Tuesday, July 14, 2020 Edition

Tuesday, July 14, 2020/ Zhul-Qida 23, 1441 AH

Vol. 34 No. 059 N150

2276 Days after

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Alleged kidnapping: We retrieved six guns from Wadume, witness tells court pAGE 3

@pmlonline

Banditry will soon be thing of the past -CDS

Rep calls for death sentence against killer herdsmen, bandits

pAGE 3

pAGE 17

N70.4bn Contract Scam:

Reps summon former NDDC commissioners, directors, others page 5

•Fraud charges bad omen, says PDP

R-L: Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, Executive Director, Corporate Services of NDIC, Hon. Omo’lola AbiolaEdewor and Director Corporate Affairs of NDIC, Dr. Sunday Oluyemi, during a meeting with House of Representatives Committee on Public Account, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Covid-19 : Workers desert Benue govt house >>>page 6

AGF threatens lawsuit against Sahara Reporters over publication >>page 2

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Stock Watch Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

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AGF threatens lawsuit against Sahara

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

T

he Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has vowed to take legal action against Sahara Reporters on account of defamatory publications made against him.

Malami said, the consequence of the criminal defamation published by Sahara Reporters, has subjected him to considerable distress, psychological trauma, anxiety and greatly injured his character and reputation.

According to the AGF, the purported report is capable of lowering his estimation in in the eyes of right-thinking persons in the society.

Malami hinted that series of prejudicial articles/materials were published by Sahara Reporters Inc. which were

adverse against him disparaged his reputation via its online internet platform and broadcast on the internet via the Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other similar Social Media platforms where same could be viewed and assessed by the whole world and further shared and/ or disseminated virally without restraint.

In a statement signed by the Media Aid to the office of the AGF, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Malami noted particularly that on the 10th, 11th and 12th of July 2020, Sahara Reporters, in what appears like a coordinated attack, viciously wrote and maliciously published libelous and criminally defamatory articles against his personality.

The Minister said it is pertinent to note that the publications were untrue, fabrication or at best a figment of

imagination of Sahara Reporters and are unsupported howsoever.

He said since the 10th of July 2020 when the defamatory articles was first published, he has been receiving several telephone calls and visits from well-meaning Nigerians, his friends, well-wishers and associates from all over the world including those he has dealt with/still dealing with in his Official Capacity as Nigeria’s Chief Law Officer, many of whom have expressed serious concerns over the publication.

Furtherance to the foregoing, Malami maintained that the publication of malicious libel and criminal defamation published against him by Sahara Reporters was with a view to disparage him in the eyes of right thinking persons.

He therefore, posited that the action contravenes

Nigerian Criminal and Penal Laws and a gross violation of his Right to Dignity of Human Person as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended).

Consequently, Malami gave the medium a -7 day ultimatum to retract all the libelous and criminally defamatory publications against him, and issue a public apology to be published on the platform and on the front pages of three national newspapers for three consecutive days.

The statement dated, 13th July, also hinted that a Senior Lawyer has already been briefed to deal with the matter as may be appropriate, in the event of failure to retract the publication in question and offer the requested apology within the stipulated time.

Officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria inspect one of the mountain climbers bikes just procured and modified by configuring and fitting them with communication equipment to boost the troops fight against security challenges in our country, recently in Kaduna. Photo: NAN

Edo guber: PDP tasks INEC, security agencies on fairness, credibility Page 4

Digest

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Feature 26 Sports 30-31 Back Page

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Fake DSS personnel bags 12 years imprisonment

A

Federal High Court in Ibadan on Monday sentenced one Ademola Lawal to a total of 12 years in jail for impersonating a personnel of the Department of State Services(DSS) and N1.85 million fraud.

Delivering judgment, Justice Patricia Ajoku convicted and sentenced Lawal based on the evidence before her and the fact that the convict pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him.

Ajoku, who noted that the court took awareness of the fact that the convict pleaded guilty, said: “”It is my belief that

the convict is remorseful of his action now and has demonstrated that he is willing to change and contribute positively to the society.

“Nevertheless, Lawal is sentenced to two years in prison for each of the six offences to serve as deterrent to others.

“However, sentences shall run concurrently.

“In addition, Lawal shall pay the monies he fraudulently obtained from his victims which shall be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge said.

The defence counsel, Mr Musbau Olapade, had shortly before sentencing, prayed the

court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

Olapade said that the convict was a first time offender and had learnt his lesson in a bitter way.

At the trial, counsel to the DSS, Mr T.A. Nurudeen, had told the court that the convict was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on impersonation and threat.

Nuru de e n said that t he convict committed the crime between 2015 and 2019 before he was eventually apprehended.

According to the prosecutor, Lawal separately obtained N1.5 million from a director of FCMB, N200,000 from one

Bako Danbata and N150,000 from one Ibrahim Bunkutu.

Nuru de e n said that t he convict, who posed as a personnel of the DSS, told his victims that he was in a position to help them out of their problems with the agency.

He also said that Lawal intimidated and threatened two foreigners legitimately working at Tincan Island port in Lagos State through the internet.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 1 (A) and (B) as well as 108 (2) of Advanced Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Prohibition Act Cap, 2015. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

News

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

Alleged kidnapping: We retrieved six guns from Wadume, witness tells court

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A

s the trial of the alleged kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, aka Wadume continued yesterday, another witness, Inspector Samuel Abdullahi, told the court that his team retrieved six guns from the kidnap kingpin.

Testifying as a 5th prosecution witness, before Justice Binta Nyako, Abdulahi gave the evidence when he was tendering six guns as exhibits at the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.

The guns were tendered to the court and admitted as exhibits B, B1 to B5.

Wadume and his co-defendants are answering a 13-count amended criminal charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and collection of N106 million ransom, among others preferred against them by the Federal Government.

Other defendants are: Police Inspector, Aliyu Dadje, Auwalu bala (aka omo razor); Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu); Bashir Wazlri (aka baba runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul.

They have however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The soldiers who were initially charged along with Wadume had their names removed from the charge sheet as defendants by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which took over the prosecution of the matter from the police.

While being led in evidence in chief, the witness told the court that his team that investigated the matter involving Wadume and his codefendants retrieved the six guns from the kidnap kingpin.

According to the witness, Wadume instructed Rayyanu Abdul, the 7th defendant, based in Ibi to move the guns, which belongs to him, to a safe place, but when told that they needed money for spiritual prayers over his matter, Wadume ordered that two of the rifles be sold to raise money for that purpose.

He said Bashir Wazlri (aka

Babaruns), the 5th defendant was in the Sharon vehicle that the military used in chasing the police operatives, which they shot and it summersaulted, killing three policemen and two civilians.

Testifying further, the witness insisted that the six guns were retrieved from Bashir Waziri and Uba Bala, who were also defendants

in the matter and kept in the custody of the exhibit keeper of the Nigeria Police.

However, the move to tender the statements the defendants made to the police were objected to by their counsel.

In their objection to the admissibility of the statements, both counsels to the second and

the sixth defendants submitted that the statements of their client were obtained by inducement and torture.

Arguing further, they insisted that the statements were written in English language while their clients made them in Hausa language.

Consequently, they called for trial within trial and the court conducted the trial within trial to

ascertain whether the statements were obtained by inducement or torture as alleged by the defendants.

In their own reaction, counsel to the 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 defendants said they will address the issue in their final address.

The matter, for the meantime, is adjourned till July 15, 2020 for continuation.

A cross-section of some members of Umuagwudioha clan of Aku community stage a peaceful protest against an alleged threat to life, communal unrest, land grabbing by an individual, at Aku, in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, yesterday in Enugu state.

Photo: NAN

FG inaugurates governing councils of 13 universities

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he Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has inaugurated the governing councils of 13 federal universities in the country.

Adamu, during the inauguration in Abuja on Monday, charged the chairmen and members of the various councils to foster harmonious relationships while carrying out their duties in the next four years.

He urged council members and chairmen to respect the rule of law in the discharge of their duties while also respecting the rules of federal character in the appointment of their officers.

The Minister also tasked the

governing boards to block loopholes and come up with ideas that would shore up the Internally Generated Revenue of the universities.

According to him, the major areas of challenge are inadequate funding as well as judicious use of available resources.

“So, let me advise you to come up with new creative ways to improve funding in your institutions.

“You will have to block the loopholes where the IGR slides away,” he said.

Adamu said that visitation panels would be visiting the universities in the next weeks while calling on the new council members to effectively

cooperate with the panel so as to lay a good foundation.

He added that the effort of the government was to improve Nigerian universities in the next four years, hence the appointment of tested and proven officers.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the inauguration of the council members marks the beginning of a new phase in the introduction of the first 12 specialised universities.

Rasheed said the NUC was also inspired by the Map of 2018-2020 and has been committed to revitalising

Nigeria’s university education.

He said the steps included immediate fostering of skills development and entrepreneurship as well as addressing inadequacies in facilities.

Responding, the representative of the newly appointed chairmen, Prof.

Funmilayo Togonu-Bickersteth, said the council members look forward to cooperation from the Minister and NUC, especially in the provision of useful information.

She pledged the best of the council members towards the advancement of the nation and mankind.

Among the newly appointed Council Chairmen is Prof. Nimmi

Banditry will soon be thing of the past -CDS

T

he Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has given the assurance that banditry in the North West and Central region would soon be a thing of the past.

He gave the assurance when he visited the troops of Exercise Sahel Sanity (ExSS) at the Special Army Super Camp 4, Faskari in Katsina State on Monday.

Olonisaki said the launch of ExSS by Nigerian Army was a testimony of their commitment to address all security challenges facing the country.

He said that the exercise was a real time exercise that would transit into operation aimed at attacking banditry in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto as well as Kaduna and Niger States.

“From the briefs I have received and what I have seen here today, there is no doubt in my mind that the scourge of the banditry will soon be a thing of the past and all law abiding citizens would be able to resume their normal lives.

“The past five years of our fight against insurgency, banditry and other criminalities in our nation, the armed forces of Nigeria constantly re-strategise and develop models

and approaches as well as restructuring to better position her to address our national security challenges.

“The super Camp concept of the Nigerian Army is one of this effort aimed at repositioning the Nigerian army to better contain these challenges.

“It therefore gladdens my heart to witness ExSS which is already achieving the much desired result put together by Nigerian army from its super Camp in Faskari,” he said.

Olonisaki, however, assured the Chief of Army Staff of the support of the Defence Headquarter towards achieving the objectives of the exercise.

He commended the Nigerian Army for its innovative approaches to the myriad of security challenges across the country with support of other security agencies.

According to him, providing this much needed secured environment, we must continue to strengthen the existing synergy with the services and other security and intelligence agencies to prevent any gaps that could be exploited by these criminals.

“I must commend the resilience and relentless spirit of all the personnel taking part in this important exercise and all other operations across the country to ensure peace and security for our people as well as protect the territorial integrity of our father land.

“I urge you all not to relent in your efforts as you are the last line of defence in our bid to ensure a stable peaceful country.

“Remember that the nation counts on all of us and I have no doubt that the Nigerian Army will acquaint itself creditably by routing all forms of banditry during the ongoing exercise,” he added.

Olonisakin congratulated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, officers and soldiers of Nigerian army on the successful conduct of Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2020.

He also congratulated Buratai for his fifth year anniversary as the Nation’s Chief of Army Staff.

Earlier, Buratai said that tremendous successes had been achieved within the few days that ExSS commenced, adding that a number of

bandits had either been arrested or eliminated.

According to him, there have been clearing of bandits, recovery of rustled cattle, recovery of arms, kidnapped victims being rescued and host of other criminal activities that have been stopped.

“We have also reduced or arrested quite a number of the informants and logistics suppliers of these bandits and their collaborators in the cities and villages here in the North West.

“We are just beginning and we want to assure Nigerians that this operation that is ongoing will bring about very reasonable state of security in the North West.

“We are not only restricting ourselves to the North West, concurrently , we are carrying out operations in the North Central especially Kaduna and Niger States.

“It is very important that we take note and we will continue to carry out our responsibilities diligently,” he said.

Buratai also disclosed that today being July 13 marked the fifth year of their appointment as service chiefs and congratulated Olonisakin for their successes so far. (NAN)

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S/Court hears suits against virtual court sitting today

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

T

he Supreme Court will today, 14th July, hears suits challenging the validity and constitutionality of the virtual court sittings procedure, filed by Ekiti and Lagos State governments respectively.

The suit marked SC/CV/260/2020, filed by the Attorney General of Lagos state mentioned the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Assembly as the 1st and 2nd defendants.

While the suit marked, ‘’SC/ CV/261/2020’’ was also filed by the Attorney General of Ekiti state against the AGF added Attorneys General of Lagos and Ogun states as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, because, according to him, they have implemented virtual court proceedings The Lagos state, however, asked the Apex Court to determine whether having regard to Section 36(1), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) use of technology by remote hearings of any kind, whether by Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Skype or any other audio visual or video-conference platform by the Lagos State High Court or any other Courts in Nigeria in aid of hearing and determination of cases are constitutional.

In the suit, Ekiti state it is challenging constitutionality of the directive of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) to the Head of Courts at federal and state levels to adopt Virtual Court Sittings in courts.

Ekiti state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, Ekiti who filed the suit asked the apex court to issue an order to annul the directive for the adoption of the Virtual or Remote Court sittings.

However, Fapohunda wants the Apex Court to nullify the directive to the extent that same purports to be binding on state High Courts and other subordinate courts in Ekiti State for being inconsistent with Section 1(3), 4(6), 5(2), 6(2), 36(3) and (4), 272 and 274 of the 1999 Constitution.

They further wants the Supreme Court to determine whether the AGF’s guidelines are not a derogation from the legislative, executive and judicial law-making, law execution and adjudicatory rules making powers exclusively vested in states of the federation in respect of states courts, by virtue of Sections 1(3), 4(6), 5(2), 6(2), 272 and 272 and 274 of the Constitution.

The plaintiff is also asking the apex court to decide whether Lagos and Ogun state having adopted virtual court hearings pursuant to the lockdown, the three arms of Government in Ekiti State are bound to conduct their legislative, executive and judicial functions pertaining to adjudication in state courts in compliance with the directive upon which the National Judicial Council formulated the provisions of Articles E(1) to E(13) of its Guidelines (issued on May 7, 2020).

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

News

Edo guber: PDP tasks INEC, security agencies on fairness, credibility

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

A

head of the September 19 this year’s governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that all the electoral processes are allowed for free, fair and credible.

The PDP specifically declared that the people of Edo state have made up their mind to re-elect Governor Obaseki and as such INEC and security agencies must ensure that all the processes allow only for free, fair and credible election.

The party said this in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The main opposition party maintained that for the people of Edo state, the September 19 election is a referendum and

determined march for freedom from the stranglehold of the repressive, heartless, vindictive, exploitative and corrupt All Progressives Congress.

The PDP described the mass defection from the APC to its fold, ahead of the Edo governorship election, as an end-of-the-road signpost for the APC and its embattled candidate, Osagie IzeIyamu.

The party also acknowledged the solidarity of thousands of members of other political parties, who have also adopted and expressed support for our c a n d i d a t e , G o ve rn o r G o d w i n Obaseki, as their preferred choice for the election.

According to the statement, “Our party has been receiving daily reports of massive surge for PDP membership cards in our state, local government and ward offices, following the soaring popularity of Governor Obaseki and the PDP across the state.

“This is in addition to the expressed support of various volunteer groups, as well as professional bodies, community associations, trade unions, youth groups and other critical players across the voting population of the state.

“The PDP notes that with the gale of defection and mass flow of support from the people of Edo state, the APC candidate would soon look back and find himself standing alone.

“Following the surge, the PDP has directed all our ward offices across the state to expand their registration capacity to ensure adequate accommodation for all Edo people in their irrevocable quest to realize their aspiration on the platform of the PDP. “Our party notes that the Edo people are already aware that unlike the suppressive and corrupt APC, the PDP is the only true platform where their voices, wishes and aspirations as individuals

and as a people, are completely guaranteed at all levels and all without the oppressive control of corrupt god-fathers.

“Furthermore, our party is already aware of the worsened crisis, disagreements and trepidation in the APC over their imminent crushing defeat by the Edo people.

“For the people of Edo state, the September 19 election is a referendum and determined march for freedom from the stranglehold of the repressive, heartless, vindictive, exploitative and corrupt APC. “The PDP therefore charge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as security agencies to note that the people of Edo state have made up their mind to re-elect Governor Obaseki and as such must ensure that all the processes allow only for free, fair and credible election on September 19”, it said.

L-R: Director-General, Plateau state Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang; Chairman, Plateau Peace Committee, Richard Adams and representative of the Governor Plateau, Prof. Danladi Atu, making signs of peace, during the community initiatives to promote peace training on the managing and preventing conflict in Nigeria Middle Belt and North-West, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

Delay in PIB passage creates uncertainty in oil, gas sector

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he Women in Energy Network (WEIN) says that the long delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law has created lingering uncertainty in the oil and gas sector.

The network disclosed this in a statement by its president, Mrs Funmi Ogbue, in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resource, Chief Timipre Sylva, says the PIB currently with the Executive will be sent to the National Assembly in two weeks time.

She said that the delay had cost the country huge sums in revenue

due to lost investments.

“The existing oil and gas sector regulatory framework is amorphous and ineffective because of too many overlaps in responsibilities and accountability.

“The expedient passage of and purposeful implementation of the PIB is critical to addressing most of the loopholes in the management and governance of the sector.

“The PIB when passed into law will improve governance of the sector by strengthening institutions in the areas of clarity of structures, roles, accountability, transparency, and overall efficiency and effectiveness.

“The PIB will ensure that the

focus of legislating the sector shifts from the present to the future,” she said.

She further recommended that the National Assembly should endeavour to engage in both law-making and oversight of the relevant agencies.

Ogbue added that they should deliberate on policies aimed at ameliorating the possible impact of the new developments, such as deregulation of the downstream sector on women in particular.

“The National Assembly should review all ongoing social investment programmes with a view to ensuring that they have sufficient focus on supporting and

empowering poor women.

“WIEN will be willing to support the NASS in this review and also in proffering practical strategies and programmes that can improve these programmes and others that can improve the lives and livelihoods of poor women,” she said.

Ogbue noted that WIEN called for greater transparency, better efficiency, and a level playing field in the oil and gas industry.

She further demanded for more female involvement in the governance of the MDA’s in the energy industry by having greater participation at board levels.

(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

News

N70.4bn Contract Scam: Reps summon NDDC former Commissioners, Directors others

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts yesterday summoned all the former commissioners and executive directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to appear unfailingly within seven days over alleged N70.4 billion contracts awarded to 1,723 contractors who absconded without execution of projects.

The House Committee equally asked the Acting Managing Director of the agency Prof. Pondei Kemerbrandikumo to bring a list of all the 1,723 Contractors and the projects awarded to them between 2011 and 2012, as well as invited bank chief executives for fraudulently raising Advance Payment Guarantees for these contractors.

Chairman of the Committee Hon.Oluwole Oke who gave the summoned at the hearing said, the ex-commissioners and executive directors of NDDC had flouted the provisions of the Appropriation Act 2011 and the 1999 Constitution by approving over inflated contracts and making over payments to these contractors.

He further hinted that officials contravened the law and added that he would recommend that to the President that the ex-commissioners and executive directors should be banned from holding public offices He said, “we wont allow such behavior to go unpunished. Some

people are have intentionally raped and violated the provisions of the Appropriation Act and the 1999 Constitution”.

At the hearing, the Acting MD said that most of the expenditure in the contacts were made after late passage of the commission’s annual budgets.

He however admitted that the

officials had flouted the laws and demanded that the committee gives him four weeks to comply with the directives.

In his submission, Executive Director Projects NDDC Cairo Ojuogbo said that the contractors were mobilized without work done.

He added that 90 percent

of the contracts were awarded between 2011 and 2012 adding that there was excess payment made by the agency more than the value of work done.

Other committee members notably Hon. Mark Gbillah(Benue,APC) and Hon. Fred Agbedi (Bayelsa, PDP) had lamented that the amount of

money involved in the contract scam was humongous.

Nonetheless, the committee helsman instited that the NDDC officials must appear unfailingly within seven days and the list of all the projects and contractors should accompany the officials summoned.

L-R: Amos Yohannah , Director of Operations , Nigerian Christians Pilgrim Commission ( NCPC), Yakubu Pam, Executive Secretary NCPC, Esther Kwaghe, Former Director in Charge of NCPC and Enoch Duchi , Former Nigerian Ambassador to Israel, during a visit by the former Ambassador visit to NCPC Corporate headquarters, at the Weekend in Abuja.

NDDC Fraud demonstration of sleaze, says PDP

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the ‘monstrous sleaze’ being unearthed in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is just a tip of the iceberg of the stinking corruption and criminal racketeering that have pervaded the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

The main opposition party has therefore demanded that, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio should step aside and submit himself for investigation over “these weighty allegations”.

The PDP said these in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The party said further that the shocking details of allegation by the former NDDC Managing Director, Joy Nunieh, of massive stealing, manipulation of budget processes, victimization and implication of innocent Nigerians as well as fetish

practices by corrupt officials, allegedly spearheaded by the supervising Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, have further exposed how ministries, agencies and departments (MDAs) are run under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration.

The PDP observed that the silence and inaction by the Buhari presidency and the APC since the uncovering of the fraud in the NDDC signpost complicity at the highest levels as well as validate public stance that treasury looting and cover up for corrupt persons are normal official statecraft and manifesto of the APC and the Buhari administration.

According to the statement, “Nigerians are still in a state of shock over reports of how the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio, allegedly bullied officials to pillage the Commission’s foreign currency account; how the laid down procedures of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) are allegedly circumvented to siphon unapproved budgets as well as how innocent workers

and federal legislators, who are averse to corrupt practices, were victimized, implicated and even harassed with fetish practices.

“The allegation by the former NDDC MD that a certain NDDC top notch said he can kill if Senator Akpabio asks him to do so, shows the level of recklessness and the victimization in MDAs under the APC rule.

“More distressing is that the Buhari presidency and the APC had remained silent even when the embattled minister has not provided any concrete defence to the allegations beyond personal attacks on the whistle blower.

“Nigerians will recall that our party had in April, alerted of massive looting in the NDDC and called for investigation, which was however not addressed by the government.

“Our party had also alerted that the NDDC management has not been able to give cogent explanation to the reported Lassa fever contract fraud through which over N4 billion naira NDDC fund was

alleged to have been frittered on hazy procurement deals.

“This is in addition to alleged N5.5 billion COVID-19 scandal which trails reports that the NDDC had already spent over N1.045 billion purportedly for supply of kits and palliatives to Nigerians in nine states.

“The PDP holds that any credible administration like the one the APC and the Buhari Presidency would want Nigerians to believe as running, would have spoken out and commenced immediate investigation into the matter, if its officials are not complicit.

“The PDP charges the Buhari Presidency to speak out on the issue, particularly, given the delicate nature of the Niger Delta, and take steps to investigate and prosecute all those involved in the alleged fraud”, it said.

The main opposition party has therefore demanded that Senator Akpabio should step aside and submit himself for investigation over these weighty allegations.

PAGE 6

News Ogun: FRSC warns personnel against collecting bribe from motorists

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he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, has warned its personnel to desist from collecting bribe from motorists in the state.

The Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Ahmed Umar, gave this warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun on Monday.

Umar said that any FRSC personnel caught with such act would face the maximum punishment of termination of appointment.

According to him, some of the bad eggs among the corps will soon be fished out for termination of their appointments.

He said that the corps‘ management was always talking to its officials to desist from extorting money or taking bribe from motorists.

The Sector Commander also warned motorists to desist from tempting FRSC officials with the offer of money in order to have their way. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

Covid-19: Workers desert Benue govt house From: Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

N

ormal official activities at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi as well as the State Secretariat have been grounded as government officials and others doing menial jobs have deserted them.

This comes on the heels of the rising cases of the Coronavirus COVID-19 that has hit the state leaving as the figure is put at 121 cases as reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Peoplesdaily observed that since the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Eunice Erdoo Ortom, her son, cooks and other

domestic staff of the governor tested positive to the disease, there has been palpable fears as normal official activities have taken a slow pace with all those affected as well as the Governor himself have gone into self isolation as a compulsory measure to minimize the spread of the disease.

When our correspondent visit e d gove rnme nt house yesterday, he observed that many staff, security men and cleaners among others absconded from work for fear of contracting Coronavirus.

It should be noted that prominent government officials including, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof.

Tony Ijohor, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, COS, Mr. Terwase Orbunde and the state’s Head of Service , HOS, Mrs. Veronica Onyeke and Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Msugh Kembe among others had tested positive to Coronvirus.

This is even as the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Benue State University, Makurdi who doubled as Vice Chairman of COVID-19 committee in the state, Prof. Godwin Achinge died of the disease last week It was also, observed that the practice is the same at the State Secretariat which houses most of the ministries as workers have limited access to work.

Reacting to this development,

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom Terver Akase denied the claims that government activities has been grounded According to him, ‘the governor is still functioning and attending to the business of governance. He holds vitual meetings with his commissioners.

“Those who have been affected by COVID- 19 as the governor announced recently, non of them is incapacitated but they have all gone into Isolation as protocol demands. Even though they are not going to their offices, that does not in any way mean that activities of government are grounded”, Akase said.

Oyo state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Iskilu Akinsaya, briefs newsmen on the arrest of 8 suspected armed robbers and accomplices, at the Command, yesterday in Ibadan. Photo: NAN

2020 budget: N’Assembly not rubber stamp -Buhari

By Egena Sunday Ode

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resident Mohammadu Buhari at the weekend dismissed insinations that the National Assembly had become a mere rubber stamp to the Executive arm of government.

According to him, the fact that his administration had a cordial relationship with the legislature does not in any way suggest a compromise on the part of the lawmakers as being speculated in some quarters.

The President said the robust relationship between the two arms of government was due to the commitment of his leadership to serve the Nigerian people and the determination of the legislators in the National Assembly to live up to expectations in their duty to serve the Nigerian people.

“The executive arm of government has always partnered with the members of the National Assembly especially the 9th Assembly as demonstrated by their actions in terms of expeditious passages of bills as well as screening of nominees for various appointments,” the President said.

President Buhari also pointed out that the symbiotic partnership was the outcome of a camaraderie aimed to deliver on services to Nigerians generally.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) Umar El-Yakub, spoke to newsmen following last Friday’s signing into

law the revised N10.8 trillion budget for the year 2020 passed by the National Assembly in June.

The parliament had in June passed an revised the budget for 2020 as Nigeria tackles the new coronavirus pandemic and a sharp fall in the price of oil–Nigeria’s biggest source of revenue from export.

The budget, which was proposed by the federal government sought to reduce Nigeria’s 2020 budget from N10.6 trillion to N10.5 trillion, was, however, increased by the lawmakers.

But the budget was increased to N10.8 billion, higher than the initial approved budget in December 2019.

The liaison spoke to State House Correspondents against the backdrop of fears that the parliament under the ninth Assembly was tilting towards becoming a rubber stamp to the executive.

He said, “I believe Nigerians voted members of the National Assembly to represent their interest and to work for their betterment as well as to make laws that will be for the good governance and order for the country. And in order to ensure that happens, the National Assembly certainly needs the executive arm of government because it is indeed the arm that implement those laws that have been passed by the National Assembly.

“As you have witnessed, the signing of the 2020 repeal and amendments bill is one of those the National Assembly looked

at expeditiously because it is an amendment that was necessitated by the circumstances of the moment, that is, the pandemic which also caused a serious strain on the economy in terms of the revenue that are generated as well as other benchmarking indices.

“Ao, to that extent, you find out that the national assembly is rising to the expectations of Nigerians partnering with the executive to deliver on services to the Nigerian people and for me that is responsibility, that is partnering in nation building and indeed that is what they have been elected to do.

“So, for one to suggest that they are being rubber stamped, even the executive actually recognizes and appreciates the independence of the various arms of government as you are all aware.

“Mr President is someone that believes in the rule of law and he allows processes to take precedence and therefore whatever is due by law to engage the National Assembly, this government has always been very proactive in doing that and also we appreciate the relationship because they have also demonstrated in many ways than one that they are committed to serving the Nigerian people.

“This is clearly one of those times that when we presented the amendment which by the way we have always interacted even before from the executive arm with the legislature to carry them along.

“This is something that hadn’t been

going on with other assemblies. Perhaps, that is why Nigerians thought they are just approving, passing bills or screening nominees but the reality is that they are carried along in the whole process.

“I am sure you are aware that as early as the minister of finance, budget and National planning as well as the budget office engaged the leadership in discussing the MFTEF 2021-2023 FSP which has been the norm because every time government is intending to present any bill to the NASS, the leadership and membership are engaged in the initial process, so as make it more seamless in terms of their considerations of such government initiatives On why the budget was increased, ElYakub revealed that some parameters we’re critically considered.

He explained that the 2020 budget was benchmarked at $25 per barrel of crude oil while the new amended budget is at $28 per barrel.

“So, because of that you can see there is bit of an increase in revenue and thank God also the price of oil from then, even though the initial benchmark was at 53, there has been a leap recently in the price of oil and even though the production benchmark was reduced from 1.9 million barrels to 1.8 million barrels per day but certainly because of the increment in projections as far as the cost of oil is concerned some monies were realized and projected to be realized.

“In addition to that, one needs to

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

We’ve recorded 108 sexual assault cases in Kafanchan in 2020 – Centre From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government area of Kaduna State said it has recorded 108 reported cases of sexual assault between January and February 2020.

The Centre Manager, Mrs Grace Abbin, made this known yesterday during an interview with the in Kafanchan.

Of the 108 cases, Abbin said that 19 were rape cases, adding that a total of 219 sexual assault cases were recorded in 2019 when the centre was opened by the state government.

She attributed the high figure for the first two months of 2020 to more awareness campaign carried out by the centre as against when it was inaugurated in 2019.

“When we started, very few people were coming. It was around October 2019 after we had gone to schools, places of worship and the rest that people started turning out in their numbers to make reports.

“We look forward to carrying out more awareness in the media because many people still don’t know about the centre,’’ she said.

According to her, those affected are mostly women and children, noting that many of the cases are still in court, with four convictions secured in 2019.

“Out of the 219 sexual assault cases as at December 2019, the females affected were 190 and the males 29.

“We will continue to seek justice for the affected people because without justice, we cannot make progress,’’ she said.

She called on survivors of all forms of gender-based violence to overlook the issue of stigma and report to the centre for help, as the after-effects of sexual assault were worse than stigma.

“We always advise survivors to forget about the issue of stigma and report to us for counseling as well as medical and legal help.

Abbin said that the negative impacts of rape or assault were worse than the stigma.

“So, why not speak out and get help, because if you don’t do so, you become exposed to all kinds of sexually-transmitted diseases.

“But if you report quickly, these things will be taken care of free of charge,’’ she added.

News

Girl, 25, robs ex-lover of N200,000 through ATM withdrawals in Delta From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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25 year old girl identified as Rita Owenmu at the weekend in Abraka Community of Delta state allegedly stole N200,000 from her exlover, whom she was said to have visited during nighfall.

Rita Owenmu was said to have ran into her ex- lover in the morning at a traditional marriage ceremony and promised visiting in the evening.

But when Rita, a native of Samagidi in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state visited as she did promised,

fortunately her ex- lover was also expecting her as they both agreed to have a swell time till the following day where the bubble burst.

The ex- lover, Moses Frank who spoke to Journalists in the area said” “We had sex all through the night and she requested for money which I could not but gave her my ATM card with the secret pin only for her to withdraw N80, 000 and I got the alert, within a short while, she withdrew another N80,000 before another N20,000, she rushed down to the house when I had gone to the police and dropped

the ATM card”disclosing that the matter was being investigated by Abraka Police Division when she disappeared.

The Divisional Police Officer ( DPO) Abraka Police Division, CSP Hassan Jimoh said that the matter was reported and was followed up unfortunately, the girl had disappeared adding, “the suspect withdrew the money from two different banks, hence she succeeded and disappeared, we are looking for her and her mobile phone is switched off as she has also abandoned her house and her bag, clothes and shoes were dropped in her lover’s house

and the police will do everything possible to ensure that the suspect is arrested”.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Urhobo Progressive Union ( UPU) youth wing, Mr Efemena Umukoro has said that they are determined to seek Justice for little miss Elo aged 7, who was raped by a man over 40years in Ughelli.

Umukoro said, “we visited Ughelli town at the weekend on a fact finding mission and to interface on the issue of little Miss Elo who was earlier reported to the youth wing of being raped by a certain man in his mid forties in Ughelli town”.

De-radicalized repentant Boko Haram members displaying their newly learnt skills at Malam Sidi Camp, yesterday in Gombe. Photo: NAN

Army rescues kidnapped victims, recovers weapons in 3 states

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roops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Sahel Sanity have rescued eight kidnapped victims and recovered weapons in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kastina States.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, disclosed this at a press briefing on Sunday in Faskari, Kastina State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had on July 6 flagged off the Operation Sahel Sanity at Special Army Super Camp in Faskari as part of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration.

Onyeuko said the Chief of Army Staff flagged off the exercise to flush out armed bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers and other criminal elements from the North West Zone.

“The troops quickly moblised

to the area and engaged the criminals, neutralising scores in the process.

“The situation was quickly brought under control and the troops subsequently dominated the area with patrols denying criminal elements freedom of action,” he said.

He said on July 9 while responding to a distress call, troops deployed at Gidan Baure in Jibiya Local Government Area of Katsina State rescued three young girls kidnapped by armed bandits at Sayau village.

Onyeuko said on the same day, troops also rescued three kidnapped victims in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

“Two other kidnap victims who were kidnapped on June 1, 2020 at Yayi village in Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State have been rescued by the troops.

“All the victims have been

handed over to Katsina and Sokoto State Government officials for further action.

“Receiving a credible intelligence, the troops sprang an ambush at Gidan Jaja in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara, the bandits fled with heavy gunshot wounds, abandoning one AK 47 rifle in the process.

“While on aggressive mobile patrol, our troops intercepted three armed bandits who opened fire on troops.

“During the fire fight, one of the bandits was neutralised while others fled in disarray, one AK 47 rifle and one motorcycle were recovered,” he said.

Onyeuko also said on Saturday, July 11, troops laid ambush between Daki Takwas and Tashar Kuturu villages of Anka and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas of Zamfara.

He said troops made contact with the bandits who escaped

with various degrees of gunshot wounds in the cover of darkness.

Onyeuko said troops had continued to dominate the area as a means of confidence building for the residents and farmers to continue their agricultural activities.

He added that items recovered included one motorcycle, 10 dane guns, one catarpult and one knife.

Others, he said, were one saw, 16 plugs, one axe and three cell phones.

Onyeuko, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, commended the troops for their gallantry, successes and the professionalism exhibited within the short period of the operation and urged them not to rest on their oars.

He reassured the people of the North-West Zone of the army’s commitment to restoring peace in the region. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

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News Post-COVID-19: Drive-in theatre opens a new chapter in creative industry -Runsewe

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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s Nigeria on sunday witnessed their first in history drive -in theater in the cultural industry, the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture(NCAC),Otunba Runsewe, said the drive -in theatre has opened a new chapter in the creative industry in the era of physical distance.

Runsewe made the disclosure on sunday in Abuja during the Drive-in theatre with covid -19 is protocol saying that the post covid-19 which has become “our new normal life has successfully experience achieved a huge new style of changing our narrative and new style for us to sale the productions to the whole world .

“There is driving-in theatre in USA, Germany and Spain, Nigeria cannot he left behind the finial statement must be made “.

He who expressed happiness at the encouraging presence of Nigerians and culture enthusiasts

who graced the occasion, adding that Nigeria has once again made statements that life has returned in the country post covid 19.

“We are a big country and we shall continue to prepare and not relax. Covid 19 may have impacted on the cultural tourism businesses worldwide but in Nigeria, we are back on the beat, we are going to overcome challenges and put the right foot forward.

According to him, NCAC has developed a unique strategy that will serve as a template for performing arts events going forward.

He said the beautiful collaborations with Mosaic theatre production,NCAC presented the drive -in theatre production in the city of Abuja with a classic twopart total theatre production was laudable.

“Covid -19 is like a rain falling and it gives us an opportunity to think outside the box and to come up with this Drive -in cultural theatre which serves as a therapy and rain jacket for the pandemic”.

“The production leverages on the opportunities available through digital platform to enable theatrical performance holds safest way possible amidst the pandemic”Runsewe stated.

He added that NCAC post covid creative efforts, the drive in open theater was geared towards perfecting the up coming National Festival of Arts and Culture ( Nafest) slated for Jos in October.

The Chairman, House committee on culture,Omoregie Ogbeide Ihama, congratulated Runsewe on the frontal drivein effort, noting that NCAC has more than justified its corporate relevance and contributions to the advancement of Nigerian cultural tourism beyond covid 19.

Ihama reiterated that, Runsewe once again has shown capacity. He was not waiting to be told what to do but has shown everyone how to rise above the fears of the pandemic. He is futuristic and proactive, no doubt Nafest 2020 in Jos is a reality.

The national assembly, the

house committee on culture in particular, is proud to be associated with this outing and with Runsewe NCAC. Meanwhile, The event, shoveled with very tight security, social distancing, wearing of mask protocols,car owners strategically connected to a special program frequency for sound, dedicated pavilions and over forty visitors convenience.

The well illuminated and decorated open theatre stand was centralized and visible from all directions and angles, with the thespians observing the approved protocols, with the Abuja hotel staff serving guests with snacks and beverages at intervals and fully following the established hygiene protocols.

Beamed on NCAC zoom, Instagram, Facebook and other social media page accounts, the presence and on the spot coverage by notable Nigerian television stations added to the glamorous experiment.

Suspected armed robbers and accomplices arrested by Oyo state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, yesterday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Cleric urged Nigerians to engage in productive ventures From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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igerians have been urged to engage in productive ventures that will make them self reliant.

The General Overseer of House of Purpose Ministry, Unguwar Sunday in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Apostle Yakubu Yusuf, made the assertion while speaking to the media

yesterday.

According to him, the Bible tasked Christians to be occupied in gainful activities that will earn them money to sustain their lives.

Apostle Yusuf, who was speaking on the topic: “The Difficulties In Replacing You”, added that as believers, Nigerians should make themselves irreplaceable in whatever ventures they find

themselves.

The cleric explained that one can only become irreplaceable if he developed the gift embedded in him by the Almighty.

He lamented that the problem of many people in this 21st Century is that they want to make money without engaging in something profitable to attrack money.

He charged his congregants to desist from mumuring

and blaming God for their condition, rather they should take a step of faith and back up with prayers.

Apostle Yusuf stressed that to remain irreplaceable in life, one must have God’s wisdom, not look down on people, be faithful in whatever you do, always ready and quick to render help to others, and see things the way For sees it by being positive.

Communities in Bayelsa inaugurate N141.65m projects

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he Dodo River Communities Development Association in Ekeremor Local Government area of Bayelsa has inaugurated projects worth over N141.65 million funded by the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiary communities are Amatu I, Amatu II, Biabiri I, Bilabiri II and Bisangbene.

The projects include Dodo River Secretariat in Yenagoa, building and furnishing of Bilabiri I Primary School, water treatment projects, concrete roads and twin-engine speed boats.

Others include communication systems, provision of plastic chairs and tables and canopies for the communities, amongst others.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Dodo House, a secretariat for the communities, Mr Okebia Keku, the Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa Ministry of Mineral Resources, applauded the association for the prudent use of the funds.

He said that the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), the development template which the government was overseeing, had given communities greater participation in the selection and execution of development projects.

Earlier, Mr Berry Negerese, the Chairman of the association, had explained that the projects were executed with funds provided between 2016 and 2019, adding that paucity of funds delayed the Dodo secretariat building project.

He said that the introduction of the GMoU approach by Chevron had enhanced the capacities of Niger Delta communities in development activities as they now handle projects funded by oil firms in a transparent manner.

Negerese appealed to Chevron and other development partners to assist the association with funds to furnish the secretariat to enable them put it to optimal use.

He urged the oil firm to extend community employment opportunities to Dodo River communities it its Agbami offshore oilfields.

King Joel Ibane, the Monarch of Iduwini Kingdom in Ekeremor, applauded Chevron for the gesture and appealed to the oil firm to sustain its development activities in its host communities.

Mrs Uju Obiora, the Senior Programmes Manager, Participatory Partnership for Community Development, the association’s mentoring organisation, applauded the transparent governance structure adopted.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

News

Niger Govt accused over non commitment to Baro Port reality From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he Niger state government under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has been accused of not showing a required commitment for the actualization of the abandoned Baro Port project by the federal government.

An elderly concerned Nigerlite and Ndejin Bosso, Alhaji Danlami Umar made the disclosure yesterday at a press briefing held in Minna, saying that the commitment exhibited by the state governor will determine the seriousness of President Muhammadu Buhari on the project.

He appealed to Governor Bello to as a matter of urgency suspend all the multiple small projects to focus on the only awaiting Agaie to Baro road despite its federal road because of the importance and associated benefits Nigerians stand to gain from the singular project.

According to him, “with Baro Port we are connected to the world and multiple industries would be establish here and unemployment will be certainly reduced”, he said.

“But unfortunately Niger state government is careless about the project, government must show interest by creating accessible road especially from Agaie to Baro, to relocate some government activities

to Baro like some MDAs like Ministry of Transport and Finance, create market and tourism sites attractions” he stated.

He stressed that Kaduna state government has created dry port already because of leadership creativity warned not to allowed other states took over the affairs of the Port, thereby challenged investors to come and invest in Baro before its readiness for fully operations.

Ndejin Bosso further appealed to former Heads of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and General Abdulsalam Alhaji Abubakar as well as Colonel Sani Bello to team up for the actualization of Baro Port while he applauded them for their various achievement thus far in Nigeria.

Alhaji Umar who commenced the federal government for the project challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to do more considering the numerous benefits like employment creation, economic and social development attached to the Baro Port that has already swallowed almost N40 billion hence the need for its realization.

He called on Nigerians to give their maximum support and committed to hasting the actualization of the project of Baro Port as it would impact positively on many states of the federation and a source of revenue for both states and federal government of Nigeria.

CAN faction alleges imposition of Enomolele as Ethiope East Chairman From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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alpable tension has continued to unsettle Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state following the current palaver that has erupted as faction within the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) in the area by some members.

Leader of the faction, Apostle Linus Enomolele was alleged to have been imposed on the association in the area, a situation described might destroyed completely CAN if urgent steps are not taken to save the situation by the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Aggrieved members of the association on monday alleged that the State Chairman, Senior Apostle Sam Okorote with the assistance of the Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria ( PFN) Bishop Kingsley Enakirherhi were determined to go against the will of the majority that favour the Candidature of Rev Wilson Orilkpeete for the Chairmanship position, adding that the situation might be worse hit if urgent steps are not taken to foil their sinister motive.

Speaking to Journalists in Asaba, one of the CAN members in Ethiope East Local Government Area, Bishop Been Umudi claimed that the election that saw the emergence of Enomolele Linus as Chairman was conducted in Asaba was an act of impunity, adding that the State Secretary, Rev monday Madueke and Vice Chairman, Rev fr Jesu Ovie who ought to be involved in the election did not participate because they didn’t want to be part of the illegality.

He said” why did they carry the election from Ethiope East to Asaba? Because they know that if it was held here, Enomolele Linus would have lost, well, he cannot call any meeting in Ethiope East neither can his so called executive be inuagurated anywhere in Ethiope East, and he cannot come and rule us here except he will do so from Asaba, We are waiting for them”.

Page 9

While calling on the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to urgently interven, Bishop Umudi said that illegality can never work in CAN because of peace loving people they are adding that the State CAN and PFN Chairmen want Enomolele because he would be allegedly used as tool in their hands to carry out their dictates.

In a swift reaction, Bishop kingsley Enakirherhi said that Bishop Umudi had written several Petitions and at a time had to apologise, adding” he is behaving funny, how many persons are in his church? What does it takes to be a Bishop? he is not a delegate, so why is he trying to create problems? I don’t know Linus, I am an Urhobo, Linus is from Edo state, What do I have to do with Ethiope East CAN? There was Election at a time in Isokolo in their Bloc , Linus scored 7, so what is the fuss about the election in Asaba?,he will be inviting the disciplinary committee soon”.

But Bishop Umudi insisted that CAN made up of five blocks, it was agreed that each of the blocks should present 10 delegates each for the election and a room for the outgoing executive to vote, thereby bringing to a total 60, 48 persons that voted at the election adding that the election was moved to Asaba because it could not hold after two failed attempts with Ethiope East as the venue also considering the atmosphere that was alleged to have been insecure.

Bishop Kingsley Enakirherhi speaking further said” even the council Chairman, Chief Faith Majemite is aware of the arrangement to move the election over to Asaba because of security threats from those that were bent on winning, CAN Constitution does not recognize more than 10persons per bloc, and my Vice Chairman did not participate is false, Since I am there, it was not necessary to leave the Vice there, for the Secretary, he withdrew because he became exhausted by the various threats from Bishop Umudi”.

JIGAWA STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER FOR 2020 CAPITAL PROJECTS Introduction: The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOES&T) and its Agencies, wishes to invite refutable contractors with proven experience, reliability, competence and capacity to submit pre-qualification documents for year 2020 capital projects.

SCOPE OF WORK/SUPPLY: PROJECTS UNDER MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; LOT NO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

PROJECTS Construction of one block of three classroom and Toilet Construction of Laboratory Block type A Construction of 1 block of 3 Classroom Construction of 1 block of 3 Classroom Construction of 1 block of 3 Classroom Construction of 1 block of 3 Classroom Construction of 1 block of 3 Classroom and 1 Toilet Construction of six seater pit latrines Renovation of School Laboratories Renovation of Classes Construction of 1 block of 3 Classroom Construction of 1 block of 3 Classroom

LOCATION GGDSS RINGIM GGDSS RINGIM GDSS B/KUDU GDSS KILA GDSS Abdulkadir, GDSS Saban Gida KHS GDSS S/Gwaram GDSS Medu/ GDSS Tsakuwawa GDSS Gumel GDSS Gumel GDSS Gerawa GDSS Haruna

DURATION 12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 8 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks

LOCATION 7 IEB Schools 5No. IEB Schools GGASS Birniwa GDASS Tsakuwawa /G/Gabas

DURATION 12 weeks 4 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks 1

GDASS Marma/Aujara GGASS Danzomo SAIS Fatara SAIS Fatara GDASS Babaldu, Kila,Wurno, GGDASS, K/Babba, STK, Harbo.

12 weeks 12 weeks

ISLAMIC EDUCATION BUREAU LOT NO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

PROJECTS Construction of VIP Toilets Provision of Hand pumps General Renovations Development of 2No. upgraded Schools which involves One block of 3 Classes, Toilet and Hand pump Construction of One block of 3 Class room Construction of L Shape wall fence (storm damage) and renovation of two classrooms Construction of Hostel block Construction of wall fence Development of Arabic Senior Secondary Schools

12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks

PROJECTS UNDER SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION BOARD LOT NO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1

1 2

PROJECTS Renovation of windstorm damages Construction of 2 Technical College fencing • Procurement of School uniform and writing materials under the Female Education Program Procurement of workshop materials and consumables items in Construction of 2No laboratories in 2 schools Construction of 1No. Admin block at Procurement of tools/equipment & materials for accreditation of 2 Technical Colleges Purchase of ICT materials Procurement of Science Laboratory Equipment and reagents and food nutrition materials

LOCATION GSSS Taura, GGSSS Roni, & 8 weeks GSTC Hadejia 12 weeks GSTC B/Kudu & Karkarna 4 weeks in 3No. GSSS and 5 GDSSS 4No. Technical Colleges 4 weeks GDSSS Gumel and Kazaure GDSSS Dutse GSTC B/Kudu &Ringim for the 5 GDSSS

4 weeks For all the Science Secondary 4 weeks Schools

JIGAWA STATE ACADEMY FOR THE GIFTED BAMAINA Construction of l 2 Jnr Staff Quarters and security Academy for the Gifted Bamaina verve wire DUTSE MODEL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL General renovation Procurement of 200No. 3-sitter desks and chairs at

12 weeks 12 weeks 4 weeks

Dutse Model International Primary School Dutse Model International Primary School

12 weeks

8 weeks 4 weeks

Interested contractors must include the following documents in their submission for it to be considered; 1. Certificate of incorporation/Bussiness name registration 2. Registration with Jigawa State Works Registration Board 3. Company Audited accounts for last one year.

4. Evidence of projects/works executed three over the last five years(Awards and certificate of completion) 5. Experiences and Technical qualifications of key personnel.COREN, CORBON, NIQS, NIOB 6. Technical qualification and experience of key personnel 7. VAT registration and evidence of past VAT remittances 8. List of equipment and technical capacity 9. Evidence of Financial capability/ banking support 10. Annual turnover is required for the tender; 11. Certified true copy of memorandum and article of Association.

12. Tax clearance for the last three years 13. A sworn affidavit certified as follows; a. That the documents submitted are genuine and correct. b. That non of the Directors/partner of the company has been convicted by any court of law. c. That the firm/company is not bankrupt. d. That none of the officers of the procuring entity is former or present Director of the company Note that Any contractor with an average annual turnover of less than 10m should not apply. 2% bid security is compulsory.

No alternative bid is allowed in the same lot.

No contractor is allowed to bid for more than three lots Bidders with the same subsidiary relationship should not allowed to partake in the same lot.

Bid validity of 90 days DATE OF COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS All contractors would be required to pay a non refundable tender fee of N25, 000 at the Account Department and collect tender documents from 10;00am to 2;00pm, which includes drawings, Bill of Quantities, SBD, and GCC at the PRS Department respectively, and addressed to the Hon. Commissioner.

DOCUMENTATION AND SUBMISSION Prospective bidders are to submit pre -qualification documents, Two hard copies of the Technical and Financial bids package in sealed envelops. All completed bids should be spirally bound and submitted in (2) separate sealed envelopes, and each of these should consist of (!) original and (2) copies duly signed by the bidders’ Executive representative. The envelopes should be marked at the top left hand corner; pre-qualification and Financial tender documents with the Company name at the back and lot no…….clearly written on them, addressed and returned to the address below not later than 6 weeks from the date of this publication.

The Secretary MOEST Headquarters Tender Board Block B, Q-2, 1st floor, New Secretariat Complex, Dutse.

Note *MOEST reserves the right to accept or reject any application at any time without incurring any liability; *All expenses incurred as a result of preparation and submission of documents for this exercise shall be borne by the interested company (non refundable fee). The Bid opening is 6 weeks from the date of this publication at the MINISTRY’S CONFERENCE HALL BY 12;00am. In case of any public holiday the bid opening shall hold the next working day.

Signed Director Planning, Research and Statistics. MOEST

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

PAGE 10

News

COVID-19: FRSC enforces 2-passengersper-seat policy in Bayelsa

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he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bayelsa Command, on Monday warned drivers of private cars and commercial buses in the state not to violate its two passengers’ per seat regulation in their own interests.

The Sector Commander, Mr Robert Ogom, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the regulation was put in place in other to ensure social distancing.

He added that this was necessary to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Ogom said that the command would not hesitate to prosecute any driver as well as tricycle operators that might violate the regulation.

The News Agency of Nigeria

Group accuses Nigerian leaders of misleading youth From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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(NAN) reports that Bayelsa had recorded 313 confirmed infections and 18 fatalities from coronavirus pandemic.

The sector commander said that the corps members in the state were committed to ensuring safer roads for the people.

He urged the residents of the state

to always obey the traffic rules and regulations, as well as the COVID-19 guidelines.

“Yes, we have a taskforce that we are working with and any offender arrested is taken directly to the mobile court. So, we must learn to stay safe.

“I enjoin all drivers to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines;

make sure you wear your face masks and maintain two passengers per seat in your vehicles.

“We have arrested several offenders who violated the road safety regulations and COVID-19 guidelines.

“Generally, overloading is also an offence as far as the FRSC is concerned.

“Let us support the efforts of the Federal and the state governments in the fight against coronavirus disease.

“Let us maintain the common measures put in place by the government and healthcare workers to stop the spread of the pandemic,” the Sector Commander advised.

(NAN)

YMCA donates food items to 180 teachers, securitymen in private schools From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Y

oung Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Kakuri, Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has distributed food items to 180 teachers and securitymen in eight private schools in the area.

Distributing the items to the beneficiaries in Kaduna yesterday , the YMCA Secretary, Mr Jeremiah Elisha, said the gesture was to reduce hunger among the targeted groups.

“It is expedient to reach out to this set of people at this trying time, considering that schools are closed and private schools depend solely on school fees to pay the teachers’ salaries.

“It is even disturbing that securitymen of private schools have been going to work in the last few months without salary.

“This development has made it very difficult for the teachers and the securitymen to feed their families,” Elisha said.

He called on the State

Government, individuals and other organisations to assist private schools’ workers, who had become vulnerable since the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Elisha noted that their only source of livelihood had been cut off in the last three months, following the lockdown occasioned by the disease.

“The harsh economic situation in the country is particularly unbearable to parents, who became unemployed, with bills and family needs to take care of.

he National Chairman Collation of Northern Group, Balarebe Ibrahim has accused the Nigeria leaders of misleading the youth as they are leading the country on a wrong path.

He stated this on Monday while fielding questions from journalists in Birnin Kebbi.

He attributed the problems of Nigeria to wrong leadership.

Ibrahim said they were in Kebbi State on a familiarization tour and also to streamline the northern youth group by involving some relevant CSO and NGOs in making the country great.

“We are non political and non governmental, we are the voice of the masses, we are not working for any political party and we are ready to make our leaders change for the betterment of the future generations”, he added.

“Although the lockdown had been lifted, schools remained closed and teachers of private schools are in the fourth month without salary, while others have lost their jobs.

“Therefore, YCMA decided to help out in its little capacity as a community-based organisation and urged other organisations to equally reach out to the private schools’ workers.

“Although the food items might be little, it will go a long way in helping them survive the next few days,” he said.

A cross-section of deradicalized repentant Boko Haram members who have learnt new skills at Malam Sidi Camp, yesterday in Gombe.

Photo: NAN

Niger NOA partner NUJ to contain community spread of Covid-19 From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

T

he Chairman Niger State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Malam Abdul Idris has charged Niger state government to adequately engage the media and National Orientation Agency (NOA) if Covid 19 committee must succeed in containing the community spread of the pandemic.

He made the observation when the state Director of NOA, Alhaji Yahaya Gbongbo visited him in his office in Minna

to seek for partnership on how to prevent the alarming spread of coronavirus at community levels.

Idris reiterated that it is only the media and NOA that has the mechanism and technical know how for adequate sensitization, mobilization and informing the citizens as well to set agenda on what and how to convince the masses especially the rural dwellers on its misconceptions.

He appreciated the agency for the partnership while assuring them of continuous support in ensuring their

success.

According to him, “ society depends so much on the media on government activities, Programmes and policies most especially as it concerns Covid - 19 for society sensitization and anything contrary is subject to failure” he stated.

The State Director of NOA, Alhaji Yahaya Gbongbo decried on the level of community spread of the dreaded coronavirus in the country called for urgent action from government considering the consequences of its spread.

Gbongbo noted the masses needed to be engaged especially the on going misconception on its existence and preventive measures put in place to contain it spread hence the need for collaboration with the NUJ in the state for more sensitization.

He hinted that although the agency had earlier approached the Niger state government even before the state have its first case record but without any positive response on the matter up till date decrying paucity of funds.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

Suspension of WASSCE 2020

T

he Nigerian government said its unity school’s would not reopen on August 4 as reported earlier. Its reason is that it is not safe to reopen the schools because the coronavirus curve has not flattened. And because of this, students of these schools, 104 in all, will not write the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSSCE) that WAEC had rescheduled for Aug. 4 -- September 5.

Please, let’s save our children from this. One infected child is enough to infect a whole class. When they close from class, they go into the dormitory. This is not the right time to open schools. I appeal to the states that have already announced reopening of schools to reconsider it (the decision).”

The federal government’s position has not been well received across board. Critics, including former Vice President WAEC conducts this qualifying Atiku Abubakar and a number of examination for final year federal lawmakers, students of secondary think there was schools in four West no consultation African countries with other key I t is Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra stakeholders on the Leone and The Gambia. noteworthy matter. They also fear Announcing Nigeria’s that the education position July 8, Minister that opposition of over a million of Education, Mr. Adamu young Nigerians has to the Adamu, said because jeopardized. government’s been of rising Covid 19 cases It is noteworthy (over 30,000 and still decision has that opposition to counting) from its index government’s come from the case confirmed on Feb. decision has come mainly rival from mainly rival 28 Nigeria could not risk reopening of schools. politicians. politicians. This is “Our schools will only to be expected and This is to be the government has open when we believe it’s safe for our children expected rightly ignored their and that is when the partisanship. and the situation is right, not when the incidence of government The second thing the infection is going up to note is that Ghana has rightly which in the nation”, he said. “I recently just want to make it clear. ignored their reopened its schools is We will not open schools a second partisanship considering soon for examination or closure. The schools for any reason unless it are reporting student is safe for our children. WAEC will and staff coronavirus infections not determine for us what we do. by the day. Australia which also Schools will remain closed. recently began reopening public life is also having a second look because “I will also like to use this of renewed Covid 19 infections. The position to ask those states that have United States is also experiencing a already announced (reopening), I second wave of the virus, far worse appeal to them. I think it is not safe. than the first. In the light of this, I feel responsible for all children, we believe the Nigerian position is not just those who are in federal more sensible. A dead child cannot government controlled schools. get an education.

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Letter to the Editor

Magugate: A test of Buhari’s transparency, accountability drive

BY Musa Ilallah

I

t is no longer in doubt that the year 2020 will remain a watershed in the annals of the history of the PMB adminstration’s key policy priority area of fighting corrupt people and corruption in all its ramifications.

For President Buhari, fighting corruption is not just a policy statement of his administration but a personal life style he has built over the decades that earned him the title of ‘’a man of integrity”.

From his first day in office and even before, President Buhari has made it clear to Nigerians that his fight against corruption will be total, unbiased and no matter who is involved.

It is therefore on the basis of this pledge that PMB spares no one no matter how close. He takes further steps to subject even his appointees to carry their crosses and face the law once a case of corruption against them is brought to his notice. President Buhari does not in any way shield corrupt persons.

It is therefore not suprising when president Buhari suspended the Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Police Commissioner Ibrahim Magu from office and dragged before the Justice Ayo Salami panel to answer allegations of fraud, bribery, corruption, re looting of public recovered funds and assets, money laundering, etc in the custody of EFCC. One can vividly recall that Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN had about two months ago written to the President alleging an infraction by Magu and calling for his sack.

Ordinarily, President Buhari would have just gone ahead to act on the Justice Minister’s letter coming from Magu’s supervising Minister. As a leader with a principle to apply rule of law and the need for the accused to be given the opportunity to depend himself in the spirit of fair hearing, set up the Justice Salami Panel to deal with the matter and advise his government on the next steps.

The panel is not just to try Magu alone but beyond that to look at the journey so far by EFCC from 2015 to date and make appropriate recommendations for closing gaps and challenges and improvement of its general operations as government’s most strategic agency charged with fighting corruption.

President Buhari administration through its Spokesman, Garba Shehu, a Senior Special Assistant to the President had disclosed that a series of documented allegations were made against EFCC Acting Chairman and following a preliminary review of the allegations leveled against him and several other members of his staff, there were grounds for a detailed investigation to be conducted.

Hence, an investigative panel was constituted in compliance with extant laws governing the convening of such a body with a retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami as Chairman.

“As is the proper procedure, when allegations are made against a Chief Executive of an institution, and in this case an institution that ought to be seen as beyond reproach, the Chief Executive has to step down from his post and allow for a transparent and unhindered investigation”, Shehu further explained.

The Justice Isa Ayo Salami investigative panel’s terms of reference is to investigate, verify and review earlier recommendations of the 2017 Presidential committee on audit of recovered assets as it relates to EFCC, with a view to ascertaining complicity of Magu in the mismanagement of funds and assets recovered by EFCC; Identify avenues through which recovered assets are dissipated and seized; recovered, forfeited assets are valued, managed, disposed and/or mismanaged with a view to ascertain compliance with extant laws and procedures; review existing procedures on management of seized, recovered and forfeited assets and proffer standard operational procedures for management of seized, recovered and forfeited assets; determine whether assets recovered during his tenure locally or abroad, are being kept safely in a manner as to preserve their original value and determine if all the assets could be properly accounted for by Magu; confirm if any of the assets has been diverted to him, his family, relations, friends or favoured staff’s benefits and recover such diverted assets and return back to EFCC; investigate and report on corruption and money laundering allegations involving Magu and Bureau De Change operators, as well as some of his associates and among others audit assets and finances of EFCC from 2015-2020, with a view to establish compliance with its procurement procedures in line with Procurement Act. It is very clear that Magu’ s suspension is no doubt the most appropriate action in the situation to allow for unhindered investigations and access to documents by key staff that the panel may wish to request for.

Most signigicantly this will put the EFCC to continue with its mandate without the ‘cloud’ of investigation

hanging over its head.

Malam Garba Shehu in a statement in Abuja added “We must realize that the fight against corruption is not a static event, but a dynamic and ever evolving process in which the EFCC is just one actor; and as we continue to work towards improving our democratic process so shall every institution of ours also embark on that journey of evolution.

“What is however important is that there must be accountability and transparency and our people must realize that they would be held to account. This is the building block in the fight against corruption, the establishment of the concept of Accountability and the recognition of the Rule of Law”. Nothing can be more pragmatic than this.

The view of most Nigerians is that President Buhari’s war against corruption is so real that it knows no bounds. It is not biased against persons, tribes, religions or regions and that those who ‘see Mr. Magu’s investigation, as a signal that the fight against corruption is failing, have unfortunately, missed the boat’.

The fight agaisnt the corruption, corrupt tendencues and corrupt oeople by the PMB adminstration is on course. Infact the Magu case is just an energiser to dot the Is and cross the Ts of strategies of the fight against corruption.

What is more saddening and worrisome to President Buhari in this case is the fact that allegations of corruption are directed at a key driver of government’s fight against corruption which is one of the key thematic areas of the PMB administration.

In the words of the SSA Media and Publicity to PMB “Under this President and Government, this is our mantra and guiding principle. There are no sacred cows, and for those who think they have a halo over their heads, their days are also numbered.

“Mr. Magu was not immune – and regardless of the obvious embarrassment that potential acts of wrong doing by him, given the office he held, may appear for the government.

“No other administration in the history of Nigeria would have moved to bring into the light and public domain such an allegation”.

For the records, some of the allegations against Magu by Justice Minister include alleged discrepancies in the reconciliation records of EFCC and Federal Ministry of Finance on recovered funds, declaration of N539bn as recovered funds instead of N504bn earlier claimed, insubordination to the Office of Minister of Justice, not providing enough evidences for the extradition of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, alleged late action on the investigation of Pocess and Industrial Development, P&ID leading to legal dispute and disrespecting court order to unfreeze a N7bn judgment in favour of a former executive director of a bank.

Others are alleged delay in acting on two vessels seized by Navy, alleged favouring of some investigators called ‘Magu Boys’, reporting some judges to their presiding officers without deferring to Justice Minister, alleged sale of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends and also alleged issuance of investigative activities to some media organisations prejudicial to pending cases.

It is common knowledge that Magu’s unforgivable sins are many. Stories have it that Magu lives a flamboyant and affluent life and takes First class flights for his international trips to Dubai and Saudi Arabia for his personal and religious trips.

He has severally refused to support other sister security agencies to carry out their legitimate duties of investigating and recovering about N67bn belonging to the federal government.

Worst hit by Magu’s high handedness are the Presidency, Minister of Justice and office of the Inspector General of Police, IGP. For PMB personally, if the allegations against Magu proved to be true, the President will certainly remain in pains for the rest of his life. Because it will then be a case of betrayal to him personally and Nigeria. Why do i say so? This is because of the trust and confidence PMB had in Magu which made the President to re submit twice his name for clearance and confirmation to the Senate under the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki.

His nomination suffered setbacks for political reasons but most importantly for the correspondence by the then Director General of the Department of state services, DSS, Lawan Daura who asked the Senate not to clear Magu because of fraud and corrupt practices allegation hanging in his neck.

Then Senate President Bukola Saraki had in 2017 while declaring open a ‘strategic retreat on tracking progress on anti corruption bills, accused anti graft agencies of looting recovered proceeds.

Ilallah wrote in from EMEKA ANYAOKU STREET, ABUJA musahk123@yahoo.com

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

The melting pot of principle and humanity

By Philip Agbese

B

efore now, I found the ancient English aphorism “what a man can do, a woman can do better” a bit distractive because I considered it a demeaning psychological assault on the masculinity of men. But I am forced to embrace the wisdom in this wit, after I keenly watched the operations of the Minister, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq over time in that capacity. Obviously, she is the youngest Minister in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in the second term of the administration. But I am pleasantly shocked that Minister Sadiya is proving every day that age is merely a number. Her performance in the very complex and engaging ministry has outclassed many other appointees under the Buhari Presidency.

Anyone can choose to not recognize this great woman of substance and a future candidate for even bigger appointments going by her credible performance. I know perfectly that once some people have a fixated mindset to paint you in black, there you can do to excite them. Rather, they strive to adorn and defame you unjustifiably with satanic colours.

But Minister Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq has disarmed me by her performance. And it is not only me who is so impressed. At least, I know genuine critics can also attest for her excellent performance. I am not referring to hired ones, whose only niggle is the contracted hatchet job and the money which greases the palms.

Certainly, I know in Nigeria, my country where more people tilt towards darkness, than light, getting a new government ministry startoff ground is a superhuman task. But Minister Sadiya responded to the challenge sharply, in spite of a meagre operational budget. She recognized that the mandate of the ministry

deserves very attention of whoever heads it.

Today, Nigeria has a functional Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to wipe our tears at the hopeless situations, we often find ourselves.

She a woman virtuous woman of a puritan mould and I feel she deserves our collective eulogies.

She has demonstrated enough wisdom, tact and sufficient dexterity in handling the complex humanitarian issues which defines the core mandate of the ministry. Sadiya is agile, vibrant, fearless and principled. I don’t know her personally, but I can glean this from her numerous outings.

The Minister is a huge asset not only to the Buhari Presidency, but to distressed Nigerians.

A periscopic glance at her performance in the last one month alone reveals the leadership substance embedded in her quiet personality.

The Northeast, where Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists rage at innocent Nigerians has become her permanent home, where she constantly visits and renders humanitarian succour to a tormented citizenry. She has deemed the Northeast enclave a personal project in all ramifications.

Only in the last week of June 2020 for instance, Minister Sadiya, representing Mr. President, led other top government dignitaries to Maiduguri where she cut the tape to commission 120 operational vehicles, and medical supplies donated to the military/other security agencies and tertiary institutions by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to boost counter-insurgency operations in the region. The message she delivered at the occasion on the need for peace was not only captivating, but solemn in every sense.

She echoed that the Northeast region deserve peace and stability, and it is only realizable through collaborative efforts and synergy among all stakeholders. This is what we

have been preaching all the times. I wish people of the region should listen to her. It implies that Minister Sadiya is not only a humanist, but a peace evangelist.

An elated Borno state Gov. Babagana Zulum could not conceal his feelings, but exclaimed to Sadiya; “We are indeed grateful your ministry for what it is doing for the Boko Haram ravaged people of Borno State.”

A few days earlier in the same month, Minister Sadiya inaugurated the Federal Government National Steering Committee for the restructured Multi-sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) designated for Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

MCRP is the foundation for the effective implementation of the Lake Chad Region Recovery and Development Project (PROLAC), sponsored by the World Bank at a whopping sum of $200 million dollars to support the recovery of the Northeast region devastated by Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

She revealed “The Initial 200 Milliondollar project, which began on February 16, 2018, MCRP has achieved significant progress as evidenced by the midterm report of the World Bank in November 2019. And it is on the trajectory to achieve its Project Development Objectives (PDO) and results despite, a 10-month delay from Board Approval to Effectiveness.’’ She is also chairing the committee, an indication that it has not only taken off now under assured leadership, but has promisingly moved to the #NextLevel.

A workaholic to the core, Minister Sadiya was again on the delegation of the Federal Government of Nigeria led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno(rtd) to commiserate with Gov. Zulum and the people of Borno over the unfortunate incident of Boko Haram attacks on some communities which resulted into scores of deaths. Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq also

performed her passionate responsibility by providing humanitarian assistance to the displaced survivors as first point of consolation.

And in the same month, Sadiya featured prominently at the groundbreaking ceremony of the 10, 000 units of housing project for IDPs in Ngom, Mafa LGA of Borno state. It is one of Mr. President’s special intervention projects under the North East Development Commission (NEDC) led by the commission’s Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali.

And in her unchangeable passion for equity, fairness and innate motherly affection, Minister Sadiya canvassed that that 1000 housing units would be built in Ngom, while the rest 9000 would be distributed across other nine other LGAs in the state.

Back to Abuja, the Honourable Minister has refocused attention on N-Power jobs Batch “C”.

The programme has successfully entered stage “C”. The online process of registration of fresh beneficiaries also commenced within the last one month.

For her initiative to propel the N-Power jobs to the #NextLevel after terminating the overdue Batches “A” and “B” confirms her flair for fairness and equity. She has not abandoned them either. Minister Sadiya is also talking to entrepreneurs in the private sector to engage the productive ones under a special pact. But since the Minister assumed office, beneficiaries of the programme have attested to prompt payments of entitlements, since the scheme was moved to the Ministry.

Minister Sadiya is everything workaholic and compassion. She is leaving no stone unturned to put smiles on the faces of less privileged Nigerians. And these days, I hear pleasant echoes from Nigerian masses who have nicknamed her as the minister of Nigerian masses.

Agbese is a publisher and researcher in human rights law.

Pollution; Lagos State Govt and the snow-like foamy substance

By Jerome—Mario Utomi

A

mong other efforts in the past to create a liveable world that both protect the rights and opportunities of coming generations and contributes to compatible approaches on environment, world leaders on Friday 5th June 2020, during the World Environment Day celebration co-hosted by Colombia and Germany and streamed live online from Bogotá, agreed to create a liveable world through the promotion of actions that combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world.

Essentially, they called “on all governments around the world to retain our precious intact ecosystems and wilderness, to preserve and effectively manage at least 30% of our planet’s lands and oceans by 2030, and to restore and conserve biodiversity, as a crucial step to help prevent future pandemics and public health emergencies, and lay the foundations for a sustainable, global economy.

Admittedly, their resolve has a great message of hope for our environment.

However, about the same time, it invites some maze of high voltage confusion. For such call to make meaning here in Nigeria, there are several leadership, environmental, technological and political obstacles that we collectively, as a nation, will have to determine how to overcome.

Specifically, the shoddy management by Lagos state government of the Video clip case entitled: Snow-like Chemical Surge Causes Panic in Lagos, shared on July 8 by Sahara Reporters which went viral on social media showing snow-like foam that purportedly prevented Lagosians from accessing their homes is one event in recent days that probably

did more than anything else to convince Nigerians with critical interest that formulating a sound strategy is more basic to a nation than designing control systems; that a nation based on a good strategy can survive confusion and poor leadership, but sophisticated control systems and organisational structures cannot compensate for an unsound strategy.

Adding context to the discourse, the video footage going by fact check conducted by a media organization, revealed that there were two separate videos merged as one. The first part of the footage showed the snow-like foamy substance truly blocking the entrance to people’s homes with background female voices calling for help in panic. The second part of the video the report revealed was a typical snowlike foam covering the major highway.

Expectedly, before the dust raised by the out of event ordered could settle, Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, clarified the viral footage, saying that the incident was an outcome of a chemical reaction resulting from actions that were deliberately undertaken to avert a fire incident.

While adding that a truck approaching from the Lagos Sea Port fell due to an accident along the Anthony Village axis of Ikorodu Road, he explained that the truck was conveying an inflammable material, so the Lagos State Fire Service was deployed to intervene. The firefighters reportedly sprayed the AFFF on the spilled content to avoid fire incident.

But before you analyze the above effort and get the impression that this was created and developed by proactive leadership and marvel at the quality of their decision, wait till you cast a glance at the next paragraph as the content not only has a distinction to make but says

something else.

From what safety and environmental experts are saying, the snow-like material is often used by firefighters to suppress fire incidents. It is mainly recognised as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) solutions which could also cause health hazards if wrongly managed. ‘The United States Fire Administration, an institution of government that works to prevent fire outbreaks says AFFF could be a combination of per and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – the Perfluorooctane Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) but warned against long term exposure to the chemicals’.

These were part of the issues raised by two environmental rights and justice advocate groups; the Centre for Research in Environmental Resource Management (CREMA), and the Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), during a fact finding mission to the site. They were unhappy about potential effects of long term exposure to the chemicals which were still visibly flowing along Ikorodu Road towards Harbour Works/Maryland Busstop well over 24 hours after the accident. The present fears expressed by the finders which cannot be described as unfounded is not only based on the health hazard of the chemical. It also grows from several serious problems such as the dramatic and fundamental gaps in the way/ manner the state government communicated the situation. Infact, the greatest challenge is to understand the problems for what they are.

The underlying argument is this; if the truck was conveying inflammable material as claimed by Mr. Commissioner, what are the name and the grade of such inflammable? Were the inflammables in bags or were they liquids

in barrels? What precisely are the chemical constituents of the inflammable material that was discharged?

These are relevant questions because a large proportion of Lagos residents rely on water supplies from wells and boreholes that obtain water from shallow aquifers that are vulnerable and susceptible to pollution. That is to say some of this material could end up in people’s wells through infiltration. Also ringing apprehension is the inability of the state government agencies to remove the containers after well over 24 hours of the said accident and left in such a way that could lead to further accident. Could such action be characterized as an attribute of a responsive and responsible government?

Furthermore, the official statement is devoid of follow up procedures for clean up and associated investigations. Finally, storage and the transportation of hazardous material is statute controlled at federal and state level.

Indeed, because Ikorodu Road is a federal Highway, there are specific federal regulations and guidance for permitting the transportation of hazardous material on public roads. In this regard, the Harmful Waste Special Criminal Provisions Act of 1988 comes to mind. Perhaps, Lagos State also has such regulations and guidance?

While this piece leave these questions for the state to ponder, it must be underlined also that even if answer(s) is/are provided to the above questions, it will however, not in any appreciable way erase the belief among vast majority of Lagosians that the Anthony Village accident remains an incident that its pain is deepened by the fact that it was avoidable.

Utomi is a Lagos-Based media Consultant.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

PAGE 13

Comment

School closure and future of education in Nigeria

By Bilyaminu Gambo Kong-kol

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he failure to reopen the schools is affecting the economy of the country. Governments’ income from the education sector has put to hold, proprietors, and staff of private schools continues to suffer economically. Sellers of reading materials face a decrease in patronage.

The Federal Ministry of Education had in March ordered the immediate closure of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools nationwide following the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono who gave the order on behalf of the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, also noted that all 104 Unity Schools in the country should close on or before the 26th of March, 2020 as a proactive step aimed at preventing the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus. The closure was initially intended to last for just a month but the increasing number of Coronavirus cases had forced the federal government to declare it indefinitely.

Three months down the line, the Federal Government, in June, submitted proposed guidelines for the reopening of schools in the country to the National Assembly. It had later announced the reopening of schools for only students in Primary 6, JSS3, and SS3 to enable them to prepare for their national examination.

Adding that the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations would take place between August and September.

However, days after, the federal government has reversed its earlier announcement on the resumption of schools. The Education of Minister, Adamu Adamu, said Nigerian schools will not reopen any time soon “until it is safe to do so because of the COVID-19 pandemic”. He said final year students preparing for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) will not be allowed to return to school contrary to the earlier announcement. He said he would prefer that “Nigerian students lose an academic year than to expose them to dangers.”

I totally disagree with the stand of the Honourable Minister of Education on this issue.

For how long are we going to wait? Schools were closed when the Coronavirus cases were fewer than 50, we now have over 32,000 cases and still counting. If we are waiting for the end of this Global pandemic before reopening our schools, then we would definitely not reopen them in the near future. The World Health Organization has warned that COVID19 might last longer than expected, therefore, people must learn how to live with the virus. This is why Germany, Norway and other countries have since reopened their schools. What then Nigeria is waiting for?

To me, the continued schools’ closure does more harm than good to our education, students, society and economy. Our pupils and students in the country are not only delayed, but are at the risk of losing what they learned in the past, thereby pulling our dangling education sector downward. An ideal mind is said to be the devil’s workshop, the closure exposed thousands of students to restiveness, stealing, smoking, sexual assaults and other bad characters. As the schools continue to remain

closed, the number of challenges continue to increase and students may likely lose appetite for schooling.

On the other hand, the failure to reopen the schools is affecting the economy of the country. Governments’ income from the education sector has put to hold, proprietors, and staff of private schools continues to suffer economically. Sellers of reading materials face a decrease in patronage.

If the ban on political campaigns, party meetings, primary elections as well as governorship elections would be lifted, if the ban on our markets, parks, interstate travels, places of worship, airports, stadia and other social activities would be suspended, then why our schools remain closed? Does that mean we don’t value education? Whatsoever the case might be, Federal Government must think twice and take the bull by the horns.

Bilyaminu Gambo Kong-kol writes from Mass Communication Department, Bayero University, Kano and can be reached at bilyaminugambokonkol20@gmail.com

NIPP: Promising route to attaining food security

By Adewale Kupoluyi

N

SPP stresses the imperative of reducing malnutrition and its attendant negative health effects on children, nursing mothers, people with chronic illnesses and disabilities by engaging inadequate preventive and management measures to ward-off biotic factors, which can largely mitigate against food sufficiency in a cheap and affordable manner on the field, in transit, stores, and warehouses.

Over the years, the nation has embarked on a series of plans, programmes, and projects to diversify the economy, achieve sustainable development, and attain food security. Unfortunately, not much can be said to have been achieved due to several factors chiefly among is the little attention paid to the enormous opportunities that plant protection offer. What Africa’s most populous country needs to do to realise its huge potentials was recently unfolded in a communiqué issued after the 45th Annual/1st International Conference and Golden Anniversary of the Nigerian Society for Plant Protection (NSPP), held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The three-in-one event had as its theme, “Strengthening the Nexus between Research, Industry and Policy in Plant Protection for Increased Agricultural Production” and was attended by plant protectionists, members of agriculturerelated agencies and associations including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, and All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, among others. The historic opening ceremony was chaired by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri; Special Guest of Honour was the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, represented by his Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Edet; while the Guest of Honour was a member, House of Representatives, Hon. Henry Archibong.

Apart from key stakeholders in the agriculture sector that graced the occasion, there were more than 500 scientists, students and over 40 institutions representing universities, research institutes, private and governmental

agencies and organisations, which produced a 3-page communiqué, signed by the Chairman, Communiqué Committee, Prof. Samuel Adebitan, a Fellow of NSPP. The communiqué observes that Nigeria, which currently ranks 7th, is predicted to become third in the world’s population by 2050, implying greater concern for sustainable food, income securities and the reality that agricultural productivity in the country is continuously being threatened by climate change and aggravated by a lack of early warning systems for plant pests/diseases and pest detections.

The society decries the indiscriminate importation, marketing, and utilisation of agro-chemicals and planting materials in the nation’s agricultural system, which has caused more damage than providing solutions as sustainable plant health is strategic to feeding the growing global population that is billed to reach 9 billion by 2050 while plant protection remains the main precursor for industrial development by providing the basic materials for processing and enhancing crop plant productivity. The society reiterates that despite the direct role played by plant protectionists in impacting the economy, there is inadequate funding and modern facilities provided by the government for plant protection research tackling the challenges of pest and disease problems and lack of industry-funded plant protection research project linkages between the universities and industries.

NSPP stresses the imperative of reducing malnutrition and its attendant negative health effects on children, nursing mothers, people with chronic illnesses and disabilities by engaging inadequate preventive and management measures to ward-off biotic factors, which can largely mitigate against food sufficiency in a cheap and affordable manner on the field, in transit, stores, and warehouses.

The body recommends that Nigerian universities’ crop protection curricula should be sacrosanct in the sense that plant protectionists, who are correctly known as plant doctors, are the equivalent of the medical personnel, as applicable to human and veterinary medicines. The society believes that with venture capital and special government sponsorships of crop protection research, agricultural production would be boosted and there would be better chances of securing

funds for collaborative projects of mutual benefits. The plant doctors further call on the government and universities to establish science and technology parks to serve as technology incubators for the transfer of research outputs, innovations, and technology to the industry by having a positive impact on the living standard of the society.

Not only that, linkages between the university, but the government and industry would be strengthened with a view to enrich community life for there is the critical need to increase the capacity of research to the extent that bio-ecological models, based on broad geographical scales, can be developed for important pests and diseases. More importantly, the communiqué makes a case for the urgent establishment of a Nigerian Institute of Plant Protection (NIPP), which would coordinate issues on plant protection, advise the government on related matters, undertake continuous assessment of biological responses to climate change within and among species in the field and at critical life-history stages of pests or overwintering stages of pathogens that are vulnerable to the abiotic and biotic impacts of climate change.

NSPP was founded on May 16, 1970, at the then Department of Agricultural Biology, now Crop Protection and Environmental Biology at the nation’s premier University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The society is made up of professionals in plant protection and allied fields.

Membership is spread across the country covering individuals and corporate organisations.

It enjoys excellent cooperation of other societies like the Entomology Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Nematologists, Weed Science Society of Nigeria, Mycological Society of Nigeria, and Nigerian Phytopathology Society. The society’s thrust is hinged on extension, research, storage, quarantine, and fostering a synergy between research, industry, and policy in plant protection for increased agricultural production in Nigeria.

The incumbent President is Professor Jonathan Atungwu, Professor of Plant Nematology and an Organic Agriculturist at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State with his major focus and contributions to science and development through the

identification of sources, mechanisms, and inheritance of resistance to root-knot nematodes in crops, and the efficacies of organic materials as nematode suppressants. He was Director, Centre for Community-Based Farming Scheme; Editor, Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, a peer review and international journal based in FUNAAB. The Professor was Acting Dean, School of Agriculture, Lagos State University (LASU), where he served as the Pioneer Director, Institute for Organic Agriculture and Green Economy; and member, Biotic Constraints and Food Production Committee of the International Society for Plant Pathology, among others.

The society’s recent interface themed “Strengthening the Nexus between Research, Industry and Policy in Plant Protection for Increased Agricultural Production” and the support of critical stakeholders in the governmental and non-governmental agencies is a clear indication that it is determined to make a big difference if given the needed support.

Having been in existence for 50 years, the society’s enormous interventions, chains of experienced members, mutual relationship with related professional bodies, sound and focused leadership with tall credentials, are its strength.

Despite these achievements, there is still a lot of work to be done considering the warning that Nigeria would become the third most populous nation by 2050 with the attendant concerns for agricultural productivity; inadequate funding and the dearth of modern facilities; challenges of pests and diseases; imperative for Nigerian universities’ crop protection curricula to be made sacrosanct; establishment of science and technology parks; according to proper recognition to plant doctors like their counterparts in human and veterinary medicines; and provision of advisory services for government, among others. Certainly, the promising route to diversifying Nigeria’s economy, achieving sustainable development, and attaining food security can truly become a reality with the official birth, full operation, and robust engagement of NIPP. Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State @ AdewaleKupoluyi

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

News

Delta polytechnic Ogwashi Uku ranks 8th best among Nigeria polytechnics -Rector

From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

F

ollowing its dint of good academic performance, Delta state Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, has been ranked 8th position among Nigeria polytechnics with a score of 102nd position among all higher institutions in Nigeria, including Universities.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Stella Chiemeke in a statement she signed on monday, a copy made available to our Correspondent in Asaba, said that the institution was founded to provide access to world class education, adding that the the achievements of emerging 8th best in the current ranking of polytechnics by the webometric was a huge success, considering the fact that in July 2019, when the institution was first ranked and emerged at distant of 232nd position among all Nigeria institutions available on webometric.

Professor Chiemeke explained that the achievement called for Celebration following several successes the polytechnic had recorded in the recent times, adding that successes with regard to the webometric ranking could be seen as a function of the vision of Delta state government in providing world class education to Nigerians through access to modern education facilities and high calibre manpower.

She said; “the Institution’s management was fully committed to the vision of delivering world class polytechnic education to Nigerians at a minimal cost, its focus underscored the need for the polytechnic to be among the very best,not Just in Africa, but world at large and it was sequel to the focus of making the polytechnic a world class polytechnic that the institution

is richly equipped with modern scientific teaching equipment and facilities and boasts of an advanced learning environment”.

Meanwhile, Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council has assured Deltans of its commitment

to ensure that fulani hersdmen with camps in bushes at various communities are no longer in operations as efforts were being made to demolish them.

The State Chairman of the Traditional Rulers’ Council, Obi

Emmanuel Efeziomor 11, said “we say that the initiative to set up an independent security outfit in Delta state, the exercise is long overdue, We thank the Governor immensly for making this a reality, we traditional rulers

will give our support especially as will demolish illegal camps in our bushes, we ask that the exercise should involve whistle blowing, we have been waiting for this community policing outfit for a long time”.

Committee seek support of stake holders to end farmers, herders clashes in Bauchi From: Ahmad Mohammed,Bauchi

T

h e C h a i r m a n , Administrative Committee of Inquiry in to land disputes between herder and farmers, Surveyor Yahaya Baba has asked for the support of the people of Bauchi State to enable them find lasting solutions to end farmers herders clash.

Yahaya made the call in a statement he personally signed which was distributed to reporters in Bauchi on Monday.

He said the committee welcome both written and oral contributions from all stake holders that will assist the committee in the discharge of its responsibilities by making any recommendations that will promote permanent resolution of herder/farmer clashes across the State.

Chairman said inline with its terms of reference, the committee will visit all 20 Local Government Areas, particularly, Government Reserve Forests in the State with

the aim of ascertaining their sanctity.

He assured of the commitment of the committee to investigating and determine if such Government Reserve Areas are being illegally allocated by unauthorised persons or group of persons and those persons who are beneficiaries of such illegal allocations.

Yahaya said the committee will determine the persons or authorities directly or indirectly involved in such illegal allocation

of the portion of the Government Forests Reserve Areas.

He said the committee will identify all the cattle routes within and outside Forest Reserves, and areas or portions of encroachment by farmers.

The Committee Chairmam said the committee will be fair in it’s recommendations on measures to be taken in order to re-establish the cattle routes, Forest Reserves as well as prevent herder/farmer conflict in the State.

L-R: Honourable Minister, Youth and sports, Mr Sunday Dare, Honourable Minister, Information and culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, Lagos state Governor, Babajide San-Olu at the formal handling over of the National Arts Theatre,Iganmu Lagos to Bankers Committee for Renovations and transformation, yesterday in lagos.

From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

F

ollowing the alleged neglect and marginalization by oil firm, Nigeria AGIP Oil Company, the people of Idheze Community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend protested what they described as inhuman treatment by the management of the Oil Company in the area.

The protesting residents also alleged that the oil firm for over nine years of its

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

M

inister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has alleged that about three thousand, six hundred girls were raped during the period of lockdown, explaining that her ministry received reports of more than one hundred rape cases from each of the Commissioners of Women Affairs in the thirty six states of the Federation.

The Minister stated stated this when she paid a visit to the Deputy Senate President of Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, at the National Assembly complex yesterday.

She commended Senator OmoAgege for sponsoring the Sexual Harassment Bill in the Senate, saying it will go a long way to protect the rights of women in Nigeria. She noted that by this development, lawmakers of the 9th Senate have written their names in gold.

Tallen however condemned the upsurge in rape cases nationwide, expressing shock that reports she received from Commissioners of Women Affairs across the 36 states of the Federation revealed the need to urgently tackle the social problem.

She also applauded the Nigeria Governors Forum for declaring a state of emergency on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, even as she called for more legislation to protect the girl-child and women in the country.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie OmoAgege, said the approval of the Sexual Harassment Bill by the Senate is in furtherance of its Legislative Agenda, which seeks the protection of women’s rights.

He noted that when signed into law, it would not only send a strong signal to those who may want to abuse women but ensure that students are not at the mercy of ‘sexual predators’, especially in the higher institutions of learning,

oil drilling operations, refused to sign an MoU with the community, an act they said had plunged them into pains with the community lacking in infrastructural development.

The protesters armed with placards” AGIP you are drilling oil without compensation, AGIP where is your corporate social responsibility in Idheze, AGIP No salary, No road in Idheze, compensate us for the nine years without Gmuo , AGIP provide employment and empowerment”.

Speaking to Journalists in the area, the President General of Idheze Community, Mr Goddy Egene expressed displeasure at the alleged neglect and hardship, adding that the people had also suffered inhuman treatment and suffering allegedly meted out on them while drilling oil from the area.

Egene stated that the community had written several letters to the company and also met with the company’s representatives with notifications several times, but did not respond to

their demand, stressing that AGIP only responded when there was violence and crisis which was why the community staged the protest to register their demand.

In a swift reaction, The Manager, Public Relations of AGIP Mr Dennis Nasi dispelled all allegations against the Company as untrue, adding that the Idheze Community people protested for nothing rather than to tanish the image of the Oil Company as lots have been done for the people over the years.

3,600 girls raped during Covid-19 lockdown - Women Affairs Minister where the vice has become prevalent.

Omo-Agege commended his colleagues for looking beyond cultural, ethnic and religious differences to approve the bill, just as he called on the Minister and her entourage to equally reach out to the House of Representatives to immediately concur to the Bill.

He said, “This bill was conceived in the Eighth Senate. The reason we did it then is not any different from the reason we pushed it again in this Ninth Senate. But let me just say that we received overwhelming support of our colleagues who came to the conclusion that it was right that we did something about this because this is not an epidemic but a pandemic.

“For most of us who went through higher institutions, we know what happened. It is just that some would rather see it as business

as usual. But having convinced my colleagues that this should not be business as usual and we needed to arrest the situation, we had to rise above our cultural, ethnic and religious differences to be able to make the case that an attack of this nature on our daughters, sisters, wives in Warri is not any different from an attack in Sokoto, Maiduguri or anywhere.

“And we needed to move past that culture of lecturers who see our young women as perquisites of their offices. And we thought we should put a stop to that. The bill is one of the few bills that was sponsored almost by all the senators in the Ninth Senate. This is not necessarily an Omo-Agege bill but a bill of the Ninth Senate. We took this decision in furtherance of our Legislative Agenda which includes, amongst others, the protection of women’s rights.

“We are also in support of strengthening our anti-rape laws both under the Criminal Code and Penal Code. We will also make it in such a way that there will be better appetite for enforcement of the laws, once we create the enabling environment that encourages the prosecutors to prosecute it, the better for us”.

On Affirmative Action, he said the Senate would examine what obtains in other jurisdictions and make informed decisions.

Female parliamentarians who joined Senator Omo-Agege at the meeting include the Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Betty Apiafi; Senator Stella Oduah and Senator Akon Eyakenyi.

Note that the Bill to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions, 2020,

which was passed by the Senate at its sitting on July 7, 2020, prohibits sexual harassment of students in tertiary institutions and prescribes jail term ranging from two to 14 years for various degrees of offences.

Sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate and 106 other senators, the proposed law also prescribes N5million fine for offenders.

When signed into law, any educator who whistles or winks at a student or makes sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s physique would be liable to two years imprisonment or a fine of N1million, if found guilty.

This comes on the heels of commendation by the United Nations Women (UN Women) on the approval of the Bill by the Senate.

Chairman Ondo State screaming and Appeal committee Alhaji Umar Lawan (left) receiving documents from the secretary, caretaker committee, Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe during the inauguration of the committee at the APC national secretariat, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Senate grills NDDC Mgt today as probe of sacked staff, agency budget defence begin

By Musa Adamu

S

Alleged marginalization by oil firm unsettles Delta community residents

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

enate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs will today querry the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over the sack of some staff of the commission between February and May this year, even as the agency begins its 2020 budget defence session before the Senate.

The investigation could not hold yesterday due to inability of the IMC to meet with Senate schedule, having been held up in an investigative hearing with the House of Representatives.

The Senate had on May 5, 2020 on the strength of a motion sponsored by Senator George Sekibo (PDP Rivers East) on alleged financial recklessness and arbitrary sacking of staff in NDDC, mandated his committee on Niger Delta Affairs, to investigate the staff sacking aspect and assigned that of financial recklessness to an Ad-hoc Committee.

While the Ad- hoc committee had carried out its own investigation on the alleged financial recklessness against the current

Professor Daniel Pondei led IMC of NDDC, the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs has not been able to get attention of the IMC members on alleged illegal sacking of staffers.

Attempt made by the Committee, led by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta North), on Monday to carry out the investigation was stalled with the absence of the entire IMC members along with the Managing Director, Professor Pondei.

Signs that the IMC members would not appear before the Committee, emerged at about 12:30 pm when none of them was sighted at the venue of the planned investigative hearing in the Senate wing of the National Assembly.

Even attempt made by the Committee to ensure appearance of the IMC members before it two hours after by shifting the sitting to 3:00pm failed, as none of them appeared at about 3:20 pm when the session resumed.

Irked by the development, the committee chairman, Peter Nwaoboshi, asked the NDDC Director of Human Resources, Silas Anyanwu to offer explanation for the development.

Anyanwu in his explanation said the

Managing Director of NDDC, Professor Pondei and other IMC members, were held back at the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly where they were being engaged on similar investigation.

He said “For the past two hours sir, I have been communicating with the MD and some other IMC members but information reaching me indicated that they are not allowed to leave the venue of similar investigation going on in the House of Representatives”, he said.

Apparently not satisfied with the explanation, Senator Nwaoboshi reminded the Human Resources Director that the Monday sitting was the third attempt to get the IMC members to respond to series of petitions written against them by the sacked staffers.

“Even if the MD is held up in the House of Representatives , is there no person from the IMC who has the capacity to represent?”, he asked.

Though Anyanwu attempted to make presentation on behalf of the absentee MD, but withdrew when he was asked to sign the unsigned written submissions forwarded to

the committee by the IMC. At that point , the committee members quickly resolved that since tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14, 2020 , is the day fixed for 2020 budget defence session for the Commission, the issue of illegal sacking of staff, will be taken as well.

To this end, the Committee Chairman said, “from the altitude and actions shown so far by the IMC on this investigation, there is no sign of seriousness or interest from them.

“Though because of our respect for our colleagues in the House of Representatives, this sitting will be adjourned till tomorrow which is even the earlier fixed day for the 2020 budget defence session for the Commission.

“Before we adjourn, an erroneous impression must be corrected by saying that it is not this committee that petitioned against NDDC, but affected staff who alleged to have been illegally dismissed from service from of the commission.

“Petitions on such allegations have been forwarded to us and most of the affected staff have made their presentations which must be responded to by the IMC”, he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

politics Rivers politics: Opponents announcing my death, burial – Abe

By Musa Adamu

E

x Senator who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Magnus Abe, has urged politicians to play politics of progress and prosperity and not wish others death.

He made the call in a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Parry Benson. Abe said it was unfortunate that his opponents announced his physical and political death and burial.

The ex-lawmaker condemned such negative mindsets, describing it as undemocratic and evil. He described as shameful, how some people “conceive and imagine these negative thoughts”.

“Everyday you bury Senator Abe in the morning, by evening you are shouting about the same man you buried in the morning and then you bury him again and again,” he said.

Abe recalled that some politicians of Ogoni descent and their cohorts two years ago, carried out a funeral procession with his name on a coffin in Bori furtherance of their politics of hatred and bitterness.

He said “It got to the point where a coffin with Senator Abe was carried on live television in Bori and buried, yet Senator Abe is still here. The purpose of our politics should not be the burial of anyone. It should be about the progress and prosperity of our nation.

“I represent the truth, the truth does not die and so it can never be buried. Real people cannot bury the truth, hirelings, with real names or pseudo names cannot bury the truth.

Change is always a painful process. But change must come,” he admonished.

APC says PDP founded corruption in Nigerian politics, governance

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being the brain behind the thriving of corruption in Nigeria, saying that in APC led government, nobody is above the lad.

In a statement issued by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena, the party assured all Nigerians that the administration of President

Muhammad Buhari will not accept any form of corrupt practices even as the administration is committed to fighting corruption as promised.

According to the statement, APC said “The former ruling party, PDP does not have what it takes to lament about its alleged corrupt practices in the present administration of APC. It is on records that the PDP is the founder of corruption in Nigeria, to the extent that the evil practices were made official way of life during its 16 wasteful years.

“In APC’s government nobody is above the law. For the fact that the suspended acting chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu is being investigated should send a signal to all those who think and have blackmailed the government’s anticorruption battle.

“The Presidency has assured that there is no hiding place for any corrupt government official in this administration being led by an incorruptible personality, in person of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“So, Nigerians should ignore the fake lamentations of an unrepentant corrupt PDP. The main opposition party is only pained that it’s no longer in government, PDP does not have the history of caring for the people even when the revenue generations were at the highest levels”.

Recall that the opposition PDP had at the weekend accused the ruling APC of impoverishing Nigerians through its corrupt administration, which it said had put many Nigerians in hardship.

L-R; Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Price Clement Agba, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and Director General Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze during the signing of the reviewed 2020 appropriation bill into Law at the Council Chambers, State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

politics

Rep calls for death sentence against killer herdsmen, bandits

By Christiana Ekpa with agency report

T

he chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Muktar DanDutse, has called on the Federal lawmakers to pass a stiffer law that will carry the death penalty or life sentence against banditry and killer herdsmen.

Dan-Dutse made the call while speaking with journalists during the inauguration of the FCT chapter of the

Maize Association and input distribution for the wet season farming by the CBN. According to him, the attacks by bandits and killer herdsmen have affected farmers in some parts of the country.

He said there were existing laws that needed to be repealed or amended to ensure that the issues of stiffer penalties against banditry and killer herdsmen would be properly defined and captured.

“We are coming with a stiffer law that will ensure that anyone

found guilty of banditry and criminality will get a life or death sentence. In fact, there are existing laws but what is needed is to repeal those laws and ensure issues of banditry are taken care of,” he said.

He noted that with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on banditry, there should be synergy and collaborations between stakeholders to ensure the efforts yielded faster results.

“The issue is now decisive, the president has given a presidential directive; we

will work together, the civil societies, citizenry and also the affected communities because if there is information sharing, the security agents will be more responsive.”

Mr Dan-Dutse said the committee was working on a new focus that would see synergy between commodity associations, CBN and Cattle Breeders Association to bring an end to open grazing, being the major cause of conflicts between farmers and herdsmen.

He called for collaboration

COVID-19: Delta SSG recovers, discharged from isolation centre

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

D

elta State Government yesterday said that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chiedu Ebie, has been discharged from the Isolation Centre in Asaba where he was being treated for COVID-19.

According to Olisa Ifeajika, the Chief Press Secretary to the

Governor, Ebie, who had been at the Isolation Centre for 21 days, was discharged on Sunday after testing negative for the virus.

He said that the SSG’s discharge brought the number of discharged cases of the virus so far in the state to 583.

Ifeajika added that as at Sunday, Delta had recorded 1,359 confirmed cases of the pandemic, with 745 of them

active, while 31 lives had been lost to the virus.

He said that Ebie thanked Deltans and other Nigerians who prayed for him and had continued to pray for other patients of the virus, including members of the first family of the state.

The CPS reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to combating the pandemic,

and urged citizens to eschew prejudices and indiscipline.

According to him, the vices are militating against compliance with the COVID-19 protocols in the state.

He pointed out that adherence to the directive on the protocols would greatly minimise the spread of the virus in the state.

Obaseki gets N600m security vote monthly, gives Police N5m – IzeIyamu

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki receives N600 million monthly as security vote, claiming that the governor gives the police only N5 million to fight Insecurity.

He made this allegation during a live broadcast on his Facebook page on Monday, during which he pledged to dedicate more resources to combating insecurity.

He queried the present administration’s sincerity towards safeguarding lives and property in Edo state, saying “The present government has not been able to show serious commitment to security funding. Every month, the governor collects over N600 million as security vote and gives the police N5 million, not even enough to fuel vehicles.”

Ize-Iyamu expressed concerns about how Edo seems to be the only state in the South-South that has not made adequate investments in technology to combat crime.

“In this age, what is our investment in technology? Edo State might be the only state in the South-South that does not have trackers that can be used to trace kidnappers. The government must show sincerity in combating crime”, the candidate stressed.

APC chieftain dares Buhari, NEC in court, wants Oshiomhole back

By Vivian Okejeme

A

nother All Progressives Congress (APC) court battle has commenced with a chieftain, Barrister Kalu Agu, challenging the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee (NWC) by the National Executive Council (NEC).

The NEC, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had appointed ex-National Secretary and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as the Caretaker Chairman.

But Agu, a Youth Leader of the party in Abia State, insists that the council lacks the powers to sack the national leaders barely two years out of their constitutionally guaranteed four year term of office.

The plaintiff, in suit no FHC/ ABJ/ CS/736/2020, is praying for an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, setting aside the dissolution of the NWC.

Agu is also praying the court for an order restraining the Buniled committee from parading themselves as national officers of the APC. Additionally, he is praying the court for an order restraining the committee from putting into effect the resolution of the APC NEC meeting passed on June 25, 2020.

Agu wants an order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing, dealing with or relating with the caretaker committee in whatever guise to usurp the functions of the NWC. The party member is equally seeking an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to continue to recognise the Oshiomhole led members of the NWC as the authentic national officers of the party.

The APC chieftain through his counsel, Ukpai Ukairo, is asking the court to strike down

Article 17 of the APC constitution which provided for appointment of officers into the organs of the party for being inconsistent with section 223 of the 1999 Constitution and section 85 of the Electoral Act of 2010.

In a 44- paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summons, Agu claimed to be one of the foundation members of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) under which he ran for the House of Representatives in Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency of Abia State in 2011.

After the 2011 general elections, the CPC and others merged in 2013 to form the present APC. Agu averred that he is an accredited APC member and that he was elected as the Abia State Youth Leader in April 2014 during the state’s congress held at Umuahia.

Insisting that the 1999

Constitution guaranteed four year tenure for party officials, Agu declared that in breach of the same constitution, the NEC meeting passed an illegal resolution dissolving the NWC and also setting up an illegal caretaker committee.

Agu is praying the court to declare the dissolution of the NWC as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and another declaration that the recognition accorded the caretaker committee is unconstitutional and illegal.

Respondents are the caretaker committee members.

They are Buni, Isiaka Oyebola, Ken Nnamani, Stella Okorete, Governor Sank Bello, Dr James Lalu, Senator Abubakar Yusuf, Hon Akinyemi Olaide, David Leon, Professor Their Mamman, Isiaka Ahmed and Senator Akpan Udoedehe.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

L-R: Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya with Country Director, Mercy Corps, Mr. Ndubuisi Anyanwu, during the country director’s visit to the governor, at Government house yesterday in Gombe.

between the National Animal Production Institute and the CBN to workout modalities for better animal husbandry in the country.

Nasarawa lawmakers back Gov Sule over development initiatives

By Musa Adamu

T

he Nasarawa state House of Assembly Monday, assured Governor Abdullahi Sule of their readiness to give his administration full support and cooperation in order to enhance development across the state.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, gave the assurance during the lawmakers first sitting of the second legislative year in Lafia.

He said the House was focused and determined to continue to maintain a good working relationship with the executive arm of the state government for the overall development of the state.

“This would also improve on the socio-economic activities and standard of living of the people of the state,” he said.

He commended the state lawmakers for their commitment and hard work in overseeing the activities of Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) across the state and called for its sustenance.

The speaker also appreciated some MDAs for their cooperation during the oversight function, just as he equally advised heads of MDAs in the state to continue to give their maximum cooperation to the State Assembly for the overall development of the state.

Makinde proposes N3bn water investment plan

G

overnor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is proposing a N3 billion investment plan for water supply in cities and rural areas in the state, the Chairman, Oyo State Rurally Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Najeem Omirinde, has said.

Ominrinde made the disclosure during a radio interview in Ibadan on Monday.

He noted that of the N3billion water investment plan, N500million was proposed for the repair of faulty public boreholes across the state.

This, he said, was projected to take the burden of repair of water facilities away from the people of the state.

He said chairmen of the local government areas had been asked to submit lists of 10 faulty boreholes in their

areas for repair.

He said, “Oyo RUWASSA has already contacted the chairmen of all the local government council areas in the state to make a list of 10 faulty boreholes in their areas for repair. This is to reduce the number of boreholes to be dug to make the environment friendly and as well, to cut cost.

“The governor has assured the people

of the state of his readiness to make water available, both from the surface (dam) and from the deep ground, to ease the burden of our people’s quest for water.

“Governor Makinde has set aside a N3billion water investment plan for immediate solution to water problem in Oyo State. From this, the sum of N500million will be used for repair of faulty boreholes in all public areas.

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

Stock Watch: Monday, July 13, 2020 Low

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4.80 1.15 0 2.94 1.94 0 1.27 0.27 0 1.64 0.64 0 6.60 4.60 0 57.00 48.30 0 5.79 2.21 0 9.65 40.05 0 31.50 64.00 0 1.90 1.92 0 18.45 18.45 0 1.72 1.84 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.20 0.20 0 6.10 6.10 0 1.75 1.75 0 186.00 186.00 0 6.00 6.65 0 14.60 14.55 0 1.80 2.00 0 3.37 3.37 0 4.30 4.70 0 14.00 14.00 0 7.35 7.80 0 1.62 1.65 0 1.91 1.96 0 4.95 4.95 99 0.33 0.33 0 21.85 21.85 0 29.60 30.70 0 0.20 0.20 0 12.20 13.05 0 32.60 32.95 0 72.00 72.00 0 1.18 1.18 0 1.53 1.53 0 31.50 31.50 0 0.51 0.54 0 0.20 0.20 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.44 0.44 0 0.30 0.30 0 1.36 1.36 0 0.72 0.72 0 0.52 0.49 0 1.83 1.83 0 2.45 2.45 0

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Stock Close UPL 2.04 LIVESTOCK 0.22 SOVRENINS 0.12 OKOMUOIL 06.00 GUARANTY 13.50

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

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FG anticipates Data Prices to crash by 2025

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Federal Government has anticipated Nigerians to pay 40% of current data prices by the year 2025.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami disclosed this at the Opening Ceremony of Digital Skills Training for ICT Journalists holding at the e-Government Training Center, Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.

Dr. Pantami said, the government has addressed two critical challenges in the telecommunications industry, particularly Right of Way (RoW) Charges and infrastructural protection and development which according to him will attract huge local and foeign investments that would encourage competition and crash the price of data.

The training with the theme: “Digital Skills in News Reportage for ICT Journalists” was organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

While addressing the participants, the Minister noted that digital skills was one of the critical pillars of the National Digital Economic Policy and Strategy unveiled in November, 2019.

He said in order to fully achieved the Digital Nigeria Agenda, there was need to equip journalists in the country with digital skills.

Pantami said, he gave approval for the training in January 3, 2020 and followed up to ensure effective Implementation of that directive because journalists are partners in ensuring effective implementation of the policy.

“Digital Nigeria cannot be achieved without training people that will play a key role in ensuring that we achieve that digital Nigeria.

Journalists have a role to play. Most importantly our ICT Journalists or multimedia Journalists as the case may be. It is because of this reason we feel that on the top of our priority you (Journalists) are the first ones to start benefiting from this training before others,” he said.

The minister who said that multimedia journalism was taking over the journalism space, commended NITDA for kick-starting the training and urged other parastatals under the ministry to follow

the agency in training the ICT journalists.

He said, a responsive journalism was key to the success of democracy and good governance therefore, urged the participants to effectively utilise the training opportunity to better their reportage.

Pantami disclosed that the ministry was working on restructuring all the departments, because most of them are obsolete.

“We will have many critical departments that will focus on digital innovation, entrapreneurship, digital

economy and many more to make sure that we are on right track for a digital Nigeria,” he said.

On preference of skills over certificate, he said, “what is most important is not the certificate but the skills. Many developed nations are promoting skills rather than certificate.”

In his Opening Remarks, the Director General of NITDA, Mr Abdullahi Kashifu Inuwa said, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced everyone to embrace the new normal, therefore, “there was need to re-skill ourselves, and the only way to

do this is through digital skills”, which he said, could open new opportunities for the talented ones.

Mr Kashifu said, those with digital skills made money during the lockdown, while those without digital skills couldn’t make money.

He said, if journalism survives the pandemic, it needs to embrace digital technology to help deliver its work professionally.

The NITDA boss said, the training will focus on empowering reporters with requisite Technology Skills to

discharge their duties in the digital age, therefore, urged the participants to make use of the opportunity.

In his goodwill message, the National Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), President, Mr Blessing Olaifa thanked the Minister for the express approval given for the training.

He equally thanked the DG of NITDA for accepting to be the first agency to kickstart the training, assuring him that the lessons learnt would be used to better report the industry.

L-R: Chairman/CEO Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof James Adeche Momoh with Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam during the oversight visit of the Senate Committee on Power to the NERC Head Office, yesterday in Abuja. PHOTO BY NERC.

SEC, NITDA collaborate on Data Protection

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC has restated its preparedness to collaborate with the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA in a bid to foster safe conduct of transactions and usage of personal data in the Nigerian capital market.

Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda stated this during a webinar on Nigerian Data Protection Regulation and how it affects the Capital Market.

The event had as its theme: Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR): Implications on the Nigerian Capital Market.

The Head, Corporate

Communications, SEC Nigeria, Efe Ebelo in a statement quoted Mr. Yuguda to have stated that the Commission is very serious on the issue of data protection in the capital market assuring that going forward, the SEC would continue to create necessary awareness.

According to him, “You may all recall that in 2019, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) issued the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) with the objectives to safeguard the rights of natural persons to data privacy; foster safe conduct for transactions involving the exchange of Personal Data; prevent manipulation of Personal Data; and ensure that Nigerian businesses remain competitive

internationally.

“By this regulation therefore, all private and public organizations that collect, process, store, archive and destroy data of natural persons in Nigeria or of Nigerians resident abroad are required to comply with the provisions of the Regulation.

“Since the Commission and indeed all Capital Market Operators perform these activities on data as covered by the NITDA NDPR, we are also subject to the new regulation, in one way or the other. That explains the reason behind organizing today’s webinar to enlighten the capital market community on the provisions of the NDPR,” he said.

The SEC Boss assured participants that the new

management would make it a duty to interact with the market from time to time in a bid to develop the capital market and improve its contribution to the economy.

He expressed the hope that the lessons gained from the session would impact the operations of participants meaningfully and lead the Capital Market to full compliance with NDPR. In his presentation, Mr. Olufemi Daniel, Lead-NDPR Desk, NITDA, assured of the readiness of NIDTA to provide advisory support on NDPR implementation for the Capital Market adding that the agency is willing to work in synergy with the SEC to standardise compliance.

Page 20

BU$IN€SS

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

NEITI calls for govt’s protection against oil price volatility Cont. from page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

METRO

Page 21

AMAC: Community leaders warned against shielding COVID-19 positive persons from NCDC

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

s part of the proactive steps to widen containment of the ravaging Coronavirus otherwise known as COVID-19 pandemic, traditional institutions in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have been warned against shielding those who have tested positive for the disease.

In particular, they are charged to always ensure that all identified COVID-19 positive persons within their domains are exposed and handedover to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for prompt treatment.

The AMAC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, who gave the charge yesterday, noted that the traditional institutions as primarily the custodians

of their people, should know their subjects.

Candido spoke while updating newsmen on the recent compulsory COVID-19 test he and some top officials of the council took, which returned negative, following the positive status of the Council Secretary, who is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed Isolation Centre in the nation’s capital city.

According to him: “We are trying to ensure that any community leader aided and abetted a COVID-19 positive person, the government would not take it likely with him.

“Therefore, we are already in touch with community leaders, because they are primarily the custodians of their people, so they know them.

We wish to add that for every community that is visited for COVID-19 testing, the NCDC should first and foremost approach the community leader for collaboration.

“And should they be in touch with any confirmed COVID-19 case, community leader should be informed. Because they might actually not know the person who was tested and it came out positive. “ So, as far as the Area Council is concerned, we are in touch with our people, and we have directed them to ensure that should there be any affected victim in their own communities, and he or she refuses to go to NCDC Isolation Centre, they should report such person to us, so that the Area Council can go after the person, and if possible force him or her into the Isolation Centre, so

as to receive treatment.”

The AMAC Chairman continued: “Don’t forget, AMAC being a sensitive and responsible in the entire six FCT Area Councils, we were the first to take proactive steps against COVID-19, to ensure that we don’t allow our people to get infected.

“So we are still at that ladder, that is why even when one of us got infected (now recovering well), we took the bold step, by subjecting ourselves (top officials) to a compulsory COVID-19 test, which the results returned negative.

“Last weekend, we further decontaminated our Secretariat, to improve the safety of the place. That’s why I said the Area Council is free of all fears as far as any infection is concerned.”

Some defaulters of COVID-19 guidelines sweeping a street, in Maitama District, Abuja, under the watchful eye of security personnel, yesterday.

Photo: Stanley Onyekwere

Yuguda assumes office, says capital market driver of growth Cont. from page 19

Rescue operation officials and sympathisers at the scene of a collapsed two-storey building with a penthouse at 20, Freeman Street, Lagos Island on Lagos Island on Saturday (11/7/20) morning while the occupants were still asleep. One body has been recovered, five rescued, and others still trapped in a collapsed building. Photo: NAN

Ohaa, FCTA Perm. Secretary resumes work after battling COVID-19

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Permanent secretary, Sir Christian Ohaa yesterday resume work today, after

testing Negative to COVID-19, following battle with the dreaded disease.

It was gathered that the permanent secretary, is the third highest ranking FCTA official, though asymptomatic, had earlier tested positive for covid-19 about

two weeks ago.

Recall that upon testing positive Ohaa’s office, sited within the FCTA Secretariat complex in Area 11 was immediately shut down and his immediate staff on duty were asked to subject themselves to

compulsory COVID-19 test.

Also, all directors in the FCT Administration were directed to undergo compulsory COVID-19 test, as part of proactive approach to ensure safety at the workplace.

Page 22

world news

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 7, 2020

N international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Coronavirus: White House targets US disease chief Dr Anthony Fauci

U

S infectious disease chief Dr Anthony Fauci is being targeted by the Trump administration as tensions rise between the health expert and the president.

The White House has been increasingly critical of Dr Fauci, and on Sunday, an official shared a list detailing past apparent erroneous comments.

Dr Fauci’s changing advice on masks and remarks on Covid-19’s severity are among the points from the White House.

The move to undercut him comes as the US continues to see surges in Covid-19.

There are over 3.3 million cases confirmed and more than 135,000 deaths nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Dr Fauci has contradicted President Donald Trump’s comments on the pandemic a number of times, pushing back on the president’s claims that the outbreak is improving and attributing hasty state re-openings to the recent surges.

The White House memo leaked over the weekend had noted “several White House officials are concerned about the number of times Dr Fauci has been wrong on things”.

On Monday, White House adviser Peter Navarro told CBS News: “When you ask me if I listen to Dr Fauci’s advice, my answer is only with caution.”

What has the White House said?

Echoing the contents of the memo, Mr Navarro, an economic adviser to Mr Trump, said Dr Fauci “has been wrong about everything I have ever interacted with him on”.

“When I warned in late January in a memo of a possibly deadly pandemic, Fauci was telling the media not to worry,” he said.

Mr Navarro said Dr Fauci fought against Mr Trump’s “courageous decision” to halt flights from China, initially said the virus was “lowrisk”, “flip-flopped on the use of masks” and said there was “only anecdotal evidence” regarding hydroxychloroquine as a treatment.

“Now Fauci is saying that a falling mortality rate doesn’t matter when it is the single most important statistic to help guide the pace of our economic reopening.”

Admiral Brett Giroir, assistant US health secretary and member of the virus task force, told NBC News on Sunday that while he respects Dr Fauci, he is not always right.

“Dr Fauci is not 100% right and he also doesn’t necessarily, he admits that, have the whole national interest in mind. He looks at it from a very narrow public health point of view.”

Mr Trump on Monday retweeted comments from a game show host accusing “everyone”, including the US Centers for Disease

Control (CDC) of lying about the coronavirus.

Last week, the president told Fox News Dr Fauci was “a nice man but he’s made a lot of mistakes”.

As cases and deaths continue to rise in a number of states, Mr Trump has been accused by critics of politicising health issues, including wearing masks.

Mr Trump has also clashed with the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the body of mismanaging the pandemic when it began and failing to make “greatly needed reforms”.

On 7 July, he formally began to pull the US out of the WHO and said funding would be redirected.

Donald Trump has often railed against newspapers that publish anonymous quotes from administration aides critical of the president. Over the weekend, however, the White House was using its own unnamed “officials” in a remarkable attack on a member of its coronavirus task force, top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci.

The White House even provided a list of Fauci’s old statements about the virus similar to the kind of memo a campaign might use to direct negative attention on a political opponent. The administration, it appears, is trying to paint Fauci as wrong about the early threat

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of the virus and, consequently, untrustworthy when he questions the administration’s current analysis of the current situation and its planned actions.

As if that wasn’t enough, on Monday morning the president retweeted a post by former game show host Chuck Woolery, accusing the Centers for Disease Control, among others, of lying about the virus in an effort to undermine the Trump’s re-election prospects.

An administration at war with its own scientific and medical experts in the middle of a pandemic that is once again on the upswing makes developing a cohesive strategy - one that the public trusts and will follow - challenging, to say the least.

More from Anthony: Things US has got wrong - and got right What has Fauci said?

Dr Fauci has not weighed in on the White House memo, but he has remarked on his recent lack of television appearances.

“I have a reputation, as you probably have figured out, of speaking the truth at all times and not sugar-coating things,” he told the Financial Times on 10 July.

“And that may be one of the reasons why I haven’t been on television very much lately.”

Dr Fauci also said he has not seen Mr Trump in-person since 2 June and has not briefed him for the last two months.

The infectious disease chief

has instead been appearing on livestreams and podcasts.

On 9 July, he told FiveThirtyEight: “As a country, when you compare us to other countries, I don’t think you can say we’re doing great. I mean, we’re just not.”

What is the true death toll of the coronavirus pandemic?

Dr Fauci will participate in a livestream with Stanford University Medical School on Monday afternoon, local time.

What does the public think?

A New York Times/Siena College poll at the end of June found 67% of US voters trusted Dr Fauci regarding the pandemic, with just 26% expressing trust in Mr Trump.

What are the results?

At a press conference on Monday morning, the heads of the electoral commission said they were not sure when complete results would be announced, as some polling stations had yet to submit their counts.

But with 99% of all constituencies reporting, those tallies were not expected to affect the result. Turnout was reportedly 68.2%.

The opposition Civic Platform (PO) group - which backed Mr Trzaskowski - told Reuters news agency it was collecting information on voting “irregularities” after the polls closed on Sunday, including reports of Poles abroad not receiving their voting packages in time to take part in the election.

Analysts believe the close result could lead to court challenges.

“I think there will certainly be electoral protests and I think the whole issue will end up in the Supreme Court,” Warsaw University political scientist Anna MaterskaSosnowska told AFP news agency.

The election had been due to

take place in May, when Mr Duda was higher in the polls and stood a better chance of winning in the first round.

Although the coronavirus pandemic had not yet peaked, the government was desperate for the May vote to go ahead.

It eventually backed down when a junior coalition partner joined the opposition in saying the PiS was putting politics before public health.

What does this mean for Poland and the EU? President Duda’s victory means the governing PiS party can now implement its programme unhindered until the next parliamentary elections in three years.

The presidential election was the closest since the fall of communism in 1989 but the high turnout means President Duda won a clear mandate.

Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the government has pledged to continue its popular welfare scheme that has

helped raise many Polish families out of poverty.

More controversially, the PiS has said it wants to complete its overhaul of the judiciary - a policy criticised by the EU and many other international organisations for undermining the rule of law in Poland. That signals more tension with Brussels.

The PiS may want to use Mr Duda’s victory to pursue greater political control of local government and the private media.

But passing legislation to limit foreign ownership of critical private media is difficult under EU rules and risks antagonising Poland’s chief ally, the US, as one of the country’s most popular broadcasters, TVN, is owned by an American company.

Mr Duda’s victory shows there is a strong electorate for social conservatism and generous state hand outs. But the closeness of the vote also suggests that many in Poland are uneasy about the government’s attempts to introduce a more illiberal democracy.

A

f r i c a

Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zindzi dies at 59

Z

indzi Mandela, the youngest daughter of South Africa’s first black president Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has died at the age of 59.

She died in a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of Monday morning, public broadcaster SABC said.

She was an activist in her own right and was serving as ambassador to Denmark at the time of her death.

The cause of her death was not immediately revealed.

Zindzi Mandela was Nelson Mandela’s sixth child and his second with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, his second wife.

President Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement said Zindzi Mandela had “during our years of struggle brought home the inhumanity of the apartheid system and the unshakeable resolve of our fight for freedom”.

Ms Mandela had been posted to Denmark in 2015 and had been designated to become South Africa’s head of mission in Monrovia, Liberia.

Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor said: “Zindzi will not only be remembered as a daughter of our struggle heroes, but as a struggle heroine in her own right.”

Obituary: Nelson Mandela Ms Mandela grew up at the height of the anti-apartheid struggle. With her father imprisoned on Robben Island, she endured years of harassment and intimidation by the apartheid regime, along with her sister Zenani, and her mother Winnie, says the BBC’s Vumani Mkhize.

Zindzi Mandela was the family member who read out Nelson Mandela’s rejection of then-president PW Botha’s offer for conditional release from prison at a public meeting in February 1985.

Through his foundation, Nobel peace laureate and former archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu said that “speech in Soweto, on behalf of her father... reinvigorated the values and principles of the struggle”.

Ms Mandela “played a critical role symbolising the humanity and steadfastness

Joshua Wong, centre, appeared in court with fellow activists Ivan Lam and Agnes Chow

Poland’s Duda narrowly beats Trzaskowski in presidential vote

oland’s incumbent President Andrzej Duda has narrowly beaten challenger Rafal Trzaskowski in Sunday’s presidential vote.

The National Electoral Commission said Mr Duda had won 51.2% of the votes.

It is Poland’s slimmest presidential election victory since the end of communism in 1989.

One of the major issues of the election was the future of the country’s strained relations with the European Union.

Mr Duda is a social conservative allied with the government led by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, while Mr Trzaskowski is the socially liberal mayor of Warsaw.

Mr Duda’s win is expected to lead to further controversial reforms to the judiciary and continued opposition to abortion and gay rights.

During the campaign Mr Duda came under heavy criticism after he said LGBT rights were an “ideology” more destructive than communism.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 7, 2020

Zindzi Mandela with her father Nelson in 2010 of the anti-apartheid struggle”, he added.

Most recently, she was known for her vocal support for radical land reform in South Africa, our correspondent says.

Only two of Nelson Mandela’s six children are still alive: Zenani Dlamini, Zindzi’s sister; and Pumla Makaziwe Mandela, a daughter from his first marriage, to Evelyn Mase.

Coronavirus: South Africans divided over second alcohol ban

T

he reintroduction of a ban on the sale of alcohol in order to help curb the spread of coronavirus has divided South Africans.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the ban - the second this year - would take pressure off the health system.

While some backed him, others said he was blaming citizens for his government’s failures.

When it comes to coronavirus, South Africa is the hardest-hit country in Africa with more than 275,000 cases.

Deaths resulting from Covid-19 have also risen to more than 4,000, and government projections estimate this could increase to 50,000 by the end of the year.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said the government was using the alcohol ban as a scapegoat for its failure to provide adequate health care.

Julius Malema, the leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, tweeted that the president had failed to heed his warning not to lift the alcohol ban first imposed in March.

He added that Mr Ramaphosa should also close schools which resumed last month after several weeks.

On Twitter, people are using the hashtag #AlcoholHasFallen to express their support or displeasure for the president, who announced the renewed alcohol ban on Sunday night.

Some South Africans pondered how the ban could affect the economy.

One woman highlighted how people involved in the hospitality industry would be losing work.

“After almost two years of not

working, my sister finally found a job, sadly her job ended last night,” she tweeted.

And some have joked that South Africans should get their homebrew kits out again after there was a reported rise in homemade pineapple-based alcohol during the last ban.

President Ramaphosa also announced a night-time curfew and said the wearing of masks outdoors was now compulsory.

Coronavirus infections have skyrocketed in the past two weeks, straining the health system, especially state hospitals which 80% of the population depend on.

They are simply running out of beds and part of that, according to health experts, is due to alcoholrelated trauma cases.

More than 40% of the 40,000 trauma cases recorded here in a week are alcohol-related - something the health system cannot afford right now.

The alcohol ban, however, also affects jobs of those who are

directly or indirectly dependent on the industry.

For the authorities, it has come down to a crude balance between saving lives and preserving livelihoods - and it is an impossible dance.

Last week, South Africa recorded the highest-ever singleday increase in cases. Nearly half were in Gauteng, a province that is becoming the outbreak’s epicentre.

In his address, Mr Ramaphosa acknowledged “most” people had taken action to help prevent the spread, but he said there were still some who acted “without any responsibility to respect and protect each other”.

“There are a number of people who have taken to organising parties, who have drinking sprees, and some who walk around crowded spaces without wearing masks,” said the president.

Mr Ramaphosa said the new measures were being introduced

The authorities say the ban will take pressure off the healthcare system to help the country to weather the storm of coronavirus, and a state of emergency would be extended until 15 August. The night-time ban would be in place from 21:00 to 04:00.

The government has also made

28,000 hospital beds available for Covid-19 patients. But President Ramaphosa said the country still faced a “serious” shortage of more than 12,000 healthcare workers, including nurses, doctors and physiotherapists.

Coronavirus: Infections rising amid economic downturn in Africa

A

frica is facing rising coronavirus infections and there is growing economic pressure to ease lockdown restrictions.

The pandemic has triggered the continent’s first recession in 25 years, according to the World Bank.

On the whole, African countries are continuing to ease lockdown measures, despite increasing levels of infection and a general lack of testing capacity across the region.

South Africa has been worst hit by the virus in terms of the

total number of cases and deaths and it imposed strict lockdown measures relatively early. But, despite surging cases, most businesses have now reopened and people can exercise and attend places of worship. Some restrictions on public gatherings remain, however, and a ban on the sale of alcohol has been reimposed In Nigeria, where there are concerns the virus is spreading largely undetected because of a lack of testing, government buildings have opened, as have places of worship, and travel is

now permitted between states.

But schools, restaurants and parks remain closed Egypt has lifted its night-time curfew and allowed the opening of restaurants, cafes, cinemas and theatres at a capacity of 25%. But smoking shisha pipes, popular in Egyptian cafes, remains prohibited. Mosques and churches, meanwhile, can open for daily prayers but not mass services The East Africa region has recorded a lower number of infections than elsewhere on the continent. Kenya has removed

restrictions on travel but retained a nationwide night-time curfew. Churches and mosques are reopening there but with restrictions on capacity, while the reopening of schools has been delayed to 2021. In Uganda, there is a curfew in force and schools and religious centres are still closed.

In Tanzania, schools are open and most social activities permitted.

The country never implemented a harsh lockdown and its political leaders have consistently sought to downplay the virus and prevent the publication of coronavirus statistics. Source BBC

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Xinjiang: Rubio and Cruz hit with tit-for-tat China sanctions

C

hina has announced sanctions on top Republicans after the US imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province.

Among those targeted are senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, both outspoken critics of China.

The nature of the sanctions is unclear.

China is accused of detaining more than a million Uighurs and others in Xinjiang but China denies abuses in the far-western region.

Ted Cruz is a senator for Texas while Marco Rubio represents Florida. The pair competed with Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

China also imposed sanctions on Republican congressman Chris Smith; Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback; and a government agency, the US CongressionalExecutive Commission on China.

The foreign ministry said the move was in response to America’s “wrong actions”.

“We urge the US to immediately withdraw its wrong decision, and stop any words and actions that interfere in China’s internal affairs and harm China’s interests,”

Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are prominent figures in the US Republican party spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

She gave no details what the sanctions entailed but added: “China will make a further response depending on the development of the situation.”

Last week the US imposed

sanctions on a number of Chinese politicians who it says are responsible for human rights violations against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

Announcing the measures, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

said the US was acting against “horrific and systematic abuses” in Xinjiang.

Officials, including Communist Party boss Chen Quanguo, seen as the architect of Beijing’s policies against minorities, were hit with

a visa ban and freeze on their US assets.

Relations between the US and China are already strained over a number of issues, including trade, the coronavirus pandemic and China’s introduction of a controversial security law in Hong Kong.

What is China doing in Xinjiang?

Rights groups say up to a million Muslims have been detained in high-security prison camps across Xinjiang province.

Last year, the BBC saw leaked documents showing that 15,000 people from southern Xinjiang were sent to the camps in one week alone.

The same documents showed inmates could be released only when they “understand deeply the illegal, criminal and dangerous nature of their past activity”.

The Chinese authorities say the Uighurs are being educated in “vocational training centres” in order to combat violent religious extremism.

However evidence shows many are being detained for simply expressing their faith - for example, praying or wearing a veil - or for having overseas connections to places like Turkey.

Source: BBC

ISIS ‘still evading detection on Facebook’, report says

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acebook accounts linked to the Islamic State group (ISIS) are still finding ways to evade detection on the social media platform, a new report claims.

One network’s tactics included mixing its material with content from real news outlets, such as recorded TV news output and the BBC News theme music.

It also hijacked Facebook accounts, and posted tutorial videos to teach other Jihadists how to do it.

Facebook said it had “no tolerance for terrorist propaganda”.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), which carried out the study, tracked 288 Facebook accounts linked to a particular ISIS network over three months.

The group behind them was able to exploit gaps in both the automated and manual moderation systems on Facebook, to generate tens of thousands of views of their material.

Facebook said most of them had now been removed.

Networks of ISIS supporters were also found to be plotting, preparing and launching ‘raids’ on other Facebook pages, including those belonging to the US military and political leaders.

The ISD researchers say they watched in real-time as instructions were posted for followers to flood comment sections of the sites with terrorist material.

One attack targeted US President Trump’s Facebook page with fake

African-American accounts. Another put images of the 11 September 2001 attack on the US Department of Defense and Air Force Academy pages, along with messages.

‘Digital territory’ On 7 April, a series of Twitter accounts began to send out links to a Facebook Watch party.

The accounts all used the phrase ‘Fuouaris Upload’, a reference to medieval Islamic warriors.

The ISD researchers say this was part of a co-ordinated attempt to ‘amass digital territory’ on Facebook.

The network shared video content which received tens of thousands of views, and which extended out to other platforms with links to Telegram, WhatsApp, ISIS stand-alone websites and SoundCloud.

The researchers believe that at

the centre of the network was one user who managed around a third (90 out of 288) of the Facebook profiles.

At times, this user would boast of holding 100 ‘war spoils’ accounts, saying: “They delete one account, and I replace it with 10 others.”

This was accomplished by generating real North American phone numbers and looking for associated Facebook accounts.

If it found a match it would request a re-set code to be sent to the phone number, so it could lock out the original account holder and use the Facebook profile to spread content.

Blurred logos The researchers say another key to the survival of ISIS content on the platform was the way in which ISIS supporters have learned to modify

their content to evade controls.

Blurring ISIS branding, or adding Facebook’s own video effects Adding the branding of mainstream news outlets over the top of ISIS content Facebook has tried to develop ways of avoiding taking down mainstream news content which contains excerpts of ISIS material, and this was an attempt to take advantage of that.

In one case, an ISIS video was uploaded, but with 30 seconds of the France 24 news channel as an introduction before 49 minutes of the ISIS Iraq video.

In another case, a remix of a BBC News jingle with a pop song that became popular during the Coronavirus outbreak was used to mask ISIS content.

The researchers found that 70% of the “Fuouaris Upload” accounts were taken down during the nearly three-month period.

But the network adapted and survived relatively easily by shifting from one account to another.

As accounts were taken down, members of the network publicly mocked Facebook for not understanding the way they could operate on the platform.

The followers and friends of the main Facebook accounts included supporters from a number of different language groups, including Albanian, Turkish, Somali, Ethiopian and Indonesian communities.

Image copyrightISD

The researchers say these accounts did not seem to be as heavily moderated as the Arabic and English ISIS accounts.

On one Indonesian language account the researchers found a video, set in a kitchen, featuring a man in a balaclava explaining how to create explosives using household items.

The video had been viewed 89 times and shared through 41 other Indonesian and Arabic language accounts, and flagged to Facebook.

‘Inner workings’ “Our report is about the evasive behaviours of ISIS-supporting accounts on Facebook,” the report’s author Moustafa Ayad said.

“It is a deep dive into the inner workings of a singular terroristsupport network, connected to many others across the platform.

“The tactics we outline in our report are shifting as we speak.

Without a clear understanding of these networks, and their behaviours, responses reliant on takedowns do little to quell ISISsupport expansion across our primary platforms.”

ISD says Facebook’s automated and manual detection systems need to be updated, with proactive investigations into repeat offending accounts and their connections to other accounts on the platform.

It says the platform needs to reexamine account security protocols, and how these security measures are being actively subverted by users.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

PAGE 25

feature ‘Someone needs to help parents control their kids’ spending’ T

he BBC’s weekly The Boss series profiles different business leaders from around the world. This week we speak to Louise Hill, founder of GoHenry, a banking business that provides debit cards for children.

Standing on the touchline as her son played football, Louise Hill started moaning about how her kids’ spending habits were spiralling out of control.

At the time her son was eight and her daughter was 11. Louise was so frustrated by how much they were buying online that she would pin Apple invoices to the fridge door to help her kids understand why their £4 a week pocket money was now just 50p.

The two other parents she was chatting to back in 2009 had similar stories, so the conversation really struck a chord. And inspired the beginning of a business.

“One of the dads started talking about Louise Hill was inspired by her own children spending too much money how his son had bought something on eBay, the other how his daughter had spent £2,000 through PlayStation,” says Louise, who is now 57. “There were all sorts of stories. We thought, ‘Surely someone needs to help parents with this?’”

That someone ended up being Louise and the two fathers, Mark Timbrell and Doug Mahy, who started meeting every Thursday night in a curry house in the town of Lymington, in the New Forest, on England’s south coast, to pull together a business plan. Their idea was to create a prepaid debit card and app for six to 18-year-olds that would help children learn how to handle their own finances.

Kids would be able to use the card in Louise hopes that GoHenry will help children be better with money physical shops or online, but they’d only be able to spend whatever money their parents had put on the card via the app.

Mums and dads could also use the app to keep a watchful eye on their children’s spending or set limits, establish regular pocket money payments, or make one-off payments if the kids had done a certain task, such as wash the car.

The business would make its money by charging the parents a monthly fee per child, which currently stands at £2.99.

Louise, who previously worked in e-commerce, was confident that the idea would be a success. However, it took two years to raise the £700,000 required to launch the business, and plug into its banking partners - payments giant Visa, and bank IDT Finance.

The card is available to six to 18-year-olds “I can’t tell you how many pitching sessions I went to,” she says. “But we To grow the business in its early and learn that “money doesn’t grow on managed to pull together a group of high days, Louise says they tried adverts on trees”. net worth angel investors who were really local radio, partnerships with schools, However, some parents have used excited about it, and clearly shared our and attending summer fairs, such as the review website Trustpilot to complain vision.”

New Forest Show. A quarter of customers that GoHenry’s monthly fee is too high.

The business was originally called stemmed from recommendations from Rivals such as Nimbl and Osper are PKTMNY, standing for “pocket money”, others. cheaper at £2.49 and £2.50 per child but the name was changed within the The card is available to six to 18-year- respectively. first year of trading as the company felt olds “We have to charge something as we that the original moniker was difficult for Today the London-based company cannot afford not to,” says Louise, who is people to search for. says that more than one million children the only founder left in the business, after GoHenry was chosen instead in have cards across the UK and US. the other two departed within the first honour of the firm’s first customer, an Louise says the app is designed to two years to pursue other interests.

11-year-old boy called Henry. teach children to be “savvy consumers”, “We’re not Barclays, and we need

to cover our costs. £2.99 is not a huge amount. We keep it as low as we possibly can.”

Helen Saxon, banking editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, says that GoHenry is popular because of its functionality, such as parents being able to receive notifications on their mobile phone when their child’s card is used. “[However], it does have similar competitors, most of which are a touch cheaper - Nimbl, Osper and Rooster Money - who all provide a similar service,” says Ms Saxon.

“And none of these compare well [on cost terms] with High Street bank accounts for kids, which don’t have fees, and often actually pay interest when there is money in them.”

She adds that most banks only offer accounts to children aged 11 and over though, which makes GoHenry very useful, because it is open to younger kids.

“If you’re looking to teach your [young] child about how to handle money, these cards will help,” says Ms Saxon.

GoHenry now has 150 staff across its three UK offices in London, Lymington and Farnborough, and its US base in New York.

The firm launched in the US in 2018, and is now focused on growing its market share in both countries. This expansion is being led by chief executive Alex Zivoder, a former director at ticket business Viagogo.

He was appointed by Louise in 2015, when she switched to the role of chief operating officer, so she could focus on “day to day operations”. She remains a co-owner of the business.

“A good founder has the company’s best interests at heart, and is constantly questioning what the company needs,” says Louise. “And sometimes that may not be you as chief executive.”

Louise’s children, whose overspending inspired the creation of the business, are now 19 and 22. “They are both confident with money,” she says.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, july 14, 2020

26

issues

CLASSIFIED Public Notice

Ambassador Zhou Pingjian: Raising the bar in public diplomacy T

BY Charles Onunaiju

he outgoing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria Dr. Zhou Pingjian would for long be remembered for straddling the Nigeria’s wide social space, networking diplomacy from its core state to state relation to the public space, bridging gaps in the inter-state relations and building bridges across the broad domain of Nigeria’s sociocultural and intellectual communities.

He looked comfortable confident and out genuinely at home, with various segments of Nigerians. Whether with top level state actors in various government departments, media practitioners, scholars, cultural figures, and youths or with Internally displaced persons in their camps, he radiates warmth, solidity and mutual affinity that has traditionally define trajectories of Nigeria-China bilateral cooperation.

He is unarguably, the most travelled envoy among his peers in Nigeria, having visited every state in the country including some with serious security challenges, delivered dozens of well received public lectures in universities across the country and awarded scholarships to deserving indignant students.

Bringing common touch to diplomacy and touching down directly to the people of Nigeria in their various spheres of life and letting them feel the pulse of the genuine friendship of the Chinese people and deepening the bonds between the two brotherly peoples is the core of ambassador Zhou Pingjian’s indelible foot prints in the country, he embraced with uncommon passion.

In fostering friendship between Nigerian and Chinese people, ambassador Zhou Pingjian connected the two governments of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the best of their inter-state relations, helping to deliver practical dividends and tangibles of the cooperation especially to Nigeria.

On the China’s most auspicious international public goods, the Belts and Road framework of international cooperation, ambassador Zhou Pingjian worked so hard with equally hard working Nigerian officials to expose the country to the opportunities of the frame work that complimented the efforts of the government to reposition the economy and put it on the path of sustainable and inclusive growth. Key infrastructure projects including railways, both those completed and others in progress, airport terminal renovations, Seaports, Powerplants, and High-way construction in various states of the country are the vital tangibles for economic reconstruction and social stability that ambassador Pingjian vigorously pushed so hard, to raise bilateral ties between Nigeria and

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian

China to the most visibly and practically beneficial to the Nigerian people.

The Chinese envoy for the last three and half years in Nigeria has voluble passion for Nigeria’s industrialization, believing that the country has what it takes to be the next ‘’Workshop if the World’’, as his country has been, in the past 40 years. He fostered very energetically, the production capacity and industrial cooperation between Nigeria and China, encouraging Chinese firms to set up industries in Nigeria and coined the mantra ’’Made in Nigeria with China’’ in reference to the fruits of Nigeria-China industrial cooperation and production capacity.

In stridently advancing the course of Nigeria’s infrastructure revitalization and vigorous advocacy for the country’s re-industrialization through practical partnership with Chinese industrial firms, ambassador Zhou Pingajin brought huge compliment to the Federal Government economic reform blue print, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, launched in the early years of president Buhari’s administration which emphasized revitalization of key infrastructures and Agricultural modernization and industrialization.

With diplomacy traditionally viewed as high-octane enterprise, connecting high levels state officials with each other, speaking in ambiguous terms and sometimes with deliberate intentions to confuse rather to clarify ambassador Zhou Pingjian brought diplomacy to plain speaking with undoubted clarity.

Unarguably, the most published diplomat among his peers in the local media, he brought clarity and elaboration to all issues relating to the bilateral cooperation between the two countries directly to Nigerians, removing all ambiguities on all issues and placing them squarely to the public domain. On several occasions in the public media, he has dissected and explained the key mechanisms and issues of Nigeria-

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

China bilateral relations in particular and Sino- Africa cooperation in general through his numerous interventions through opinion articles in major print media outlets and periodic news conferences. Through the media, he has offered profound insights to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), two major cooperation platforms that Nigeria and other African countries are robustly engaged and thereby, getting Nigerians from different works of life to interrogate the process of bilateral engagements between the two countries.

Under the watch of ambassador Zhou Pingjian, Nigeria media both in the print and electronic have had vigorous exchanges with their Chinese counterparts, boosting the quality of each other’s perspectives, enriching and expanding their respective worldviews.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic brought the best in the

“

Even when there were calls to evacuate Nigerians from Wuhan due to the lockdown of the city, ambassador Zhou Pingjian calmly counseled that Nigerians are safe not only in Wuhan but in the rest of China. And Facts speak very boldly, as no single Nigerian resident in Wuhan, or other city in China came in harm’s way or was infected by the novel virus

quality of Public diplomacy muscularly expressed by Ambassador Zhou Pingjian. When the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China, was hit by the novel Corona Virus early this year and there were concerns about Nigerians not only in the city of Wuhan but in other parts of China, ambassador Zhou took to periodic media briefings to constantly update and clarify the situation in his home country and the conditions of Nigerians in the China. To further assuage anxieties, he invited relatives, parents and guardians of Nigerian students and others in Wuhan to a public meeting to listen to their concerns and clarify the issues about the conditions of their people, with assurances that the relevant Chinese authorities are taking measures to keep Nigerians and other foreigners safe. Even when there were calls to evacuate Nigerians from Wuhan due to the lockdown of the city, ambassador Zhou Pingjian calmly counseled that Nigerians are safe not only in Wuhan but in the rest of China.

And Facts speak very boldly, as no single Nigerian resident in Wuhan, or other city in China came in harm’s way or was infected by the novel virus. And despite the immense and intense traffic flows between Nigeria and China, the Nigeria’s index case of Covid-19 was neither a Chinese nor a Nigerian returnee from China.

And when the virus finally hit Nigeria, Ambassador Zhou Pingjian remained very visible in mobilizing his country’s material and manpower support for Nigeria’s anti-virus campaign. Besides, the practical support to Nigeria, the Chinese envoy has been tireless in the public advocacy for cooperation collaboration and solidarity as the most potent weapon to contain the vile virus.

And like during the outbreak of the Ebola pandemic in 2014, when most foreign friends left, with Chinese diplomats and their Chinese communities staying put, ambassador Zhou Pingjian and his colleagues along with other Chinese residents in Nigeria have been staying put, in Nigeria, in the tradition of all-weather friends that share weal and woe together until now that he has completed his tour of duty and most answer to the next call of duty by his government and people.

Ambassador Zhou Pingjian as an exemplary diplomat, both a diligent servant of his people and engaging friend to his host , gave diplomacy its true meaning of genuine friendship that build bridges between and among peoples and not what the woolly British diplomat, Sir Henry Wotton claimed about five centuries ago, that “an ambassador is an honest gentleman sent to lie abroad for the good of his country.”

Mr. Onunaiju, is director Center for China Studies, Utako, Abuja.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) DAN LARAI HAMISU 2) JUBRIL SANI 3) IDRIS MOHAMMED

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

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THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1) To protect the rights of orphans in the society.

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DAYBREAK GLOBAL IMPACT MINISTRIES 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 THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Uloko Innocent David - PRESIDENT 2. Uloko Lawrence Oche - SECRETARY 3. Okoye Nnamdi Ifeanyi 4. Nick Okpanachi Joel 5. Amali Veronica Ochanya AIMS AND OBJECTIVES A Mission Focused Ministry with a mandate to Plant, Mobilize and and empower churches for Global Impact in Disciple making And preaching the Full Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with Power.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

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THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IBRAHIM DAHIRU CHAIRMAN 2. OKEDU MICHAEL REGINALD IKEMEFULA SECRETARY 3. IDRIS MOHAMMED, ESQ 4. MUHAMMAD HAMISU 5. ENGR. AMINU AJOGE YUSUF 6. JIMOH MOMOH SANI 7. USMAN ALFA 8. OLUWASEGUN OPEYEMI MATHE 9. MAMUDA USMAN 10. MUHAMMED ABU KASSIM 11. MUSA MALLAM JIBRIN THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : TO PROMOTE PEACE AND UNITY TO THE COMMUNITY 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

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OHII CITIZENS IN DIASPORA FORUM THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) OHALEM SABINUS CHIMUANYA - PRESIDENT/CHAIRMAN (2) AMADI NATHANIEL NDUBUISI - SECRETARY. (3) OPURUM ATHENETHUS CHINEDU - MEMBER (4) ULU EMMANUEL MMADUABUCHI - MEMBER. (5) ANURUE MICHAEL JOSEPH - MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : (1) To bring unity among ohii citizens in diaspora and at home.

(2) To be our brothers keepers.

(3) To bring investment and development in ohii community.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. PRESENTER - BARR. AKOR DOMINIC FRIDAY. 08068399996

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THE OLD NAME IS NUPE OKADA RIDER'S ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA THE NEW NAME IS NASARA OKADA RIDER'S ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED ThAT THE ABOVE named has applied to the coperate affairs commision for CHANGE OF ITS TRUSTEES AND CHANGE OF NAME under part c of the company and allied matters ACT 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ABDULLAHI YUSUF DANJUMA- RETAINED 2. DANJUMON MOHAMMED IDRIS -RETAINED 3. SULEIMAN ALHASSAN -RETAINED 4. KOLO ZACCHEAUS- RETAINED 5. MOHAMMED NDA HAJJI- RETAINED 6. SHABBA ALHAJI- RETAINED 7. ABDULLAHI SULEMAN- RETAINED 8. MUHAMMED USMAN K- RETAINED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME Any objection to this APPLICATION should be forwaded to the registra genetral coperate affairs commision plot 420 tigris crescent maitama abuja withing 28 days of this publication.

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FOLPE FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Oyediji Oluremi Richard (Chairman) 2. Abiri Segun Daniel (Secretary) 3. Oyediji Aduragbemi Paul 4. Olubode Olawale Oludare 5. Oyediji Folake Bimpe 6. Oyediji Gabriel Olumide THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. Provide food, education, skill acquisition, and capacity development programs for marginalized groups including women, children, less privileged and needy persons.

2. Promote the well-being of prison inmates through education, social, legal and health support programs.

3.

Provide homes, community reintegration, and rehabilitation services for ex-convicts stigmatized by family and loved ones..

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

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) DR. IHEANYICHUKWU ISIKAKU. (2) DR. ONOKAH OKEY. (3) HON. SIMEON ONYEJE. (4) MR. CHUKWUMA SAMUEL (5) HON KELECHI ODOEMENAM. (6) MR OGWO ODOEMENAM. (7) MR KEN ANYANWU. interest

of

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 : PLACID EZEIGBO 08037867560.

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Ibrahim Alhassan.

2. Adamu Ibrahim Bomboy THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 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. SIGNED : Secretary

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

tuesday, july 14, 2020

Minister lauds Buhari for creating youth opportunities

THIS IS TO INFORMFOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) MUHAMMAD DAHIRU DODO (2) MAIMUNA LADI IBRAHIM. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : (1) To provide a platform to create awareness and sensitize the general public as to the causes, means of protection, remedies and effects of blood cancer.

(2) To carry out research on the cure for blood cancer using alternative medicine.

(3) To provide affordable and effective treatment for those in need.

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 : AYUBA ABDUL, ESQ SOLICITOR 08036373769.

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the

29

AISHA ABBA ABDULLAHI MEMORIAL

Adedoyin Adefuye Foundation

promote

Sports

Page

Public Notice

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED ThAT THE ABOVE named has applied to the coperate affairs commision for CHANGE OF ITS TRUSTEES and addition of aims and objectives under part c of the company and allied matters ACT 1990 Removed trustees 1. Deji Afolayan; 2. Mrs Yinka Sowemimo-Coker Retained trustees 1. Ms Bunmi Aina-Craig; 2. Mr Bolaji Orekoya Added aims and obhectives are 1 to provide care and support for ophans cherryfields and childreen homes vulnerable childreen motherless babes abandoned and negleted childreen in adedoyin adefuye foundation 2 to engage in advocacy programes aimed at discouraging child abuse in our society 3 to establish homes and rehabilitation cebtres whivh will offer total care and support through effective means of distributing nutritional food supplement to malnourished childreen Any objection to this APPLICATION should be forwaded to the registra genetral coperate affairs commision plot 420 tigris crescent maitama abuja withing 28 days of this publication Signed. Secretary

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : (1) To protect and entrepreneurs..

The young ones foundation

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1 DR HENRY NZEKWU 2 MUHAMMED TASIU'S 3MRS EBELE EMEKA 4 MR EMMANUEL CHENYE 5 NAGIMAH O SADIQ 6 DR MARIANE J NGOULLA 7 MR EDWARD NNADI 8 ALHAJI IBRAHIM GONI 9 MRS AKPABIO 10 PROF COMELIUS AFEBUA OMONOKHUA 11 SENATOR GBENGA ALUKO 12 DR BETTY NNADI THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : TO PROMOTE PROTECT AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREEN 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. SIGNED : SECRETARY

PEOPLES DAILY

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HABITATION OF HOPE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the Amendment of it's Constitution under part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

The trustees unanimously agreed that an object should be added to the Constitution and read as follows: Provision of primary health care and diagnostic services.

All other Objectives and Articles remain the same in view of the addition Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed Secretary

loss of document

This is to inform General public of loss of ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY ( R of O) in respect of Plot No. 53 with file No.BO.10622 at WUYE DISTRICT CADASTRAL ZONE B03. Bearing MUSTAPHA MOHAMME. All efforts made to trace the missing Document prove abortive. If found please return it to the nearest police station or AGIS. Abubakar I, Formerly known as Abubakar Abdullahi now wish to be known and addressed as Abubakar Abdullahi sadiq. My Date of birth is 31/12/1998. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

By Albert Akota

T

he Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for renewing his commitment to providing opportunities for the Nigerian Youth.

He described the President’s call for investment in projects that will directly benefit young people as visionary and timely.

The Minister made this known on Sunday July 12th, in his remarks at the event to handover the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, to the Central Bank Nigerian (CBN) and the Bankers Committee for its redevelopment into the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre.

“Today’s event is another giant step towards strengthening President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to create opportunities for our teeming Youth. For me, this project fits perfectly into his challenge to me to seek out and collaborate with willing partners to keep the Nigerian Youth busy.

The potentials of this four component

New National Theatre is massive in job creation for our Youth, talent discovery and development, revenue generation and as an innovation and technology hub.

“With the pandemic still biting hard at our nation and the world at large, this project is a much needed shot in the arm to vaccinate our Youth against the multi-headed challenges of unemployment, criminality and the negative impressions forced on them by the very few unscrupulous individuals, who have chosen a life of crime on the international scale.”

The event was attended by the Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; and the Chairman of the Bankers Committee, Mr. Herbert Wigwe.

Mr. Dare thanked the Bankers Committee for their will to invest in the Youth, saying it was worth the risk.

He added that the creative industry in Nigeria which is fueled by the energy and imagination of the Youth, is a lucrative

venture.

“It is now commonplace to hear music produced by our Youth in shopping malls of Dubai, New York, London, and Moscow amongst other great cities of the world,” he said. “In terms of downloads, Nigerian artistes like WizKid and Davido are punching at a global level.

From the Royal Albert Hall to 02 Centre in London, to virtually all African capitals, sold out audiences in some cases exceeding 35,000 people have paid premium prices to see these amazing home-grown Nigerian products perform.

The value chain they lubricate - from legal specialists, logistics, video/graphic artists, fashion, broadcast engineering and much more - are extensive.”

The National Theatre property and the entire land was officially handed over by Alhaji Lai Mohammed since the establishment is under his ministry, which is in a partnership with the Lagos State Government, the Bankers’ Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on the project.

The project, which is to be completed in 18 - 22 months, would convert the

National Theatre to a creative village, with four other pillars, including a pillar for the film industry; one for the music industry, one for fashion and another one for Information Technology.

“One strand that binds the millennial generation is their love for the creative arts and entertainment.

These are the lifeblood of the new millennial economy,” Mr. Dare said.

“Despite the crowded global market, Nigerian Youth have excelled with their music permeating every corner of the globe.

They are etching the Nigerian brand in the consciousness of their generational peers, as a country that can produce the very best. For each of the examples given, there are millions amongst our Youth with talents, innovative ideas and skills, who are unable to access much needed technology and credit. They all need their country’s support.

“The Nigerian Youth represents a critical component in propelling the world towards attaining the sustainable development goals.”

Chelsea striker suffers racist abuse again

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

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Austrian Open: Warren holds nerve to win first title in six years Marc Warren started the weekend as a 150/1 outsider

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Buhari salutes Kamaru Usman for retaining UFC title

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, july 14, 2020

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Rivers United to appeal FIFA transfer ban

Nigerian Nightmare Kamaru Usman wins again

P Iheanacho celebrates after scoring for Leicester City

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cotland’s Marc Warren clinched his first European Tour title in six years by winning the Austrian Open by a single shot.

The 39-year-old overnight leader was a shot clear going into the final hole at the Diamond Country Club and held his nerve to edge out Germany’s Marcel Schneider with a score of 13 under.

Scotland’s Craig Howie and Connor Syme finished three behind and tied fourth.

Warren’s victory is his fourth on the European Tour.

“It’s massive,” Warren, who

was carrying his own bag, told the European Tour. “Going from a few hours ago I didn’t have full status, now to be in a winner’s category and plan the year a little bit is good.

I just need to keep doing what I’m doing, trying to hit one shape all the time and when I do play try and do that and try not to mess about too much.”

The win now opens up access to the Rolex Series for the remainder of the year as well as other events for the Scot who was a 150/1 outsider going into this weekend’s action just outside Vienna.

resident Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Kamarudeen Usman on the successful defence of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight title with an emphatic win over Jorge Masvidal.

This was conveyed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja yesterday.

Buhari commended the fighter for finishing strong inside the octagon, proudly flying the green and white colours in distant lands.

According to the president, as the first African-born and Nigerian UFC Champion, Usman has reminded the world that good things and great people still come out of Nigeria.

While the global COVID-19 pandemic may have brought gloom to many families and nations, the President expressed delight and appreciation that Usman has lifted the nation

Mourinho continues dominance over Arsenal in Spurs

Chelsea striker suffers J racist abuse again

C

helsea striker Tammy Abraham has again been subjected to racist abuse from some of the London club’s fans.

Abraham was on the end of vile attacks earlier this season following a penalty miss in Chelsea’s UEFA Super Cup defeat to Liverpool.

The lanky forward revealed that the abuse left his mum in tears after fans attacked him for missing a crucial penalty in the shootout.

Following a shock 3-0 defeat by Chelsea at Sheffield United, Abraham has received yet more horrible abuse.

A number of fans – many with Chelsea-related avatars and usernames – branded the England striker ‘Apebraham’ on social media.

Thankfully, it appears Twitter took swift action with many of the accounts, deleting the tweets and banning the accounts by the time this article was published.

However, a search of the term shows

that some references to the word remain on the site.

Speaking back in September, Abraham said: “I remember speaking to my mum, she was emotional, she was in tears.

“It’s obviously not nice, seeing your son getting abused. My mum was just thinking, ‘Why him?’

“For me, I am a strong character, it doesn’t affect me as much, but it could affect people who don’t have my personality.

“I was sat in the changing room straight after the game and went on my phone. I wasn’t going to shy away from the situation, although I did have some supportive messages. The other side is not nice to hear.

“I went through a lot of emotion after the penalty miss. I had experience of taking penalties last season, big ones as well. Everyone misses penalties. To miss the penalty I was devastated and I had a lot of abuse after.”

spirits with another professional performance.

He said this had also proven that things would surely get better at the fullness of time “when we remain committed to our vision’’.

The president wished Usman the very best and more victories in his career and prayed that like fine wine, he improves with age.

However, it was all too much for him as Usman proved a hard nut to crack and he got the job done to retain his belt.

The victory for the champion leaves him with a professional record of 17 wins and just the one defeat, whilst Masvidal now has a record of 35 wins and 14 defeats.

The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ as Usman is fondly called was oozing with so much confidence as he sang and danced his way to the Octagon and inside the cage as well. Usman was just unstoppable.

ose Mourinho continued his dominance over Arsenal following Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 comeback home win in yesterday’s North London derby.

The win means Mourinho has not lost to Arsenal in 10 Premier League home games, recording six wins and four draws.

Alexander Lacazette opened scoring for Arsenal before goals from Heung-Min Son and Toby Alderweireld late in the game, sealed the win for Spurs.

Spurs are now unbeaten in their last six home league games against Arsenal (four wins, two draws).

Also, Arsenal have not won any of their

last 27 league away games against ‘big six’ sides, with their last victory coming against Manchester City in 2015.

Sunday’s win took Spurs above Arsenal in eight position on 52 points while their city rivals are in ninth spot and have 50 points.

Lacazette opened the scoring on 16 minutes from the edge of the area with a superb strike that found the top corner.

But three minutes after Arsenal’s goal Spurs equalised as Son pounced on a mix-up in the Arsenal defence to level immediately.

And in the 81st minute Alderweireld then rose highest to head Son’s corner beyond Emiliano Martinez in goal for Arsenal.

Public Notice

COOPLAG GARDENS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘‘C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

NKECHINYERE BARBARA ADEGBOYEGA; 2.

ADEYEMI RICHARD ADEDIRAN; 3.

SEHINDE BRIGHT DAIRO; 4.

CHUKWUDUM CHRISTOPHER CHUKWUEDO; 5.

FELIX AKOH; 6.

IKENNA EZEOKAFOR; 7.

OKURERIE AJIROGHENE OGEDEGBE; 8.

EZEKIEL KEHINDE OLOWOFELA; 9.

THOMAS UDUIGWOMEN AKHIDIME; 10.

OLUTOBA ISIAKA FADAHUNSI; 11.

PETER ELUEMUNOH NWAJEI. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROMOTE A SECURE, DECENT, PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS OF COOPLAG GARDENS; 2. TO MAKE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN THE INTEREST OF THE ASSOCIATION; 3. TO PROVIDE FOR THE HOLDING OF SPORTING EVENTS, LECTURES, EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLASSES AND CONFERENCES CALCULATED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF THE ASSOCIATION; 4. TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ESTATE PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF RECREATION, SAFETY AND SECURITY; 5. TO CARRY OUT INVESTIGATIONS OR SURVEYS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OR REHABILITATION OF THE ESTATE; 6. TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES FOR ORGANIZING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR THE ESTATE 7. TO EMPLOY ALL SUCH OFFICERS AND SERVANTS AS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION; 8. TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF COOPLAG GARDENS; 9. TO UPHOLD AND ENSURE THAT THE MASTER PLAN OF COOPLAG GARDENS IS NOT DISTORTED; AND 10. TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION AND NEIGHBORLINESS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, PMB, 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

Public Notice

GOD’S GLORIOUS CHILDREN ASSEMBLY INT’L

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UKE FRIDAY – 2. UKE STELLA - 3. UKE ANGELA AGBONS

GENERAL OVERSEER EVANGELIST - SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To preach and propagate the Glorious and the everlasting 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, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TOBE LORDLY ESQ

Public Notice

Association of rice women farmers of Nigeria

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1)Safiya Zailani Shehu...... President 2) Sanusi Sambo..... Secretary 3)Ashafa Zailani..... Board member 4)Siddiqa Jibril Yakubun-hauwa THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : a)To provide means of unity, peace, development and encouragement among rice women farmers in Nigeria. b)To encourage the participation of women in Nigeria,in Rice farming. c) Encourage the participation of women and men in various enterprenuership development programs through petty trading that will leads to peace and development in Nigeria. d)To aids youths through enlightening, sensitization, publicity and education for peace/development in Nigeria..

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : Secretary

Public Notice

OLOLADE I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS OLOLADE FEHINTOLUWA AJILORE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS OLOLADE FEHINTOLUWA OMOWAYE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OGENE FOOTBALL CLUB 1. Ejiofor Ikeobi Christopher 2. Ejiofor Emeka Johnpaul 3. Ejiofor Emmanuel Echezona 4. Ejiofor Ejike Chidiogo.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

Jose Mourinho

TO SUPPORT AND TAKE THE YOUTH OFF THE STREET THROUGH FOOTBALL, SPORTING

. . . putting the people first

TuesDAY, july 14, 2020

THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

From test tube babies to Police arrest virtual human beings SPORTS latest

boy, 12, over racist messages send to Zaha

A

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12-year-old boy has been arrested by police investigating racist messages sent to Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha on social media.

Zaha revealed he had received several abusive messages on social media before Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa, a game they lost 2-0.

His manager Roy Hodgson called the abuse “cowardly and despicable”.

The Premier League called the abuse of the 27-yearold Ivory Coast winger “completely unacceptable”.

West Midlands Police tweeted Zaha to say they would look into the abuse and hours later confirmed an arrest.

“We were alerted to a series of racist messages sent to a footballer today and after looking into them and conducting checks, we have arrested a boy,” read a WM Police tweet.

“The 12-year-old from Solihull has been taken to custody. Thanks to everyone who raised it. Racism won’t be tolerated.”

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cientists and our world will soon in this month of July, 2020, be celebrating the 42nd anniversary of birth of the first test tube baby – Louise Brown – who was conceived in a laboratory bottle (test tube) via invitro fertilization (IVF). At the time this feat was dubbed a miracle and it is estimated that there are now three million persons born via this method a.k.a. test tube babies. Spurred by this our scientists are going several notches further as they are now contemplating formulating a mechanism by which we human beings could live forever here in our planet.

It started with their toying with the idea like some kind of wishful thinking to they now really believing it is a possibility, thanks to advances in science and technology. So much so that a branch of study known as futurology has emerged and a prominent member of this elite class, Dr. Ian Pearson predicts that the mechanism for immortality would be within reach of the rich in our society by 2050, accessible to middle- class income earners by the 2060s and to the others in later years, that is, future generations.

According to UK newspaper MailOnline, Dr. Pearson predicts that by year 2050 humans could outlive the constraints of the physical body. He claims the following: “People born after 1970 should be able to live forever. Genetic engineering could be used to reduce or reverse the ageing of cells. Advances in Artificial Intelligence could lead to android bodies for humans to live in after their own flesh and blood frames have ceased to function. Virtual reality worlds could be created for people to upload their consciousness into once their bodies have failed”.

And scientists are corroborating aforementioned possibilities.

One must commend our scientists for the discoveries they have made over the years that have helped human beings to overcome diverse ailments and impediments. In all of these however, we should note that our scientists and others in similar fields are dealing with the physical body only. The physical

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By VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO vikeano@yahoo.co.uk 08033077519 body is not the human being per se. That which animates the physical body is the human spirit embedded in the body, it is of a finer consistency, let us say ethereal. Now when we dream while asleep, our physical eyes are closed and all the things we see during our dream are with our ethereal eye, the eye of the spirit.

When conception takes place, a little body begins to develop in the womb. At a certain time in the middle of pregnancy the mother feels the first movements of the baby.

That is when the spirit enters the body, to animate it, causing the blood to now begin to circulate, giving ‘life’ to the little body growing in the womb. At death too, the departure of the spirit from the body simultaneously brings about the coldness of the physical body and the stoppage of blood circulation – that which animated it has left it.

Now our scientists boast of being able to “create test tube babies”. This is a misnomer.

No scientist no matter how accomplished can create a human being. What the scientists are creating are lifeless (physical) bodies in a test tube. And in this they acknowledge their limitations for they have first to take semen from a man, an egg

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from a woman and fertilise them and endeavour to replicate in a test tube as far as they possibly can, conditions obtainable in a womb for the foetus in the bottle to continue to grow. More importantly, no matter how far developed the ‘baby’ in a test tube or laboratory tube is, it cannot attract a human spirit that can then animate it and give it life – it remains utterly lifeless and useless. And our scientists knowingly or unknowingly acknowledge this by inserting back into a woman’s womb, the little body (foetus) they produced in their labs for it to continue its normal development. In all the diverse forms of artificial conception (for couples who cannot conceive naturally for one reason or other) the body produced therefrom has to be put back into the womb of a full blooded woman.

Why? Because only in a woman’s womb with the radiations emanating from her can a ‘bridge’ be formed to enable a human spirit enter the little developing body within her at the appropriate time for its animation and ‘life’. Whereas the origin of our physical body is here on earth, the human spirit, the core of the physical body that walks about in flesh and blood, originates from the Kingdom

What the most advanced human being, most advanced scientists with their most advanced intellect and artificial intelligence can create is a human-like body that has no mind of its own, radiates nothing and has neither warmth nor life, thus lifeless

of the Almighty Creator, GOD Whose Inconceivable Wisdom rules the Worlds. Thus it is that when the physical body is buried at death when the spirit within it departs, after a few weeks it turns into skeleton and bones and much, much later ashes.

Therewith, it is gargantuan presumption for advanced scientists, technologists, futurologists and their likes to say that the time is coming when “artificial Intelligence could lead to android bodies for humans to live in after their own flesh and blood frames have ceased to function” and that “virtual reality worlds could be created for people to upload their consciousness into once their bodies have failed”. What the most advanced human being, most advanced scientists with their most advanced intellect and artificial intelligence can create is a human-like body that has no mind of its own, radiates nothing and has neither warmth nor life, thus lifeless.

They cannot create the least of a living thing, an ant for example, how much more a human being as they are now arrogantly arrogating to themselves. All of us, including our most esteemed scientists should acknowledge that we are “creatures, not the Creator”.

NB: This article was first published in July, 2018.

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