” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2020

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. ODEYEMI OLANREWAJU - CHAIRMAN 2. OMIWOLE TIMOTHY OLUGBENGA - SECRETARY 3. SIJUWADE ATINUKE OLUWASEYI - TRUSTEE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

ALI SAFIYANU SAIDU 2.

ZAKIRAI SAIDU ALI 3.

SAID SULEIMAN ALI

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UMEH CORNELIUS NDUBUEZE –CHAIRMAN 2.

IGBOANUGO WILLIAM OKECHUKWU –SECRETARY 3.

EZEH OBUNIKE PATRICK 4.

OKAFOR ANTHONY CHINEDU 5.

KANU EMEKA PETER 6.

EKPACHUKWU ROBINSON AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.

To cater for the welfare of the members

SIGNED : SECRETARY

public NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. NWANKWO IFEANYI - CHAIRMAN 2. OKONWA ABIOLA OLASUNBO - SECRETARY 3. EUGENE UGOCHINYERE ANN 4. IGBOKWE CHRISTOPHER C 5. NWANKWO CHIZOBAM IMMACULATE

public NOTICE

SIGNED : SECRETARY

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 ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

public NOTICE

Any objection to the Application of the above change should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of the publication of this Notice.

Signed : Secretary

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. OKUMAGBA MAMODESAN TUDJEGBE (CHAIRMAN) 2. OKUMAGBA PATIENCE ELOHO (SECRETARY) 3. ESI ENIS ENAGHOGHOME (MEMBER) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To develop, publish, and distribute gospel materials for soul-winning through the holy spirit’s power 2. To evangelize, win souls and discipleship for Jesus Christ through the power of the holy spirit 3. Kingdom wealth mandate, surplus, and reserve, with mighty anointing and assured kingdom treasures from God 4. To deliver the word of God through teaching and preaching with the power of the Holy spirit.

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 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROVIDE FREE DRINKABLE, SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE WATER TO RURAL COMMUNITIES. 2. TO PROVIDE FREE MEDICAL FACILITIES TO HOSPITAL AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. 3. TO HELP IMPROVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. 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 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED:SECRETARY.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

SHEHU SANI MAIHULA 2.

TIJJANI ALIYU 3.

AHMAD TIJJANI MAI SALATI 4.

MOHAMMED MUSA DAHURU 5.

MUHAMMAD MUHAMMAD JIBRIL 6.

HALLIRU ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR 7.

AHMED HAFIZU IBRAHIM 8. UMAR ABDULLAHI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.

TO HOLD OBSERVE AND SPONSOR ISLAMIC PREACHING, TRAINING AND WORSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH TIJJANIYYA SCHOLARS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED 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 SECRETARY

public NOTICE

MAIBIYAR EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO HELP IN CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOCIETY ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED 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: SECRETARY

public NOTICE

public NOTICE

public NOTICE

ASSOCIATION OF NDIOLUMBE PROGRESSIVE ABIA

Niger state police command wishes to inform members of the public that the underlisted abandoned/unclaimed items are in police custody. The command therefore urges anybody with genuine claim of ownership to come forward with relevant particulars.

1. Two QLINK CG MC , one green without engine and chasis No, one red with chasis No OLKDCKKJIGDOO1386 2. Three (3) Bajaj motorcycle with chasis No: a. DWI-71554 with Engine b. VWA19046 with Engine No BVA82653. C. EWL91657 with engine No WEL65388 3. One (1) Daylong motorcycle with chasis No 34F18668 with Engine No DL156FM1 4. Two (2) Red Bajaj motorcycle with chasis No. a. *MD2A18AZOEWJ59824* b. *MD2A18AZ5DWF42384* 5. One blue Bajaj motorcycle with chasis No. MD2ĎDDMZZTWK77956 6. One (1) unregistered red Bajaj motorcycle, chasis No MDZA18AZ4DWK92018 and engine No DUZWDL43266 7. One (1) scrap black Jincheng Rubber- Rubber motorcycle, chasis No JCXCHLIID10153 and engine No. JCIP52FMHRJD1013891 8. One (1) scrap black Jincheng Rubber Rubber with chasis No JCXCHLII1038784 and engine No JCIP52FMHRJD 1019878 9. One (1) unregistered scrap black Jincheng with chasis No LJCPAGLHOBS15026 10. One (1) unregistered scrap black Jincheng with chasis No LJCPAGLHOBS091182 and engine No JCIESCFMGPBBIA06516 11. One scrap black Jincheng Rubber Rubber with chasis No XCHL19E1032717

Niger state police command wishes to inform members of the public that the underlisted abandoned/unclaimed items are in police custody. The command therefore urges anybody with genuine claim of ownership to come forward with relevant particulars.

1. Three (3) Jincheng ladies motorcycle, 2 white in colour with chasis No XCHIID106591 and CXCHL16E10 one black in colour, chasis No CXCHL102655 2. Three (3) Honda ladies motorcycle 2 green without engine and chasis Nos ; one Suzuki ladies motorcycle without engine and chasis No 3. Six (6) black scrap Jincheng chasis No a. ( OO803 ) JCPAGL*6479* b. PAGLHO8Sa7a152. c. LJCPAC1HOASB315. d. LJC PAGLHO55B62767. e. JOPAGLHO8XD63660. f. BE11G-317789 4. Two (2) red Bajaj motorcycle chasis No a.

MD2A18AZOFWA56617. b. MD2A18J2DWK7008 5. One (1) LIFAN L/motorcycle red and black chasis No *LF3XCHTC6FA00183* 6. One QLINK ladies motorcycle black with chasis No LJSXCHL40B5201758 7. One (1) NOZOMIC ladies MC, red and black chasis No LAAC7KHL65581 8. One LONCIN MC black and red with chasis No LLCLPL1A951B87446.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020). trustees 1 JUMBO DANIEL CHETACHI - CHAIRMAN 2 UCHECHUKWU NWACHUKWU JOSEPH - SECRETARY 3 AJIERE VICTOR IHUNANYA - MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION ., 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

NEWS

M

r Victor Bamidele, Deputy Managing Director, Deep water District. TotalEnergies, says the company has invested over 60 billion dollars in exploration and other projects in Nigeria.

Bamidele disclosed at the Ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference in Abuja, on Monday.

He spoke on the topic : Expanding the Nigerian Content Frontiers through. intra-African Trade” ” TotalEnergies as we are now called has being in Africa for more than 80 years, and have been working in exploration

Nwaoboshi enjoying Okowa’s political scholarship - Aniagwu

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

TotalEnergies committed to Nigeria’s growth, invests $60bn activities in Nigeria for over 60 years. ” In the upstream sector we have a diversifying portfolio in Nigeria with facilities spanning in onshore, deep waters and LNG, we are very proud of strong partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) and various partners over the years. ” Our upstream branch plays a significant economic and Social role in the Nigerian contributing about 15 per cent of the country’ s production. ” Nigeria as one of our core area of activities is also crucial to TotalEnergies group accounting for 12 per cent of equity production.

“In the past few years ago, TotalEnergies has invested approximately about 10 billion in the country through executing

development projects,” he said.

He added that over the years the companies activities had helped in creating jobs and many other benefits in spite the challenging environment it operates.

Represented by Olalere Babasola, Executive Manager, Government Relations, he said that as a Company, TotalEnergies strongly believed in the vast potentials in Nigeria.

He noted that EGINA Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels(FPSO) was completed in 2018 and currently investing in the development of IKIKE Project.

He said that Egina was developed in 2013 after the NOGIC act was established adding that it remained the companies third biggest FPSO project that had boosted local

content.

He noted that Egina in terms of employment ensured over 47 million manpower development about 77 percent of the total project work load adding that 60 per cent of fabrication was also in country among many others.

“EGINA has increased Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity by 10 per cent, ” he said.

” IKIKE development field is with OML 99, 20 kilometer offshore, is being developed as a statelite terminal in spite its size and content objective . ” Our target is to achieve 90 per cent local content with 100 per cent project management in country, 100 per cent detail and basic engineering in Nigeria, 100 per cent procurement by locals 3000 direct jobs, refresher and on the job training, “” he said

According to him, the project is expected to facilitate entry level training for 80 geo science students in the country.

Commenting on the topic, he said that the topic was apt as there were currently 18 oil producing countries in Africa.

According to him, African countries are among the top producers of oil globally adding that the combine production is about 7.9 million per day in 2019.

This, this he said had made the sector important anf must bring value to the continent through effective implementation of local content The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the theme for the 2021 NOG is ” Fortifying the Nigerian oil and gas industry for economic stability and growth”.

(NAN )(www.nannews.ng)

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

D

elta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu has said that the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi rode to the Senate on the political craftsmanship of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Speaking on Arise Television NewsDay programme monitored in Asaba at the weekend, Aniagwu said Senator Nwaoboshi was a selfish politician who never cared for the interest of the people he represents.

He stated that the people of Delta North voted for Nwaoboshi because Okowa appealed to them to support him for the party’s sake.

According to Aniagwu, Senator Nwaoboshi having realised that he can no longer enjoy the political benevolence of Okowa, decided to jump ship despite his suspension by the party.

“I am happy you said that he is in a rift with the governor, the governor is not in a rift with him.

“But what I can tell you is that everybody who is a Deltan and understands the political equation in Delta will tell you for free that Senator Nwaoboshi is in the National Assembly on the political scholarship of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, otherwise, there is no way he would have been in the Senate.

“He knows that deciding to dump the PDP or leaving the PDP even after he had been suspended by the party, meant that he can no longer contest the position because he knows that even if he contests that position, everyone in Delta will tell you for free that he will not win.”

Army medical p e r s o n n e l examine a patient during the Free Medical Outreach by Nigerian Army as part of the activities to mark the 2021 Army Day celebration in Abuja on Monday (6/7/21).

Nnamdi Kanu: Group alleges double standard by FG in fighting terrorism From: Makurdi

Uche

Nnorom,

group known as Benue Youth Forum has alleged that the federal government is displaying double faced approach to the fight against terrorism.

Leader of the group Mr. Terrence Kuanum who also, doubles as Coodinator, Forum of Middle Belt Youth made the accusation in a press statement against the backdrop of last week’s

arrest of Nnamdi Kanu by Nigeria government in collaboration with Interpol.

The group posited that before now,it was apparent that the intelligence network of Nigeria’s security forces had malfunctioned particularly as it bordered on the inflammatory and treasonable utterances of the leadership of Miyetti Allah groups who have at different times claimed responsibility for the killing of hundreds of innocent Nigerians

with the Middle Belt region worst hit.

He maintained that groups such as Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM have repeatedly attacked and killed many defenseless people and have come out to state that more blood will flow recalling that In March this year, the group publicly owned up to an attack on Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

“Though the Governor

nutrition through innovation and partnership( PARSNIP) in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Dr Rane who explained that the programme will kick start in Kwami Local Government Area, will subsequently extend

to other four local governments areas.

Speaking in a meeting with stakeholders on PARSNIP programme held at Kwami chief of field office on PARSNIP programme in Gombe Dr. Turshar Rane said the meeting

was aimed at finding out solution to eliminate malnutrition among children in the state.

He however, appreciated the effort of Gombe State Government for the support in fight against malnutrition.

He urged that UNICEF will

A

escaped the assassination attempt, FUNAM vowed that they won’t relent until they hit their target. Our security agencies heard the group’s threat loud and clear but looked the other way.

In fact, they absorbed all Fulani groups of blame in the attack on the Governor. That was just one incident. They treat anything that involves herdsmen with kid gloves.

“The recent re-arrest of Kanu is an indication that our security intelligences is still working,”

UNICEF launches action on resilient system for nutrition in Gombe From David Hassan, Gombe

T

he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Gombe State Government has launched progressing action on resilient system for

continue to work closely with the government to ensure that the menace is eradicated.

Speaking at the meeting, chairman of Kwami local government area Ibrahim Buba assured UNICEF of the necessary support of the programme.

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

PAGE 28

Page

29

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

tuesday, July 6, 2021

Home-based Super Eagles Battle Canada, Ghana, Cameroon in Friendly Matches

By Amaechi Agbo

N

igeria Football Federation, NFF has lined up another three international friendly matches for the home-based Eagles styled Super Eagles B Team The there friendly matches will see the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL players battle European side Canada while they will face two Africa rivals, Ghana and Cameroon.

The team early Sunday morning lost 4-0 to Mexico in a friendly game played in the Los Angeles Coliseum, California, United States.

Speaking after the game watched by over 50,000 fans, (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, revealed that the federation was at the verge of finalising arrangements for the friendly games, which would hold before the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in September He added that the matches would hold in the 73,000 capacity M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, United States.

“This is the launchpad we are providing for you to showcase your talents,” Pinnick told the media.

“This team is our pride, and we will keep you and monitor you because you are the next big thing in Nigerian football.

“In October, we will be flying the team to Baltimore for friendly games against Ghana possibly, Cameroun and Canada, maybe. We will sort that out in the coming weeks.

“We will tidy up all the documentation.

You will be playing at the 73,000 capacity M&T Bank Stadium.”

In the game against Mexico, Nigeria presented a team made up of players from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) with Ibrahim Sunusi, who plays for Montreal FC the only foreign-based star in the squad.

The team’s inexperience showed as they

Super Eagles against Mexico conceded two quick goals in the second and fourth minutes through Hector Herrera and Rogelio Funes Mori.

After these goals, the Eagles resisted Mexico’s quest for more till the end of the opening half. But they failed to muster a single shot at goal in the first half.

Mexico resumed their scoring streak six minutes into the second half when Herrera capitalised on a defensive error from Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to slot home for his second.

Former Barcelona star, Jonathan dos Santos, who came in as a substitute in the second half, made it 4-0 13 minutes from

time for the Mexicans.

Speaking on the game, Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, praised the team for ‘a good outing.’

He said, “These are young players playing in front of over 50,000 fans in a foreign land.

It was not easy but they showed they can play this game.

“We are very happy that fans are returning to stadiums after a long time playing in empty stadiums. Mexico is number 11 in the world and our young team is the best players in the professional league at home. They have learnt a lot from this game. I saw some interesting players who could be useful in our next

World Cup qualifiers. Some of these players still have to work to improve physically.”

Rohr explained that the game was part of Nigeria’s preparations for the World Cup qualifiers, which will start with a home team against Liberia on September 3.

“A few days later, we hope to play against Cape Verde before meeting Central African Republics. It is a long way to the World Cup, but this match has shown that some of the local players can play in the World Cup qualifiers.

“The match was a good lesson for my players because Mexico are one of the favourites for the Gold Cup.”

I will never rest until I made better impact in my community - Sadio Mane

By Amaechi Agbo

A

frica Footballer of the Year and Senegalese superstar, Sadio Mane has stated that he would not be at peace with himself unless he is able to ensure a better living conditions for his people in Senegal The Liverpool attacker who stated this in recent interview said that living luxurious lifestyle is not his priority as he is focused in making sure that his people in his community had a change of living standard.

“I don’t really pay too much attention on buying expensive cars or smart devices. My priority is always to make sure my people in Senegal they go to their beds with food, better Hospital services and schools.

“I will never rest until I made a better impact in my community.

The 2019 UEFA Champions League winner

noted that he has no concerns about his fellow footballers who buy lavish cars stressing that it was their kind of lives.

“And I am real happy and proud of other footballers who spoil themselves with luxury cars and apartments. It’s their money, they also deserve to spend it in their own way,” he said.

The former Southampton player added that “For now, I have my own ideas of how to spend mine. In future I might also be able to buy luxury things, but for now I want everyone to be in better conditions back home,” he concluded.

Sadio Mane comes from the village of Bambali in Senegal.

In 2019 he donated almost $350,000 to build a school there.

This summer he has given £500 000 to fund the construction of Bambali’s first hospital for his people.

Sadio Mane

Mali players recieve cow, goat as highest goal scorers Award PG30 >>>PG30

PAGE 30

S p

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, July 6, 2021

r

t

Mali players recieve cow, goat as highest goal scorers Award

By Amaechi Agbo

I

n today’s football setting, across the globe, top scorers of different football leagues have it in mind that they will bag the golden shoe/boot award or something equivalent to that. Here in Africa, instead of the golden shoe, we have various ways to reward our top scorers.

The country of Mali in West Africa has reportedly awarded their first and second top scorers with a cow and goat respectively. If you evaluate it, it’s like rewarding Bradley Grobler who was PSL’S top scorer last campaign with a cow or rewarding Peter Shalulile (second top goalsorer) with a goat.

South Africans have reacted to this ridiculous but weird strategy of rewarding players.

However, it’s worthy to note that this isn’t something new.

There was a time Kaizer Chiefs were invited to Swaziland

to participate in a tournament and they managed to win it. At the end, King Mswati showed them a nice gesture by handing over the head of a cow to the then Amakhosi captain, Shabba.

A lot of people are of the opinion that Mali might not have being able to afford a golden shoe or it’s equivalent rather they opted for a Cow. A golden boot is worth much as many times as any cow.

This is not the first time strange but activity this nature is happening in Africa football.

Recall that in 2019, a Malawian player received a chicken for winning the man of the match award in a football game.

Nyasa Big Bullets’ striker, Hassan Kajoke was given a chicken for his exemplary performance in their 5-0 win over Karonge United TNM Super League match at Kamuzu Stadium in Malawi.

Kajoke scored a brace

and as he helped his side run over Karonge United in the Malawian league clash.

The league management had earlier said that the award was given by a sponsor. However, because the photo attracted a lot of comments on social media, the Malawian league website came out to say that the chicken was given to Kajoke by a fan who was impressed by his performance in the match.

The club, however, did not have anything to hide as they posted the photo of Kajoke receiving the chicken on their Facebook page.

The unidentified fan asked for permission to be allowed to present his gift, covered in a holed carton and inscribed ‘Kajoke BB’.

The seemingly avid supporter had the chicken spread with red colors, apparently signifying the tradition red and white colors for the Super League heavyweights.

F

or his developmental strives in nurturing and promoting grassroots football in the country, the Chief Executive Officer of foremost Nigeria football Academy, Atico Football Academy, Prince Adewale Atiba was last week bestowed with award of honour for his undaunted drive in football development in the

country.

The award was given to Prince Atiba by the organiser of Prince Michael Atobatele Foundation (PMAF) Memorial Championship “as a Supportive Grassroots Football Development,” icon.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Bestchoicesports. com.ng, Prince Atiba described the award as a catalyst for him to do more.

“It is all about my involvement

in grassroots football programme, organising different programmes of football at the grassroots level and private schools just to encourage the youths as far as football is concerned.

“The award will spur me to do more because that is my calling.

I don’t have another job. I am into developing grassroots as far as football is involved. It is in my blood, it is my passion, it is what I love to do. Therefore, I will

N

igeria Professional Football League, NPFL side, Plateau United have been sanctioned to pay the sum of N2.5 million for breaching the rules and regulations of the league game.

The League Management Company, LMC handed the punishment to the Jos based club following attacks suffered

by Enyimba International FC when they played against them in just in matchday 29 of the season.

In announcing the sanctions Friday, LMC noted that Plateau United have incured suspended deduction of 3 points should

they record another violent conduct within the season and will be banished from their home stadium.

The release reads “Plateau Utd have been charged for breaching the NPFL Framework & Rules in their Matchday 29 fixture against Enyimba on June 27, 2021.

“The Jos club are charged for delaying the kickoff of the match for no good reason & further failed to provide adequate security as the home team.

“Plateau Utd as the home team also failed to stop unauthorized persons from gaining access to restricted areas.

“Some of Plateau Utd supporters also forcefully gained entry into the stadium and threw objects, one of which hit a player of Enyimba.

“Plateau Utd are hereby fined N500,000 for delaying the kickoff.

“The erring club are further fined N1 million each for failing to provide adequate security and misconduct of their supporters.

“A deduction of three points which is suspended for the rest of this season shall be activated if there is another occurrence.

“Another occurrence of breaching the NPFL Framework will result in the ban of the club’s home ground leading to

public NOTICE

ABDUL MOMOH

Sunday

CHRIST ARMY CHURCH OF NIGERIA (IT NO. 1149)

I formerly known and addressed as Abdul Musa now wish to be known and address as ABDUL MOMOH MUSA former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Nwani Stella Nnennaya. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Sunday Stella Nnennaya. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MEJIDA

nafiu

I, Formaly known as ZHOKWO LEAH now wish to be known and addressed as MEJIDA LEAH. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS nafiu ishaq bako.

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS nafiu ishaka bako. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Change of trustees, Change of name and amendment of constitution under Part “F” of the Company and Allied Matters Act 2020. a. THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Most Rev Abel Serebe Vurasi 1. Rt Rev William Fubara Brown 2. Rt. Rev Sunday Andrew Iwo 2. Canon Aaron Dokubo Josiah Igani 3. Rt. Rev Okpot Sunday Okpot 3. Abel Serebe Vurasi 4. Elder Joy Inimgba Koko 4. Samuel Fombo Inyanabo Hart 5. Chief Norman Tom Iboroma 5. Firstbury Lulu Braide 6. Elder(Barr) Sunny Dumnamene James 6. Welsh Obu Yellowe 7. HRH Israel Uzamadeng Otuo, 8. Rt Rev Isaac Uwolo Akpojotor. b.That the name of the Church be changed from CHRIST ARMY CHURCH OF NIGERIA to CHRIST ARMY CHURCH NIGERIA c.That the constitution be amended by deleting all the clauses and replace with the new constitution.

Any objection to the application should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SUNNY D JAMES ESQ , Legal Adviser to the Church

SPACE FOR SALE Cow given to the Malian player

continue to do more,’ he said.

“We have programmes including acadmies, schools and club sides. Which is what people have seen and believe I am doing well and decided to show appreciation.

“We organise different grassroots football competitions such as the Proprietors Cup as well as the Independence Kids Cup “The Independence Kids Cup

always holds every October 1st.

We have a lot outside these two.

“The very tournament for which I was given award was PMAF (Prince Michael Atebatole Foundation) Memorial Championship,” he concluded.

Atico Football Academy is based in Lagos State and Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The award was given to him on June 23rd during the final match in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Plateau United fined N2.5 Million over Enyimba attack, faces banishment

By Amaechi Agbo

CLASSIFIED

ALI I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BALA ALIYU AHMAD. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS BALA ALI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE. ISA

Atico Academy CEO receives award for grassroots football development

By Amaechi Agbo

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Plateau Utd playing their home games at a different venue.

“Plateau Utd are expected to work with their state in drawing up a revised security plan for subsequent home matches.

“The Jos club now have 48 hours to appeal these sanctions from the day of notification.”

However, it is most intriguing that LMC failed to make comment or take decision on the club’s refusal to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

Few weeks ago, the LMC issued a circular to all the 20 clubs in the league reminding them of the need to adhere to the “behind closed door” match rules as a result of Covid-19 protocols adding that failure to

comply would attract a fine of N5 million.

Prince Adewale Atiba

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ALI ABDULLAHI DANASABE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MUHAMMADU ISA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Sani I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Sani Hassan. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Sani Alhaji Hassan.

ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE. correction of name I WAS MISTAKENLY WRITTEN BASHIR ALIYU USMAN, THAT MY FULL AND CORRECT NAME IS BASHIR ALIYU . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ETHAN

BELLO

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FREDINAH ETHAN GYLIBU. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS FREDINAH ETHAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BELLO DANZABUWA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS BELLO ALHASSAN DANZABUWA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

. . . putting the people first

tuesday, July 6, 2021

THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

SPORTS Labour’s strange strike action in Nasarawa

T

latest

Djokovic beats Cristian Garin To reach Wimbledon Quarters

T

op seed Novak Djokovic continued his bid for a record-equalling 20th men’s Grand Slam title with a routine last-16 win against Chile’s Cristian Garin.

The defending champion did not need to find his best level, still having enough quality to win 6-2 6-4 6-2 against 17th seed Garin.

The Serb will now contest the 50th Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career.

Djokovic will play Marton Fucsovics in the last eight after the Hungarian beat Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev.

Onyekuru rejects Olympiacos move

S

uper Eagles attacker, Henry Onyekuru has turned down the chance to play UEFA Champions League football with perennial Greek champions Olympiacos even after they had agreed to pay the 4.3 Million Euros Monaco want to sell him.

Onyekuru shunned Olympiacos because he does not fancy living in Athens, where the club are based.

The winger is presently in Istanbul, where he is discussing with Galatasaray local rivals, Besiktas and Fenerbache.

Galatasaray will not take up the buy-out option on Onyekuru after his third loan spell with them last season.

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

Advert: news: Kano: lagos:

he “indefinite” strike action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Nasarawa State has now entered its fourth week.

This is a rather strange strike from the average Nigeria’s point of view in that it is not about sack of workers or nonpayment of salaries – the two core issues that are at the heart of any labour organization.

Rather it is about auxiliary issues such as promotions and full implementation of the minimum wage. For a fact, the issues Labour is protesting against predate current administration in Nasarawa state. For example, the issues of promotion date as far back as 2008. The Abdullahi Sule administration which is just two years old, on assumption of office pledged to look into all outstanding labour issues, to be labour-friendly and this it has done to a very large extent. For instance, the issue of percentage payment and salary arrears that once dogged the last administration and for which Labour itself once embarked on a very long strike action is now history. In fact it was learnt that until not long ago salaries were usually paid by 23rd and 24th of each month. Pensioners who suffered similar fate and who at height of their ‘fight’ with the previous administration filed a suit against it at the Industrial Court in Makurdi are now smiling as their pensions are now paid as and when due. One of them confirmed to me that they no longer have any issues with government. What about the local government councils?

It is noteworthy that staff of all 13 local government areas have been carrying on with their duties, not participating in the strike, even though they are members of the NLC. This speaks volumes about the industrial action by Labour in Nasarawa state.

Concerning the matter of promotions, it was gathered that Labour had agreed sometime ago that they should be notational, that is, that those promoted would get their due ranks without monetary

0806 564 8620 0814 292 9046 0803 587 5846 08074420617

Tuesday Column

By VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO vikeano@yahoo.co.uk 08033077519 attachment. However, the government made plans to clear the 2016 promotion arrears in three installments. The first two installments had been paid, remaining the third/final one when the effects of COVID caught up with its finances.

This was a global pandemic that hit economic fortunes of all countries big and small, not least Nigeria. Consequently, its revenue from the federation account dipped, affecting its ability to pay. Nonetheless, the government maintains that it would pay up as soon as its finances improve. On the minimum wage the government started implementing it in June for staff on Grade Level One to six. Backed by law, government is legally bound to implement the minimum wage. For the consequential adjustments, the government says it would also implement this when it has adequate funds. Nasarawa is one of the two states that get the least amount from the federation account.

Labour argues, though, that, ‘’If the government has the funds to buy brand new jeeps for traditional rulers, then it can pay us’’. On a lighter note this may be seen as a case of ‘bad belle’ (envy).

Although the government states that the strike-action is not illegal, it nevertheless avers that the process is wrong. Attorney-General and

“

Commissioner of Justice, Associate Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana maintains that the NLC has no right to prevent those that are not its members such as members of the Senior Staff Association of Civil Servants and political appointees, from going to work.

In the first few days of the strike, an NLC monitoring group forcibly debarred all employees from entering their offices.

Nasarawa State NLC president Comrade Yusuf Iya argued that they have the right under labour laws to picket any organization to “persuade” workers to join their cause.

In the first week of the strike action, the state government set up a high-powered committee headed by Deputy Governor Emmanuel Akabe to interface with Labour. It comprised of the Emir of Lafia, retired Supreme Court Justice Sidi Bage who also doubles as Chairman of the State’s Council of Chiefs and Emirs, two other First Class traditional rulers, viz, the Andoma of Doma and the Osu Ajiri as well as the Secretary to the State Government. Other members are, the Commissioner of Justice/Attorney-General, Head of Service, Commissioner of Health, Special Adviser on Labour, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Permanent Secretary Establishment. At end of their meetings, it was gathered, both

Experts assert that the way out of the issue of insufficient funds is for the state to greatly increase its internally generated revenue (IGR).

All hands (those of Labour and other stakeholders) should be on deck to achieve this

Government and Labour agreed that the government would start paying up its outstanding commitments to Labour when its monthly receipt from the federation account exceeds 4.5 billion naira but would withhold payment if it falls below that figure. This columnist further learnt that both parties were about to sign the agreement when Labour came up with a new clause to be added which is that should what the state received in any month be less than the stated amount, the shortfall should be made up from the executive’s security vote. This brought about a stalemate.

Experts assert that the way out of the issue of insufficient funds is for the state to greatly increase its internally generated revenue (IGR). All hands (those of Labour and other stakeholders) should be on deck to achieve this. But is going on strike the best option? As it is, the strike action is hurting the general public. Are there no other ways by which the labour movement in Nigeria can call attention to its concerns without harming the citizens in general? I learnt that frustration is setting in among the workers, that they are getting tired of the strike. Moreover, Sallah is approaching. Surely, Labour in Nasarawa State does not wish its members to mark the forthcoming festival on an empty stomach due to empty pocket because workers are on strike and so cannot process salary vouchers/pay slips.

DAN GAYE Dangai FG arrests IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu - News

Pikin weh say im mama no go sleep...

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kaduna office: K6 Ahmadu Bello Way, opposite Kontagora road, Kaduna. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewseditor@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141