Monday, March 12, 2018 Edition

Monday, March 12, 2018 / Jumada Thani 24, 1439AH

Vol. 28 No. 49 N150

1425 Days after

China endorses life president for Xi Jinping

pAGE 24

@pmlonline

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Confusion in Kogi, as Gov Bello sacks, reinstates cabinet

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FG slams higher tariff on alcohol, tobacco page 5

 L-R: Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Governor, Ajimobi of Oyo State, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, during wedding reception of Idris Ajimobi and Fatima Ganduje, at the weekend in Agodi Gardens , Oyo State.

2019: APGA passes vote of confidence on Buhari pAGE 15

Biometrics compulsory for UTME candidates -JAMB pAGE 3

Plateau attacks: Police confirm 16 killed pAGE 4

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

News CONTENTS News 2-10,14 Editorial Op.Ed

11 12-13

Politics 15-17 Business Metro

19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

24

R-L: Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Adm. Adeniyi Osinowo, presenting a souvenir to President Adama Barow of Gambia, during NDC Course 26 Study Tour, yesterday in Gambia.

Photo: NAN

Buhari is transforming Nigeria – Lai Mohammed reaffirms T Police bust notorious gang, arrest 9 in Kaduna Page 7

Education

25

Feature 26 Sports 27-28 Back Page

32

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he Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that naysayers had taken to social media and spending huge amounts of money to distort the situation in Nigeria.

The minister stated this at a mini town hall meeting which he organised for members of staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin, Germany and a cross-section of Nigerians residing in the European country.

Mr. Mohammed was in Berlin to attend a meeting of African Tourism Ministers, on the sidelines of the International Travel Trade Fair in the German capital.

A statement issued on the mini town hall meeting in Berlin was made available to journalists in Abuja by the Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the minister.

The minister said the naysayers, who were hoping to override the string of achievements by the present administration in the country, were spending huge amounts of money to spread fake news about Nigeria.

He said: “Contrary to the fake news being peddled in the social

media by the naysayers, President Muhammadu Buhari is putting Nigeria back on its feet.

“That is why Nigerians at home and abroad must ensure they have access to authentic information.

“One way is to download the FGNiAPP on their hand-held devices. It is free.”

“The economy is on a steady growth, as attested to be by the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics: “The economy attracted 12.2 billion dollars in foreign investments in 2017, up from $5.38 billion in 2016.

“That represents 138 per cent increase. ‘’The economy further consolidated its recovery from recession with GDP growing by 1.92 per cent in Q4 2017, compared to 1.40 per cent in Q3 2017 and a contraction of -1.73 per cent in Q4 2016.

“This means the economy ended 2017 with a growth of 0.82 per cent compared to a contraction of -1.58 per cent in 2016.

“GDP growth in Q4 2017 was driven by growth in crop production, crude production

and natural gas, metal ores, construction, transportation and storage, trade, electricity and gas production.

“These are indications that the administration’s diversification effort is working.”

Mr. Mohammed blamed the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen on environmental, rather than ethnic or religious issues.

He noted that contrary to the narrative being pushed in certain quarters that gave ethnic and religious coloration to the clashes, they were caused by purely environmental issues.

Mr. Mohammed said whereas, Nigeria’s population in 1963 was about 48 million, ‘’it is now about 180 million with the country’s land mass remaining the same.’’

He said the implication was that, there were more people per square kilometre, adding that this development raised the chances of clashes over dwindling resources.

The minister also said that Lake Chad that which used to provide water and other resources to more than 30 million people in four countries, including Nigeria

in the early 1960s had shrunk by about 90 per cent.

He said the lake which had shrunk from 25,000 square kilometres to 2,500 square kilometres, forced those affected to move south in search of resources.

Mr. Mohammed, who assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to finding lasting solution to the clashes, noted that the establishment of ranches was one sure way of reducing such clashes.

He, however, said that in resolving the crisis, both the farmers and the herders must be willing to shift slightly from their positions grounded in their way of life over centuries.

For his part, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar, commended the patriotism and dedication of the Nigerians in Diaspora, especially those in Germany.

In their comments, some leaders of the Nigerian Diaspora commended the government for the progress being made in lifting up the country. (NAN)

Human rights group talks tough on Benue killings From Uche Nnorom Makurdi

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orried by the continued attacks on people of Benue State by herdsmen, a group, known as ‘Independent Human Rights and Crime Monitoring Group’, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the military carrying out Exercise Cat Race

in the state to commence shoot at sight to flush out armed herdsmen.

It also, called on the military to withdraw from circulating an offensive pamphlet which they claim encourage the influx of herdsmen and their cows into the state.

The group further asked security agencies to help the

state to implement the anti-open grazing law.

Leader of the group, Patriot Solomon Adodo made the call during a media briefing in Makurdi yesterday, said Benue people were not in competition with any one in killing spree He described the situation as an ‘indictment’, and ‘failure’ of the Federal Government and security

operatives in the country.

This is even as they frowned at President Muhammad Buhari’s statement that the killings in Taraba were more than killings in Benue and Zamfara combined. .He averred that it is the responsibility of government to strive to protect lives and properties of the people instead of comparing killings on states.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

News

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

Buhari, Atiku commiserate with Michika, ex-Adamawa gov’s family

By Lawrence Olaoye and Umar Muhammad Puma Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolences to the government and people of Adamawa State on the passing away of its first civilian governor, Alhaji Abubakar Saleh Michika, last Saturday.

Also yesterday, former Vice President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has expressed his condolences over the death of the pioneer civilian governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Michika.

According to a statement made available to newsmen by his Spokesman, Femi Adeisna, Buhari commiserated with the family, friends and professional colleagues of the astute administrator, political strategist and community developer, who worked variously with reputable international organisations before bringing his experience and skills to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

The President commended Michika’s strong sense of patriotism and commitment to national development which prompted him to alter his career path from the private sector, and take up public office by contesting and winning the gubernatorial elections in 1992.

The President believed the country will sorely miss the wise counsels, visionary leadership and disciplined lifestyle of the former Adamawa State governor.

The President, who has sent a Federal Government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, to commiserate with the family, prayers that the almighty God will grant the soul of the departed eternal rest, and comfort his family.

In a press statement released by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, the former Vice President recalled that the late Michika had the honour of pioneering Adamawa State into its democratic journey in 1992 as its first civilian governor under the then governing National Republican Convention (NRC) in the state.

Atiku Abubakar noted that Michika was a banker with the British Bank of West Africa, later worked with John Holt company before venturing into politics.

Atiku Abubakar condoles with the Michika family, people of Michika and the government and people of Adamawa State over the loss.

He prayed to Allah to grant him Jannatul Firdaus and fortitude to the family to bear the loss.

He has since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

L-R: Deputy Governor, Plateau State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, President Muhammadu Buhari, Plateau State Governor, Hon. Simon Lalong and Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh during President Buhari’s two-day working visit to Plateau State on Friday .

Photo: state House

Niger Delta: N2bn Skill Center hangs since 2010 -Senate

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

Skill Acquisition Center being constructed in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, which has gulped over two billion naira since it was awarded, has remained largely uncompleted since it was awarded in 2010, the Senate Committee has revealed.

To this end, the Senate Committee on Niger Delta cautioned stakeholders involved in executing flagship projects of the Ministry to desist from the acts capable of aggravating the challenges confronting the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria.

A statement issued Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Press’s in the Ministry, Marshall Gundu,

said members of the committee were on oversight visit to Delta and Rivers States, in the company of the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Claudius Omoleye Daramola and other Ministry’s officials.

He said they visited at the weekend to assess the progress of some of the Ministry’s projects in the area, where they expressed displeasure over what they called ‘The slow pace of work’ on the various sites visited.

It said in his remarks, Senator Tayo Alasoadura said: “We should be serious about handling government funds because the money is our own, if we don’t do the projects well, we will continue to service them, rather than using the funds for other

projects.”

It also said Alasoadura suggested a 10-year guarantee period to be billed into all future projects in the country to ensure that contractors deliver quality jobs to Nigerians, adding that the guarantee period will help the country to save a lot of funds being wasted on servicing projects on shoddy jobs by contractors.

“The senator asked why the Skills Acquisition Centre under construction at Tuomo town in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, awarded since 2010 and had gulped over Two Billion Naira has not been completed?

“We Nigerians plan our projects to fail. Technocrats should advise politicians

appropriately to desist from putting many projects together at the same time without completion”, he said.

According to the statement, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Claudius Omoleye Daramola, also expressed displeasure over the slow pace and shoddy job noticeable in some of the sites visited.

He disclosed that contractors who were not on sites during the oversight visit had been summoned to the Ministry to explain the reasons for the shoddy jobs carried out on some of the sites visited before further payments to them.

“Introduction of 10 years guarantee will put contractors on their toes,” the Minister added.

Biometrics compulsory for UTME candidates, says JAMB

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he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board says any candidate that cannot be identified through biometrics will be barred from writing the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The board’s Head, Media and Information Department, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.

Benjamin spoke against the backdrop of some reported cases in some centres where some candidates could not be identified through JAMB’s electronic system.

NAN reports that the 2018 UTME which commenced on Friday, March 9, in 605 centres nationwide, ends on March 17.

“We want to clearly state here that any candidate who cannot be identified using biometrics will not be allowed to sit for this examination.

“So far, over 450,000 candidates have sat for the examination and we have had reported cases where some of the candidates could not be identified as they placed their fingers on the machines for identification.

“Candidates sitting for this examination are not to be identified by mere registration numbers or names, but through the machines.

“We know that at the point of registration for this examination, candidates’ details were captured with live photographs as well as

their fingerprints.

“So, while going for the examination, it is only expected that candidates should be screened and identified using biometrics.

“This method should be able to call up candidates’ identity and so, there is no way a candidate will just come and mention his name and registration number and be allowed in without going through the right process,” he told NAN. Benjamin said the measure was to ensure the eligibility of candidates and reduce cases of impersonation.

According to him, the board’s personnel are fully on ground to ensure a smooth conduct of the examination and attend to any technical hitch in all the centres.

The JAMB spokesman said: “We also assure the remaining candidates of this ongoing examination that they have nothing to fear as we have ensured that the cables, systems and backups in the various centres are fully operational and hitch-free.

“So far, we are happy with the way the conduct of the examination has gone nationwide and we are hopeful that it is going to get better while it lasts.

“We remain committed to ensuring that the future of the Nigerian child is secure and we have put all logistics in place to ensure that this year’s exam turns out one of the best ever conducted in recent times.”

(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

News

Obasanjo wants thorough probe of Benue killings From Uche Nnorom Makurdi

F

ormer president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the killings in Benue state was beyond what is on the surface and as such should be unraveled.

Chief Obasanjo had at the weekend paid a condolence visit to Governor Samuel Ortom as well as laid wreath at the burial site of over 73 victims massacred by Fulani herdsmen located at Genabe, Makurdi local government area.

The erstwhile President said the massacre is beyond description, noting that nothing can be worse than the death of these persons and the killing of another 80 since their burial on January 11th 2018.

“I had to come all the way from Maiduguri where I attended the Zero Hunger Forum to share the sadness of the people. I thought coming to this graveside and laying a wreath would sufficiently express my sorrow, grief, sympathy and empathy with the families, the governor and all people of Benue State and indeed to all Nigerians without exception because a loss of one Nigerian is a loss to all of us. It is even more shocking to me and many Nigerians to hear that since the burial, more than 80 other persons have been killed,” he fumed.

Obasanjo who said the nation is yet to get it right in addressing issues of insecurity, challenged the leadership to rise up to their responsibility by living no stone unturned in getting to the root of the killings.

“If we do not get to the root of this, we will be burying victims and we will be assuming what is not assumable. We must know why it is happening and who will put an end to it. Somebody must accept responsibility to put an end to this or if it had to be a collective responsibility then, so be it but there must be an end to it.

“Now, we cannot talk of a free, secured country that wants development to take place and attract investors outside and inside and we are suffering this type of senselessness. I do hope that there will be an end to this.

Or else how to be explain to children whose parents were slaughtered and those children whose parents were slaughtered.

What do we also, say to those who had their loved ones slaughtered.

Finding solution is what we must do”, Obasanjo stressed.

He therefore, urged Governor Samuel Ortom not to give up but try and work with men and women that have the interest of the state and nation at heart in finding a permanent solution to the crisis.

Plateau attacks: Police confirm 16 killed

By Abba-Eku Onyeka Abuja with agency report

T

he Plateau State Police Command has said that said that 16 people had been confirmed killed in the multiple attacks on several villages that took place between Wednesday, March 7, and Friday, March 9.

The spokesman to the command gave the confirmation yesterday, saying that the command had deployed more personnel to restore peace to the troubled areas, and advised the people to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their hands.

However, reports said leaders

of the affected communities have said that 25 people were killed in the attacks.

The community leaders, who briefed journalists on Sunday in Jos, said that many others were still missing.

Represented by Mamot Adams and Macham Makut, the community said that the bodies of those killed were recovered and given two mass burials – one on Friday, and another on Saturday.

The community leaders blamed the attacks on “our Fulani neighbours’’, and listed villages attacked to include Nghakudung, Shilim, Morok,

Mandung, Faram, Filla and Hotom.

Also attacked were Dai, Kungul, Hurum, Dahua, Malul, Warrem, Josho and Ganda.

They said that more than 5,000 people had been displaced, adding that some of them were in camps run by Churches.

They called on security agencies to intervene toward halting the attacks so as to restore permanent peace to the communities.

“We want government to take urgent steps to end the attacks because our youths are already agitated,’’ he said.

But the state’s police

command which confirmed 16 killed also confirmed the arrest of a herdsman with a military AK 47 rifle.

Terna Tyopev, the command’s spokesman, who confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Jos, gave the rifle’s number as HC2614.

He said that the herdsman, Muhammadu Bimini, was arrested by mobile police officers on March 8, at Daffo.

Mr. Tyopev said that the suspect had been transferred from Bokkos to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Jos and was already being interrogated.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); AND Country Director, French Development Agency (AFD), Olivier Delefosse during a visit by Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) to Governor Aregbesola , at the weekend.

FG moves to standardize soft drinks

By Abba-Eku Onyeka Abuja

T

he Federal Government has expressed its determination to generate her data on benzene level in soft drinks so as to achieve safe maximum level of benzoic acid or opt out for alternative preservatives.

The Director General (DG), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma said this in his welcome address at the Technical Committee meeting on water, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks held in Abuja.

Represented by the Technical Assistant to the DG, Dr. Barth Ugwu, the SON Chief Executive posited that standards development and review were targeted among others, at

ensuring the health and safety of consumers, as guide to manufacturers and importers, as well as to promote fair trade practices.

He alluded to the importance of the five draft standards to be considered by the committee, stressing that they involve products that are consumed widely and frequently by the generality of people across all age and economic strata. The draft standards were: Standard for Soft Drinks (for review); Standard for Energy Drinks; Standards for Ginger Drinks; Standard for Sparkling Fruit Drinks; and Standard for Fruit Squashes, Concentrate and Fruit Cordial Concentrates.

Energy drink according to him, was one of the most highly

consumed non-alcoholic drinks by between 30-50 percent of youths and adolescents (NCBIPaediatrics: 2011), stating that in recent times, adverse health effects are being attributed to the rate of consumption of the drinks due to the caffeine and sugar contents in them. This according to the DG underscored reason for the elaboration of the standards for energy drinks.

Mr. Osita Aboloma charged the technical committee members to exercise great diligence in carrying out their task towards achieving the objective of setting standards that would be adequately prescribe good quality and food safety requirements in line with international best practices.

In his remarks, Chairman

of the Technical Committee, Professor Jide Alo represented by Prof.

Segun Ayejuyo acknowledged the valuable contributions of the members through informed comments to the secretariat on the circulated drafts of the five standards under consideration and called for robust interactions that will ensure consensus, while having the safety and health of Consumers at heart.

He expressed the determination of the members to bring their vast and varied knowledge and wealth of experiences to bear on the deliberations and expressed the appreciation of the committee to the SON management for providing adequate secretarial support.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

News

FG slams higher tariff on alcohol, tobacco

By Ese Awhotu with agency report

M

inister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun yesterday announced an upward review of the excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

She said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved an amendment to the excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages and tobacco with effect from June 4, 2018.

According to Adeosun, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the upward review of the excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages and tobacco was to achieve a dual benefit of raising the government’s fiscal revenues and reducing the health hazards associated with tobacco-related diseases and alcohol abuse.

Adeosun explained that the new excise duty regimes followed all-inclusive stakeholder engagements by the Tariff Technical Committee of the Federal Ministry of Finance with key industry stakeholders.

Her words; “The Tariff Technical

Committee (TCC) recommended the slight adjustment in the excise duty charges after cautious considerations of the Government’s Fiscal Policy Measures for 2018 and the reports of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund Technical Assistance Mission on Nigeria’s Fiscal Policy.

“The effect of the excise duty rates adjustment on trade and investment was also assessed by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and it adopted the recommendations of the TTC. “Furthermore, peer country comparisons were also carried out showing Nigeria as being behind the curve in the review of excise duty rates on alcoholic beverages and tobacco.”

Adeosun said that the new excise duty regimes are in line with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) directive on the harmonisation of member-states’ legislations on excise duties.

Going by the new rates, excise duty rate

on tobacco was now a combination of the existing ad-valorem base rate and specific rate, while the ad-valorem rate was replaced with a specific rate for alcoholic beverages.

For alcoholic beverages, the current ad-valorem rate will be replaced with specific rates and spread over three years to moderate the impact on prices.

Adeosun said, this will curb the discretion in the Unit Cost Analysis (UCA) for determining the ad-valorem rate and prevent revenue leakages.

“For tobacco, the government will maintain the current ad-valorem rate of 20 per cent and introduce additional specific rates with the implementation to be spread over a three-year period to also reasonably reduce the impact on prices,” She said.

The minister added that under the newly approved excise duty rates for tobacco, in addition to the 20 per cent advalorem rate, each stick of cigarette will attract a N1 specific rate per stick (N20 per pack of 20 sticks) in 2018; N2 specific rate per stick (N40 per pack of 20 sticks)

in 2019; and N2.90k specific rate per stick (N58 per pack of 20 sticks) in 2020.

She said Nigeria’s cumulative specific excise duty rate for tobacco was 23.2 per cent of the price of the most sold brand, as against 38.14 per cent in Algeria, 36.52 per cent in South Africa and 30 per cent in Gambia.

The new specific excise duty rate for alcoholic beverages cuts across Beer & Stout, Wines and Spirits for the three years 2018 to 2020.

Under the new regime, beer and stout would attract N0.30k per centiliter (Cl) in 2018 and N0.35k per Cl each in 2019 and 2020.

Wines would attract N1.25k per centiliter( Cl) in 2018 and N1.50k per Cl each in 2019 and 2020, while N1.50k per Cl was approved for Spirits in 2018, N1.75k per Cl in 2019 and N2.00k per Cl in 2020.

According to her, the new excise duty rates were spread over a three-year period from 2018 to 2020 in order to moderate the impact on prices of the products.

Confusion in Kogi, as Gov. Bello sacks, reinstates cabinet From Lokoja

Ahmad

Minister of Power , Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, (2nd right), Managing Director/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi(2nd left), Special Assistant to the MD/CEO on Inter - Governmental Affairs, Engr. Suleiman Aliyu(right) and benefitting Shop Owner, Mallam Mukhtar Musa(left) during inspection of the first phase of 500 Electrified Shops under the Federal Governm ent›s Energizing Economies Initiative at Sabon Gari Market on Saturday in Kano State.

Ibrahim,

T

here was confusion in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, yesterday, following the sacking and reinstatement of all serving commissioners and 21 local government administrators in the state by the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The cabinet dissolution was announced by the governor during a meeting he was holding with all political appointees at the Government House in Lokoja.

The governor directed all the 15 commissioners and 21 local government administrators to submit the keys of their official vehicles to the Secretary to State Government (SSG).

However, moments later, the governor reversed the sudden decision to send members of his cabinet packing, even as no reason was given for the change of mind by the governor.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Petra Onyegbule in a statement made available to newsmen after the drama disclosed that the governor has reversed the decision, urging the commissioners and local government administrators to return to office.

She, however, posited that the governor demanded a better service delivery and engagement with the members of the public by the political appointees.

Investigation by our reporter revealed that the governor’s change of mind might not be unconnected with the desire by the governor to keep his team together, as opposition to the continuation of the present administration to remain in power in the next dispensation gathers momentum.

NDIC decries ‘high incidence of fraud’ involving banks staff

N

igeria Deposit Insurance Corporation says the number of fraud cases attributed to internal abuse by staff of banks increased from 231 in 2016 to 320 in 2017.

Head, Communications and Public Affairs of NDIC, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday that the figure was in the organisation’s recent report on offsite supervision of the Deposit Money Banks.

“The report relied on a total of 286 responses received from 26 banks during the period and there were 22 NIL monthly responses from the banks as at year ended December 31, 2017.

“The 286 responses received from banks in 2017 cited 26,182 cases of fraud and forgeries which is 56.30 per cent higher compared to 16,751 cases reported in 2016.

“Similarly, the amount involved in the fraudulent activities documented increased by N3.33 billion from the

N8.68 billion reported in 2016 to N12.01 billion in 2017 or 38 per cent.

“However, the expected/actual loss slightly-decreased by N24.42 million or 1.03 per cent from N2.39 billion in 2016 to N2.37 billion in 2017.”

Ibrahim said Internet/Onlinebanking and ATM/Card-related fraudtypes reported constituted 24,266 or 92.68 per cent of all the reported cases, resulting in N1.51 billion or 63.66 per cent of losses in the industry in 2017.

He said the report also documented other miscellaneous crimes, such as fraudulent transfers/withdrawals, cash suppression, unauthorised credits and fraudulent conversion of cheques.

Others are diversion of customer deposits, diversion of bank charges and presentation of forged or stolencheques.

He said that 22 Licensed Commercial Banks and four Merchant banks rendered 286 returns on dismissed/terminated staff as a result

of fraud and forgeries during the year under review.

Ibrahim said out of the 26,182 fraud cases reported by the 26 Licensed Banks, 320 cases were attributable to internal collaboration by bank staff.

“A total of 320 bank employees had their appointments either terminated or were summarily dismissed in 2017, as against 231 in 2016.

“That represented an increase of 38.53 per cent in the total number of fraud cases reported in 2017.

“However, the losses arising from the reported cases decreased from N760 million in 2016 to N682 million or about 11.43 per cent in 2017.”

Ibrahim said that NDIC attributed the improvement to additional internal control measures adopted by the banks in the wake of the proactive corrective measures taken to ensure their compliance with good corporate governance principles.

He said NDIC would investigate

some banks for inadequate rendition of returns on instances of fraud, forgeries and cases involving members of staff dismissed or their appointments terminated on grounds of fraud.

He said that NDIC made the decision in light of the increase the report revealed.

He said that Section 35 and 36 of the NDIC Act No. 16 of 2006 (as amended) requires all DMBs to submit monthly information/ returns on fraud and forgeries to the corporation.

He said in spite of the Fidelity Insurance Cover taken by banks to address fraud perpetrated by staff, there was still need for the banks to further enhance their internal control and security measures.

He said this was because of the rising trend of E-Channels (Online banking and Card-related) fraud and forgeries in the industry which remained a serious cause for concern to the organisation. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 6

News Amaechi inaugurates agencies boards, cautions against corruption

UNIBEN final year student commits suicide By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro

A

final year Computer Science student of the University of Benin, has allegedly committed suicide.

The 500-level student in the Department of Computer Engineering, identified simply

as Adams, was allegedly found dead in his room at Ekosodin Community, in the Ovia NorthEast Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased was said to have submitted an assignment in his department before he returned to his hostel last Thursday.

His lifeless body was later said

to have been found by his relatives who forced the door open in the evening, following reports by some of his friends who suspected that something had gone wrong when they could not access his room.

The Public Relations Officer of the University, Michael Osasuyi, confirmed the incident, said the

institution received the report with surprise.

But, he however, declined comment on what could have led to the death of the student.

An official of Students Union Government (SUG), in UNIBEN, dismissed speculation that the victim was a first Class student.

By Albert Akota

T

he Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has inaugurated the governing board of five agencies under the ministry, charging them to work in line with the policy and direction of the federal government.

The minister performed the inauguration of the five agencies at the Office of the Secretary of the Federation (OSGF) over the weekend Abuja.

Amaechi however warned all new board members to shun all forms of corruption and help government deliver on its responsibilities.

The board of the agencies inaugurated included those of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN).

Others were: Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) and Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT).

He reminded the boards of their roles of setting operational and administrative policies for their respective agencies, in line with government policy direction.

“We expect you to perform your responsibilities “We will play a supervisory role, but we will want to make sure that there is peace.

“Nigerians don’t want to hear stories; they want us to deliver, so we expect the boards to deliver in that line “We know that there are challenges but they have to deliver on their mandate, “he said.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of others was Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, chairman governing board of NIWA, in his remark, appreciated the federal government for giving them the opportunity to serve.

He stated that the boards would deliver on their mandate. “We want the president to know that we accept to key into his struggle to take this nation to greater heights.

Also speaking was” Mr Ademola Seriki, chairman governing board of MAN, said that the board would understudy the situation on ground at the agency, through the Interim Management Committee (IMC).

He expressed his readiness to work with the members and staff of MAN to develop the academy and to meet international standard.

.L-R: Chairman, NUJ Correspondent Chapel Oyo State, Mr Ola Ajayi; Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof Segun Ajiboye; a member of the Chapel, Dr Oludayo Tade; during a news conference on activities of TRCN on Saturday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Air Force advocates increased security consciousness among youths

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has advocated for increased security consciousness amongst Nigerian youths as a way of engendering a flawless Nigerian society.

The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olatokunbo Adesanya, reiterated

this advocacy recently while delivering a lecture at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) as part of programmes to mark the University’s 2018 Law Week, a statement he personally issued yesterday said.

At the Event themed ‘Law and Security: Fostering a Flawless Society’, Adesanya said the relationship between law and order is direct and interwoven and cannot be separated from the

other in an effort to have a near flawless society.

He maintained that it might be impossible to attain a totally flawless society because respective human beings have individual choices to do either what is wrong or right. Nevertheless, the citizenry must make every effort towards having a flawless society.

Speaking further during his lecture titled, ‘Role of Security Agencies in Engendering a

Flawless Society: the Nigerian Air Force in Perspective’, Adesanya stated that it is only in a near flawless society that there could be true prosperity in a peaceful and orderly environment.

He further averred that it is only by operating within the ambient of existing statutes that security agencies could contribute to the engendering of a flawless society.

FG commences retraining of technical teachers

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Federal Government has reinvigorated its retraining programme for Federal Government Technical College Teachers across the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a 4-day Retooling programme at the Federal College of Education Technical, Akoka, Lagos the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arch Sonny Echono said that the retraining programme was necessary to empower teachers to effectively

deliver the curricula According to him, the Federal Government way deliberately focuses on Technical, Vocational Education and Training in order to address the challenge relating to skills development as a means of poverty eradication.

This he said will be achieved through the various steps being taken by Government including the recently flagged-off National Vocational Qualification Framework, production of Science equipment/ technical instructional materials, upgrading of physical

infrastructure and empowering of out of school youths.

The Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs. Tina Eyaru earlier in her address acknowledged the problem of inadequate training of teachers, especially technical teachers which has prevailed for a very long time.

Speaking further, Mrs. Eyaru said that Assessment conducted on 21 FSTC revealed that majority of the serving teachers have not participated in capacity building programme since they were employed 10 – 15 years ago, adding

that many of them are deficient in practical skill and unable to use modern machine.

The Provost of Federal College of Education Technical, Akoka. Dr. Sojibomi Olusanya assured that the College was blessed with seasoned lecturer and equipment to deliver effective retraining.

Principal of Queens College, Mrs. Biola Are called for more regular and longer training sessions for the teachers, noting that equipment worth millions of naira are lying waste in many schools because of lack of capacity to operate then.

NPHCDA, partners recruit experts for RI, enforces transparency, merit

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and its partners on Routine Immunization have given assurance that there would be no compromise on transparency,

due process and merit as the overriding criteria for engagement of consultants to improve routine immunization in 18 low performing states in the Country.

A statement issued by it Press Secretary, Saadu Salahu, said the Executive Director of

the Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib disclosed this in Abuja while addressing members of the multi-agency panel overseeing the recruitment of candidates for the exercise.

Dr. Faisal revealed that although over two thousand persons applied for the job,

about 100 of them sat for the Competency Based Test (CBT) while only 57 were shortlisted for the final oral interview.

Dr. Faisal explained that as parts of efforts to guarantee transparency and due process, development partners on Routine Immunization such

as WHO, UNICEF, CHAI, EUSIGN, US Centre for Disease Control, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation actively participated in the process leading to the final selection of the successful candidates, stressing there was no room for nepotism.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 7

CRIME News

Police bust notorious gang, arrest 9 in Kaduna From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

F

ollowing the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum given to members of the dreaded Sara-Suka gang in Kawo,

Over 50 Nigerian migrants rescued on way to Italy

N

o fewer than 50 Nigerian migrants were among the hundreds of migrants rescued today in the Mediterranean by Libya’s coastguard and an international charity, Doctors Without Borders(MSF).

The Nigerians were aboard a boat with 110 migrants. They were rescued by Aquarius, a ship being operated by MSF, 21 miles from the coast west of Tripoli. The ship will deliver the migrants, who included 18 women and one child, to Italy.

According to Reuters, more than half the migrants on that boat were Nigerians, with the rest from other sub-Saharan African countries as well as two Palestinians.

The Libyan coastguard vessels also intercepted two of the migrant boats, the first an inflatable dinghy that had broken down with 125 people on board off Zawiya, just west of the capital, Tripoli, said Ayoub Qassem, a coastguard spokesman.

The second boat was turned back off Garabulli, east of Tripoli, and had 112 people on board.

The migrants and their smugglers were trying to take advantage of calm seas as they launched a flurry of boats towards Italy.

Meanwhile the coastguard in Zuwara, a former Libyan smuggling hub west of Zawiya, said they had foiled a departure during the night and arrested some migrants whilst others had escaped with smugglers.

The Libyan coastguard vessels also intercepted two of the migrant boats, the first an inflatable dinghy that had broken down with 125 people on board off Zawiya, just west of the capital, Tripoli, said Ayoub Qassem, a coastguard spokesman.

The second boat was turned back off Garabulli, east of Tripoli, and had 112 people on board.

The migrants and their smugglers were trying to take advantage of calm seas as they launched a flurry of boats towards Italy.

Meanwhile the coastguard in Zuwara, a former Libyan smuggling hub west of Zawiya, said they had foiled a departure during the night and arrested some migrants whilst others had escaped with smugglers.

Kaduna North Local Government Area, by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Iwar, for the gang members to turn a new leaf, the police has stormed their various hideouts in Kawo District

and arrested nine members of the gang.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command ASP Aliyu Mukhtar disclosed this while speaking to Peoples Daily in Kaduna

yesterday.

According to him, items recovered from the gang includes; machetes, knives and sticks.

ASP Aliyu Mukhtar said the command has intensified efforts

to ensure that other fleeing members of the gang are arrested.

He added that investigation has commenced into the matter and very soon they will be charged to court.

.R-L: Former FRSC Corps Marshal, the Ike Obosi, Chief Osita Chidoka, paying homage to the traditional ruler of Obosi Town, Idemili North in Anambra, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III during the Obosi community Ito-Ogbo festival to celebrate over 130 elders for attaining 80 years, yesterday in Anambra.

Photo: NAN

Zamfara: Security operatives kill 70 bandits, recover guns, ammunition From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d Gusau

T

he Department of the State Security (DSS) Zamfara state Command in joint anti-banditry operation with the troops of the 223 Light Tank Battalion and repentant bandits have succeeded in killing 10 armed bandits commanders and other 60 members of Buharin Daji’s dreaded group in separate encounters.

They also recovered 30 AK47 and 6,000 live ammunitions from the arrested gun runners as well.

This was heralded at a press conference by the State Director of Security (SDS) Zamfara state Commmand, Hadi Usman Sudawa, shortly after reception ceremony of Buharin Daji’s remains by the state Acting Governor, Malam Ibrahim

Wakkala at the weekend in Government House, Gusau, the state capital.

The Director said, the idea of forming the anti-banditry operation in the state followed refusal of Fulani bandits led by the deceased Buharin Daji to respect the agreement reached under a Peace and Reconciliation Committee headed by the state deputy governor, fulani armed bandits and Yansakai with a view to suspend hostilities and to lay down arms for peace restoration.

“Following agreement reached under the Peace and Reconciliation Committee which was constituted by the state government under the chairmanship of the state deputy governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, to suspend hostilities between Fulani armed bandits and ‘Yansakai, both parties were

asked to lay down their arms.

“While members of Volunteer Vigilante laid down a significant number of arms, the Fulani bandits remained adamant.

Shortly after, sometimes in April, 2017, the armed bandits resumed full blown armed banditry activities in different parts of the state and this necessitated the resumption of anti-banditry operation against Buhari led banditry syndicate and other bandits in the state,” Sudawa explained.

He further informed that, the anti-banditry operation which always work closely with repentant bandits, had succeeded in the arrest of one the top most commander identified as Dogo Bangaje by the Nigeria Police who was subsequently handed over to DSS under the directive of the state governor for further

actions.

“Following such a development, the terror godfather of Bangaje, (Buhari General issued a 24 hour ultimatum to the state government to release him unconditionally otherwise he would make the state ungovernable by committing large scale massacre and other unbearable criminal activities in the state,” the Director stated.

According to SDS, there was an achievement worth commendation and credited to the repentant bandits as they have killed at least 10 Commanders of Buhari General, over 60 foot soldiers and recovered over 6,000 rustled cows. “The recovered rustled cows were brought to Trade-Fare complex Gusau where victims of cattle rustling came, identified and collected their cows.”

Miyetti Allah urges members to embrace education to end clashes From Ahmed Idris Kebbi

K

Birnin

ebbi State Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Mallam Ibrahim Jodi has called on their members to enroll their children in western education in order to end the crisis between Fulani and farmers across the country.

The association, said it would also guide them on how to manage their cattle business.

He made this call weekend at Zuru while addressing the newly elected exco members of Zuru chapter of the association, adding

that they are not comfortable with the ongoing present situation in the country where Fulani turn to terrorism.

“You people would serve for four years and you should make sure that you tackled the menace by ending the persistence of the herdsmen crisis between farmers and Fulani in Zuru emirate in kebbi State,” he added.

He also declared that they would return to the old Fulani way of punishing deviants so as to rid the tribe of bad eggs.

Also speaking at the occasion, the chairman of Fulani, and farmer reconciliation committee in Zuru local government,

Ayuba Dogo Dabai said so far the committee have visited six district in fostering good relationship within them and ensured Peace and harmony in the societies.

He commended the effort of the present chairman of Zuru Local Government for inagurating the reconciliation committee adding that it as reduced the rift between them and the farmer communities in the area.

In his remark, the Zuru Local Government chairman Kabir Rafi admonished the newly elected officials to operate open door policy by embracing peace

in the societies and find lasting solutions to the current crisis in the country.

Responding, while delivering his speech, the newly elected chairman of the Association, Abubakar Kabir thank the kebbi State Government, Emir of Zuru and Local government chairman for supporting their union in any of these difficulties and make them to maintain peace within themselves.

He then assured them that in Zuru emirate the herdsmen and farmer crisis would no longer be surface again because he would make sure that his new blue print should be implemented.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 8

News

Sharp practices: DPR seals petrol stations in Zaria, Hunkuyi From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

T

he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has sealed up some petrol stations in Zaria and surrounding areas for selling Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) at N190 per litre instead of the government approved pump price of N145/litre.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer of DPR, Rabiu Bello disclosed this in a press statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

According to the statement, the action followed information received from patriotic Nigerians of selling above the recommended pump price in Zaria and environs.

He added that some petrol stations were caught red handed in Zaria.

The statement further stated that the operation was led by the Zonal Operations Controller, Alhaji Isah Tafida , accompanied by the Civil Defence operatives.

The team stormed Zaria and Hunkuyi, where he directed the stations to reverse to the government approved price of N145/litre.

Alhaji Tafida said as penalty, the companies were charged N100,000 per pump to be paid directly into Government TSA account; and the stations were also suspended from lifting products for three months.

Alhaji Isah Tafida warned all marketers who engage in sharp practices to desist or face stiffer sanctions, including withdrawal of their operating licences. He emphasized that government procured the product and it was sold to marketers at a price that guaranteed them reasonable profit margin.

He further warned that marketers should not assume that being far from Kaduna conferred any advantage on them to hike prices as they wished, and that DPR would not relent in its surveillance activities to ensure that products allocated to filling stations were delivered and sold to public at the approved rate per litre.

The Zonal Operations Controller appealed to the public to contact DPR through the telephone numbers provided on DPR website:www.dpr.gov.ng if they observed any malpractices at any petrol filling station.

Trailer crushes youth corps member to death in Kaduna From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

T

he Kaduna Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of a Youth Corps member, Oyeleke Ajani, as one of the two people killed in an accident involving a trailer and motorcycle in Kaduna.

The FRSC Sector Commander,

Umar Ibrahim, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday.

Ibrahim said the accident happened around 2 p.m by Lagos Garage Road, Mando, along Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, Kaduna.

“Our findings revealed that the corps member, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

and the motorcycle rider were riding against traffic heading to Mando from Kawo bridge.

“The rider lost control and jammed into a trailer coming from the opposite direction, killing the two instantly, “he said.

He added that the victims’ bodies had been deposited at the morgue of Barrau Dikko Hospital, Kaduna.

“The accident caused serious traffic gridlock; it took the intervention of Kaduna state government and Mando FRSC rescue teams to clear the road, “he said.

The commander advised people to desist from driving against traffic, stressing that such behaviour would lead people to untimely death.

L-R: National Organizing Secretary, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), Mr. Egbe Akparakwu Adun, National Chairman FJP, Dr. Breakforth Omwubuya , Presidential Aspirant FJP, Prof.. Jise Jiboh Ejie and the Party National Publicity Secretary, Apostle Samuel Eduviere, during the Presentation of nomination form to the Presidential Aspirant, on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

UNC boss, Ejie joins 2019 presidential race

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Commandant-General Paramilitary and Conflict Resolution Organisation known as United Nigerian Chaplaincy (UNC), Prof Jidejisos Ejie has declared his intention to vie for the presidency in 2019.

This as he picked the presidential nomination of Interest form of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in its head office in Abuja at the weekend.

Receiving the form which cost N 500, 000 Ejie, said “ I am here on a divine mind, I don’t just want to put myself into the system but God wants me to

change the mess that has been in the system for years . I have what it takes and enough structures in the 36 states of federation and I have come to stay and reunite Nigerians “.

“I think that I am fit for this position, with wide experiences national and international , I have the capacity and the knowledge to rule this country to the promise land . I have served my kindred, my state, the nation before United Nations (UN) brought me up to international level. I am a youth , very vibrant and this is the set time for us the youth to take charge the mantle of leadership in this country.” If I become the

president today and iam in the system all the dreamers on seat will have to go because we need new ideologies in as much as we need the old men, “ he said .

The presidential aspirant pointed out that “we are trapped with old men ruling us in this country, We are saying no to analogue and old men as our leaders,it is high time for them to retire and rest while giving the opportunity to younger generations of digital and vibrant leaders to take charge of the affairs of this nation in order to move this country to the expected level. “ “People are tired of the

existing government and clamour for change, the need for cohesion among the people would be necessary to midwife a break from the present regime .

He added that Fresh and Justice party will give Nigerians a fresh brand president that will give freedom and justice in aspects of national existence.

He called on the youth to shun intimidation and participate actively in politics.

Prof Ejie urged both the youth and Nigerians to vote for him in the forthcoming 2019 presidential elections , for a better hope and a new face of the future

Abia govt announces plans for Enyimba Economic City

T

he Abia government says it is building a multi-million naira Enyimba Economic City that will industrialise and boost the economy of the state.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu made this known when he briefed heads of media houses in the state at the Abia Government Lodge, Aba, on Sunday as part of efforts to industrialise the state since he assumed office in 2015.

“This project is very close to my heart and I am passionate about it.

Abia Government is building Enyimba

Economic City.

“It is sitting on 9,000 hectares of land. We have committed over N10 billion to the project and we are shopping for sponsors,” he said.

He said the state government was not making much noise about the project because “we have our target to industrialise Abia and we must get there”.

On the moribund Golden Guinea and Ceramics industries, the governor said that previous administrations sold the companies, including the Enyimba

Hotel, Aba. Mr. Ikpeazu said that in spite of the concession, the state government was doing all it could to bailout and revitalise the companies.

He said that the state government had assisted Peter Nzenwa, the new owner of the brewery to secure Bank of Industry facility.

On modern ceramics, he said that it was concessioned to Catholic Diocese of Umuahia, who took a loan of N250 million to rehabilitate and revitalise the company.

“As I speak, that facility has accumulated to N1.5 billion interest.

We have approached the court to pay and exit the church from the Shylock facility.”

He said that after exiting the church from the debt, the state government would like the church to explore its Italian connection to make the company functional again.

On teachers’ salary, he said that there was only two months gap, adding that before the end of 2018 those gaps would have been completely filled.

Mr. Ikpeazu said that Abia had the highest workforce of 30,000, adding that 70 per cent of the workers were in the ministry while others were in the parastatals.

He explained that his administration inherited a monthly wage bill of N2.7 billion, noting that it had been reduced to N2.1 billion.

The governor said ICPC adjudged the state government as the best manager of the Paris Club Refund because it deployed 71 per cent of the cash inflow to workers’ salary.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Page 9

News

APC women leader canvasses gender mainstreaming at UN

By Stanley Onyekwere Abuja

T

he national women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has advocated for gender mainstreaming, just as she observed that sustainable development is virtually impossible without frontally addressing the marginalization and adversity facing women across the globe.

She regretted that year after year, successive governments continue to pay lip service to issues of women empowerment and gender mainstreaming, stressing that from politics and governance to the family and economy, the challenges confronting women are as real as they are daunting.

Aliyu, made this assertion in her message at the ongoing United Nations Africa Women Conference in New York, as part of activities marking 2018 International Women’s Day. In a press statement issued by the co-host of the conference and President of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, the APC national women leader as saying that the time has come to actually do something about women empowerment and gender mainstreaming.

The statement reads in part: “Needless to say, the majority of us have had cause to so think at one point or the other in our lives. This is even more so in less developed climes like Africa where the majority are still

grappling with basic necessities that our counterparts in the advanced world have since taken for granted.

“And therein lies the real connection between sustainable development and gender discrimination because our societies often feel that they have more important issues to address.

“However the irony is that sustainable development is virtually impossible without frontally addressing marginalisation and adversity facing our women.

“From politics and governance to the family and economy, the challenges confronting our women are as real as they are daunting. Year after year we continue to pay lip service to

issues of women empowerment and gender mainstreaming.

“The MDGs, and now the SDGs have provided a great vehicle for attaining sustainable development and by extension women empowerment.

Unfortunately the success stories have been rather too few and far between”.

She therefore called on country especially Africa governments to tap into the vast reservoir of socioeconomic and cultural experiences and resources available to draw up tailor-made interventions that will significantly close the gender gap, adding that without women empowerment there also cannot be any real sustainable development.

According to her, “This

can also be done by urging our lawmakers to come up with legislations that will guarantee and promote women’s access to decent terms and conditions of employment including but not limited to good living wage, secure contracts, access to social protection, equal pay for equal work, equal opportunities and of course non-discrimination in the workplace”.

She equally used the occasion tovreach out to the families of the abducted girls in Chibok and recently Dapchi, just as she expressed the belief that the measures taken by the government towards rescuing the girls will soon bear fruits.

100 Adamawa students paid scholarships, say LG chair From Umar Dankano Yola

I

n an effort to improve knowledge seeking by its teeming youths, the management of Fofure Local Government in Adamawa state has given scholarship to one hundred indigene students across tertiary institutions in the state.

Executive Chairman of the Council, Barristar Aliyu Wakili Boya while presenting the scholarship support to the students in Fufore ,weekend, said it was his administration’s way of fulfilling campaign promises to the parents and their wards in the education sector.

Barristar Boya said the gesture was to encourage qualified students in the area to further their education.

Boya who was represented by the chairman of the Boya scholarship programme, Alhaji Saidu Sali, said 50 of the students

undergoing diploma programmes were given N10,000 each while the other 50 undergoing degree programmes were given N20, 000 each.

Speaking at the occasion, the District Head of Fufore, Alhaji Abubakar Mahmud, lauded the initiative and urged other elected officials to emulate it.

Mahmud also urged beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by being more dedicated to their studies.

Some of the beneficiaries, Suleiman Man-Petel and Hussaini Lawur, who spoke, thanked the council chairman for the support which they said was timely.

They prayed for the success of his ambition to contest for Adamawa Central Senatorial seat, adding that with higher elective position, the chairman who is also the Sarkin Matasa (Youth Leader) in Adamawa Emirate would do more for the youth in the zone.

Officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) screening candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination at Aran-Orin community centre in Irepodun LGA on Saturday in Kwara.

Photo: NAN

Sokoto 1 Brigade Army gets new commander From Raji Bello Sokoto

A

new Commander of the 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Brigadier -General Lynus Udeagbala has assumed duty

in the state.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to our reporter in Sokoto, by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Brigade, Major Clement

Abiade.

Abiade said until his recent appointment, Udeagbala was the Chief of Staff (COS), 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

He said that at the handing over ceremony, the

immediate past Commander of the Brigade, Brig.-Gen Ginikawa Nwosu, implored the soldiers to accord his successor the support he needed to succeed in his new tour of duty.

Highlights of the ceremony were the lowering and hoisting of the Brigade flag to signify the change of command.

Minister tasks board appointees on transparency in resources management

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna Abuja

T

he Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril has urged Governing Board members , public servants to imbibe the spirit of accountability, honesty and transparency in the management resources entrusted in their care.

The Minister gave this charge at the weekend while inaugurating the Governing Boards and Councils of some Parastatals and Agencies under the supervision of the Ministry.

A statement signed by Ovuakporie Efe For Director Press said that the Minister emphasized that it is imperative for them to bear in mind that “the present Administration has

zero tolerance for any form of corruption and that the stance will not be compromised in anyway.

“Government frowns at any form of corrupt practices perpetuated by any board member as well as the management team of the Agencies”, Jibril said .

He noting that the environment sector is very

vital to the sustainability of the national development , the Minister urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear on their new assignments in a manner that is consistent with the Change Agenda of the Buhari led Administration.

The Minister assured that the Ministry would continue to work closely with the Agencies to ensure compliance with the

extant guidelines of the Public Service Regulations adding that the governing boards and the agencies were critical in achieving the developmental goals of government.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shehu Ahmed tasked the appointees to be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring the safety of our environment.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 10

News Ex beauty queen takes free cervical cancer screening to rural mothers

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

F

ormer Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) 2012, Isabella Agbor Ayuk, on Thursday, organised community sensitisation, free cervical cancer screening and treatment for women in Ushafa community, Bwari Area Council of the FCT. The medical outreach which registered about 200 women beneficiaries was part of activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day. The Programme also featured capacity building exercise for primary healthcare workers in the community on early detection and treatment of various ailments.

In a chat with journalists at the Ushafa Primary Healthcare Centre, where the outreach took place, Ayuk expressed concern over the low-level of awareness, on the part of women, on the need to go for regular screening for early detection of the disease.

The former beauty queen noted that limited human and financial resources, uninformed and disempowered female population, poverty, and poorly developed health care centres were some of the reasons responsible for the high rate of deaths among women in the country due to cervical cancer.

According to her, “in Nigeria, it is reported that over 30 million women of reproductive age are at risk of developing cervical cancer with an estimated 10,000 deaths annually.

“Cervical screening helps diagnose the disease at an early pre-cancerous stage so that necessary measures can be applied to ensure the ailment does not develop. So, the essence of screening tests conducted on these women is to identify precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix that could develop into cancer. I believe that with successful cervical cancer screening, we can bring down the scary number of deaths linked to the disease.”

Again, FG assures private sector of enabling business environment

By Abba-Eku Onyeka

Abuja

T

he Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar has again assured the private sector of government’s commitment towards creation of enabling environment for business to thrive.

This was made known in a statement signed for the Deputy Director, Press by Umar Maryam Yusuf, which said the minister stated this when the executive

members of the Association of Skilled and Vocational Artisans of Nigeria (ASVAN) visited to her in Abuja.

Hajia Abubakar commended the visitors for their efforts in training and creating employment, particularly for the women and youths.

She expressed happiness for having keyed into the Federal Government’s policy of job creation and employment generation.

She said that the government

can’t do it alone, she therefore pledged the readiness of the Ministry to collaborate with them to bring their plans to reality.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, Comrade Everest Obijuru informed the Minister that the association was an umbrella body of all artisans and skilled workers in the Country with structures in all the 36 States and the FCT, even as he disclosed that the association was created for poverty eradication through investment and wealth creation

for its members.

Comrade Obijuru hinted that ASVAN is planning a three day national summit, to train and enlighten about ten thousand of its members drawn from across the country.

He said that the summit would also provide members the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Mr. Obijuru therefore sought the assistance of the Ministry and invited her to attend the summit as the special guest of honour

Registrar, JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede (m); Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Dr Wale Babalakin (l); Associate Professor, Lagos State University, Justice Wale Abiru (4th r); Convener, Dr Muiz Banire (3rd r) and his wife Jemilat (2nd r); National Missioner, Rahamatul Islamiyyah Society, Sheik Imam Tejidini (r) and other dignitaries, during a Special Prayer session in honour of Oloyede and others on Saturday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Group berates Police for laying siege on Peace Corps office

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he Nigerian Social Crusader and leader of ‘Our mumu don do’ campaigners Charles Oputa (Charly Boy), and his members has berated the Nigeria Police for continuously laying siege on the premises of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), after court judgements.

This was even as the Police, for the umpteenth times, prevented members of the PCN from taking possession of their National headquarters on Thursday.

Peace Corps office, which is located at number 57, Iya Abubakar Crescent, off Alex Ekwueme way, opposite Jabi Lake, Jabi, Abuja, has been under siege by the Police since February 28th, 2017, the day the premises was

officially commissioned.

Despite different court orders given at Federal High Court, Abuja with the attendant letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Ibrahim Malami, that Police should obey the 2 subsisting court orders, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, has remained unperturbed.

The House of Representatives, had through its Committee on Public Petitions, on Tuesday, urged the Police to comply with court orders and the advice of the AGF. As early as 10am on Thursday, officers of PCN under the leadership of the National Commandant, Amb (Dr.) Dickson Akoh, were ushered by the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Justice

and Equity, to take possession of the office.

But they were firmly resisted by a detachment of well-armed Mobile Police officers from the FCT Command.

The Civil Society coalition led

by Comrade Olayemi Success, said it was very ironical that, “same Police which was supposed to be enforcing law could not obey court orders, the AGF and the order of Nigerian parliament”.

He lambasted the cop for embarrassing the federal republic of Nigeria before the international community, which caused the recent rating of “Nigeria Police being the worst in the whole world”.

With the heavy reinforcement from the Police, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bello

Sadiq, pleaded with the Corps to hold on while he continued to consult with the IGP, whom he said has final says on the office.

Sadiq also mandated an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumese Valentine, to mediate between the civil society and the cop, to ensure there was no altercations.

On his part, the Peace Corps Boss, Akoh, said, as peaceful people and law abiding organisation, his men would retire home while waiting for the response of the IGP. Akoh said the office was rented for 3 years with N13.8m annual rent, adding that, the Police had already vandalised the premises and looted some valuables, as at the time they visited the office on Thursday.

Foundation rallies stakeholders support for women’s health challenges

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

A

ids Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has called on stakeholders in the country to support women’s health related challenges.

AHF made the call while marking the International Women’s Day, in Benue State, a statement issued by the foundation’s

Advocacy & Marketing Manager, Steve Aborisade said.

It added that the Programme which was organized in partnership with Eunice Spring of Life Foundation, the NGO of the First Lady of Benue state, was also meant to charge Nigerians to Keep the Promise for Women.

The statement said the organisation hosted a town hall

meeting in Markurdi, Benue State, with participation of over 250 women from different parts of the state as a platform to aggregate the problems facing women and proffer lasting solution to them.

“Event started with a rally, and as soon as the rally terminated, the activity of the day, a town hall meeting commenced with full steam. Gathered are different

Women Support Groups from Agan, Daudu, Gbajimba, Markurdi, Awo Apilla and other areas of the state.On the agenda was the issue of health inequalities that women suffered especially as related to HIV/AIDS services.

“Consensus was on the need to ensure that adequate access is provided to women to access quality healthcare.

“The First Lady of the State, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, commends AHF for bringing Benue women together and said she is ready to partner with AHF for the sake of Benue women. In her remarks, through Mr. Daniel Gbabo, her Senior Special Assistant on Admin and ICT, Mrs. Ortom said now is time to prioritise agenda for development for women.”

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

T

Better late than never

was not the case before, the Egmont the existing system for combating he Nigerian Financial Group suspended Nigeria at its last money laundering and associated Intelligence Agency is all but general meeting in July 2017, with predicate offences, financing of independent now. This lack a threat to expel the country if the terrorism and proliferation of of independence is the reason agency had not been given autonomy weapons of mass destruction and for Nigeria’s suspension from the by its next meeting scheduled for make provision for the Agency to Egmont Group in 2017. The group March 11-16, 2018 in Buenos Aires, exchange information with Financial is a network of 154 member nations Argentina. If expelled, we, as a nation, Intelligence Institutions or similar that share intelligence on criminal will “suffer a blacklist in the global bodies in other countries in matters financial activity. In Nigeria, the finance sector and Nigerian Banks relating to money laundering, NFIA is not only made an appendage will be unable to issue Mastercard terrorist financing activities and of the Economic and Financial other predicate offences.”

Crimes Commission (EFCC), it It is, therefore, understandable why the is housed in the premises of the Egmont Group was uncomfortable Commission which also determines with the Nigerian agency placed who becomes the head of the agency. under the supervision of a rival The Egmont Group fears that the The House of Representatives, organ of the government. It was Nigerian situation compromises the the second chamber of against its normal. But all said, intelligence coming from the agency. the National Assembly, had the group has been particularly The Nigerian Senate Wednesday accepted it a week earlier. merciful to Nigeria, almost begging adopted the harmonised report of This means that the agency no that we do the right thing. President the conference of the two chambers longer will report to the EFCC Buhari should have no problem that agreed on autonomy for the but the Central Bank of Nigeria. with giving his assent to the bill, NFIA. The House of Representatives, All that is required to formalise seeing an independent agency the second chamber of the National the new arrangement is such as envisaged in the NFIA, will Assembly, had accepted it a week President Muhammadu Buhari’s be a big plus in the fight against earlier. This means that the agency corruption, a fight he has declared no longer will report to the EFCC assent. This must come before March 11, the day the Egmont “a top priority”. but the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Group meets, to stop it from Speaking after the Senate had adopted All that is required to formalise expelling Nigeria altogether. the harmonised conference report, the new arrangement is President the Senate President Bukola Saraki Muhammadu Buhari’s assent. This called on Buhari to quickly sign the must come before March 11, the day and Visa credit/debit cards while card draft law. “I hope on the part of the the Egmont Group meets, to stop it transactions with Nigerian originated Executive, they will quickly assent from expelling Nigeria altogether. cards will be blocked. This means to this Bill and also ensure that the The intention of the draft legislation Nigerians will be unable to carry out independence of the Financial Unit is to make the agency the central foreign transactions.” goes beyond just signing this Bill body responsible for “requesting, An autonomous agency, according to into law. It is important that we receiving, analysing and originating bill, specifically performs see it being practiced; this is very disseminating financial and other these functions: “institutionalise best important.” This is both advice and information to all law enforcement practices in financial intelligence a warning. We, at Peoples Daily, and security agencies and other cannot but support Saraki. relevant authorities.” Because this management in Nigeria; strengthen

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OUR PEOPLE Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Chief Operating Officer (Ag) Editor, Daily

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PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Governor Badaru and the old order in Jigawa state

By Adamu Muhd Usman

I

write to comment or disagree with his plan to emulate some techniques or agendas of the former governor of Jigawa state, Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki to transform Jigawa by paying Polling booth fund (Kudin Akwati) to few politicians neglecting or abandoning the roles or responsibilities of councilors, local government chairmen and perhaps commissioners and other M.Ds and E.Ss and making them redundant and inactive.

The governor, for his past and present experience as a governor he needs no extraordinary research to know the problems of the poor masses because as we all know, the demands of Talaka (citizen/poor), right from the 60’s has always been the same. Such demands are qualitative and free education, good health care, portable water, electricity, good roads, shelter, agricultural production, job opportunities, security, poverty alleviation, industrialization, and desertification control, most especially in the Northern parts of Nigeria.

To be candid If governor Badaru is truly

serious with his agenda of transforming Jigawa and he means well for the people of the state, he should not ignore the reality of knowing, planning and attending the suffering of the masses not until he gives or awards unconstitutional money to each polling unit across the state as a free gifts to politicians because of 2019 elections are fast approaching and we can term this agenda as a bribe to electorate instead employing hundred of thousand youths roaming the street in Jigawa, supply drugs to hospitals, provide fertilizer to the rural farmers at an affordable price, construction of boreholes, prompt payment of scholarship to Jigawa indigenes, giving loans to the small and medium scale traders etc.

Looking back to posterity, one could easily relegate the period 1999-2007 in the annals of Jigawa state history as being one of the worst in the state since its creation.

The attempted resurrection some of those policies or agendas could be described as a denouement of monumental proportion politically and developmentally of Jigawa state. The previous regime of former governor, Turaki who couldn’t show

a single project in the entire state in the eight years because of that money been allocated to few politicians as polling unit fund (Kudin Akwati) which hindered the provision or execution of any meaningful developmental project in the state like construction of roads, attending to educational and health sectors, provision of potable drinking water, agricultural production, etc so, is such maladministration governor Badaru will emulate?

So, governor Badaru still believes that the good and honest people of Jigawa state will succumb to these archaic and unproductive idea that halt Jigawa to progress and stagnation under that nasty and fruitless agenda of Kudin-Akwati? One can even ask, which kind of alliance these two individuals want make? After Jigawa have been liberated and transformed with all the needful things of human existence

by Sule Lamido administration which Jigawa turns just like small London or Paris and to think that someone will come and claim any credit for misruling Jigawa state beats anybody’s imagination. But come to think of it.

The people of jigawa state are blessed and have realized their potentials and are determined to keep it that way. As the Hausa put it “Kan Mage ya Waye”, and if anyone is in doubt, the present experience should be the warning signs.

Lastly, the state assembly members should as well think twice on this planned and borrowed idea, checkmate the affairs of the governor and know their responsibilities as lawmakers. They should try not to be toothless bulldogs. Governor Badaru needs to pattern your belt very well and very tight to rule with speed and forget that idea of Kudin-Akwati because time is going and it waits for nobody. We wish you God’s guidance and we pray to God to save you from this predicament. Your Excellency, what people care and mind is honesty, transparency, accountability, equity and commitment for Jigawa to reach a greater height. May God come to our aid, protect and bless Jigawa and Nigeria as a whole. Amen.

Adamu writes from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa state.

Senate: On powers and responsibilities of the legislature

By Jibrin Ibrahim

I

am getting very worried about the politics of the Senate and the manner in which it often places its narrow interest above the nation. The news yesterday was that they will override President Buhari’s veto on the bill to establish the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

This followed the adoption of a Point of Order raised by Senator Dino Melaye to override the veto. It would be recalled that the president had cited duplication of duties and funding challenges in declining assent to the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill, 2017 recently passed by the National Assembly.

The Nigerian Peace Corp is an NGO established and owned by an individual called Dickson Akoh, which was registered in 1998. It engages in the training and education of youth between the ages of 18 and 35. It receives grants from foreign and domestic donors, and it is uniformed and has paramilitary ambitions. I am not aware of any precedent in which parliament will legislate an NGO into a “State Institution” without even holding consultations with the Executive. It is an extremely foolish act to take someone’s private outfit and legislate it into a state institution.

It would be interesting to find out how the Nigerian Peace Corp obtained the vast amounts of money it used to lobby legislators to get themselves their bill.

The National Assembly has actually established very many institutions by passing bills and transforming all types of professional associations into government bodies and the president is absolutely right in deciding that this type of action must stop. We have too many institutions, and given the excessive cost of governance, our ambition should be to reduce the number of parastatals and not to multiply these.

Another institution being currently set up by the National Assembly is the ‘Independent National Commission for Hate Speeches’, which shall enforce

hate speech laws across the country.

Essentially, the bill, among other things proposed, claims that any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person shall die by hanging upon conviction.

We are all concerned about hate speech and its negative impact on social and political dynamics, but proposing the death sentence as punishment for this suggests that the legislators have very little understanding of hate speech and its forms. Hate speech that leads to terrible outcomes often look innocent on the surface and their danger is often embedded, not in the words enunciated but in the context and subliminal understanding that people have of what is behind the words. In the infamous Rwandan case of 1994, the words used are that “Tutsis are cockroaches” and I can imagine the difficulties of going to court and arguing that someone should be subjected to the death sentence because they have called another a cockroach. In other words, fighting hate speech often requires very sophisticated approaches that criminalising it could only further complicate. It is also important to keep in mind that the overkill on hate speech could seriously undermine press freedom. We need a much more considered approach in addressing the ravages of hate speech in our society and must avoid playing to the gallery.

This week, Dr. Musa Abubakar, secretary to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had to take over the

Agency as acting chairman. The tenure of the leadership had expired and a new chairman and members nominated by the federal government for ICPC are still awaiting confirmation by the Senate. It would be recalled that the Senate had placed an embargo on the confirmation of appointments made by the president following the presidency’s retention of Ibrahim Magu as the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), despite their rejection.

Following the refusal of the Senate to consider President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for the vacant positions in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), it has not been able to meet this year. At the end of last year, eight positions in the 12-member committee became vacant, making it impossible for it to form the quorum required for it to meet. The president had in October last year nominated Mrs. Aisha Ahmad as a deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to replace Dr. Sarah Alade, who retired from the bank in June. He also nominated Professor Adeola Festus Adenikinju, Dr. Aliyu Rafindadi Sanusi, Dr. Robert Chikwendu Asogwa and Dr. Asheikh A. Maidugu as members of the MPC to fill the positions of four others whose tenure expired last year. The Senate has again refused to consider the nominations. The International Monetary Fund this week made an appeal for the matter to be resolved so that the economic recovery currently enroute would not be compromised. The

The Nigerian Peace Corp is an NGO established and owned by an individual called Dickson Akoh, which was registered in 1998

vacancies and the inability of Nigeria to pursue monetary policy is sending the wrong signals to international investors because it raises questions on the ability of Nigeria to take decisive actions in this regard because the MPC is the engine room for monetary policy, price stability and supporting the economic policies of the federal government.

Finally, thanks to Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, we now know that we have one of the most highly paid senators in the world. He was quoted in the media as having revealed that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly as running cost. This is the first time a member of the National Assembly will confirm speculations that Nigerian senators are earning N41.5 million quarterly as running cost each. The Kaduna senator who made the revelation in an interview he granted to TheNEWS magazine said the running cost was in addition to the over N700,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances of each member of the Senate. This vast income should make our legislators have a higher sense of responsibility to work for the national interest, rather than self-aggrandisement. I know that the Presidency also has a lot of faults, which I have addressed severally in this column. My point today is to draw the attention of the Senate, but also the House of Representatives to the fact that if they really want to represent the people, they must do what would benefit the public, rather than themselves.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/ expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Comment

From Chibok to Dapchi: PMB is blameless

By Ignatius Arinze

A

few weeks ago, in the town of Dapchi in Yobe State, no fewer than 110 Nigerian girls, who are students of the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College who were in School to acquire knowledge were abducted by gunmen believed to be the dreaded Boko Haram. According to the account of some of the girls who were lucky to escape by sheer instinct, the terrorists came dressed in Army uniform and the confusion this dressing created in the minds of the impressionable young girls, made it difficult for many of them to escape.

Thus for the second time in four years, Nigeria and its people and more especially, parents of young people who went in search of education had fallen victim to the cheap but deadly tactics of the Boko Haram, namely kidnapping.

The first time that the country had a taste of that evil called mass kidnapping, was on the 14th of April, 2014 when the same Boko Haram easily entered the Government Secondary School in Chibok and in movie style, took away from the School, about 250 young girls.

While a number of them have been rescued courtesy of negotiations and ransom payment by the caring Buhari administration, Nigerians and the parents of the remaining girls have waited with bated breath for the return of the rest.

Therefore, the abduction at Dapchi is one too many as it strikes at the heart of the nation.

As the title of this essay says, bad and condemnable as the recent abduction in Dapchi, Yobe State sounds, in view of the giant strides made by the administration of PMB in degrading and routing the Boko Haram, it will be unfair, very unfair indeed to blame this inhuman incident on President Muhammadu Buhari, as some detractors of the president are already doing, for political gain.

To be fair to President Buhari, he has

provided leadership and gingered the professionalism of the armed forces of Nigeria since he came to office in May 2015 with the result that the Nigerian Army which was a sorry sight in the fight against the Boko Haram regained its form in a short while and rolled back the advances of the terrorists. If we cast our minds back to the dramatic way the Islamic State, now facing defeat in Syria and routed in Iraq, initially mesmerized and overwhelmed the Iraqi Army before the Iraqi political leadership with the help of foreign allies of Iraq rallied back to push them out of Iraq, is the story of the Boko Haram and the Nigeria Army, before the coming of PMB. The problem with fighting terrorism is that it takes a while to actually defeat and totally eradicate the terrorists, if at all. Even when degraded or technically defeated as in the Nigeria case, absolute vigilance and acute intelligence is required to prevent remnants of the terrorists from re- grouping or re- launching attacks on soft targets like Schools, markets and places of worship, which might not be adequately protected by the nation’s security forces.

When one looks at the geography and land mass of the North east region of the country, notably the Boko Haramtroubled States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, one sees an open and large expanse of land that is slightly close in size to the continent of Europe. For a country with limited resources and security personnel, the policing of such wide open country becomes a herculean task. Even when in his wisdom and military sagacity, President Buhari has formed a coalition against terrorism comprising Nigeria’s neighbours to the North and a number of foreign countries, the counter- insurgency fight is not and has not been a tea party.

Analysts agree that were it not for the single- minded determination of PMB, a soldier, any other leader without a quick grasp of war and strategy would be unable to lead the Nigeria Army and her allies to

the victories they have claimed against the Boko Haram and which thwarted their initial caliphate ambition.

This writer and many other Nigerians who were observers when the Chibok girl’s abduction took place are displeased that the sad and embarrassing incident has been allowed to repeat itself. With Chibok, it was expected that the country’s leadership would commit itself to prescriptions and requirements of the Safe School project whereby, the authorities at all levels, local government, State and Federal Government would work to secure, safeguard and protect the nation’s Schools most especially in the most troubled areas.

For instance, the question has been asked, what will it cost the Federal, State and local government areas in the North east to have all the schools in the region, primary and Secondary, fenced round with exit gates, manned by armed vigilante or civil defence personnel. One remembers the civilian JTF that played a great complementary role to the effort of our armed forces to downgrade the Boko Haram. Rather than expose such hastily trained youths to combat duties, if any, such youth volunteers against Boko Haram could have been well utilized to provide police and security duties for Schools and other public places in the North east region. One thinks that the cost of fencing these Schools, of recruiting and paying the civilian JTF and even local intelligence gatherers would be small compared to the amount the government may have to expend in paying ransom for the Dapchi girls, if eventually they are found. Such an arrangement would have forestalled the abduction and saved the young abducted girls and their families the trauma and harrowing experience of captivity.

Nigeria has suffered much on account of Boko Haram. The group aims to make education unattractive to young people in the Northern part of the country and thereby deny the nation, the contributions of these youths to the development of

the nation. The way things are going unfortunately, it seems the Boko Haram are on the way to achieving their ambition of making education unattractive for most youths in the North east region. Everything has to be done to prevent a Boko Haram victory.

The abductions in Chibok and Dapchi of young impressionable School girls, calls to question the quality of intelligence available to the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as to their deployment. Second, the ease with which the terrorists move around the troubled areas ambushing and killing our troops as well as abducting the innocent and helpless creates concern on the effectiveness of Nigeria’s much- touted investment in satellite technology.

It should be noted that Nigeria’s communication satellite, NigcomSatIR presently in orbit, is believed to possess capabilities that should make it a valuable asset for security and the fight against terrorism. This has not happened. It seems rather that Nigerian security forces are falling shy of totally routing the terrorists or give them such a bloody nose that they will fritter away into neighboring countries or surrender altogether!

Dapchi should be the last humiliation that Nigeria should tolerate from this Boko Haram. We had been struggling with the trauma of Chibok and the morbid experience of the mass murder of Secondary School boys’ that took place at Bunu Yadi, also in Yobe State. The tears are too much!

We say enough is Enough.

To avoid ugly incidences of these abductions in future pending the near total elimination of the Boko Haram and significant levels of peace and security returns to the North east, the boarding school method should be suspended for now.

Ignatius Arinze is a Public Affairs Analyst based in Abuja.

The desirability for Mahmood Halilu as senator

A

facebook post by the publisher of Murya Magazine, Jamilu Yusuf, on the desirability and possibility of the candidacy of Dr. Mahmood Halilu Ahmed for senate in the forthcoming elections, has sent strong ripples to the political permutations and thinking in the Adamawa central senatorial district.

Dr. Mahmood Halilu, popularly called Modi is an accomplished businessman, philanthropist, famer and a seasoned politician. He is no stranger to the political landscape of Adamawa state. He contested, in 2007, for House of Representatives to represent Yola North, Yola South, and Girei Federal Constituency. Despite not winning on that occasion, he has been actively connecting with the diverse peoples of his constituency and this has further endeared him to them. He has since silently evolved into a people’s man in his constituency making him an epitome of political leadership in the senatorial district.

The possibility of his entry into the race for senate to represent Adamawa central senatorial district will for sure trigger political alignments and realignments; it will displace every other candidate in the race. Mahmood will come to the race armed with array of advantages over every other candidate. Mahmood has massive support from youths, well-established political associates and he has a political structure boasting of a large followership

and strong connections with the masses.

Mahmood is always approachable and pleasant. He is an adept business man, spearheading the leadership of a number of business entities. These factors coupled with calls for Yola South to produce the next senator for Adamawa central district give Mahmood the edge over other candidates.

Mahmood has proven his mettle as a political force by employing people friendly

strategies to stay afloat and relevant politically after his previous attempt at the polls. Unlike other politicians, who after losing or winning an election, desert their constituents until another round of elections approach, Mahmood got more involved with his constituents up to grassroots level. Being a critical thinker and problem solver, Dr. Mahmood Halilu Ahmed will bring pragmatism and strong development ideas to the senate. As an

At 45 years old, age is on Mahmood’s side. His work experience is superb while his popularity in his constituency is always on the increase. Mahmood’s candidacy for the senate seat to represent Adamawa central senatorial district will be a game changer. His candidacy means the game is over for other candidates.

experienced and successful businessman, he is an expert at working with people from various walks of life to achieve results, this he will also show in the senate to ensure the advancement of his constituency and the nation at large. With his excellent relationship with his people, Mahmood certainly understands the need of his constituents and this will be at the core of his contributions in the senate.

At 45 years old, age is on Mahmood’s side. His work experience is superb while his popularity in his constituency is always on the increase. Mahmood’s candidacy for the senate seat to represent Adamawa central senatorial district will be a game changer. His candidacy means the game is over for other candidates.

After Jamilu’s post, many people in the seven local government areas of Adamawa senatorial district have vowed to use their resources, strength and intelligence to campaign for Modi. In fact, in Adamawa senatorial district, the electorate see a vote for Mahmood as a vote for President Muhammadu Buhari because of Mahmood’s unalloyed loyalty to Buhari and strong connection with his peoplethe constituents of Adamawa central senatorial district.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa.

08036070980. zaymohd@yahoo. com. www.zayyad.com.ng

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 14

News

Prelate dismisses call for state Police

By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro

T

he Prelate, United Baptist Mission of Nigeria, Reverend Osama Usuanlele has dismissed call for state Police in the Country.

Usuanlele who spoke at an interactive session with the Media in Benin City, said aside from the under-developed nature of the Country towards state police.

He said state Police may become a tool of oppression against Civilians by despite politicians seeking power.

He however recommended to the Federal government to better equip, and retrain police in contemporary challenges of policing.

“The fear is that, despite that we have the federal police, the state governors still use them the way they like, because the order is that the state governor is the chief executive of a state.

“It is a matter of giving instruction to the Commissioner of Police, and immediately he will swing into actions and begin to do the biding of the governor.

“In state police, the bulk stopped at the table of the state governor, i sis obvious that there will be abuse of power, abuse of privilege, but if again, those at the helms of the affairs.

“They can be well educated as to know their role of these state police, and to the duty they own the people, then they will be apolitical about it, be neutral, and they are taking the wider interest of the people not that it must support only their political party”, he said.

Niger judicial workers get N30m wardrobe allowance From Yakubu Minna

Mustapha

T

he Niger State Government has taken steps to avert threatened strike by the Magistrates and Sharia Court Judges just as a sum of N30m has been released by state government to pay for the ward robe allowances for judicial officers in the state.

Earlier, the Magistrates and Sharia Court Judges had threatened strike to paralysed the activities of the judicial system in the state, if government continue to be insensitive to their demands.

The government also in collaboration with the state Police Commissioner agreed that

that security personnel would be given to the Magistrates and Sharia court judges.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Nasara Danmalam, made this disclosure when he addressed a meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Bar Association from the North Central Zone in Minna.

Magistrates and Sharia court judges had in a petition last week given the state government a 21 days ultimatum within which to improve the condition under which they worked or they would shun the courts indefinitely.

The ultimatum will expire on the 21st of this month.

He also disclosed that the ward robe allowances and

security details to the judges and magistrates would be enjoyed from this week.

Danmalam, however, described the petition and ultimatum given the government as one of the challenges being faced by the ministry, noting that there was no justification for the action because the government had been attending to problems facing the judiciary promptly.

He said the issue of vehicle and other demands were already being addressed, expressing the hope that “ they will see the sincerity of government by not going on strike”.

He further told the meeting that the budget of the ministry had been increased tremendously since the administration came

into power which had enabled the ministry to discharge its functions in a well dignified manner.

He disclosed that special courts are to be established to try suspects as one of the ways to decongest the prisons, adding that courts would commence sitting in Kontagora soonest.

In same vein, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mohammed Ndayako, said the forum was organise to prepare the zone for the forthcoming national elections of the association and the Arewa lawyers meeting slated for Kaduna.

Ndayako said the zone would be presenting a candidate for the position of the Secretary General of the NBA.

Cross section of women Participants during the international Transport workers conference, recently held in Abuja.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

Workshop seeks gender equality for women

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro Benin

T

he Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC)/Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) have held a one-Day workshop on gender equality for women.

The initiative, among other

things, seeks to erase doubts and other unpleasant memories or setbacks hindering women folk from achieving set goals in life.

General Manager, Supportive Services, (NPDC), Mrs. Ann Olumide made this known at a Ceremony to mark the 2018 International Women’s Day Celebration with the theme “Press for Progress” held on

Thursday in Benin-City.

Represented by Rashidat Rotimi, Manager, Seplat Joint Venture/ NPDC, Mrs. Olumide, challenged Nigerian women to remain determined and focus to overcome several challenges militating against them.

She emphasized that the Day, was specifically dedicated to Celebrate

womanhood, their social, political, cultural and economic achievements.

She also said the significant contributions of women must not be forgotten in history, explaining that a lot need to be done to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in society.

According to her, “If you are in doubt, then you need to take a

look at the recently released World Economic Forum 2017 Global Gender Gap Report which disclosed that gender parity is over 100 years away.

“We cannot be complacent. Now more than ever, there is a strong call to press for progress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and the whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive,”She said.

Proposed Army University will reduce youth restiveness – Minister

T

he Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim, says the proposed establishment of Nigerian Army University in Borno State will help to reduce youth restiveness in the region.

The minister said this when she received the proposed university’s implementation committee led by Lawal Faskari, a major general, in Abuja on Friday.

She said the university would provide

more opportunities for young people to acquire tertiary education in the region.

She commended Nigerian Army initiative for the school and promised to give necessary support for the actualisation of the university.

The leader of the university implementation committee told the minister that the team’s visit was to solicit her support and cooperation of the Federal Executive Council.

Mr. Faskari said that the proposed

university to be located in Biu, Borno, would offer admission to both military and civilians.

He stressed the need for the host community to provide an enabling environment for its takeoff.(NAN)

Some of the dignitaries include the state governor, Tanko Almakura, former governor Abdullahi Adamu, former minister Labaran Maku, former deputy governors, federal and

state legislators, serving and former commissioners amongst others.

Mr. Akwe-Doma served as the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State between 2007 and 2011.

Ex-Governor Akwe-Doma buried

T

he remains of the immediate past governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe-Doma has finally been laid to rest in his hometown, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The former governor died on Tuesday after a brief illness at a foreign hospital in Israel.

His body arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport onboard

a Turkish Airline on Saturday night at about 11 p.m.

The burial was attended by political big wigs from Nasarawa state and traditional rulers.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

2019: APGA passes vote of confidence on Buhari, sacks Lagos exco

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has the capacity to squarely address the economic and security challenges in Nigeria, urging him to summon the political will and implement measures that will aggressively turn around the fortunes of the country.

This is even as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the weekend, sacked its executive members in Lagos state, led by Barrister Kayode Alabi, over insubordination, and handed the affairs of the party to a new caretaker committee.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the National Chairman of the party, Victor Ike Oye, advocated that for the

President to effectively achieve a spontaneous socio-economic development there is need to reshuffle his cabinet, which he said as presently constituted cannot drive the change the President intends for the country.

He said time has come for the president to bring in capable hands who will help him to reengineer and refocus the government, to enable Nigerians witness again the Buhari of 1984, reiterating that the President has the capacity to achieve and turn things around.

Speaking further, Oye said the party is deeply concerned about the security crisis in the country, especially in the Benue, Mambila plateau in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Taraba and Plateau, urging all parties and politicians to carry out their activities with respect to peace as politics is not

a do or die affairs.

“APGA is worried about the palpitating state of insecurity in the country, and we call on the federal government to do something urgently to arrest the situation. We believe the President has the capacity to deal with insecurity in the country; all we need is the will power to do so.

“People have been talking about the activities of some persons in the country which is antithetical to the peace of the country, government should do something about these cries to ensure that the security and sovereignty of this country are not compromised”, Oye said.

He expressed confidence that APGA will advance its political fortunes in the 2019 elections, adding that the National Working Committee (NWC) has adopted a proactive approach in the

administration of the party, such as to give it an edge over other political parties preparatory to the 2019 elections.

He said the NWC has been meeting consistently, explaining that the idea behind this is to reengineer and revitalize the party for the upcoming general election. In this regard, Oye urged the President to quickly sign the Electoral Act 2010 which was recently passed by National Assembly to enable political parties study the document early enough before elections.

Reacting to the emergence of a third force political party with the name Social Democratic Party (SDP), the APGA chairman said his party should naturally be the third force since besides PDP and APC, no other party has recorded the level of successes being witnessed in APGA today.

To this end, he said the party has no plan to merge with any third force party, but expressed readiness to work more closely and improve the relationship it has with other political parties.

“APGA is growing in leaps and bounds; our membership is growing in exponential progression. We are the only party with a clean Bill of health, clear ideology, we are the first political party to entrench restructuring and power devolution in our party before APC Committee adopted it”, he said.

He urged Nigerians to think of APGA as an alternative to PDP and APC, saying the party is prepared for leadership. He cited example with Anambra state, which he said, though not an oil producing state, has taken development, road construction to the hinterlands.

Ekweremadu must apologize to Nigerians for coup statement - Group

By Our Correspondent

D

eputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has been asked to withdraw the coup statement he made on the floor of the Senate, as well as apologize to Nigerians for that “most unfortunate statement”.

Making the call, the Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) expressed disappointment over comments made by Senator Ekweremadu during deliberations in the red chamber.

Ekweremadu had said that coup is possible in the current political dispensation on account of what the he considered to be a threat to democracy in Kogi State.

In the statement signed by Coordinator Austin Braimoh and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMSG said it is disturbed that a Senator of the Federal Republic would contemplate a coup plot in Nigeria after the country has witnessed almost nineteen years of unbroken democracy.

“His reference to a coup plot in this dispensation”, says BMSG, “is highly disappointing and clearly appears as instigation. Definitely, his intention while making this comment is suspicious and unpatriotic.

“As a lawmaker and second in command at the nation’s highest law-making body, we expect Senator Ekweremadu to always exercise restraint in his utterances in order to uphold the virtues required of his high office. As someone occupying a high office in the country, it is expected that the stability and progress of the country will be uppermost in his mind.”

The Group called on Senator Ekweremadu and the Senate as a whole to emulate the qualities of President Muhammadu Buhari, who not only encourages separation of powers but continues to promote democracy in the country in all his actions.

“We advise Senator Ekweremadu and the Senate to stop equating the inability of politicians to adhere to democratic principles as putting the nation’s democracy in danger. It is indeed strange that the Senate, rather than focusing on its law-making responsibilities, is delving into states’ matters.

“We make bold to say that if indeed the country’s democracy is under threat as Senator Ekweremadu tried to make us believe, then it is an indictment on him as one of the leaders of the Senate, and he should stop passing the buck.”

L-R: Governo Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, Former Head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Governo Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state, during wedding reception of Idris Ajimobi and Fatima Ganduje, at the weekend in Agodi Gardens, Oyo state.

Buhari has delivered on his promises -Oyegun From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

N

ational Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun has stressed that the federal government, under the leadership of the party, has made positive impact on security and the socioeconomic sectors as well being of the citizenry had improved in the last three years.

Speaking at an APC rally organized to receive defectors to the party at the weekend in Katsina, Chief Oyegun noted that these policies were guided by the party’s manifesto of social welfare

and progressive change in all spheres of nation al life.

The national APC Chairman noted that despite the recession inherited by the Buhari administration, the administration has been able to make positive impact on the national economy to the collective benefit of Nigerians.

He cited the four thousand mega-watt boost in power supply which has supported thousands of small and medium scale business in the country that rely on power supply.

Mr. Oyegun explained that when the Mambila hydro power plant is completed, it will provide additional three thousand

megawatts to the national grid, which will aid the drive towards economic growth.

He called on Nigerians to support the APC in next year’s general elections, in order for the party to deliver more dividends of democracy for them.

In his address, the APC NorthWest zonal vice chairman, Alhaji Inuwa AbdulQadir welcomed the new defectors to the party and urged them to work towards the party’s success in next year’s general elections, at both national and state levels.

In his speech, Governor Aminu Bello Masari maintained that the defectors that joined the

APC from other political parties were attracted by the policies and projects being implemented by the party at state and national levels.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Senator Alhaji Ibrahim Idah said as politicians from the state, they joined the party to show their solidarity and support to President Muhammadu Buhari from his political base.

The defectors include a former speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ya’u Umar Gwajo-Gwajo, a former campaign coordinator of the PDP in the 2015 gubernatorial elections, Bature Umar Masari and several bigwigs from other political parties.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

POLITICS Ex-Adamawa Governor Abubakar Michika, 77, dies Saturday From Yola

T

Umar

Dankano,

he first civilian governor of Adamawa State, Abubakar Michika, who has been in coma for several days at a Federal Medical Centre in Yola, died on Saturday at the age of 77.

A press statement from his family issued in Yola yesterday announced that Late Michika died Saturday evening at around 7:25pm at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Yola, after a protracted illness.

The late former governor was buried on Sunday after Zuhr prayer, at 1:30 p.m, according to Islamic rites.

It was reported earlier by some media houses that one of his sons, Hafiz Saleh Michika, had been complaining to the state authorities that his father needed to go for medical check-up. He said the state government had also refused to pay his pension.

According to PREMIUM TIMES report, Hafiz said Governor Mohammed Jibrilla visited his father on Saturday, promising to do something.

He, however, stated that “even when he visited us, time was running out on the former governor if he must live.”

Reacting to the development, Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla described him as an industrial and peace loving personality.

Jibrilla said his demise is a national lost due to his international repute.

Mr. Michika, born in 1941, was the first civilian governor of Adamawa State, from January 2, 1992 to November 17, 1993. He was a member of the then governing National Republican Convention (NRC) in the state.

He worked with the British Bank of West Africa from 1966, then John Holt Company before joining the politics.

He was born in Michika, headquarters of the Michika Local Government Area in Adamawa where he did his primary school before moving on to Yola Middle School (now known as the General Murtala Mohammed College Yola) for his secondary education.

He had four wives and is a father to 38 children – 17 boys and 21 girls – 99 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Reps seek better relationship with media

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives has called on legislators across the country to improve their relationship with the journalists covering them, saying the media are partners in nation building.

Speaking at the maiden annual dinner/award of excellence organized by the House of Representatives Press Corps in conjunction with Correspondent Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) FCT in Abuja, Chairman of the House committee on media and public affairs, Rep Abdulrazaq Namdas (APC Adamawa), called on his colleagues to be more receptive to journalists covering activities of the Parliament, instead of seeing them as enemies; adding that a healthy media legislative relationship would enhance free flow of information from the legislators to their constituents.

Namdas, who was also honoured as the “Ambassador of the House” noted that the media was in a better position to assess activities

of lawmakers. He commended the House Press Corps for finding time to assess members and give awards to deserving members.

Chairman of the occasion, who is a former chairman of the House committee on media, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh in his key note address admonished the leadership of the House to raise its game by taking advantage of the disposition of the press corp to manage its reputation and public perception in view of its vulnerabilities in an era of social and traditional media.

He said, “Time has really changed yesterday, and today.

The management or otherwise of information is the difference in the success and failure in leadership.”

Eyiboh, who is now chairman of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, opined that “Constructive engagements, symbiotic relationship management, trainings and informal quarterly experience sharing and collaborations as a panacea for institutional image minding.”

Earlier, chairman of the House

Press Corps, Mr. Umar Mohammed Puma, in his welcome address said the essence of the award of excellence was to brainstorm on ways through which the media can collaborate with the legislature and other institutions of government to achieve national development.

He lamented that most public officials, especially politicians, see the media as a partner that should be held at arm’s length.

“We believe that those who court the media in their public life stand a better chance of succeeding in their assignments.”

Puma explained that ‘The awards are classified into four categories: serving members of the 8th House that are outstanding in their performance, members of the 7th Assembly, who have moved on and are doing excellently in different capacities; the National Assembly Bureaucracy and intuitions and organizations in the public and private sector, which have conducted their activities as it concerns the National Assembly with utmost

responsibility and integrity.”

He denounced the contention that journalists’ awards to personalities and institutions they cover were self serving. “Some have argued that it is self serving for journalists to be giving out awards to individuals or institutions they report or cover their activities. But, I beg to defer and make haste to say that as reporters, we oversight the Parliament and various organizations that do business with the Legislature.

“So, there is no body or group that is better equipped and positioned to tell the world what their representatives do in the parliament; and we are most competent to relate the interaction between the media and the larger society.”

Some of those honoured at the event included deputy speaker, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff as ‘Doyen of Constituency Projects’, Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta as ‘Legislator of the Year’, Hon. Ossai Ossai as “Rep of the Year (male) and Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje as “ Rep of the Year (female).

L-R: Chairman House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Chike John Okafor receiving the award of most dedicated chairman from the representative of the Clerk National Assembly, Alhaji Abdulkadri Adamu during the House of Representatives Press Corps maiden annual dinner / Award at the International conference center, at the weekend in Abuja

Ekiti 2018: Ojudu joins guber race, preaches party unity

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

L

eading All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Ekiti State, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, declared intension to run for governor on the party’s platform.

Ojudu made the declaration at the party’s state secretariat in Ado Ekiti while submitting his letters. He pleaded for partnership with party leaders.

Ojudu, who promised a regime of fair dealings also promised the leaders that he would run an inclusive government that would recognize party leaders and members and give them their due rights.

According to him, the contribution of all members is sacrosanct at this point of palpable leadership, ineptitude and failure that have left the people in acute poverty, despondency and hopelessness.

He, however, noted that even as the people are tired of the existing government and clamour for change,

the need for cohesion among the people would be necessary to midwife a break from the present terror regime.

“Over the past one year, I have intensified efforts by going round our dear but battered state, in my capacity as the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, as a chieftain of the APC, and as a son of Ekiti. I have met with all stakeholders in every local government, from Efon to Ekiti East, from Ikere to Moba. One thing that became crystal clear to me, after engaging with our members across the State, is that the challenges of the past three and a half years have prepared and galvanized our people for action.

“They are yearning for a positively different life, and are ready to do whatever it takes to re-launch our party to liberate Ekiti.

“From our interactions, we are in agreement that without good governance, we cannot liberate our people; we cannot provide jobs for our ever-increasing population of

unemployed and underemployed young men and women; we cannot ensure the education, health and wellbeing of all; there can be no meaningful development, and consequently no prosperity,” he said.

Ojudu however pleaded with the people to guard their loins for a tough battle, noting that the incumbent administration, knowing the level of rot it has inflicted on the state and the people, would mount a fight back.

The journalist turned politician and current Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, SBO, assured the people that he has the capacity and the wherewithal to battle and win the present Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government in the state and restore the APC back to governance.

“We all know that it is not going to be easy to root out the terror in the government house. Dislodging Ayo Fayose who has spent the past three and a half years preparing for his return through a proxy is going

to be a battle. It will take more than good intentions. It will take a dogged fighter with courage and experience; passion and commitment; knowledge and hard work, among others.

“As the process for electing a governor in Ekiti inches closer and closer, I am resolute in my mission to lead the APC to victory on July 14, 2018. I cannot wait for that day when we will all raise our brooms up in victory, and lower it to the ground in gratitude to the people to sweep the years of the locusts out of our land.

I know that I have all it takes to get Ekiti back to reckoning. I know that with your support, we can restore the honour of our people. I know that when we link hands, we can all stand tall and be proud again.

“I implore you to come with me on this journey so that together we will make CHANGE and PROGRESS happen in Ekiti State,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the capital city, Ado Ekiti was agog as people trooped out in thousands to witness the declaration.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

POLITICS

S/South PDP leaders task NASS on restructuring

By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro,

S

outh South leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have tasked members of the National Assembly to reconsider debate on restructuring of Nigeria.

Their position was canvassed at the 7th session of PDP SouthSouth Zonal Working Committee

Iwobi’s election into Italian Senate signals end to racism – Oyintiloye From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

A

member of Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has said that the election of Toni Iwobi, an Italian man of Nigerian origin as Senator in the industrial city of Brasca, Italy, is an indicator of an end to racism.

Oyintiloye (Obokun APC) made the disclosure in Osogbo, Osun state capital, while joining the international community to congratulate Iwobi whom he described as a good ambassador of Nigeria and a pride of Africa.

The lawmaker said the war against racism which seems endless, especially in countries like Italy where it has its roots, have just been struck with the heaviest blow with the election of Iwobi as the first black senator.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy said fortunes have been lost to racism, adding that the election was an indication that the world is ready to rise above sentiment.

He said the 62 year old who was born in Gussau, Northern Nigeria migrated to Italy some 40 years ago and was first elected as a councilor in 1995 has demonstrated a high level of integrity which earned him the election.

While commending Italy’s electoral body for providing an equal opportunity for interested individuals to contest leadership positions in the country regardless of their differences,background or religion affiliation.

Oyintiloye urge the new Senator Toni Iwobi to keep the flag flying and give his best in eradicating human trafficking, slavery and racism among other trans-border crimes internationally.

Toni Iwobi, a Nigerian IT entrepreneur who has spent 38 years in Italy became the first black senator in the European country after serving as the chief immigration spokesman for the far-right League party.

held on Sunday in Benin City, the Edo state Capital.

In a seven paragraph Communique, the party clarified that restructuring was a solution for a united Nigeria and true Federalism, but it rejected the reintroduction of the offshore/ onshore disharmony, citing inconsistency to the principles of federalism.

The party flayed the

continuous fleecing of its leaders across the Country by security agencies loyal to the ruling party, including “the arrest of the Edo State chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, PDP South South zone for flimsy excuses.”

It promised to work with other zones in the country to produce a credible presidential candidate for the 2019 Presidential elections within

the confine of credible and acceptable democratic process as stipulated by the party’s constitution.

The leaders also condemned the clashes between farmers and herders in some parts of the Country and particularly condole with Nigerians in Plateau and Benue states where Nigerians lost their lives to herdsmen.

Part of the Communique reads: “The zone encourages the National Assembly to consider the issue of restructuring as a panacea for a united Nigeria and true Federalism.

“The PDP South South zone also rejects reintroduction of the offshore/onshore disharmony inconsistent to the principles of federalism.”

L-R: .Deputy Head of Mission, Nigerian Embassy in Germany, Amb Mobolaji Ogundero; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar, after a Town Hall meeting during the visit of the Minister at the Nigerian Embassy, at the weekend in Berlin, Germany.

Photo: NAN

2019: Zoning not in APC constitution -Senator Buhari

T

he senator representing Oyo North District, Dr. Abdulfatai Buhari, has declared that zoning of governorship ticket to a particular senatorial district in the state is unconstitutional and not in the constitution of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari, who doubles as Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Cybercrime, while speaking on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital during a live radio program on Fresh FM tagged “Political Circuit” monitored by DAILY POST, insisted

that the clamour for governorship ticket to be zoned to a particular senatorial district in the state will not be in the interest of the party.

The APC Senator, while stressing that he believed in the party supremacy, added that the decision of his party would always be binding on him.

He, however, advised leaders of the party to carefully create level-playing ground for interested aspirants from all the zones, saying “this will allow credible candidate to emerge.”

He said, “Clamour for zoning of the governorship ticket to a particular

senatorial district of the state is unconstitutional. The best candidate should be allowed to do the job.”

Speaking further, Buhari, who is one of the governorship aspirants under the APC, said his wealth of political experience and academic feat were part of many things that qualified him for the job of the number citizen in the state.

If elected, Buhari promised to “raise the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state significantly within the first 100 days in office without inflicting pains on the citizens”.

He noted that the state governor,

Senator Abiola Ajimobi has raised the bar of governance in the state to a high level, warning that the state should not be allowed to deteriorate again as a result of bad leadership.

Speaking on the ongoing reconciliation of the party led by Senator Bola Tinubu, Buhari said “the exercise would be successful because of the respected personality of Tinubu.”

He also urged the electorate to vote for credible and competent candidates that would adequately represent their interests, so as to avoid a repeat of non performance by some elected representatives. (DAILY POST)

We’re ready to rule Nigeria from 2019 -SDP

T

he Social Democratic Party (SDP) has set its agenda for the upcoming general elections.

The party made this known on Sunday in a statement by Adakole Ijogi, its national spokesperson.

The party which earlier on Thursday announced its Interim Nation Working Committee (NWC) at a press conference in Abuja, said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) lacks political maturity and capacity.

The SDP also said it will hold a non-elective convention in April to accommodate all who have or want to join the party.

There have been reports that some aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party members are planning to join the SDP. One of those so rumoured, ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has since denied such plan.

The statement noted the need to promote the party’s manifesto clearly as the general election draws near.

“Arising from its maiden National

Communications Strategy briefing, the Social Democratic Party [SDP] has resolved to set the agenda for the next round of elections and stir (sic) the conversation towards the yearnings of Nigerians for a better governed nation.

“It identified these to be primarily on a restructured, balanced, equitable and truly functional Nigerian Federation; A humane, free, self-reliant and democratic society; an inclusive, productive, pro-growth and sustainable economy; A just, fair, egalitarian and peaceful nation; A land of opportunities for all Nigerians; and A national culture of raising effective leaders through mentoring of Young people.

“The meeting also unanimously resolved to be issue based in all its media and communications engagements, in its bid to firmly re-positioning the Social Democratic Party, which is the only ideology driven political party in Nigeria.

On the Nation-Wide Roll-Out, after the Non-Elective Convention in April 2018, it was also unanimously agreed that the

youth, women and emerging leaders would drive the process, as the internal political space with the party has been deliberately designed to accommodate these very important demography.

“The need to promote the party’s manifesto in a clear and easy to comprehend format was agreed, with strategic emphasis placed on the party’s stands on a new governance model for Nigeria that will make welfare, citizen’s rights and rule of law the epicenter of its programs.

“However, it also observed that the gross lack of capacity in managing the economy and the political immaturity in governance by the APC led Federal Government has brought untold hardship, increased sectarian violence and polarized the nation into ethnic and religious camps, in fact the last three years has been tales of disillusionment, despair and disenchantment.

“While also reiterating that all hope is not lost, as the Social Democratic Party [SDP] as a credible political party

has come to stop the hemorrhaging and guide the nation back unto the path of prosperity, progress and unity, stating the SDP is ready govern Nigeria at all levels.

“The SDP is directed, driven and defined by its core values of Justice, fairness, equity and progress; Democracy, good leadership, good governance and sustainable development; Transparency, integrity, truth and honour;Accountability and zero-tolerance for corruption; Respect for human dignity, human rights and the sanctity of human life; Peace, security, harmony and cooperative solidarity, within the rule of law; International cooperation for a common humanity within a secure and peaceful world order.

“We are the party Nigerians have been waiting for and we are determined to deliver on our promises working together as a people to give Nigerians a new lease of life.” (PREMIUM TIMES)

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Discourse

The U.S, China and Africa: Issues in Sec. Tillerson’s Visit

Trump

By Charles Onunaiju

B

efore his departure on his current fivenation African tour, U.S Secretary of State, Mr. Rex Tillerson delivered a lectureat George Mason University, Virginia on the outline of the vision and issues of Africa-U.S cooperation.

Among many other issues, he grudgingly admitted that “Chinese investment does have the potential to address Africa’s infrastructure gap,” but added a curious caveat that “its (China) approach has led to mounting debt and few, if any jobs in most countries”.

Not only does this fly in the face of reality but leaves one wondering if Mr. Tillerson was adequately or properly briefed on issues of China-Africa cooperation.

Last year, in June 2017, a prestigious U.S –based global managment consulting firm, Mckinsey&co issued a report of its elaborate filed research on China/Africa with a title of “Dance of the Lion and dragons: How are Africa and China emerging, and how will the partnership evolve?” On page 40 of the highly rated report,it observed that “a walk through China factory or construction site almost anywhere in Africa will confirm what our research finds,” that “Chinese enterprises overwhelming employ local workers.

At the more than 1,000 companies we surveyed, 89 percent employees were African, adding up to more than 300, 000 jobs for African workers.

Scaled up across the more than 10,000 Chinese firms in Africa, these numbers suggest that Chinese-owned business employ several million Africans.”

Continuing, the report said “private companies and SOEs across industries in the eight countries we studied had majority-local workers.

In trade, for example, the workforce is 82 percent African, in manufacturing, its 95 percent African, and comparing public and private enterprises, SOEs employ an 81 percent African workforce, and private enterprises employ a 92 percent African workforce.” According to Mckinsey&Co,

Kagame “the reason for the bias toward local labour is not hard to understand; employing Africans lead to lower overall cost,” and referring to one Chinese construction company supervisor it interviewed, the report quoted as saying that “even though Chinese workers tend to be more productive, it is now five times more expensive to bring a Chinese worker to Africa than it is to hire locally.”

This report of a foremost and prestigious American consulting management firm would not have escaped the attention of the meticulous and intelligent U.S current Secretary of State, Mr. Rex Tillerson, and his horde of advisers in the U.S state department. For why Mr. Tillerson chooses to disparage facts in favour of ideological hankerings is best known to the former oilman who is not at all, a stranger to Africa in his “former life,” as he put it at the George Mason University speech.

Hawking outright lies and slander to tarnish China-Africa cooperation is not new and hardly makes any impression in Africa.

In 1991, a former U.S deputy assistant Secretary of State for human rights in a New York Times report accused China of using convict labour in the Republic of Benin and later it was picked up by the British Daily Mail report in 2008. Without any foundation in fact, the report was a sheer fabrication and evidently did not to harm soaring China-Africa relations.

As Secretary of State, Mr Tillerson pointed out, U.S-Africa relations is longstanding and has been buoyed by former President Jimmy Carter visits to Liberia and Nigeria in 1978 where he announced that “our nation has now turned in an unprecedented way toward Africa.” And in contemporary times, according to Secretary Tillerson, “that turning continues,” as “our country‘s security and economic prosperity are linked with Africa’s like never before,” and “will only intensify in the coming decades.”

As he sees it, Africa by the year, 2030, will represent about one-quarter of the world’s workforce. And by the year 2050, the population

of the continent is expected to double to more than 2.5 billion people – with 70% of them under the age of 30.” And secondly, according to him, Africa is experiencing significant growth. The world bank estimates that six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world this year will be African,” and narrowing to down to Nigeria, Mr Rex Tillerson said that “for context, by the year 2050, Nigeria will have a population larger than the United States and an economy larger than Australia’s,” and added that “to understand where the world is going, one must understand that Africa is a significant part of the future.

African countries will factor more and more into numerous global security and development challenges, as well as expansive opportunities for economic growth and influence.”

With such robust view and understanding of the strategic potential of Africa, the United State of America whose state department or foreign ministry created its Africa bureau in 1958, should readily mean business by engaging Africa more productively than into a battle-ground for ideological contestations by the unsolicited and false alarm of so-called China’s “Predatory practices”. As former Nigerian head of State, General Murtala Muhammed affirmed in 1976 that “Africa has come of age, and it’s no longer under the orbit of any extra continent power,” in response to the earlier letter of the U.S President, Gerald Ford on how Africa should steer clear of the former USSR and Cuba influence on the matter of then, Angolan Independence. The Nigerian leader warned then, that “for too long has it been presumed that the Africa needs outside “experts” to tell him who are his friends and who are his enemies,” and affirmed that “the time has come when we should make it clear that we can decide for our self, that we know our own interests and how to protect those interests; that we are capable of resolving African problems without presumptuous lessons in ideological dangers, which, more often than not have no relevance for us, nor for the problem at hand.”

Mr. Tillerson’s current anti-China rhetoric is more likely to meet the same fate as former President Gerald Ford’s in 1976.

The fact is that Africa is open to partnership with any country or region in the world that shows respect to her.

China-Africa relations is not perfect but is working and delivering tangible results.

It is a work in progress and has established a mechanism for routine consultations and dialogue.

Through the mechanism of dialogue and consultation, instituted in the Forum on China-African Cooperation (FOCAC) both sides express their concerns and work through consultation and consensus to drive a process of mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.

China has also offered another meaningful platform and mechanism, the Belt and Road International Cooperation to engage global development and build a community of shared future for all mankind. The United States with her numerous advantages of a lone super-power, can leverage the Belt and Road mechanism to deepen her engagement to the core global developmental issues which are of concern to Africa, but whose neglect are the reasons for the security concerns which Washington seems perennially obsessed.

On the occasion of the U.S Secretary of State visit to Africa, Washington should burnish its solid Africa credentials afterall, it has a size able population of Africa-origin and engage more usefully in sectors that are mutually productive and meaningful to both sides.

China has consistently said it is keen to engage other interested international partners in Africa and therefore, the U.S does not need to revive the outdated cold war rhetoric about China in Africa but to engage in a framework that brings about mutual benefits to all parties.

Mr. Onunaiju is Director, Centre for China Studies, CCS, Utako, Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

NSE: Market Indicators up by 0.68% From Lagos

Ngozi

Onyeakusi,

F

or couple of weeks, transaction at the nation’s bourse has been on the bullish trend as the twin market indicators continue to end higher.

Specifically, the NSE AllShare Index appreciated by 0.68% to close at 43,167.86 basis points from 42,876.23 basis it opened with while the Market Capitalization equally increased by 0.68% to closed at N15.508 trillion from N15.403 trillion recorded the previous week.

Review of activity in the market showed that total turnover of 3.079 billion shares worth N39.990 billion in 23,086 deals

CBN injects $335.43m into Retail SMIS

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its resolve to guarantee liquidity in the market, injected the sum of $355.43m into the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) on Friday, March 9, 2018.

Figures obtained from the CBN on Friday revealed that the figure was to meet requests in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors.

The Bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Isaac Okorafor confirmed the figures, reiterating that the CBN interventions in the market were aimed at sustaining liquidity in the market as well as boosting production and trade.

He explained that, with increasing accretion to the country’s reserve, the Bank is in a much better position to ensure liquidity in the inter-bank sector of the market and as such would continue to intervene in order to drive growth in the economy and guarantee stability in the market, particularly now that the economy had gained steam due to an upsurge in the non-oil sector.

With the rates closing at N360/$1 on Friday, March 9, 2018, Mr. Okorafor, expressed confidence that the Bank’s forex intervention underscored its determination to maintain the country’s external reserves in order to safeguard the international value of the Naira.

It will be recalled that the CBN, in its last SMIS in February 2018, injected the sum of $321.4 million in the interbank market, while also intervening in the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market to the tune of $210,000,000, comprising of $100million for the wholesale segment and $55 million for both the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and invisibles segment.

were traded in contrast to a total of 2.170 billion shares valued at N39.087 billion that exchanged hands last week in 24,657 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 2.288 billion shares valued at N29.585 billion traded in 13,188 deals; thus contributing 74.30% and 73.98% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Oil and Gas Industry followed with 386.811 million shares worth N1.273 billion in 1,573 deals. The third place was occupied by Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 205.245 million shares worth N5.803 million in 4,959 deals.

Trading in the Top Three

Equities namely – Access Bank Plc, Capital Oil Plc and Zenith International Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 1.677 billion shares worth N20.413 billion in 2,476 deals, contributing 54.48% and 51.05% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Forty-five (45) equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than thirty-eight (38) of the previous week. Forty (40) equities depreciated in price, lower than forty-five (45) equities of the previous week, while eighty-seven (87) equities remained unchanged lower than eighty-nine (89) equities recorded in the preceding week.

Japaul Oil and Maritime

Services Plc led gainers table, increasing by 53.97 per cent or N0.34 kobo to close at N0.97 kobo, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc followed with a gain of N34.48 or N0.10 kobo to close at N0.39 kobo.

Lasaco Assurance Plc appreciated by 25.71 per cent or N0.09 kobo to close at N0.44 kobo.

Other companies that recorded price depreciation were Unilever Nigeria Plc 20.66, Caverton Offshore Support GRP Plc 19.91 per cent, Cadbury Nigeria Plc 18.71 per cent, Associated Bus Company 13.51 per cent, First Aluminium Nigeria Plc 13.33 per cent, Total Exchange Plc 12.90 per cent, A. G Leventis Nigeria Plc 12.28 per cent.

On the other hand, Regency Alliance Insurance topped losers chart for the week, dropping by 27.08 per cent or N0.13 kobo to close at N0.35 kobo, African Alliance Insurance Company trailed with a loss of 13.89 or N0.05 kobo to close at N0.31 kobo, FTN Cocoa Processors Plc down by 13.51 per cent or N0.05 kobo to close at N0.32 kobo.

Other firms that depreciated in price include Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc 13 16 per cent, C & I Leasing Plc 9.74 per cent, United Capital 9.33 per cent, Capital Oil 9.33 per cent, Wapic Insurance 7.69 per cent, Multiverse Mining and Exploration Plc 7.14 per cent and Livestock Feeds Plc 6.36 per cent.

L-R: Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma and Founder, Olive Blooms Orphanage, Mrs. Ngozi Ken Ugochukwu, during the handover of food and household items by the Minister and MTN Foundation to Olive Blooms Orphanage, at the weekend in Lagos.

Arik Air: CPC harps on improved scrutiny, precaution, to boost consumer confidence

By Miriam Humbe

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he Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has underscored the need for additional scrutiny and precaution in the aviation sector in order to ensure safe operations and passenger satisfaction.

Director General of CPC, Babatunde Irukera made this point during the weekend following an emergency landing of Arik Air Flight W3304 at Kotoka International Airport, Accra (ACC), Ghana.

He disclosed that on Tuesday March 6, 2018, Arik Air Flight W3304 departed Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos (LOS) for Kotoka International Airport, Accra (ACC) at approximately 19:15hrs for a 55-minute flight; operated by a Dash8 Q400 turbo propeller aircraft.

“Close to arrival and approximately 81 miles from ACC, passengers reported smoke in the cabin of the aircraft. The captain confirmed that there was smoke in the cabin from an unknown source, but secured the operation of the aircraft.

He declared an emergency and landed the aircraft in accordance with emergency landing procedures.

“All passengers and crew disembarked safely and ultimately received their baggage. CPC understands that Ghanaian aviation authorities have been notified and (in partnership with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities) are in charge of inquiring into, and investigating the incident. The aircraft has remained on ground in Accra accordingly” he further said.

Irukera acknowledged the

efforts of the Sector regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in this direction, insisting that these efforts should be reinforced to avoid incidents in the sector and to sustain consumer confidence.

“The CPC again encourages relevant aviation authorities to ensure full compliance with local and other applicable consumer protection laws, regulations and protocols particularly, but not limited to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations Part 19.

“Although there have been reported accidents in world aviation in recent times, and incidents in Nigeria, CPC understand that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is exercising additional scrutiny and precaution to continue to ensure safe operations and passenger satisfaction. CPC welcomes this assurance while

underscoring the importance of such efforts to avoid incidents and sustain consumer confidence in the sector”, he said.

The Council’s director general also commended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for its “unprecedented attention and action” in directing “a safety audit of a domestic airline involved in an incident”.

Irukera advised consumers to always “exercise their rights by demanding and insisting on appropriate services and providing timely information to relevant authorities in the event of irregularities.

“Once again, we are grateful all passengers are safe and demand that Arik deploy all necessary apparatus to ameliorate any inconvenience or anxiety passengers may have experienced,” he added.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Page 20

B u s i n e s s FG hails NNPC’s Foray into Renewable Energy

By Etuka Sunday

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he Federal Government has applauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for venturing into the development of renewable energy across the country.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, gave the commendation during his visit to the NNPC’s pavilion at the ongoing Technology and Innovation Expo 2018 at the Eagles Square in Abuja.

Dr. Onu said the NNPC’s foray into renewable energy would help the country to maintain energy security, boost the national economy and position her for fuel export market.

“It is important that we spend a lot of our energy in making sure that we prepare for the future and the future is in renewable energy.

I feel happy that this is going on. We are collaborating with NNPC in that respect to make it a reality,” Dr. Onu affirmed.

NNPC spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu in a statement quoted Dr. Onu to have disclosed that his Ministry was interfacing with the corporation in converting flared gas into methanol, adding that methanol and ethanol production in the country would go a long way in making the country stable in energy supply.

“Because of the abundance of natural gas in Nigeria, we should be able to use all the flared gas and convert it into methanol which will make it more useful not just in energy but in power and petrochemical industries. We need to build a strong chemical industry in Nigeria to enable us industrialize in a manner that will make us truly a great nation,” Dr. Onu enthused.

The Minister thanked the NNPC for participating in the expo and for the support it gave to the Ministry in hosting Technology and Innovation Expo, stressing that the mere participation of the corporation is very important to the entire expo.

17 Banks move to support Jigawa Agricultural Policy From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

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o fewer than seventeen commercial Banks has promised to support Jigawa state government on its Agricultural policies across the state.

The Chairman of the Jigawa state Chapter of Bank’s Managers Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba dropped the hint while news men shortly after the Bankers night held

at General Yakubu Gawon NYSC Orientation Camp Fanisau Dutse.

He explained that as part of their Corporates Social Responsibilities to the state, the 17 banks operating in the Jigawa choose to support the present administration’s change agenda through its Agricultural policies.

The Chairman who is also the Manager Sterlin Bank Plc in Dutse said, apart of supporting

farmers through Anchor Borrowers programme, the banks also concluded arrangement to provide other packages to farmers to increase their productivity.

According to him, Jigawa state is blessed arable land of over 500,000 hectres but only 200,000 land is being cultivate due to inadequate support to farmers across the state.

He assured that, if Jigawa farmers are supported with some packages,

they can feed not only Jigawa state but also the northern Nigeria at large.

Alhaji Ibrahim maintained that, the 17 banks operating in the state are also supporting educational sector for ensuring qualitative education to the children across the state.

He then assured to do all their best to corporate with present administration in making Jigawa a greater giant state in the country.

L-R: Area Manager Mararaba Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Alhaji Lameed Obadaki; Nasarawa Region Safety Officer, Kennedy Osakwe; Chief of Gurku, Alhaji Jibrin Waziri and General Manager Risk and Compliance, Godwin Akado during 1st Quarter Health Safety and Environment Sensitization, recently at Mararaba/ Ado Area Offices

Diamond Bank, EDC charge women to press for progress

By Etuka Sunday

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ne of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria, Diamond Bank in partnership with the Enterprise Development Center (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos in celebration of the international women’s day lend their voices to the call for more women in the society to continually press for progress by pursuing their passions.

The event which was a gathering of influential female thought leaders was held at the Enterprise Development Center of the pan African University, Lagos.

Keynote Speaker; Principal Consultant, DRNL Consult LTD, Ronke Onadeko stated that women are wired in their DNA to find

answers to even the most problematic scenarios.

She pointed out that women should continually look deeper to find solutions to the way they are perceived in the society.

She adviced the women present to continually support one another while looking to inspire those coming through, to acquire skills and pass those skills unto others, to join women networks in order to cultivate relevant relationships and to ensure they join conversations progressively driving women empowerment. She said the time had come for women to raise their voices and be heard.

CEO, Ebony Life TV Mo Abudu in her speech, charged women to continuously challenge themselves in order to reach new heights. In

her words “You have to go out of your comfort zone and continuously challenge yourself. Also know that, no matter the challenges that exist, they are there for you to overcome them”.

Co –Founder, Purple Foundation for The Girl Child, Mary Akpobome who was one of the panelists on the day, stated that the society is filled with young men who want to achieve success real quick, without hard work and young women whose primary goal is to slay.

She communicated to those present at the event that one of the highest powers women have is the power of influence and it was high time more women started exercising their ability to influence situations to achieve positive outcomes.

The event which witnessed an

appreciable turn out also had two panel sessions where the panelists discussed on topics ranging from how women could achieve their dream by going after their passions, through to problems associated with women in the society and how they could be addressed.

Diamond Bank’s partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre in driving women empowerment is in line with its commitment to go beyond banking to positively affect lives of its customers and the general public.

It will be recalled that Diamond Bank was recently commended by the Women’s World Banking community in recognition of its efforts in deepening financial inclusion amongst women in Nigeria.

Sterling Bank seals deal with CILT to boost transport sector From Lagos

S

Ngozi

Onyeakusi,

terling Bank Plc is set partner the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport ( CILT in order to develop Nigeria’s transport sector.

Disclosing this while addressing executive members of the institute who paid a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the lender in Lagos, the Group Head, Strategy & Innovation, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Shina Atilola, stated that the

transport sector remained a major contributor to the economy .

According to him, without effective transportation, businesses will not attain their true potential adding that they will be denied the opportunity to connect with supply chain partners and customers.

We recognise the important role the transportation sector has played and is playing in the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, hence our engagement with the CILT.” Atilola also said, “Our

partnership with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport will ensure we provide more effective support to the profession and industry in line with our pioneering work in the sector.”

He added that the partnership would provide the bank with solid knowledge, which would ensure technology transfer, innovation and sustained impact for the overall benefit of Nigerians and the economy.

“This partnership will ensure that we understand the language

of the transport sector, making it easy to develop financial products that will suit its needs,” Atilola explained.

The Chief Human Resource Officer, Sterling Bank, Mrs. Temi Dalley, commended the institute for its robust curriculum, advancing the improvement of the local logistics, transport and supply chain.

She said the bank was open to exploiting the curriculum of the CILT to further strengthen the capacity of the bank’s employees.

Earlier in his remarks, the

Acting National Executive Director of the institute, Mr Paul Ndibe, said the organisation started in 1919 in the United Kingdom while it became operational in Nigeria in 1958 and had been contributing in various ways to the development of logistics and transport industry of the Nigerian economy.

He said the visit was to intimate the bank with the activities of the institute, the forthcoming African forum and how Sterling Bank could leverage the institute’s network to further its growth.

Page 21

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Use your ICT skills for nation building - Bello charges Abuja Youth Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

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CT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has charged graduands of the recently concluded United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)/ FCTA YouthMobile Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project in the Territory to use the skills they have acquired for nation building.

The Minister gave this during the graduation ceremony for 400 participants of the UNESCO/FCTA YouthMobile project, drawn mainly from Abuja Municipal and Bwari Area Councils of the FCT. Bello who was represented at the

occasion by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Ohaa, said the next phase has been scheduled for Gwagwalada town and will involve 600 participants covering the southern axis of the FCT, namely; Kuje, Kwali, Abaji, and Gwagwalada Area Councils.

He said the FCT Administration has committed over N96.7 Million by way of counterpart funding to match UNESCO’s support of N42Million.

The Minister while congratulating the participants, urged them to justify the investment of both the global community and the home government towards the realization of their full potentials by starting their own businesses where necessary.

Bello said beneficiaries have been given skills required to excel, adding that government and the larger society expect them to translate these skills to increased productivity and employment.

“The importance of knowledge, they say, is not in having it, but in using it.

Similarly, “to whom much is given, much is expected.

“I therefore urge you all to leverage the skills you have acquired for selfactualization and for nation-building.

“Let this serve as a clarion call for you all to live up to this dream and to brace up to the challenges of starting off your own businesses where necessary as well as being the torch-bearers of change,”according to

a statement by Chief Press Secretary o FCT Minister, Cosmas Uzodinma.

In his remarks, the Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja, Yao Ydo said the spirit of the education and cultural arm of the world body is to engage and partner with young women and men, in promoting peace, preventing violent extremism and engaging them meaningfully.

He said the youth stand at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adding that UNESCO is working across the board to support them not as beneficiaries but as leaders, playing vital roles at local, national and global levels.

Cross Section of Secondary School Students in FCT, during the 2018 Pre-Commonwealth day quiz competition, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

FCTA rallies residents as FASTECH 2018 kicks off Tuesday

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he FCT Administration through its Department of Science and Technology of the Education Secretariat looks set to hold its 4th Science and technology Expo tagged: FASTECH 2018, in Utako District, this week.

PeoplesDaily learnt that FASTECH is a platform designed to identify and bring together all stakeholders including public and private scientists, inventors, artisans and entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services as well as harness

the economic and scientific potentials of the science and technology sector, that can be applied for everyday living.

According to a statement by Assistant Director (Information), FCT Education Secretariat, Anthony Ogunleye, the theme for FASTECH 2018 “Technology and Society in the 21stCentury” aims at examining the relationship between the ordinary man and the use of technology as well as relevant areas of transfer of knowledge, entrepreneurship, adaptation of technology, production of scientific

and technological goods, herbal products as well as extension services.

It disclosed that the event kicks off from tomorrow (Tuesday to Thursday, March 15) with speakers such as Professor Michael Umale Adikwu, Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, who will deliver the Keynote Address, Dr Shola Odusanya, CEO, Biocrop Biotechnology Ltd, who will deliver a paper titled “Science and Technology in Agricultural Value Chain for Economic Development” and Dr Ndagi Abdulmalik of the National

Board for Technological Incubation who will deliver his paper titled “Building Trust in Indigenous Products/Goods”.

Others expected at the event include, FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello; the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; and various heads of agencies and Departments of the FCTA and the FMST as well as inventors, entrepreneurs, artisans and students who will be showcasing their products and inventions.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Page 22

world news

China Int’l Import Expo ‘ll boost bilateral trade with Nigeria -Counselor

By Ochiaka Ugwu

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he first China international import exposition that is slated to hold from November 5 to 10 2018 will boost bilateral trade relations with Nigeria and expose its business man to Chinese market, the Economic and Commercial Counselor of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Mr. Zhao Linxiang has said.

Mr. Zhao made this known in Abuja Friday while addressing the press on the programs and prospects of the import exposition saying that it will enhance balance of trade between the two countries.

He said that Nigeria’s large population, vast land and abundant natural resources like China gave it a complimentary advantage.

His words, “Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa with vast lands and abundant natural resources. It is also the most populated country in the continent whose almost 200 million people are exploring their potential vigorously. As big developing countries, China and Nigeria have complimentary advantages in many sections, which offer great potential for cooperation. For years, Nigeria has continued to be China’s third largest trading partner in Africa.

“It is believed that this upcoming China International Import Expo will breathe new life into the bilateral trade cooperation and create the biggest opportunity to enhance the bilateral trade position into new level. It is also believed that this upcoming China International Import Expo will give Nigerian people and business men a great platform to show what Nigeria looks like to China and the rest of the world” he said.

Zhao noted that National Trade Investment Comprehensive Exhibition and Corporate Business Exhibition will be held at the Expo and the pavilion for Trade and Investment, relevant countries will demonstrate their development in

L-R: Economic and Commercial Counselor of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Mr. Zhao Linxiang and Second Secretary in the Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office, Dr. Luke Liu during the event. trade investment, including goods trade, service trade, industrial conditions, investment and tourism.

He said the Expo is held to implement China’s stand to support economic globalization as expressed by President Xi Jinping.

“It is rarely the case in the world that a developing country like China chooses to hold an import-themed Expo. The expo will not only provide new opportunities for countries around the world to expand export to China, but also create a platform for countries to engage in international trade and share business opportunities with each other. It represents China’s sincere wish to open its

market to the world, and shows China’s active role as a major power in undertaking the responsibility of pushing forward economic globalization”.

Speaking also, the Second Secretary in the Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office, Dr. Luke Liu said the time is now for Africa and their business community to enhance their potentials by using the opportunity to penetrate the Chinese market which has a population of almost 1.4 billion people.

He said that 40 years ago, China was not better but “Opening and Reforming” has made it great today. Liu urged African businessmen to tap into the Expo arrangement.

Russian spy: Salisbury diners told to wash possessions

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p to 500 Salisbury pub-goers and diners have been told to wash possessions as a precaution after nerve agent traces were found.

Trace amounts of the substance used to poison ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found at the Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant.

Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said the risk of harm was “low”.

The advice applies to anyone in either venue after 13:30 on Sunday 4 March.

People who were at either venue before closure on Monday are advised to do the following: • Clothes should be washed, ideally in a washing machine • Clothes which cannot be washed, for example if they need dry cleaning, should be double bagged in plastic until further notice • Mobile phones, handbags and other electronic items should be wiped with baby wipes, which should be bagged in plastic and put in the bin • Other items such as jewellery and glasses should be washed with warm water and detergent • Hands should be washed after the handling of any items suspected of being contaminated.

Dame Sally said after “rigorous scientific analysis” there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems but it was “not a subject for panic”.

She said the advice was a “belt and braces” measure, adding: “The risk to the general public

remains low and I am confident none of these customers or staff will have suffered harm.”

BBC correspondent Kathryn Stanczyszyn said people in Salisbury are starting to ask why the advice had not been issued before now.

Dame Sally said it had been a “painstaking process” and the “scientific tests take time” but no harm had been caused by the wait.

Alastair Hay, professor emeritus of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, said nerve agents degrade in the environment.

“Contact with moisture will lead to breakdown of the nerve agent - this is why people having visited the restaurant or pub in question last Sunday afternoon or Monday are being advised to wash their possessions,” he said.

Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are both critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a bench in the city on Sunday.

Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who fell ill attending the pair, remains seriously ill in hospital but has been talking to his family.

The pub and restaurant are two of five sites in Salisbury focused on by investigators.

Mr Skripal’s home and the cemetery where Mr Skripal’s wife and son are buried are also being examined.

At a press conference on Sunday, Chief Constable Kier Pritchard of Wiltshire Police said he was “unable to clarify” how long those crime scenes would remain closed to the public.

A 30-year-old man has been charged with breaching a cordon at one of the sites, The Maltings shopping area, on Friday night.

He was also charged with assaulting a police officer, criminal damage to a police vehicle,

common assault and a racially aggravated public order offence, and is due before magistrates in Swindon on Monday.

Members of the military are assisting police for a third day having previously helped with the removal of vehicles of interest including an ambulance.

More than 250 counter terrorism police are now involved in the investigation, which has yielded 200 pieces of evidence so far and more than 240 witnesses.

Mr Skripal, a retired Russian military intelligence officer, was convicted by the Russian government of passing secrets to MI6 in 2004, but given refuge in the UK in 2010 as part of a “spy swap”.

Russia has denied any involvement.

Marina Litvinenko, widow of murdered former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, said Mr Skripal’s case needs to be properly investigated before blame can be apportioned but it would appear lessons from her husband’s death have not been learned.

After a public inquiry found her husband’s 2006 assassination was likely to have been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s orders, Mrs Litvinenko received a letter from Theresa May which said the government would “take every step to protect the UK and its people from such a crime ever being repeated”.

She also said Russia has a “bad reputation now” and no-one in the country had been punished for her husband’s death.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said police were “proceeding at speed” and the government was “using enormous resources” to identify those responsible for the Skripal attack.

Source: BBC

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Trump: N Korea talks could bring world’s ‘greatest deal’

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resident Donald Trump said his planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could either fail or bring about the greatest deal for the world.

At a political rally in Pennsylvania, Mr Trump told supporters he believed North Korea wanted to make peace.

But he said he might leave the talks quickly if it didn’t look like progress for nuclear disarmament could be made.

In his speech, the US leader warned of tariffs on European cars, and launched his slogan for re-election in 2020.

What did he say about North Korea?

“Hey, who knows what’s going to happen?” said Mr Trump on Saturday at the rally for a Republican congressional candidate. “I may leave leave fast or we may sit down and make the greatest deal for the world.”

In his wide-ranging speech, he said he hoped a deal to ease nuclear tensions would happen, particularly to help countries like North Korea.

He also said he believed the North Koreans would honour their commitment not to test any more missiles. Mr Trump told the crowd, “I think they want to make peace, I think it’s time.”

Where are these planned talks at?

No date or place has been set for the meeting, despite initial reports it would happen by the end of May. No sitting US president has ever met a North Korean leader and Mr Trump’s decision to accept an invitation from the North Korean leader - relayed by South Korean envoys on Thursday - reportedly took top administration officials by surprise.

Mr Trump tweeted saying a deal was “very much in the making”, though the White House said the meeting would not take place unless Pyongyang took “concrete actions”.

The US has made “zero concessions” with its sanctions, said Vice-President Mike Pence, following news of the upcoming meeting being agreed. He said he believed the North Korean decision to meet proved the US strategy of isolating North Korea was working.

Trump unveiled his 2020 election slogan This was a speech meant for Mr Trump’s core supporters, the BBC Washington correspondent Chris Buckler says.

The president was supporting a Republican bid for a seat in congress but the packed out rally looked and felt like the start of the presidential campaign, our correspondent adds.

He announced that his 2020 re-election campaign slogan would be: “Keep America Great, exclamation point.”

Appealing to his base, he again raised the possibility of the death penalty for drug dealers.

And tariffs?

President Trump talked tough on trade, describing tariffs as his baby.

He re-iterated his threat to tax cars imported from the European Union, saying, the EU better open up the barriers and get rid of its own tariffs.

“If you’re not going to do that, we’re going to tax Mercedes Benz, we’re going to tax BMW.” His words may raise concerns or rile up anger overseas, our correspondent says, but it appealed to the audience Mr Trump wanted to address - his core supporters.

“For years the United States has been getting dumped on,” said one supporter at the rally. “Donald Trump is the master of the art of the deal.”

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

Page 23

News From Africa

DR Congo signs new mining law despite companies’ opposition

DR Congo produces more than 60% of the world’s DR Congo’s resources have been a catalyst for cobalt past conflict Its mining industry - which he Democratic Republic Kinshasa this week in the hopes of of Congo has moved to persuading Mr Kabila to change also produces diamond, tantalum, tin and gold - is the country’s increase taxes on mining his mind.

They argued that the largest source of export income. firms and increase government The law, which was passed royalties from the industry legislation would deter future despite fierce opposition from investment and violate existing by parliament in January, will agreements, reported Reuters double government royalties on international mining companies. all minerals.

President Joseph Kabila news agency.

The impoverished yet mineralThe government however has signed a new mining code into law agreed to consider their concerns rich nation provides more than on Friday.

The country is Africa’s biggest on a case by case basis, and work 60% of the world’s cobalt. Prices producer of copper and cobalt, a with them in executing the new for it more than doubled last year thanks to an increased demand vital component in mobile phone code.

DR Congo has talked for for electric cars, which require batteries.

Foreign mining firms strongly years about changing its 2002 cobalt for batteries.

Royalties on cobalt could opposed the law, saying their mining code, which it believed operations in DR Congo would put too many profits in the hands also more than quadruple if the of foreign companies, says BBC government labels it a “strategic stop being profitable.

Several chief executives World Service Africa editor Mary substance”. flew to the Congolese capital Harper.

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Bono apologises after One charity hit by bullying allegations

Bono said he was left “reeling and furious”

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2 singer Bono has apologised after claims of bullying and abuse emerged at One, the charity he co-founded.

Among the allegations are that one female worker was demoted after refusing to “become intimate” with a foreign government official.

The woman’s manager reportedly made “sexist and suggestive comments” about her to the official.

Bono told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: “We are all deeply sorry.

I hate bullying, can’t stand it.”

The newspaper said the charity publicly admitted the issues hours after it had sent a long list of allegations at the end of an investigation, in order to allow One to comment.

The statement from the charity’s CEO, Gayle Smith, said former employees had notified the

organisation earlier this week about pending legal action over their complaints.

It said “historical issues” of mistreatment emerged in November when some former employees from its Johannesburg office told their stories on social media.

“The investigation yielded evidence of unprofessional conduct and, in particular, what I would characterize as bullying and belittling of staff between late 2011 and 2015 in our Johannesburg office,” Ms Smith said.

“Staff were called names, and some said their manager put them to work on domestic tasks in her home,” she added.

The allegation involving the woman who refused to “become intimate” with the foreign official could not be corroborated, the statement said - but Ms Smith said it

was not being discounted.

In addition, the company said it had discovered that its African wing was not paying taxes between 2010 and 2015, but was instead a “nonresident taxpayer”.

Ms Smith was not CEO at the time of the alleged offences.

She said the investigation showed “institutional failure” and that she had apologised to the former employees who agreed to speak to her.

Bono, meanwhile, spoke with the Mail on Sunday about its investigation, saying he was left “reeling and furious” when he learned of the allegations in November.

“My team and I heard concerns about low morale and poor management in this office but nothing along the lines of what emerged recently,” he said.

“The head office failed to protect those employees and I need to take some responsibility for that,” he told the Mail - adding that he would like to meet the victims to apologise in person.

Other prominent members of the charity’s board include former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer.

The charity was founded in 2004 and says its aim is to tackle “extreme poverty”. Its sister organisation, Red, was founded two years later, and raises funds through the sale of branded luxury goods, including those of Apple computers.

Rwanda Seventh-Day Adventist churchgoers killed by lightning

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lightning strike killed at least 16 people and injured dozens more at a SeventhDay Adventist church in Rwanda on Saturday, an official said.

Most of the victims died instantly when lightning hit the church in the southern district of Nyaruguru, local mayor Habitegeko Francois told AFP. Two people died from their injuries, and 140 people were rushed to hospital and health centres.

Lightning also killed a student in the area on Friday, the mayor said.

The weather accident in the mountainous region near the border with Burundi took place around midday on Saturday while parishioners of the town of Gihemvu were at a church service.

“Doctors say that only three

[more churchgoers] are in critical condition but they are getting better,” Mr Francois told AFP on Sunday.

He said that in Friday’s incident, lightning struck a group of 18 students in the area, killing one.

Three of the students remain in hospital while the rest have been able to return home, reports say.

The deadly church incident comes less than two weeks after the closure of more than 700 Rwandan churches for failing to comply with building regulations and for noise pollution.

Local news outlet Panor Actu reported (in French) that a number of the closed churches did not have required lightning rods - devices intended to protect a structure from a lightning strike.

Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga now ‘brothers’

K

enya’s president and opposition leader have promised to begin a process of reconciliation following last year’s bitterly contested election.

Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga called each other “brothers” during a surprise joint TV address.

Mr Odinga has sworn himself in as the “people’s president” and refused to recognise Mr Kenyatta as head of state.

The announcement came shortly before the arrival of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Kenya.

Speaking in Nairobi Mr Tillerson later praised the two men for taking “a very positive step”.

However, he also said that Kenya needed to “correct certain actions, like shutting down TV stations and threatening the independence of the courts”.

Until now, both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga had dismissed calls for talks, from both Kenyans and foreign diplomats.

About 150 people were killed in the aftermath of the election, which Mr Kenyatta won after an opposition boycott.

In their joint address, President Kenyatta said: “We will begin a process of discussing what ails us and what creates division amongst us.”

Mr Odinga said it was “time to resolve our differences”.

Pre-emptive PR stunt?

Resolving the two men’s differences won’t be so easy. Kenya is sharply divided along ethnic lines because of the political stand-off.

The opposition charges of rigged elections, police brutality and state high-handedness were not mentioned - only a joint call for national dialogue.

Before travelling to Kenya, Rex Tillerson criticised Ethiopia’s government for declaring a state of emergency. So some saw this unexpected meeting as a pre-emptive public relations stunt to water down any potential dressing-down; while others welcomed the announcement as long overdue.

Whichever explanation rings true, Kenya is headed for an intriguing second episode of political drama.

President Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term last November. He won an election re-run in October, which Mr Odinga had boycotted.

Elections were first held in August but the courts ordered a rerun, saying Mr Kenyatta’s victory was marred by irregularities.

Mr Odinga said that nothing had been changed before the re-run.

After he swore himself in as the “people’s president”, some of those involved in the ceremony were arrested, while TV stations that had said they would broadcast it were temporarily closed down.

Source: BBC

Raila Odinga (R) had refused to recognise Uhuru Kenyatta (L) as president

PAGE 24

News From ASIA, & Europe

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

China approves ‘president for life’ change C hina has approved the removal of term limits for its leader, in a move that effectively allows Xi Jinping to remain as president for life.

The constitutional changes were passed

by China’s annual sitting of the National People’s Congress on Sunday.

Two delegates voted against the change and three abstained, out of 2,964 votes.

China had imposed a two-term limit on its president since the 1990s.

But Mr Xi, who would have been due to step down in 2023, defied the tradition of presenting a potential successor during October’s Communist Party Congress.

Instead, he consolidated his political power as the party voted to enshrine his name and political ideology in the party’s constitution - elevating his status to the level of its founder, Chairman Mao. On paper, the congress is the most powerful legislative body in China - similar to the parliament in other nations. But it was widely believed that it would approve what it was told to.

Xi forever?

It is now hard to see Xi Jinping being challenged in any way whatsoever.

He has amassed power the likes of which has not been seen since Chairman Mao Zedong.

Only five years ago Beijing was being ruled by a collective leadership. Under exPresident Hu Jintao you could imagine differing views being expressed in the then nine-member Politburo Standing Committee.

There was a feeling that Mr Hu needed to please various factions within the Communist Party and it seemed that every 10 years a new leader would come along with their own people in a process of smooth transition.

From today all this has gone.

The constitution has been altered to allow Xi Jinping to remain as president beyond two terms and they would not have gone to this much trouble if that was not exactly what he intended to do.

There has been no national debate as to whether a leader should be allowed to stay on for as long as they choose. Quietly but surely Xi Jinping has changed the way his country is governed, with himself well and truly at the core.

Former state newspaper editor Li Datong wrote that scrapping term limits for the president and vice-president would sow the seeds of chaos - in a message sent

Mr Xi applauded after the amendment was passed to some members of the national congress. life... I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to “I couldn’t bear it any more. I was give that a shot some day.”

At a political rally on Saturday, Mr discussing with my friends and we were enraged. We have to voice our opposition,” Trump insisted he had merely been joking during a fundraiser, and that his comments he told BBC Chinese.

State media, however, have portrayed were represented unfairly by some media.

Xi Jinping thought the changes as much-needed reform. approve. It was also expected to: US President Donald Trump was • confirm China’s new government criticised by some commentators for seeming to approve of Mr Xi’s unlimited line-up for the next five years, kicking off Xi rule, saying on Monday: “President for Jinping’s second term as president

Social media users create “Winnie the Pooh” memes to avoid being seen as making derogatory posts against Mr Xi (r)

• ratify a law to set up a new powerful anti-corruption agency • ratify the inclusion of the president’s political philosophy - “Xi Jinping thought” - in the constitution Xi Jinping thought is the ideology approved by the Communist Party last October. Officially, it is “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era”.

Schoolchildren, college students and staff at state factories will have to study the political ideology, which the Communist Party is trying to portray as a new chapter for modern China.

Mr Xi’s possible third term is not the only item the National People’s Congress is likely to Mr Xi became president in 2012, and quickly consolidated personal power while cementing China as the regional superpower.

He also fought corruption, punishing more than a million party members - which has helped his popularity among some.

At the same time, however, China has clamped down on many emerging freedoms, increasing its state surveillance and censorship programs. Critics also say Mr Xi has used the anti-corruption purge to sideline political rivals.

India allows ‘living wills’ for terminally ill I ndia’s Supreme Court has allowed people to draw up “living wills”, meaning they can seek what is known as passive euthanasia.

It means medical treatment can be withdrawn to hasten a person’s death, if strict guidelines are followed.

This would apply to patients suffering from terminal illness and who are in a vegetative state.

A living will sets out a patient’s wishes regarding how they want to be treated if they are seriously ill.

The Indian judges said the right to die with dignity was a fundamental right and that an advance directive by a person in the form of a living will could be approved by the courts.

Petitioners, who had argued that people have the right to die with dignity if they are suffering from a terminal illness, hailed the judgment.

“Today’s is a landmark judgement because it comes at a time when medical

science allows patients to be kept alive by artificial means and the hospitals to keep charging money,” Vipul Mudgal, the head of main petitioner Common Cause, an advocacy group, told the BBC. Passive euthanasia When a patient dies because medical professionals either do not do something necessary to keep the patient alive, or stop doing something that is keeping the patient alive. This might include: • switching off life-support machines • disconnecting a feeding tube • not carrying out a life-extending operation • not administering lifeextending drugs It remains unclear, however, how courts could guarantee that living wills were not drafted by patients under coercion.

In 2011, India’s top court had ruled that life support could be removed for

terminally ill patients in exceptional circumstances.

While rejecting a plea to end the life of a woman who had been in a vegetative state since 1973 in the city of Mumbai after being raped and strangled, the court had said some cases of euthanasia could be sanctioned if doctors were to file a case in court.

Aruna Shanbaug, who was left with severe brain damage and paralysed after the 1973 attack by a ward attendant in the Mumbai hospital where she worked, died in 2015.

Her death sparked a national debate over euthanasia.

The 2011 judgement had put the onus on doctors to petition to withdraw life support, under the supervision of the courts. Previously all forms of euthanasia were illegal in India.

On Friday, judges of India’s Supreme Court outlined detailed “guidelines” for facilitating passive euthanasia.

The court said that family members and relatives of terminally ill patients seeking passive euthanasia could go to court to have it sanctioned. A team of doctors would then be appointed by the court to decide if it is needed.

There have been a number of requests for active euthanasia - any act that intentionally helps another person kill themselves - by Indians which have been rejected by courts and authorities.

In 2008, Jeet Narayan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh state, wrote to the then Indian president Pratibha Patil seeking permission to end the lives of his four bed-ridden, paralysed children. The president had rejected the plea.

In 2013, Dennis Kumar, a porter from Tamil Nadu, sought permission from the authorities to end the life of his infant son, who had been suffering from a congenital disorder. The plea was rejected by a court.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 25

EDUCATION UniAbuja VC advises fresh students against social vices

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Vice- Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Michael Adikwu, has advised the matriculating students to desist from the social vices such as cultism, examination malpractices, truancy as well as extremism throughout their studies in the institution.

Adikwu, gave the advice during the matriculation of fresh students over the weekend at the university , also charged the students to combine the pursuit of learning with strict moral rectitude.

He further urged the students to always obey the laid down rules and regulations guiding the University Community, calling on them to abide by the code of conduct of the institution.

He assured the fresher’s that the management of the University would gear towards repositioning the institution for better, while requesting the co-operation of the students at all times.

He told the matriculating students that the doors of the University Administration was opened for any genuine complains or grievance whether an academic issues or welfare.

Adikwu, however, congratulated the new matriculants of the Institution and urged them to be good ambassadors throughout their staying in the University.

NECO targets N1.2bn remittance

by Dec 2018

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Registrar of National Examination Council (NECO), Prof.

Charles Uwakwe has revealed that the Council is targeting remittance of N1.2 billion to the federation account by December 2018.

He said that the Council has improved from N320 million remittance to more than N500 million, adding that prudent management of scarce resources has been the guiding principle of the Council.

Uwakwe, who spoke to a section of the media in Abuja while reacting to corruption

allegations in some quarters, stressed that the Council’s books and records are open to scrutiny.

While describing the N15 billion corruption allegation as baseless and fallacious, the Council boss emphasized that the number of candidates who sat for NECO exams and how much the Council make is in the public domain.

“These are rumours that are baseless and I’m wondering where the allegations are coming from. To set the record straight we are not running independently in terms of our budgeting. We are under strict guidance by the Ministry and National Assembly.

“Every year we provide information as to what we generate and what our expenditure is.

We go to defend all these and therefore if somebody says fifty naira is missing, it’s practically impossible and totally fallacious.

“The number of candidates who sat for our exams and how much we make is in the public domainas.

“In conducting our exams, we pay apprentice, people in the community to conduct the exams. We have four exams that we conduct. It is professionally and unacceptable for someone to insinuate that there is embezzlement of funds without

facts. The books are there, the records are there.

“We just returned from the defense of our budget in the National Assembly and they have said there is need for us to increase our remittance to the federation account which we have been working on.

“We have improved from N320 million to more than N500 million. We estimate that by next exam we should be able to remit to the federation account about N1.2 billion,” he stressed.

Uwakwe, therefore called on Nigerians and civil society groups to approach the Council for clarification when in doubts.

L-R: Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and the Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Mrs. Mariam Kafagum, during Education Development Conference, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Buhari appoints rectors for Auchi Poly, Yabatech

By Usman Shuaibu Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. Momodu Jimah as rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State while Mr. Femi Omokungbe was also appointed as Rector of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech.)

Lagos State.

Minister for education, Mallam Adamu Adamu gave out the appointment letters to Jimah and Omokungbe at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja on Monday.

Chairman, Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology,

Prince Lateef Fagbemi Said: “ Record is made today, Omokungbe has been approved by the Minister for Educaiton and the Presidency”.

Fagbemi said: “The Governing Council has adopted the best and God has given us the best.

Indeed, it is all that is well, that

ends well. We did not have any regrets forwarding three great names from which Omokungbe was selected”.

He appreciated the Federal Government for not throwing overboard the recommendations of the Council.

Omokungbe’s appointment

takes effect from February 23rd, 2018, and it is for a single tenure of four years.

Omokungbe , 55, is the first Alumnus of 70- yr-old institution to be appointed rector.

Jimah, until his appointment was the acting rector of Auchi Polytechnic.

Principal charges parents on children’s education

By Usman Shuaibu Abuja

T

he Principal of Government Senior Secondary School Hajj Camp in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Abubakar Gambo Ibrahim, has charged the parents to remain committed to the education of

their children at all times.

Principal, who gave the charge while speaking at the occasion of the PTA meeting of the school on Saturday, also urged the parents to always checkmate the activities of the children.

He further pleaded with the parents to endeavour to purchase the necessary

materials for the children, noting that many students come to the school without biros as well as exercise books.

He said that his administration would continue to deal with the students who refused to behave well in the school, while calling on the parents/ guardians to support the management of the school

in all ramification.

He therefore, expressed gratitude to those parents who turned up during the meeting, and frowned at the parents who did not attend the meeting.

Also speaking, the P.T.A Chairman of the school, Mr. Nuhu Azare, said that leadership of the P.T.A would not hesitate to provide the needed facilities

in the school.

Azare advised the parents to send their children to the public schools, and warned them against taking their children to the miracle centres.

Meanwhile, some parents who spoke during the meeting commended the principal for providing purposeful leadership in the school.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

PAGE 26

FEATURE Fukushima’s long road to recovery

I

t was supposed to be a day of celebration.

But Rio Watanabe’s graduation ceremony became memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Mr Watanabe, who was just 23 years old at the time, was in Tokyo when the ground started to shake.

Japan is used to earthquakes. It experiences more than 100,000 of them every year, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

But the tremors on 11 March 2011 were so violent that Mr Watanabe thought Tokyo was at its epicentre.

When he realised that they originated 200 miles north of the capital, his thoughts quickly turned to his family in Fukushima, and the Sansuiso Inn run by his father.

The hot spring’s location in the mountains meant it escaped the devastation wrought by the magnitude seven earthquake and tsunami which followed.

However, a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant sparked fears of contamination, and the spa resort quickly emptied.

Mr Watanabe still remembers how suddenly things changed. “We suffered heavily after the nuclear blast, and all of our bookings were cancelled.”

Seven years on and the hotel’s operating profits have not recovered to levels seen before the disaster struck.

Mr Watanabe says: “Some guests still talk about the nuclear disaster. There is still a negative image about Fukushima, and it’s been painful for all of us in this community.”

The tsunami killed almost 16,000 people and forced the country to rethink its energy policy.

Seven years on and the scars of the 2011 disaster remain. Abandoned houses are obscured by unruly branches and overgrown hedges. Even the vending machines are ignored.

But there are also tales of resilience.

Mr Watanabe had always planned to return to the Sansuiso Inn in Fukushima to help run the hotel with his father.

He says: “My future was suddenly destroyed and cut off, and I felt so disappointed. It was such as shock.”

But the disaster also brought the community together.

Mr Watanabe joined forces with other hot spring owners in the area to form Genki Up Tsuchiyu.

“Re-energizing Tsuchiyu” is designed to promote activities in the area and bring the community together.

The owners have invested in a “binary geothermal plant” located about 200m above the Sansuiso Inn. Dozens of intertwining pipes occupy a space about the size of a basketball court, mixing chemicals with steam from the hot spring water to generate electricity.

While most of the surplus energy is currently sold back to the national electricity company, Mr Watanabe hopes a deregulation drive by the government will ensure that the electricity can be used to power the community instead.

He insists that the metal pipes and turbines are a welcome feature of their spa experience rather than an eyesore.

“We’ve actually shown this to our customers, and the usual reaction is: ‘Wow!’ They’re impressed. They really enjoy seeing this.”

Keeping the lights on in Japan has been an expensive business since the 2011 earthquake.

With few oil and gas resources of its own, Japan expanded its investment into nuclear energy during the 1970s after a 1973 Arab oil embargo sent prices skyrocketing.

By 2010, the country relied on nuclear for 30% of its energy. It had ambitions to raise this towards 50% by 2020.

This fell to almost zero after the earthquake, forcing the country to import vast amounts of gas as reactors were turned off across the country.

Seven years after the disaster, Tepco employees are still trying to repair the damage caused by the nuclear meltdown Masaru Nakaiwa believes small-scale energy projects like this could be the future for Japan.

The director general of the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute believes the mountainous terrain and natural hot springs spread over Japan’s four main islands make it an ideal place for generators like those seen at the Sansuiso Inn. He says: “If we want to promote renewable energy in small towns and in the mountains this is a good way without high set-up costs. So it is a very realistic solution to distribute renewable energy nationwide.”

While he’s optimistic about the role renewable energy will play in all this, he’s also realistic about the time it will take to get there.

Opened in Koriyama City in April 2014, the institute was set up to conduct and promote research into renewable energy.

He says: “We have no energy resource, so renewable is our only chance.”

A report published by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry predicts Japan will still be reliant on nuclear for a fifth of its energy by 2030.

Coal, oil and gas are expected to account for more than 50% of the country’s needs, while

Bags of soil that may have been contaminated by the nuclear meltdown line an empty street near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant renewable energy is expected to grow to around 23%, from 3.2% in 2015.

Mr Nakaiwa says: “I think that by 2030 we will still rely on some hydrocarbons, but we are

“

Japan is used to earthquakes. It experiences more than 100,000 of them every year, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

But the tremors on 11 March 2011 were so violent that Mr Watanabe thought Tokyo was at its epicentre.

When he realised that they originated 200 miles north of the capital, his thoughts quickly turned to his family in Fukushima, and the Sansuiso Inn run by his father.

The hot spring’s location in the mountains meant it escaped the devastation wrought by the magnitude seven earthquake and tsunami which followed.

However, a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant sparked fears of contamination, and the spa resort quickly emptied.

gradually increasing the use of the renewables.

But in my opinion we have to decrease our reliance on nuclear and hydrocarbons, so that by 2050 or 2060 maybe 80% of our energy comes from renewables.”

While the Fukushima nuclear disaster conjures up images of radiation sickness, loneliness and mental health issues, the struggle to return to normality created the biggest scars of the 2011 earthquake, says Akihiro Yoshikawa.

Mr Yoshikawa is a former employee of Tepco, which ran the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant.

Speaking from his home in Futaba town, which also serves as a meeting point for the community, he says: “I know what it’s like to lose everything, that’s something we need to talk about. We can also analyse and share what we could lose if something like this happened.”

Mr Yoshikawa now spends his time organising tours of the abandoned power plant.

He believes sharing information is the key to moving beyond the disaster.

He says: “I always tell them I am still here and I’m not going away, so we can try to build something for the next generation.

“Six years ago people said to me: I want to know but I don’t want to go near it. But now they want to know and they actually want to see it with their own eyes. That’s the difference.”

PEOPLES DAILY

Sports

Page

27

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

MONDAY, march 12, 2018

Lobi Stars goes top as Wikki, MFM FC records big wins

Lobi Stars celebrate

By Albert Akota

T

here were lots of goals to savour in Bauchi and Lagos yesterday in the Match Day 12 of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Nafiu Kabuga was the main man in Bauchi as he scored all three goals in Wikki Tourist’s 3-0 win over Rivers United.

The game in Lagos also ended 3-0 as MFM FC took visiting Heartland Warriors to the cleaners at the Agege Stadium now called the ‘Soccer Temple’.

After taking an early lead in the first half through Okorom Stanley, MFM FC added two more goals in the second half with Chuka Uwaga and Tchato Giscard finding the back of the net.

The Olukoya Boys will hope to score as much goals when they travel for their CAF Champions League second leg First Round tie against MC Algers.

In Enugu, Rangers emerged victorious in the Oriental Derby; beating Enyimba by a lone goal.

It was a similar situation in Makurdi as well as in Minna where Lobi Stars and Niger Tornadoes beat their respective opponents, Katsina United and Plateau United 1-0.

The victory for Lobi stars has taken them to the summit of the log as they now have 23 points from 12 games.

However, in Ilorin, Coach John Obuh is increasingly looking destined for the sack as Kwara United could only force out a 1-1 draw at home to El-Kanemi Warriors.

Abia Warriors also got an away point; having played out a 1-1 draw against FC IfeanyiUbah.

Meanwhile, Enyimba forward Mfon Udoh said he is only focusing on returning to action in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The 25-year-old currently holds the record for highest number of goals scored in a single season having netted 23 goals during the 2015/16 NPFL campaign.

Udoh, who is yet to feature for Enyimba this season as he’s currently nursing an ankle injury, spoke to the league.

“My focus now is on how to return to the field of play. I have begun light training and was involved in a friendly game recently. I believe I will be fully ready to return in the coming weeks.

The former Akwa United forward was asked if he is bothered about the possibility of seeing his record surpassed by Kano Pillars striker Junior Lokosa.

Lokosa has scored an impressive nine goals in 10 games, Udoh, said he is not worried.

“I am not worried about the record. Records are set and records are broken. When I scored 23, I broke someone’s record (Jude Aneke – 20).

I am not bothered,” he added.

“He (Lokosa) is doing very well at the moment, if he surpasses the record, that will be a big plus for his career and the league,” Udoh concluded.

Udoh is also the first player to score over 35 goals in two consecutive seasons in Nigeria.

Serena faces Venus in third-round clash at BNP Paribas Open

>>pg 28

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, march 12, 2018

PAGE 28

S p Wenger gets boost as Arsenal cruises

r

t

Serena faces Venus in third-round clash at BNP Paribas Open

S

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

A

rsene Wenger received a welcome boost as Arsenal eased a little of the pressure on their beleaguered boss with a 3-0 win over Watford yesterday.

After a wretched run left Wenger fighting to save his job, a 2-0 win at AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday offered the Frenchman temporary respite from the torrent of abuse he has endured this season.

Maintaining the momentum from that last-16 victory in the San Siro, Wenger’s side ended a run of three successive Premier League defeats with a solid display at the Emirates Stadium.

Shkodran Mustafi’s early opener and a cool finish from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them in control.

In a moment of sweet vindication, Watford captain Troy Deeney, who had questioned Arsenal’s spirit earlier this season, had a second-half penalty saved by Petr Cech.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s strike wrapped up the points, but there was concern for Wenger as Mustafi limped off in the closing stages.

Arsenal, who had lost eight of their previous 14 matches in all competitions, remain in sixth place and trail fourth-placed Tottenham by 10 points ahead of their rivals’ trip to Bournemouth later on Sunday.

Winning the Europa League guarantees qualification for next season’s Champions League and, with Arsenal’s hopes of achieving that goal via a top-four finish looking bleak, it was no surprise Wenger prioritised the continental competition.

erena Williams continued her tennis comeback with a 7-6(5) 7-5 win over Kiki Bertens at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, setting up a third-round encounter with her sister Venus.

Serena, who is returning to the sport after taking more than a year away to have a baby, was ragged at times but used her power to wear down the Dutch 29th seed in Indian Wells, California.

“I’m getting there. I have such a long way to go,” the 23-times grand slam champion told reporters.

“It definitely felt better than the first round, but I’m still a little rusty.

“I’m still making errors that I don’t normally make. I call this a trial run, of traveling with the baby and all of this is just so new to me.”

Venus moved into the third round by beating Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-3 6-4 in the preceding match.

Today’s meeting will be the earliest between the Williams sisters since their first professional match in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open.

It will be the 29th between the pair, with Serena leading the head-to-head record 1711.

That record includes a walkover victory for Serena at Indian Wells in 2001, when

Venus and Serena Williams Venus pulled out minutes before their scheduled semi-final citing a knee injury.

Spectators vented their displeasure with the withdrawal during the final, booing

Serena and jeering her sister and father Richard Williams when the pair arrived to watch the match. Richard Williams alleged he had heard racist taunts.

Eagles will win 2018 World Cup -coach assures

N

igeria head Coach Gernot Rohr has made it known that super Eagles are eyeing the 2018 FIFA World Cup title.

The Super Eagles have never won the global competition having participated in five tournaments.

They made it out of the group stage in the 1994, 1998 and 2014 editions, but they have never progressed beyond the Round of 16.

Rohr spoke to reporters when the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour arrived in Lagos.

‘’Every team going to the World Cup in Russia has a dream of winning it,” the German tactician said.

“But to be realistic, we believe in our dream and we are working so hard to achieve it.”

This year’s finals will be hosted by Russia and Super Eagles are in Group D alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.

Rohr’s side will face Poland, Serbia, Democratic Republic of Congo, England and Czech Republic in friendlies as part of their preparations for the tournament.

Coach Gernot Rohr

Amputee football league coming soon in Nigeria, says president From Yakubu Minna

T

Mustapha,

club sides.

“By so doing the amputee league in the country will start on a very sound footing” Isah further said.

The President said very soon the Federation would offset its outstanding affiliation fees to the international body adding that affiliation fee that had been outstanding for five years has made it impossible for the country to participate in amputee international competitions.

“We owe huge sums of

he Nigeria Amputee Football Federation is to introduce Amputee Football League in the country, President of the Federation Alhaji Sulaiman Isah disclosed in Minna Niger state over the weekend.

Suleiman Isah who was exchanging views with sportswriters said the Federation had already set up a committee to reach out Amputee Footballers to the Nigeria Football Federation on how to fashion out the amputee league so that it will takeoff smoothly.

“We have a committee that will ALI interface with the NFF I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS kaloma ali. NOW WISH TO BE to take a cue from the KNOWN AS ali kaloma, and my date of birth was English FA which made wrongflly stated as 4-7-1975 the corrected date of it mandatory for all my birth is 1-2-1972. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC premier league clubs to PLEASE TAKE NOTE. have amputee football

CLASSIFIED Igwebuike I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Igwebuike paul. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Igwebuike ebuka paul. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED, eco bank, diamond bank, FedEral Polytechnic AND GENERAL PUBLIC should PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

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IBRAHIM

SULEIMAN I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SALMA WADA AHMED. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS SULEIMAN SALAMATU MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MOHAMMED I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Mohammed YAKUBU Dantani. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MOHAMMED DANTANI AKUKI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS OGUN BOSEDE OLUWAKEMI OMOLABAKE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MOGBOJURI ADEMOLA OLUWAKEMI OMOLABAKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS abdullahi ibrahim abubakar.

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS ibrahim abdullahi abubakar, and my date of birth was wrongflly stated as 1-2-1961 the corrected date of my birth is 8-4-1965.

ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

bauchi state notice IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE

WHEREAS the Person/Persons whose names is set out in the First Column hereunder died intestate on the dates and at the place stated in the column. AND WHEREAS the Person/Persons whose address and claimed relationship to the Deceased Person/Persons is set out in the Second Column hereunder has applied to “High Court of Justice, Bauchi for grant”. LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of the property/ies of the Deceased NOTICE is hereby given that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such Person/Persons unless NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE grant thereof is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice, Bauchi State of Nigeria, within TWENTY ONE DAYS (21) from the date of the publication of this legal Notice.

SCHEDULE S/N

NAMES Of THE DECEASED PERSONS

NAMES OF THE APPLICANTS

S/N

NAMES Of THE DECEASED PERSONS

NAMES OF THE APPLICANTS

1.

AHMED BABA ADAMU OF NO. 4 KANO ROAD GRA BAUCHI. WHO DIED ON 24TH OCTOBER 2017, AT PREMIER HEART HOSPITAL ABUJA

MOHAMMED BASHIR ADAMU OF EMIR’S PALACE, NINGI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

21.

YUNUSA HARUNA OF NASSARAWA JAHUN BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 12 NOVEMBER 2017, AT ATBUTH, BAUCHI

BASHIR YUNUSA OF BEHIND FED. SEC., BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

2.

YAKUBU IZANG ALI OF TORO LOCAL EDUCATION AREA BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 12TH SEPT. 2017 AT HOME.

MAGRET IZANG YAKUBU OF GIDAN TORO, TORO LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED.

22.

3.

SANI TULA OF SHEKAL WARD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 25TH DECEMBER 2017, AT HOME.

AISHA SANI OF SHEKAL WARD, BAUCHI BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED.

MUSA LUKA OF KOBI STREET, BAUCHI BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 2ND DECEMBER 2002, AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI.

HASSAN MUSA SURAIYA MUSA LUKA OF UNGUWAR GWALLAGA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND WIDOW OF THE DECEASED.

23.

4.

ALHAJI MUHAMMAD MARKA OF NO. 2 STREET, FADA TARUM, SHIRA LGA BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 4TH APRIL 2017 AT TARUM, SHIRA LGA

SABIU MUHAMMAD OF NO.2 STREET FADA TARUM SHIRA LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

YUNUSA HALADU OF NIGERIAN PRISON. WHO DIED ON 26October 2017 , AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI.

SARATU YAHAYA AND ALI YUNUSA OF SORO, GANJUWA LGA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW AND SON OF THE DECEASED.

24.

5.

SGT. GODIYA ADAMU OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE, WHO DIED ON 30TH OCTOBER 2017, AT ATBUTH BAUCHI

NAOMI GODIYA AND ESTHER GODIYA OF ZANGO FEDERAL LOWCOST BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW & DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED.

YAKUBU AGNES ASABE OF RAFIN ZURFI, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 13TH JANUARY 2018, AT ATBUTH BAUCHI.

SHEHU JODA OF RAFIN ZURFI, BAUCHI BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

25.

6.

KABIRU ABDULLAHI YAKUBU OF FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA. WHO DIED ON 19TH FEBRUARY 2018, AT NIZAMIYE HOSPITAL, ABUJA.

UMMU KHULSUM KABIRU ABDULLAHI, NA’IMATU KABIRU ABDULLAHI AND BALA ABDULLAHI OF FEDERAL LOWCOST BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE DAUGHTER, WIDOW AND BROTHER OF THE DECEASED.

ABDULLAHI MADARA OF KOFAR DUMI, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 12TH JUNE 2017, AT HOSPITAL.

HALIMA UMAR ADAMU OF KOFAR DUMI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW OF THE DECAESED.

26.

TABITHA EZEKIEL MADUGU OF BSADP, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 7TH JANUARY 2018, AT ATBUTH BAUCHI.

TRISMA EZEKIEL YAKI OF NEW GRA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED

7.

MOHAMMADU GIDADO OF FADAMAN MADA, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 25TH JULY 2017. AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI.

HAMZA M. ADAMU OF FADAMAN MADA, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

27.

DAUDA I. TSANKON OF DARAZO LGA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 23RD APRIL 2013 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL DARAZO

ASUMI DAUDA OF COCIN CHURCH DARAZO, DARAZO LGA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE

8.

CHIROMA OBIDA OF YELWAN TSAKANI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 19TH JANUARY 2017 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI.

JESSE CHIROMA OBIDA OF YELWAN TSAKANI, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

28.

HABILA EZEKIEL OF YELWAN TUDU BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE WHO DIED ON 10TH NOV., 2017 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI

HANNATU HABILA AND NEMFORT HABILA OF YELWAN TUDU, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIFE AND SON OF THE DECEASED.

9.

MERCY ACHIMUGU OF NO.14 WARJI ROAD, FEDERAL LOWCOST, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 30TH AUGUST 2017, AT ATBUTH BAUCHI.

OKENYI PETER USMAN OF ATBUTH BAUCHI BAUCHI STATE. THE UNCLE OF THE DECEASED.

29.

BENI ADAMU OF SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI, WHO DIED ON 15TH DECEMBER, 2017 AT COMP. HEALTH CENTRE T.BIYE

BALA KAWU OF UNGUWAN WARINJI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

30.

10.

IDRIS ADAM OF BEHIND COCIN CHURCH DORAWAN BABUJE, BARIKIN LADI, PLATEAU STATE. WHO DIED ON 18TH APRIL 2017, AT HOME.

ADAM IDRIS OF ZANGO, FEDERAL LOWCOST, HOUSING ESTATE, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

AMINU IBRAHIM LABARAN OF NTA BAUCHI. WHO DIED ON 30TH JANUARY 2018 AT ABUJA FCT.

ASIYA ALAMIN & NURUDDEEN ALAMIN OF FADAMAN MADA, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW & SON OF THE DECEASED.

31.

ABUBAKAR JIBIR OF ABA LAGOS WHO DIED ON 09 SEPT. 2017, AT ARMY HOSPITAL ABA LAGOS

MARYAM ABUBAKAR OF SABON KAURA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW OF THE DECEASED.

11.

AHMED BELLO GORO OF NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE BAUCHI STATE COMMAND. WHO DIED ON 26TH DECEMBER 2017 AT TASHAN BABIYE HEALTH CENTRE BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE.

HAJARA BELLO GORO OF UDUT SOKOTO STATE. THE MOTHER OF THE DECEASED.

32.

MUSA DAN HASSAN OF COLLEGE OF AGRIC QUARTERS BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 28TH AUGUST 2015, AT CHC TASHAN BABIYE, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE.

HADIZA ADO SULEIMAN OF COLLEGE OF AGRIC BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW OF THE DECEASED.

12.

ABUBAKAR BALA ADAMU OF DOYA WARD, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 9TH OCTOBER 2014, AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI.

SARATU ABUBAKAR OF DOYA WARD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED.

33.

DANIEL SAMUEL BATURE OF BOM VILLAGE, BOGORO LGA BAUCHI BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 17TH JUNE 2017 AT BAUCHI SPECIALIST HOSPITAL.

NASARA SAMUEL BATURE OF BOM VILLAGE, BOGORO LGA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

13.

ALH. BASHEER HAMZA OF 2/4 ROPO OWOLABI STREET, MORGAN ESTATE LAGOS STATE. WHO DIED ON 11TH JANUARY 2018, AT HOME.

RABIU HAMZA IBRAHIM OF BAKIN KURA STREET, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE BROTHER OF THE DECEASED.

34.

MOHAMMED HUDU M. OF NIG. CUSTOM SERVICES. WHO DIED ON 28TH JUNE 2016 AT SOKOTO, KEBBI ROAD.

HAUWA’U MOHAMMED H.M AND IBRAHIM MAIKANO GORI OF KOBI STREET BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUGHTER AND BROTHER OF THE DECEASED.

14.

GARBA HAMMA OF FEDERAL LOWCOST BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 12TH JANUARY 2018 AT HOME.

USMAN HAMMA OF TSOHUN KANFANI JOS ROAD OPP. MEGA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE BROTHER OF THE DECEASED.

35.

SHAMSUDDEN ADAMU SALEH OF NO.225 RAILWAY ROAD, BAUCHI – BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED PERSON.

15.

ABUBAKAR SADIQ USMAN OF JOS ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY. WHO DIED ON 28TH JANUARY 2018, AT ATBUTH BAUCHI.

USMAN MUSTAPHA YERO OF NO. C264, UNGUWAR GANJUWA, JAHUN ROAD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED.

ADAMU AHMED SALEH OF NO.225 RAILWAY ROAD, BAUCHIBAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON THE 28TH JUNE, 2018 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI STATE.

36.

YUSUF UMAR OF BSWB. WHO DIED ON THE 12TH FEBRUARY, 2018 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI STATE.

16.

DAVID ISA’AC OF ZANGO, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 24TH MAY 2017, AT HOME.

RUTH MELA DAVID OF ZANGO, BAUCHI BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW OF THE DECEASED.

UMMI YUSUF AND MU’AZU YUSUF OF MAGAJI QUARTERS, BAUCHI-BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUGHTER AND SON OF THE DECEASED PERSON.

37.

17.

ADAMU IDRIS ILIYASU OF TUDUN SALMANU, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 20TH JUNE 2017, AT HOME.

ABDULRAHMAN SULAIMAN, YAKUBU HARUNA & ABUBAKAR ABDULRAHMAN OF TUDUN SALMANU, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE BROTHERS AND UNCLE OF THE DECEASED.

JONATHAN ZAKKA OF NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE DEL. WHO DIED ON 15TH FEB, 2018 AT FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE YOLA ADAMAWA STATE.

GIDEON ZAKKA OF YELWAN TUDU BAUCHI. THE BROTHER AND NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED PERSON.

38.

NAOMI KUSHI OF GARGARE VILLAGE BOGORO LGA BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 30TH OCTOBER 2016, AT BAUCHI STATE SPECLIALIST HOSPITAL

CHARITY MARKUS OF GARGARE VILLAGE BOGORO LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED.

AYUBA KADMI OF GIADE GIADE LGA BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 18TH JANUARY AT GEN, HOSPITAL T/BALEWA BAUCHI

ALHAMDU AYUBA OF TAFAWA BALEWA, GA BAUCHI STATE THE AND NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED PERSON.

39.

19.

ABUBAKAR LADAN MUHAMMED OF FGC AZARE. WHO DIED ON 30TH JULY 2017, AT ATBUTH BAUCHI.

AHMED LADAN MOHAMMED OF MALAM GOJE QUARTERS BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE BROTHER OF THE DECEASED.

DAUDA MARTINA OF YELWAN KAGADAMA, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 14TH NOVEMBER, 2013 AT GEN. HOSPITAL BAYARA BAUCHI.

RAHILA DAUDA OF YELWAN KAGADAMA BAUCHI STATE. THE SISTER AND NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED PERSON.

20.

YUSUF MOHAMMED DUTSE OF NSCDC BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 11TH FEB 2017, AT HOME.

VIVIAN YUSUF DUTSE AND SULEIMAN MUHAMMED OF YELWAN TUDU DASS ROAD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW AND SON OF THE DECEASED.

40.

MATO SIRAJO NUHU OF WAYAN MAKAFI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 14TH MAY, 2017 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI.

HAKIM SIRAJO NUHU & AMINA AHMED MAIRIGA OF WAYAN MAKAFI BAUCHI. THE SON AND WIDOW OF THE DECEASED PERSON.

41.

MORDICAI JAMES OF BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. WHO DIED ON 19TH FEBRUARY, 2006 AT GEN. HOSPITAL T/BALEWA.

MORDICAI JAMES & SUCHIK JAMES OF T/BALEWA LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW AND SON OF THE DECEASED PERSON..

18.

Probate Registrar, High Court of Justice, Bauchi Bauchi State

Date at Bauchi this 12th day of March, 2018 Signed: Adamu Mohammed Kafin Madaki Esq Chief Registrar High Court of Justice, Bauchi.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

CLASSIFIED LOSS OF DOCUMENT

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF LAND ALLOCATION DOCUMENT-OFFER OF STATUTORY RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY OF LAND IN FCT IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO. 339 HAVING AN AREA 838.91 SQ.M . LOCATED AT CADASTRAL ZONE F01 OF KUBWA FCT, ABUJA TO DEI-DEI NEW SITE FOR SALE, GOT MISSING. ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE RETURNED TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE. LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public that the original Right of Occupancy with File No. KG23199, Plot No. 3305 Cadastral Code E27 District name Apo belonging to HUSSENAT LAWAL, issued by Federal Capital Territory Administration REF No: FZB230513873 got missing. All efforts made to trace the missing document proved abortive. If found please return to the nearest police station. FCDA and the general public please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS IN RESPECT OF PLOT NUMBER 56, CADASTRAL ZONE B19, DATED 05/05/03, WITH NEW FILE NUMBER NG 10666 AND RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY, PLOT NO. MD 683 WITHIN GADUWA DISTRICT, MEASURING 2,000M SQUARE, A LOCATION OF PLOT NO. 46OC WITHIN JABI DISTRICT, BELONGING TO MUHAMMAD DATTIJO USMAN IN POSSESSION OF HIS LAWYER ABDULLAHI ABDULMUMEEN DURO. GOT MISSING. IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

RESTITUTION ROYAL CITADEL MINISTRY

Triumphant Partakers of Gods palace ministry

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) ANTHONY IKECHUKWU NWOHU 2) OKORIE OLUCHUKWU BLESSING 3) OBETTA TIMOTHY ONYEBUCHI 4) NNAMANI CHRISTOPHER UGO

(PRESIDENT)

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD 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 : UCHOHWO O. SHADRACH PRINCIPAL PARTNER SHUDY ADVOCATE 08066175757

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.PST ISHEKUENE MESHACH - GENERAL OVERSEER 2. PST MRS ISHEKUENE LOVETH SINACHI - SECRETARY 3. DEACONESS GODSLIGHT ONYINYECHI AKINSIYE TREASURER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO FORWARDED TO THE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AGUIYI IRONSI STREET OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS

SIGNED : NNUBIA CHIOMA. 08035507002

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

EVERYDAY FARMING AND SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

CROWN OF FREEDOM & DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) NJEZE CHIDUBEM PIUS 2) NGWU OSITA UGWU 3) NJEZE ONYEMACHI CHARLES

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Emmanuel Adeoluwa Goodlord -chairman 2. Abayomi Rotimi Mighty - Secretary 3. Ogunleye Anita Adebanke

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO EMPOWER THE LESS PRIVILEGED THROUGH FARMING INITIATIVES. 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.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To engage youth in development programmes that will enhance their capacity to earn a living and expand their personal businesses.

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 : BARR GABRIEL O. 08036748550.

SIGNED : SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE GOOD LIFE FAMILY MINISTRY

AGBOR COMMUNITY UNION AGBOR BRANCH

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF HER CONSTITUTION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 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 ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

OLD MOTOR CAR-PARTS DEALERS ASSOCIATION

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

REV. PAUL NATHAN UTOMI - 2.

PASTOR CHRISTIAN NWOKEDI 3.

PASTOR NOSA OMOREGIE - 4.

PASTOR JOHNSON ALADE - 5.

PASTOR KENNETH ASEMOTA- 6.

PASTOR KENNETH EMEKA - 7.

PASTOR DAVE OMHONRIAWO- 8.

PASTOR SEGUN AKINRINLADE-

RETAINED RETAINED REMOVED REMOVED REMOVED REMOVED REMOVED REMOVED

The New Trustees are : 1.

PASTOR CHRISTOPHER NWANZE- 2.

PASTOR ELVIS ONONYUME -

APPOINTED APPOINTED

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. MR ONYECHIE EGUN LAWRENCE.- PRESIDENT. 2..CHIEF IGUMBOR PHILIP EVUOMWE - BOT CHAIRMAN. 3. MRS EMUAMUZIE MARIA ADAIGBE - secretary.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To promote development in AGBOR land.

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 : PRESIDENT

SIGNED : MR ONYECHIE EGUN LAWRENCE. PRESIDENT

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

BABBA KAITA FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.HASSAN USMAN BABBA- CHAIRMAN 2. BILKISU KAITA BABBA 3. ABUBAKAR BABBA USMAN 4. RABI ABUBAKAR UMAR - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN OUR SOCIETY 2. TO PROMOTE POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS 3. TO PROMOTE LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT 4. TO ORGANIZE FREE VOCATIONAL TRAININGS. 5. TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. 6. TO EMPOWER YOUTHS AND WOMEN 7. TO FOSTER PEACE AND UNITY AMONG MEMBERS AND COMMUNITIES

Restoration City Int’l Church

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.Pastor Joseph Emeka, 2.Pastor (Mrs.) Joy Emeka, 3.Obinwa Sunday David, 4.Ogbaka Jairus Onma, 5.Anekwe Uchenna Fabian THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.To preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2.To win souls for Christ.

3.To preach the word of truth, salvation, restoration, administer healing, deliverance and prophetic declarations on the 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.

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 : BY: BARR. ARIF KASIM BALA

SIGNED : SECRETARY

CAC/ IT/RC/ NO. - 13724

THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR THE AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION. SECTIONS THAT IS BEEN AMENDAD. 1. PREAMBLES - CHANGE IN THE WORDINGS. 2. ARTICLE E 1 SECTION 1 - CITTATION. SECTION 2 - ADDITION OF OMITTED WORD “OLD” TO THE NAME. SECTION 3 - RENUMBERED AS SECTION 4.

3. SECTION 1: MEMBERSHIP - WORDINGS CHANGED NUMBER (E) ALSO ALTERED AND THE WHOLE SECTION RE-NUMBERED. 4. ARTICLE 3 - OFFICES OF THE ASSOCIATION INCLUDED

SECTION 1 - ELIGIBILITY/APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS ALTERED AND RENUMBERED. SECTION 2 - ALTERED. SECTION 3,4 & 5 ALTERED AND RENUMBERED. 5. ARTICLE 4 - SECTION 1 & 2 ALTERED.

SECTION 3 - ALTERED.

SECTION 1 - DURATION OF OFFICE ALTERED TO CORRECT THE TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR THREE (4) YEARS. SECTION 2 - ALTERED AND RENUMBERED. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS ALTERED AND RENUMBERED APPROPRIATELY. ARTICLE 7 - DUTIES OF APPOINTED OFFICERS ALTERED. THE WHOLE SECTIONS WORDINGS CHANGED AND SECTIONS RE-ARRANGED. RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OF PATRONS AND TRUSTEES INCLUDED. ARTICLE 8: DUTIES OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ALTERED AND RENUMBERED. ORGANS OF THE ASSOCIATION INCLUDED AS SECTION NINE.

SECTION 1-11 ALTERED AND RENUMBERED. ARTICLE 9 - ALTERED AND WORDINGS CHANGED AND RENUMBERED. ARTICLE 10 - GENERAL - ALTERED AND RENUMBERED. ARTICLE 11 - ALTERED. THE FOLLOWING WERE INCLUDED IN THE CONSTITUTION SEAL FOR THE ASSOCIATE- SECTION TWELVE (12(2). FORMATION OF ZONES SECTION TWELVE (12(4) ASSOCIATION FUNDS AND PROPERTIES (12(5).

MATTERS NOT COVERED BY THE CONSTITUTION - SECTION SIXTEEN CONSTITUTIONAL STRENGTH - SECTION SEVENTEEN. EFFECTIVE DATE SECTION EIGHTEEN OATH OF OFFICE. THIS AMENDMENT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF AFFECTING CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE ASSOCIATION. ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS 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.

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, March 12, 2018

CLASSIFIED

PUBLIC NOTICE

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INDIGENOUS BROTHERS CLUB OF OPI

ZAMAN LAFIYA WOMEN ASSOCIATION MASAKA

GOD’S SIGNS AND WONDERS MINISTRY EBUBE SOLUTION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Mba Sunday Onuora 2. Agbo AmechiClifford 3.Onah RaphealIfeanyi 4.Eze Donatus Ogbonna 5.Benjamin EzugwuObinna 6.Ezugwu EjioforGodswill 7.Ugwu JudeNnabuike 8. Agbo lkechukwuMichael 9.Agbo lbeabuchi Christian

Chairman Vice Chairman Treasurer FinancialSecretary Vice Secretary Provost Member Member Member

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1).SIMON SARAH (CHAIR- LADY) (2). EDWARD ESTHER TIMONSABE (SECRETARY) (3). PEDOK BRISKILA MOSES (4) HAJ. HARUNA RABI (5). MATHEW NANKYER (6). ALI SIMON INUSA.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Prophet Elijah Akasue 2. Anayo Ernest Okolie 3. Innocent Edeh.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACHTHE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To maintain and promote the unity andwelfare of OPI c itizens 2. To revive the spirit of br otherhood within ourselves.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE INTEREST 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.

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 : Solicitor: WilsonE. Ubazi Es q 08034927797

SIGNED : Barr Andrew Pius Achimi 08059830577

SIGNED : SECRETARY

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KIMBERLY FOUNDATION

GOD DELIVERANCE MINISTRY SOLUTION GROUND

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. MR. ADEYINKA GBENGA - CHAIRMAN 2. OLALEKAN ADELEKE OGUNBANWO. 3. OBASEKI OSE 4. ABDU MOSES - SECRETARY 5. OMO-CRITTENDON CYNTHIA. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED 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 , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. PROPHET OKECHUKWU OJIMBA - GENERAL OVERSEER (Chairman) 2. MRS. ADEBISI MERCY OJIMBA - SECRETARY 3. CHIZOBA HAPPINESS OJIMBA - member THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO FORWARDED TO THE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AGUIYI IRONSI STREET OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS

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.

High Grace Int’l Gospel Church

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Rev. Nwosu Edmund Uchechukwu 2. Nwosu Gloria Nkechi 3. Bro. Joshua Edmund 4. Bro Chimaobi Iwunze 5. Usulor Joseph Illoke 6. Ohanuka Tochukwu Ohaeto.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : CHAIRMAN

SIGNED : GENERAL OVERSEER

SIGNED : SECRETARY

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PYTHON INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB

ABDUL RAHEEM MOSQUE INITIATIVE

NEW SPRING INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) OGUNLEYE FEMI OTUNBA (2) SAID MOHAMMED ( RTD) (3) SAMAILA DABAI YOMBE( RTD) (4) AGADA PATRICK CHARLES ( RTD) (5) SOLOMON CHARLES TONY (6) BOB - MANUEL DISRAEL GBOGBO

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.BABAJIDE SIKIRU MURUDEEN 2.OLAJIDE AHMED NURUDEEN 3.GANIYU AGBARI GIDOMA

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. GODWIN UNEKWU ATOKOLO 2. EDAK EDET ATOKOLO

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PROMOTE THE GAME OF GOLF AMONG THE YOUTHS. TO PROMOTE UNITY AMONG 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.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.ADVANCEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF MOSQUE. ANY OBJECTION TO FORWARDED TO THE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AGUIYI IRONSI STREET OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. to preach the word of God 2. To raise a godly generation for God. ANY OBJECTION TO FORWARDED TO THE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AGUIYI IRONSI STREET OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS

SIGNED : ABUBAKAR ALIYU KOTO

SIGNED : BY AIGBIREMOLEN LORETTA.

SIGNED : SECRETARY

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THE RESTORATION LIFE BELIEVERS MINISTRY

INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF GOSPEL MINISTER’S WIVES AND FEMALE MINISTERS

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) REV. ROMANUS OKEZIE EJESIEME (CHAIRMAN) 2) PASTOR MRS ROSELINE EJESIEME 3) IFEANYI EJESIEME 4) CHUKWUKA EJESIEME 5) GIFT ONYINYE EJESIEME (SECRETARY) 6) MR. KINGSLEY OBASUYI 7) MRS ANURIKA JOY OKOYE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1) To propagate Christian religion through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2) To evangelise and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to convert the heathens, pagans and unbelievers to Christian faith in Nigeria and throughout the world.

3) Equipping and edifying believers for the work 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 TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) Rev Mrs Okoh Victoria Mbumeonye.

(2) Bishop Okoh Prayer Charles Ifeanyichukwu.

(3) Pastor mrs Uduma Roselyn Onyelokachukwu.

(4) Odihomiwe Joy Chide.

(5) Pastor Mrs Achonwu Love.

(6) Evan. Mrs Iyamu Rosemary Onyekachukwu.

(7) Evan. Mrs Ugbechie Stella Nkem.

(8) Pastor Mrs Daniel Sarah Nwakaego.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To Unity Among 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. SIGNED : SECRETARY

HOUSE OF GLORY INTERCESSORY MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ALUYA BENJAMIN OGHENERO 2. ALUYA RITA OKE. 3. AKARAH ESE MARY 4. OBORAMOHWOYERE LILIAN. 5. ADIA CHINENYE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To Preach The Gospel.

ANY OBJECTION TO FORWARDED TO THE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AGUIYI IRONSI STREET OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS

SIGNED : SECRETARY

QUOTABLE QUOTE

. . . putting the people first

MONDAY, march 12, 2018

SPORTS latest

Enyeama escapes attack from Lille supporters

F

ormer Nigeria international Vincent Enyeama escaped being attacked by Lille supporters in the wake of their 1-1 draw with Montpellier in the French Ligue 1 on Saturday evening.

The goalkeeper was presumably not with the team for the game at Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Villeneuve d’Ascq) as he was not named to Lille’s provisional squad.

About a hundred Lille fans ran to the field and went to the players of their team after the final whistle, they began to insult the players and threatened them because of the bad results of the team this season.

Blatter backs Morocco on 2026 World Cup biding

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 82-year-old stated that he was backing the African nation because of the logistical challenges thrown up by the joint bid from Canada/Mexico/ United States.

“If Morocco is able to organise this World Cup with 48 teams, then it must be chosen,” he said.

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

Advert: business: news: lagos:

“We make bold to say that if indeed the country’s democracy is under threat as Senator Ekweremadu tried to make us believe, then it is an indictment on him as one of the leaders of the Senate, and he should stop passing the buck.”

Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) lambasting Senator Ekweremadu over coup statement

Ghana - Still the Black Star

O

n March 6, 1957, Kwame Nkrumah made history.

Not only did he lead the British colony of Gold Coast into independence - the first British Colony in Africa to do so - he changed its name from Gold Coast to Ghana. He also threw away the Union Jack and gave Ghana a flag they will always be proud of.

The flag has red, gold, green colors on it. But the most outstanding feature of the Ghanaian flag is the BLACK STAR. It was designed by Theodosia Salome Okoh who interpreted the red to represent the blood that was shed towards independence, the gold for the abundance of that mineral in the country, the green for the pristine and lush grasslands of Ghana and the BLACK STAR stands for the pride of place Ghanaians have occupied in the emancipation of the black people of Africa.

As a student at the Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in the United States of America, Nkrumah was introduced to the concept of Pan-Africanism. His ideas on the way forward for Africa at that critical time were crystalized by the teachings of Marcus Garvey who became famous for his “Back to Africa Movement”, Martin Luther King Jr and W.E.B Du Bois who later naturalized as a Ghanaian.

With Ghana independent, Dr Kwame Nkrumah made it the responsibility of his country to fight for the decolonization of the rest of the African Continent. He established the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute (officially known as the Kwame Nkrumah Institute of Economics and Political Science or Winneba ideological Institute) as an educational body to promote socialismin Ghanaas well as the decolonization of Africa.

The Institute was designed to give Ghanaians a new orientationand promote national independence, as almost all Ghanaians in the first independent governmentwere trained in the United Kingdom or United States.The “Osagyefo, Ghana’s fount of knowledge and pillar of strength” as he liked to call himself,Nkrumah played an instrumental part in the formation of the Organization of African Unity.

He was indeed a Black Star to the world when he joined four other remarkable world leaders – Josip Broz Tito of the Socialist Yugoslavia, Jawaharlal Nehru of India and Sukarno of Indonesia – to be the founding fathers of the Non-Aligned Movement. Their actions were known as ‘The Initiative of Five’.

The Non-Aligned Movement was a product of the global politics at the time. Its purpose, as persuasively stated by one of its earliest members, Fidel Castro of Cuba was to ensure “the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries” in their “struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemonyas well

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Monday Column

Emmanuel Yawe royawe@yahoo.com 08024565402

as against great powerand bloc politics.” The countries of the NonAligned Movement represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations’ members and contain 55% of the world population. Membership is particularly concentrated in countries considered to be developing or part of the Third World, though the Non-Aligned Movement also has a number of developed nationssuch as Chile,Iranand Saudi Arabia, the latter of which is a member of the G20, (India) is a G20 member as well.

During Nkrumah’s period Ghana became a haven for African American political figures, artists, professionals and business people. Some within this group became staunch defenders of the Nkrumah government which was under increasing pressure from the CIA and the State Department after 1961.

Several hundred African Americans took up residence in Ghana including Maya Angelou, a writer, dancer and supporter of African liberation movements; Alice Windom of St. Louis, a social worker and educator who helped organize the itinerary of Malcolm X when he travelled to Ghana in May 1964; Vicki Holmes Garvin, a labor activist and member of the Communist Party served as a co-worker with Robert and Mabel Williams in China several years later after leaving Ghana; Julius Mayfield, a novelist and essayist who left the U.S. amid the attacks on Robert Williams, worked in Ghana as a journalist and editor of African Review, a Pan-Africanist journal in support of the CPP government; W.E.B. Du Bois was given Ghanaian citizenship and appointed as the director of the Encyclopedia Africana; Shirley Graham Du Bois, the second wife of Dr. Du Bois, a political organizer,

“

member of the Communist Party, prolific writer and producer, was appointed by Nkrumah to head Ghana National Television; among others.

Ghana became the chief architect of African revolutionary struggle. But Nkrumah’s radical demands for the complete decolonization and even unification of the whole free African Continent into a United States of Africa attracted powerful enemies to him from the Western world. On February 24 1966, a coup sponsored by the American Intelligence Agency, the CIA was carried out against him by lower-ranking military and police officers.

At the time of the coup, he was out of Ghana on a peace mission aimed at bringing an end to the United States intervention in Vietnam.

The president had stopped over in Beijing, Peoples Republic of China, for consultations with Premier Chou En-lai and had planned to continue on to Hanoi.

When Nkrumah later met with Chou he informed him that there had been a military coup in Ghana. His initial reaction was disbelief.

Leaders of the 1966 military coup wereColonel E.K. Kotoka, Major A.A. Afrifa, Lieutenant General (retired) J.A. Ankra, and Police Inspector General J.W.K. Harlle. They justified their takeover by charging that the Nkrumah administration was abusive and corrupt. They were equally disturbed by his aggressive involvement in African politics and by his belief that Ghanaian troops could be sent anywhere in Africa to fight liberation wars. Above all, they pointed to the absence of democratic practices in the nation—a situation they claimed had affected the morale of the armed forces. According to General Kotoka, the military coup of 1966 was a

truggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemonyas well as against great powerand bloc politics

nationalist one because it liberated the nation from Nkrumah’s dictatorship.

Despite the vast political changes that were brought about by the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah, many problems remained. If anything, the coup led to many more coups with a succession of corrupt generals milking the country dry. Ghana under the military became a shame to the continent of Africa. Many Ghanaians fled into exile, even to Nigeria to take up menial jobs. Those who remained faced severe economic hardships including food shortages.

In June 1979, a group of young military officers under Jerry Rawlings staged a violent coup and did not only overthrow the government but lined up many military and civilian leaders of the past and executed them by firing squad. He handed over to HillaLimann, an elected President but soon returned to take over power again.

Rawlings in his second coming has brought Ghana back to its place of pride in Africa as a stable democratic and prosperous country. A series of elections have been held and peaceful transitions taken place under democratic atmosphere adjudged as free and fair by global standards.

NanaAkufo Addo the current Ghanian President has a track record of high flying achievementsin job creation - the farming for job initiative, the senior high school free education, one districtone factory projects and one villageone dam initiatives among others.

These are trail blazing records in Africa.

Ghana has learnt her lessons the hard way. With the discovery of oil in that country, it is certain that they will make better use of the black gold than our Nigeria. We may call ourselves the giant of Africa but Ghana remains the black star.

Additionally, Ghanaians today remain nostalgic about the Nkrumah days when the country was the black star of Africa. During his centenary birthday celebration, the government of Ghana instituted it as public holiday.

September 21 rechristened Ghana Founders Day is a public holiday in Ghana.

DAN GAYE

Confusion in Kogi, as Gov. Bello sacks, reinstates cabinet

That’s why Senator Abaribe called him ‘little Hitler’ last week

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