Peoples Daily, Wednesday, September 14, 2016. Edition.

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Wednesday, September 14, 2016/Zul-Hajji 11, 1437 AH

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884 Days after Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

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Vol. 23 No. 98 N150

Saraki to APC: No excuse on ailing economy

page 5

Jonathan, IBB, Abdulsalami in closed-door meeting page 5

l Sources cite PDP crisis, Avengers

L-R: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad at Sokoto central eid Ground after the eid prayers. on Monday in Sokoto.

Photo: Sokoto Govt House

CAN commends Sultan for peace efforts Buhari urges South-East to drop Biafra agitation pAGE 5

ASUU raps FG for scrapping varsity primary schools pAGE 2

<< pAGE 6>>

Christmas day ‘bomber’ Kabiru Sokoto still in our custody - Prisons >> pg 3

pAGE 7

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

News

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

19-22 23

S/Report 24-25 Feature 26 Defence 27 Agric 29

ASUU raps FG for scrapping varsities primary schools From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi state chapter has condemned the decision of the Federal Government to unilaterally abrogate the provision of free education to children of staff University Primary schools, just as they lamented removal and appointment of VCs Addressing a press conference in Bauchi yesterday, the ASUU Chairman of ATBU Bauchi, Adamu M Babayo said the abrogation of the University Primary Schools by the Government is in violation of the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU. He said, “the Federal Government decided to close down the University Primary Schools in the fear that there

are no money to fund the school.

The government instructed the University administration not to include the staff primary school in 2016 budget which means Government is not honoring our agreement which we started since 1992 “Since 1992 ASUU had agreement with the Federal Government that they will fund completely the staff primary school while the agreement on the University secondary school is that parents will be responsible for the current expenditure while Government will be responsible for capital expenditure but on the primary school it was agreed that they will fund it 100 percent but unfortunately, the Government asked all university to remove the funding if the primary school from 2016 budget without sitting with the management to look at the agreement”, he added.

The Union also lamented the sack of 13 university Vice Chancellors by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu which they described as a violation of MOU signed by FGN/ ASUU in 2013.

Babayo said, “ Federal Government refused to abide with the 2013 MOU where it was decided that there will be University autonomy, but recently the Minister of Education decided to sack 13 Vice Chancellors which is a violation to our agreement.

“We wondered if the Minister knows want he is doing over the decision to sack and appoint 13 Vice Chancellor without meeting with university governing council because it is the mandate of the university council to remove and appoint vice chancellor and not the the Minister,” he said.

The ASUU Chairman also faulted

Kaduna pilgrims to enjoy telecom services 3

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

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Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno (L), welcoming the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai, during the Shehu’s Sallah homage to the Government House, yesterday in Maiduguri. Photo: Borno Govt House

the Federal Government for its failure to implement some other agreement reached since 2009 which among them are funding of Universities, pension reform act, earned academic allowances among others.

“As if the refusal to fully implement the agreement is not enough insult to the union, the Federal Government has taken steps that are strangulating the Universities and making no sense of the agreement.

Some of the government policies and actions include, the single treasury account which is almost getting the Universities to their kneels.

“Others include shortfall in salaries which has been on since December 2015 with the result that some Universities pay fractions salaries and budgetary allocation to education which is at an all time low of 8percent in 2016 against the UNESCORTED benchmark of minimum of 26%.

According to Babayo, the union has made several efforts including writing letters as well as meeting with government officials but no sign by government to remedy the situation.

“Some of us may be tempted to say that this is a new government but can this government still be new even after almost one and half years in office? Can it be new to the extent that it can violate the agreements and Nigerian laws? Can it be new if it has resources to bail out states to settle their staff enrolments and not settle those of its own staff. Government is a continuum and most respect all agreements.

“We cannot afford the luxury of allowing them to toy with the destiny of our country by killing the public Universities so that they can profitably run their private ones which only their children can attend.

“The union is calling on all of us to prepare to wage war against the slave maters and preserve our public universities. The union issues this call to prepare for yet another struggle for the liberation of our universities.

If the government continues to be adamant, we will take a drastic action,” he said

Over-dependence on oil responsible for economic recession – Lai Mohammed

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inister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Tuesday said Nigeria’s overdependence on oil is to blame for the recession the nation’s economy is passing through.

Mr. Mohammed made the assertion at a news briefing at his residence in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area in Kwara State.

He said the prevailing economic situation was not about trading blames,as “those who understand knew that this recession was bound to happen in such circumstance”.

He said the crash in global price of oil exposed the country’s defective economic policy, with oil accounting for over 60 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The minister said the situation was further compounded by inadequate reserve to cushion the effect of oil “misfortunes’’ on the country.

“We have a very defective economic structure, which depended largely on a single platform of crude and fuel.

“Crude oil accounts for between eight and 12 per cent of our GDP and

another 53 per cent of the GDP which we call non-oil, unfortunately also depend on the same oil.

“When the price of oil now crashes in the international market, definitely you are bound to have this kind of shock in the economy,” he said.

He decried the citizens’ preference for imported goods to local products, saying that substantial amount of the country’s foreign exchange earnings was being expended on importation of goods and services.

Mr. Mohammed also blamed past administrations’ inability to achieve massive investment on infrastructure to assist manufacturing industries and boost agriculture production for part of current problem.

According to him, such inadequacies are responsible for the socio-economic imbalance being experienced in the country today.

The minister, who acknowledged that there was growth in the nation’s economy between 2010 and 2014, however, said the growth was only fueled by consumption.

“The growth was not fueled by

production or fueled by investment, and that explains why it was shortlived,” he said.

He said the present administration’s efforts to correct past anomalies could not be felt immediately because the rots in the system were too enormous for short term remedies.

Mr. Mohammed said the administration inherited a debt of N65 billion on fertilizer procurement alone.

He listed part of the administration’s reforms to include investment in infrastructure and agriculture production.

“People say we should not talk about what happened yesterday but it is pertinent to learn, understand and move away from past mistakes.

“In the whole of 2014 the government then, expended about N18 billion on roads, but spent N35 billion on travels.

“This year alone, we have spent N70 billion on roads.

“People say why are these steps not being felt immediately? It is because the last government refused to pay

contractors between 2012 and 2015 even when crude was selling at 100 dollars per barrel.

“Out of the N70 billion being owed Julius Berger, we have paid N14 billion.

“If government was not owing Julius Berger in the past — and we paid N14 billion to them — you would have seen them busy on the roads,” he said.

He said “Change Starts with Me” initiative launched by the Federal Government on Tuesday was to instill discipline and the needed change of attitude in both the leaders and the people.

According to the minister, such remained the basic foundation and the driving force for actualising socioeconomic transformation for the country.

“Nigerians have to change their attitude from the past; it is not only about the leaders but also the followers.

“This is the only way we can achieve our desired progress, growth and development,” he said.(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

News

Ag News Editor Ese Awhotu

Stop giving bailout funds to states, ex minister urges Buhari From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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x Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to use the bailout funds in executing some projects in the states rather than giving it to state governments.

Dr Lame in an interview with journalists in his Bauchi residence lamented that instead of using the bailout funds to settle outstanding salaries, the governors allegedly ‘divert the money for other purposes thereby inflicting hardship on civil servants as a result of irregular payment of their wages.

According to him, the federal government should establish liaison offices in all the states of the federation so that it could directly carry out projects that would impact positively on the citizens rather than doling out such huge money to the governors whom he alleged pump half of it in their ‘security votes’.

“As a President you are not supposed to give bailout funds to states, you are supposed to bail out the economy. Let the governors go and meet their campaign promises.

They should look in ward and look for money. Because there was problem in the economy when he came in. So, what the president

should have done was to look at which aspect of the economy he should revive,’’ he suggested.

The ex- minister, however, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Buhari administration within the last one year particularly in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency and

corruption, urged the citizens to give the government the needed support to be able to bring the change it promised.

Yakubu Lame, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress [APC] in Bauchi state in 2015 also blamed the structure of APC in the states and national for

going alone with the people, “the real mandate of merger was not observed, a lot of things are going wrong in both state and national things has go straight to enable objectives of the merger and party is observed ‘ He also used the forum to debunk the insinuation that there

is quarrel between the stakeholders with the incumbent Governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar, added that, “ there is nothing as such, all I know the state party structure is not right we have problem with the party leadership which does not listen to stakeholders advice and plight, things would not work well”

• Wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari (3rd R) with other Muslims faithful performing Eid-elkabir prayer at the Ansarudden Eid Ground in Maitama, on Monday in Abuja. . Photo: State House

Kaduna pilgrims to enjoy telecom services From Mohammad Kaduna

T

Ibrahim,

he Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Alhaji Lawal Balarabe Abbas has directed the Overseer of the Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Imam Hussain Tsoho, to liaise with the landlords of all the Houses where their pilgrims are lodged in Makka , so as to provide boosters that will enhance telecommunication services for their accommodation .

Alhaji Lawal Balarabe who gave this directive yesterday, said that it is necessary for pilgrims to communicate with their families at home. He emphasised that government is committed to pilgrims’ Welfare.

It will be recalled that some Kaduna State pilgrims had protested against the limited telecommunication services at their accommodation, an issue that elicited diverse comments on pilgrims social platform groups.

Speaking when he met with officials of the pilgrims board, the SSG said that Governor Nasir El-rufai has been following the airlift of pilgrims from Nigeria to the Holy Land, adding that he has expressed satisfaction on the exercise so far.

The SSG further said that he has also monitored the Hajj exercise

on both mainstream media and Hajj close groups platforms. He added that he did not only inspect the Mando Hajj camp in Kaduna, but he also inspected the pilgrims’ accommodation in Makka.

According to him, the activities of Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board is one of the best in the country, adding that it returned only 60 seats

out of the slots allocated to it by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), which represents the the lowest in the country.

Speaking during the meeting, the Overseer advised officials not to rest on their oars, having been up and doing in previous operations. He said that the SSG’s commendation should act as a

catalyst for them to serve the pilgrims better .

This was contained in a statement issued by Kaduna State Pilgrims welfare board Public Relation officer, Yunusa Abdullahi.

Imam Tsoho emphasised that the task ahead is a daunting one, ranging from going to Muna, to Arafat, Muzdalifa and back to

Muna before going to Jamarat.

In his own contribution, the Director of Operations, Alhaji Lawal Yakubu Ikara advised officials to ensure that pilgrims adhere to the new guidelines of stoning the devil ritual. He warned that Saudi authorities are very serious about enforcing the guidelines and defaulters will be summarily deported.

Man, 45, arrested with drugs worth N31m at Lagos airport

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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Nigerian living in Pretoria, South Africa Abiodun Israel Banjo, 45, has been arrested with parcels of methamphetamine at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.

Officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) claimed the arrest took place during the outward screening of passengers on a South African Airline flight to South Africa.

The parcels of drug tested positive for methamphetamine

and weighed 3.435kgs with a street value of thirty-one (31) million naira in Nigeria.

NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Ahmadu Garba said “The drug was detected during routine check on passengers on South Africa Airline flight to South Africa.

Two bags belonging to one Abiodun Israel Banjo, 45 year old were found to contain parcels of methamphetamine.

Inside the bags were food ingredients and clothes but underneath were a thin parcel of narcotics carefully concealed.

He was immediately arrested and investigation is on-going”

The suspect who works in South Africa said that the bags were given to him by a friend in South Africa.

“I work in Pretoria. My friend in South Africa called me that his brother will give me two bags containing foodstuff to take to him. He also promised to give me two thousand dollars.

I opened the bags and check thoroughly but could not find anything criminal that was how I accepted to take the bags but I was surprised when the drug was detected under the bags. I feel very sad that my friend has implicated me”.

The suspect, a graduate of

Technical College Ijebu-Ode has been living in South Africa since 2012. He hails from Osun State.

NDLEA Chairman, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah advice the public to be wary of tricks employed by drug trafficking cartels.

He said “Drug traffickers recruit mules by enticing them with money. They are very clever in concealing drugs as drugs have been detected in bags, electronics, foodstuff and clothes among others.

We strongly advise that all passengers should endeavour to pack their bags themselves and avoid taking bags for others”

PAGE 4

News

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Anambra: Police arrest 14 MASSOB members during procession T

he police command in Anambra said 14 suspected members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were arrested in Onitsha for alleged illegal procession.

Nkeiruka Nwode, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, made the disclosure in an interview with journalists in Onitsha on Tuesday.

Ms. Nwode, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the arrests were carried out in different parts of the town during a procession by the group to mark 17 years of its existence.

She said the persons were arrested for illegal procession, adding that no life was lost in the confusion that followed the arrest of the members.

However, the Religious Administrator of MASSOB, Apostle Ezichukwu, said more than 50 members of the group were arrested, with 20 missing and one person allegedly shot by the police.

Mr. Ezichukwu, a reverend pastor, who said the procession was peaceful, wondered why the police arrested members of the group.

He said security personnel from the Army, Police, Navy and NSCDC were detaining MASSOB members at the Army Barracks, Onitsha, police headquarters, Awka and other police stations.

Ahead of the protest, Mr. Eziukwu had assured that there would no violence as MASSOB members will conduct themselves peacefully.

Also speaking, the Anambra

North Zonal Leader of MASSOB, Benjamin Omenka, appealed for the release of those arrested and urged members of the group to be patient.

According to him, the present call for restructuring by some segments

of the country came as a result of the fear for Biafra independence by those who have tied the country down.

“Let the whole world know that we are resolute in our stand for a Biafra Republic.

“It is not compulsory that we shall remain one indivisible nation, so they should allow us to go to our Promised Land,” he said, adding that the agitation would remain a peaceful one. (NAN)

R-L Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alh Sa’idu Namaska , Governor of Niger state, Alh Abubakar Sani Bello ,Chairman Kontagora Local Government,Alh Ahmed Attahiru, Gen Suleiman Sa’id (Rtd) and other worshipers during the 2 Raka’at prayer, on Monday at the kontagora eid praying ground.

Photo: Govt House Minna

…As Etsu-Nupe Warri urges Boko Haram , avengers to embrace peace From Mathew Omionigho

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he Etsu-Nupe of Warri &Environs, Alhaji Zuberu Mohammed Tajudeen has appealed to the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram and members of the Niger Delta Avengers to pardon Nigeria of all grievances committed and embrace the path of peace.

The Warri Monarch of the Nupe Community made the appeal during the Eideul-Adha celebration in Warri, Delta State..

While nopting members of the Niger Delta Avengers are fighting for a just cause, Alhaji Zuberu unlike their counterparts who prohibits western education in their domain, Alhaji Zuneru cautioned that, “they should keep calm and leave judgement to God.” Alhaji Zuberu stated that the Boko Haram sect to acknowledge

that everybody cannot be Muslims in Nigeria because they have Nigerians have a right to choice of religion and worship and recognize God as One everywhere.

Alhaji Zuberu strongly appealed to the members of the Boko Haram to help the country by sheathing its sword and put an end to all the wanton killings in North East Nigeria.

According to Alhaji Zuberu, “Our brothers the Avengers, we are not saying what they are doing is not good but all the same, they don’t have to take judgement in their hand but to leave the judgement for God because God is going to judge everybody. I still want to appeal to them to calm down.”

“Boko Haram say Education is prohibited. if Education is prohibited, How do they operate their phones? They should see to the

situation of this country . Everybody cannot be a Muslim . This country has been there as a Muslim/ Christian country . All of us are the same because if you open to bible, God Almight is saying in Exodus 20

vs 2 , I am the Lord your God that I am One. In the Q’uran, the same thing.

Insural’tulahad, I am the Lord your God, I am One. So, if God is one, why would all of us won’t be

one in this country.? “ Alhaji Zuberu also prayed that God should use President Muhammadu Buhari to save Nigerians from its many challenges including the present economic recession.

Sokoto: Mother, 2 sons die in inferno

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42-year-old mother, Blessing Arigi-Osakwe, lost her life on Sunday to injuries sustained while attempting to save her two children from an inferno in Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the two children also lost their lives after the bid to save them by their courageous mother failed.

While the two children were recovered dead from the incident which happened at the early hours of Saturday at their house along Trade Fair, Old Airport area of Sokoto, their mother later died on Sunday.

The fire was said to have been caused by an electrical fault that emanated within the apartment while powering their generator.

According to an anonymous source, the deceased mother, alongside her husband and two older children, had initially escaped from the fire unhurt.

She was, however, said to have later made a brave and desperate attempt to save the younger children who were still trapped inside the burning house.

The two children were identified as her nine years old son and nephew.

According to witnesses, the burning roof suddenly collapsed on the deceased woman as she attempted taking the The remains of the three deceased persons have since been deposited at the morgue of the Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, while the two other children were receiving treatment When contacted, the DirectorGeneral of the State Fire Service, Ibrahim Dingyadi, said that the incident was not reported to the department.

Yobe threatens harsh measures against SURE-P loan defaulters

T

he Yobe State Government has threatened to adopt harsh measures, including legal options, to recover outstanding Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) loans from defaulting beneficiaries.

The Chairman of the loan recovery committee in the state, Ahmed Mustapha, mentioned

the threat in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Damaturu..

He said the committee had met with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ascertain the level of recovery and the unpaid loans by the beneficiaries.

“The committee observed with utter dismay the slow pace

of repayment of the loans by the beneficiaries.

“The committee also had reservations with the manner in which funds recovered by the respective ministries, departments and agencies were handled,” he said.

Mr. Mustapha, who is the Commissioner for Justice in the state, said that a dedicated

account for remittance of all funds recovered by the MDAs had been created under the Ministry of Finance.

“In view of the foregoing, the committee is therefore urging all stakeholders including the loan beneficiaries, MDAs and their guarantors to ensure payment and remittance of the funds into the dedicated account.

“Failure to comply with these directives will leave the committee with no option than to take all necessary measures to recover such loans,” he warned.

The Yobe Government gave out vehicles, tricycles and grinding machines under the SURE-P loan revolving scheme to persons in the 17 local government areas in the state.

PAGE 5

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

News

Jonathan, IBB, Abdulsalami in closed-door meeting

From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna.

T

he Former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday paid a private visit to former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi

•Sources cite PDP crisis, avengers

Babangida and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar at their Hilltop houses in Minna.

Our reporter learnt that the immediate past President arrived first at the house of General IBB about 11am where he spent about

one hour, before he proceeded to the residence of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Consequently, IBB unusually

L-R: Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, Member Habibiyya Mosque Committee, Mohammed Tahir and Branch Imam of Habibiyyah Muslim society, Imam Suleiman Aliyu, during Eid-el-Kabir celebration, on Monday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

received former President Jonathan upstairs at his private living room contrary to usual down stairs where he received visitors.

Jonathan who was accompanied by former Minister of State Finance, Bashar Yuguda from Zamfara state and former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Okhiadome from Edo state.

However, details of their interaction was not made public, but it was gathered that they held a closed door talk for about 40 minutes up stairs as Bashar Yuguda and Mike Okhiadome waited at the down stairs.

According to sources, the discussions may not be unconnected with the postponed Edo governorship election, 2019 election and the present situation in the People Democratic Party (PDP).

It was gathered that the duo of IBB and Abdulsalami in their separate meetings with Jonathan discussed issues concerning the ongoing bombings in Niger Delta area by the Niger Delta Avengers and the need to overcome the situation.

The former president left Minna about 1pm yesterday.

Saraki to APC: No excuse on ailing economy

From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

T

he Senate President,Dr Bukola Saraki has disclosed that the Federal Government led by All Progressive Congress(APC) has six months left to fix the economic recession in the country before election campaign commences in 2017.

Saraki who stated this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin at his residence, said that APC government don’t have any excuse on reposition of the economy for Nigerians that need common food

to survive.

He said, what the government need to do now was to ensure that more money were made available to the people, reduce exchange rate and compel officers on economy team to find solution to the economic recession.

The former governor of Kwara State who disclosed that his investigation among many Nigerians has shown that people are really suffering, stressing that those that were happy, smiling could no longer eat, feed their families and turned once happy

people to sad fellows.

He said, a common bag of rice is now sold at the cost of N25,000 in the market, stressing that Nigerians are not happy with the situation.

Speaking on the likely action the Senate under his leadership would take, Saraki said the economic team and others in charge would be summoned by the senate for questioning, stressing that if necessary steps were not taken before April 2017,politicians would start their election campaign and leave the masses in

Arik Air suspends operations From Suleiman Idris Lagos Less than a fortnight when Nigerian foremost domestic airline Aero Contractors halted its operations, the country’s biggest carrier, Arik Air yesterday disclosed it has followed suit citing challenges in updating its insurance certification as reasons behind it decision.

Arik Air suspension of operations

brings to three the number of airlines that have temporarily closed shop within two weeks after Aero Contractors and FirstNation Airways did same.

Stakeholders expressed concern over the spate of withdrawals of services by airlines, some questions being asked includes ; the capability of the regulatory, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) in carrying out its technical and economic regulatory

functions.

A former Captain with the rested Nigerian Airways lashed out at the inspectors at the agency as he alleged that they have been induced to compromise on the safety of the airlines.

Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest airline alerted its passengers of a temporary disruption to its operations, pending approval

suffering.

Saraki who denied insinuation that TSA might be responsible for the economic recession, said there were many factors that could cause the crisis.

He said that all Nigerians irrespective of their parties, regions should cooperate with government to resolve the problem.

He said that there was urgent need for federal and state governments to reduce cost of government as a measure to reposition the economy and cut down wastages.

On the tremor in Kaduba, the Senate President, said when the upper chamber resumes, NEMA officers would be summoned for questioning on what the agency is doing to curb the disaster and its readiness for such misfortune.

Saraki also said that the Senate would continue to support anticorruption agencies in the country by strengthening its investigation strategies, noted that many cases involving big politicians were thrown out in court due to lack of proper evidence by anti-graft operatives.

of aircraft documentation related to insurance renewal.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig Cars) Part 18.11.2 deals with aviation insurance, it states that no person shall operate any aircraft in public air transport category without adequate and valid insurance cover.

The regulations further read in Part 18.11.2.2. “ Any person having a duty to maintain adequate insurance shall submit to the Authority on quarterly basis, insurance certificates, evidence of paying premium and policy documents.”

The implication is that the airline cannot fly if it does not have insurance for its aircraft as it amount to a gross violation of the regulations and attracts stiff penalties in terms of fines and others.

Arik Air in a statement signed by the management, said it is working around the clock to resolve the necessary documentation, which has been a challenge due to the long weekend holidays due to Ed al Adha.

It said “ At the present time, all flights of the airline have been cancelled for Tuesday, 13 September 2016 and the

Buhari urges South-East to drop Biafra agiatation

By Lawrence Olaoye President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the youths from the South Eastern part of the country to forget the idea of an independent state of Biafra.

According to a statement made available to newsmen yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President in Data called on Nigerian youths to make Nigeria great again through pursuit of knowledge, patriotism and commitment to values that promote national unity.

Receiving over 100 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Daura local government area, in his residence, President Buhari pledged his unalloyed commitment to the unity and prosperity of Nigeria.

He urged them to remain focused in life, pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and disintegration of Nigeria.

The President, who specially recognised corps members from the Niger Delta and South-Eastern states serving in Daura, praised the vision of former President Yakubu Gowon in

setting up the scheme in 1973.

The President said the scheme has creditably promoted national unity and cohesion by exposing young people to the uniqueness and cultural diversity of Nigeria.

“I asked for those from the other extreme of Nigeria because I very much appreciate the NYSC scheme and whenever I see General Gowon, I always thank him for that.’’

Speaking specifically to corps members from the South Eastern states, the President said: “Tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget

about it.’’

“As a military commander, I walked from Degem, a border town between the north and the east, to the border between Cameroons and Nigeria.

“I walked on my foot for most of the 30 months that we fought the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, in which at least 2 million Nigerians were killed.

“We were made by our leaders to go and fight Biafra not because of money or oil, because oil was not critical factor then, but because of one Nigeria.

“So if leaderships at various levels

failed, it was not the fault of the rest of Nigerians who have no quarrel with one another.

“So please tell your colleagues that we must be together to build this country. It is big enough for us and potentially big enough in terms of resources. ‘’Those who work hard will earn a respectable living. I have seen this country, I fought for this country and I will continue to work for the unity of this country,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, Mr Egbewumi Adebolu, the Corps Liaison Officer in Daura, thanked the President for the honour of receiving them and making their stay in Daura memorable.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

PAGE 6

News

Yobe discovers 500 additional ghost workers From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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Son of Chief Imam of Kano Road Kaduna, Malam Mahmood Muhammed leading the Muslim’s ummah at the 2016 Eid-El Kabir celebration at Kaduna praying ground Murtala Square, on Monday Kaduna. Photo: Bashir Bello

Borno builds mega-schools for 49,000 Boko Haram orphans

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orno State Government has awarded a N1.6 billion contract for the construction of nine mega primary schools, as part of efforts to overhaul the state’s education system.

The governor, Kashim Shettima, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the gesture was also aimed at providing access to education for over 49, 000 children orphaned by the Boko Haram crisis in the state.

“We have awarded contracts for the construction of nine mega primary schools across the state.

“We are also building a mega school in Maiduguri deliberately for the children orphaned by the Boko Haram crisis,” he said.

Mr. Shettima said the schools would have accommodation, kitchen and sporting facilities.

He explained that the action was part of government post

insurgency plan to safeguard the future of children orphaned by the insurgency.

“It is gratifying to note that peace has started returning to this part of the world.

“But as we win the war against Boko Haram insurgents, we are yet to commence the bigger war of trying to meet the aspiration of about 49,000 children orphaned by the crisis in Maiduguri alone,” Mr. Shettima said. He lamented that thousands of women had become widows after losing their husbands to the crisis which erupted in 2009.

Mr. Shettima said there was no concrete data on the number of children orphaned or women who lost their husbands in the crisis.

“Nobody can give the exact number of people affected or women who lost their bread winners, but there are thousands of them.

“It is in our own self-interest as a people to let these people have hope by educating the orphans and empowering the widows and make them have stake in the 21st Century,” he said.

Mr. Shettima pointed out that government must ensure the future of the orphans and the widows for posterity sake.

“If we fail to secure their future, they will turn to monsters that will haunt us in the nearest future.

“Along this line, we are determined to invest in the education of the children and that is why we are building the schools,” he said.

“Believe me, we are determined to change the face of Borno by the grace of Allah in the nearest future.

“We have been in the limelight for the wrong reasons,” he said.

Mr. Shettima also said that

the government was striving to ensure the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in spite of its limited resources.

“We have never downplayed the challenges facing us, especially, in the IDP camps.

“But lots of issues and politics are involved,” he said.

Mr. Shettima lamented that some politicians were using the security situation in the state to score political gains.

He said that government would not abandon its responsibility of providing welfare for the people in spite of the economic problem “The very existence of government has to do with security of the people and the contentment of the masses.

“Believe me, we are trying to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people in spite of the economic problem,” Mr. Shettima said.(NAN)

NUPENG threatens strike over poor salaries in Delta From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

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he leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) SEEPO CAMP Kwale in Delta State yesterday alleged poor condition of service, especially payment of salaries to its members and threatened work-to-rule if urgent steps are not taken to change the mode of payments and condition of service.

Comrade Azubike Emordi, Vice Chairman of the Union who spoke to journalists in Asaba, said that members of the union who work with various oil and gas exploration companies where suffering poor salaries including condition of service.

He noted that there have been absence of co-operate social responsibility (CSR) from their employments, Comrade Emordi said that the union members were being owed hazard allowances

for 18 months, child education for 2016 and furniture grant for 2016 and requested the comprises to expedite action to clear the outstanding payments.

His words: “I want to urge the companies to provide social amenities such as good roads, educational institutions, health centres and other human capital development to their host communities to cushion the effect of economic hardship or we will mobilize our members to go on

work-to-rule”. Comrade Emordi called on staff who have not identified with the union to do so for their benefit, disclosing that over 45 workers were recently inaugurated into the union in the camp.

Expectedly, Ndokwa youths and workers of various companies in Kwale had last Friday protested against oil and gas production companies in agitation for implementation of co-operate (CSR) by the management.

ver 250 guards and more than 200 cooks discovered in Fika and Fune local government areas of Yobe state are ghost workers.

Also, in an unnamed local government, over 60 messengers were discovered in just a single department of the local government employment payroll.

This revelation was made by the State Governor, Alh. Ibrahim Gaidam on the occasion of a Sallah luncheon, organized by the state government, to celebrate this year’s eid-el kabir which took place at the government house Damaturu, and wondered who these cooks are actually cooking for and what those guards were guarding.

On the employment of over 60 messengers in just one department in a local government civil services, the governor pointed out that in the whole of the state government house workers, there are not more than three messengers, describing the whole issue of these ghost workers as “unrealistic, unreasonable and great recklessness which must be stopped as it has made things impossible for the local government chairmen to executive meaningful social development projects for the teeming local populace in the areas”.

He said, “the good news from the ongoing bio-metric verification of workers exercise is that in some local governments, there have been records of salaries dropping by between N10 million and in some local governments, about N17 million in salary payments”.

He therefore called on members of the national union of local government employee who recently threaten a strike action to consider the union as partners in progress with the state government because the verification exercise is meant to clean local government payrolls of ghost workers which is also in the best interest of local government service that would allow local government administrators to have little more enough to provide dividends of democracy to the people in terms of execution of meaningful social development projects in their various domains.

The governor also used the occasion to disclose that some former local government chairmen and councilors had taken the state government to court demanding payment of their severance allowances.

He, however, stated that although the state government law provides for such payments at the end of the tenure of such office holders, the law from the revenue mobilization specifies that tenure in an administration is four years at the end of which local government chairmen and councils would be entitled for payment of severance allowances.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

News Christmas Day bomber, Kabiru Sokoto, still in custody — Prisons

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ontrary to reports, Kabiru Dikko, the mastermind of 2011 Christmas Day bombing, is still in custody, the Nigerian Prisons Service said on Tuesday.

“Please disregard the rumour.

Fleeing suspected rapist jumps into River -Niger From Osakhare Asaba

He’s still in prisons custody,” Biyi Jeje, NPS’ spokesman told an online medium yesterday.

Mr. Dikko, also known as Kabiru Sokoto, was convicted in December 2013 after being found guilty of plotting the car suicide bombing on St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, near Abuja. The attack left about 40 people dead.

Various publications and

blogs this week reported that Mr. Dikko, 32, may have been released as part of a purported prisoners swap deal between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram sect.

Boko Haram has demanded the release of its members held by the government in exchange for Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the group in 2014.

While the Nigerian government has indicated interest in a prisoners swap deal with Boko Haram, the modalities for this have yet to be made public.

According to the online report, Dikko said that, “There’s no truth in all” the reports claiming that Mr. Dikko had been released, Mr. Jeje said.

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A senior Boko Haram operative, Mr. Dikko was first arrested on January 1, 2012 by the police, but escaped from custody two days later when he was being taken to his residence at Abaji, Federal Capital Territory, for a search.

He was re-arrested in MutumBiu in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State in February 2012 and subsequently charged under Section 4(1) (a) of Terrorism and Prevention Act of 2011.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court found Mr. Dikko guilty of terrorism and handed him a life sentence on December 20, 2013.

Erese,

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rape suspect identified as Simeon (surname withheld) yesterday in a mild drama allegedly jumped into River-Niger after he was said to have sighted a policeman by the river bank.

Eyewitness, Paul Ijeh said the suspect had been on the wanted lists of the police for allegedly raping a 10-year old girl in Okpanam community, adding that efforts by the police in Okpanam to track him down proved abortive when he fled the community.

It was gathered that the rape suspect a native of Okpanam community had also committed other atrocities, ranging from alleged robbery and land deals before the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Since two months ago, our informed sources said Simeon allegedly moved into the eastern states where he occasionally calls his close friends after which he destroys his Sim Card.

Expectedly, he was said to have sighted a policeman by the head bridge while on the walk way when he allegedly jumped into the River-Niger for fear of the unknown.

The eyewitness further said passersby including motorists travelling to Onitsha were shocked to watch the suspect dive a full length into the River-Niger.

But some police officers at Okpanam police who did not want their names in the print said the suspect had been on the wanted lists for alleged rape, adding: “We are not too sure he was the one who jumped into the River-Niger, we heard somebody jumped into the River-Niger”.

Governor of Niger State Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello (R) presenting traditional Sallah cola nut to the Emir of Minna Alh. Umar Faruk Bahago, during a Sallah homage in Government house, , yesterday Minna.. Photo: Niger Govt House

Nasarawa Assembly to Auditor General: Expose corruption to enhance workers welfare From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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he Nasarawa State House of Assembly has urged the newly confirmed Auditor General of the state local government, Idris Apa-Danladi to expose corruption at the local government level and the state at large in order to enhance workers welfare.

Mr.Godiya Akwashiki, the deputy speaker of the house who made the call after the screening of the new Auditor General of

the local government at the floor of the house in Lafia.

According to him, “it could be recall that on Aug.31, the house received the nomination of Idris Apa-Danladi from Gov. Almakura for confirmation as the state local government Auditor General.

Akwashiki,the, (PDPNassarawa Eggon West),tasked the newly confirmed Auditor General to be transparent and accountable while discharging his duties for the overall

development of the state and the country at large.

He continued, “Today, we have screened and confirmed the nominee, Idris Apa-Danladi as the state local government Auditor General after finding him worthy of the appointment, hence the need for the confirmation.

“We want to advise the newly confirmed Auditor General if finally swear-in- to expose corruption at the local government level and the state at large in order to improve on the

standard of living of workers,” he added Earlier, Idris Apa-Danladi, the confirmed Auditor General while answering questions at the floor of the house promised to be transparent and accountable while discharging his duties.

Apa-Danladi also promised to fish out ghost workers in the state especially at the local government level as well as to ensure that workers salary are paid as when due for optimal productivity.

Insurgency: Buhari appreciates troops effort, says Air Chief From Umar Dankano,Yola

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he Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said President Muhammadu Buhari and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has expressed appreciation with the efforts of men and women of the force involved in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.

Abubakar made this known

during Eid El Kabir celebration lunch with air force troops at the Yola Air Force Base.

Represented by Chief of Policy and Plans, AIr Vice Marshal James Gbum, Abubakar said Buhari was full of commendation for the troop and urged them to sustain the effort in bringing peace in North East and Nigeria in general.

“The good work you are doing is appreciated by the Commander in Chief; he is sending his greetings

to you at this festive time.

“He commend your effort and urge you to sustain your commitment for peace in North East and Nigeria as a whole.

“We also want to use this opportunity to thank the Commander In Chief for his support to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Abubakar said that NAF was also happy with the troop performance and would continue

to ensure their welfare and that of their families.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Muhammed Mohammadu, thanked the CAS for his commitment to their welfare and always identifying with them to boost their morale.

Muhammadu pledge support and loyalty of the troops to Nigerian Air Force and the Nation.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

News

Corp members offer free screening for HIV, diabetes in Niger From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna

T Children praying at the Habibiyya Islamic centre, during Eid-el-Kabir celebration on Monday in Guzape, Abuja.

Imo-Owo

Photo: Justin

Sallah: Abuja residents blame low-key celebration on economic recession

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ome residents of Abuja have blamed the low-key 2016 Eid-el Kabir celebration on the current economic recession in the country A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigerian who went round some parks in the FCT reports that the usual hustling and bustling associated with the celebration was lacking.

The residents said in separates interviews that the low-key celebration and low turnouts he to the parks by fun seekers was because of the current economic recession.

At Water Fountain Park, Kado, Dauda Ibrahim, a resident who was there with his children said the economy was not favourable for elaborate celebration.

“It is no longer news that the country is in recession; therefore, I do not expect people to have elaborate celebration in this year’s Eid-El-Kabir celebration.

“There are people who cannot afford to buy ram for the sacrifice; some of them went to the market and bought meat to celebrate with their families.

“I pray that the country overcome this recession because; it is not easy; people are suffering

and with the situation you don’t expect people to celebrate,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

Another fun seeker at the park, Suleiman Mohammed, a civil servant, said he came to the park with his children to make them feel the joy of Sallah.

Mr. Mohammed said it was regrettable that inflation was on a steady rise and people would prefer to have a low-key than an elaborate celebration.

“The money is not even there; what my salary can afford some years ago, it can no longer afford; it just unfortunate that things are like this.

“The low turnout to the park is not a surprise, some schools have resumed and some will soon resume; parents will prefer to pay children’s’ school fees than spending for Sallah.

“However, I pray that the government will do something very fast to cushion the effect of the hardship in the country,” Mr. Mohammed said.

At the children play ground in Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Maitama, Yahaya Iliya said he came there to play with his children.

According to him, there is suffering in the land and thus

most people cannot buy ram thereby resulting to buying beef to eat with their families.

“However, the most important thing in the Eid-el Kabir celebration is the act of sacrifice and tolerant.

“We should not allow the hardship in the country to take away our willingness to sacrifice for one another and to live in peace with one another.

“The current economic situation is unfortunate, but we should be optimistic that it shall be well, and the country will be great again,” Mr. Iliya said.

At River Plate Garden in Wuse II, few fun seekers where seen sitting on mats and playing ludo and card games.

One of the fun seekers, John Oche, a trader at Wuse Market, corroborated Ibrahim and Mohammed’s position that the celebration was low-key.

“I can count the people in this park; no money, dollar is out of reach and the market is a `no go area’ because of daily increase in the price of goods.

“Everything is upside down; I don’t know where this country is going to; how can people celebrate when there is no means

to celebrate.

“The government should be more focus in addressing the current challenges so that people can celebrate with smiles on their faces,’’ Oche said.

The low-key situation was not different at Magic Land Amusement Park located near the City Gate.

Peter Okoh, the Manager of the park said that turnout of fun seekers to the park was low.

“Last year’ festivities, a lot of people came here to have fun; but this year especially this EidEl-Kabir celebration the turnout is low.

“Though I am not surprised because the economic situation is biting hard on the people..

Nevertheless, we thank God for everything; we only pray that things get better for all Nigerians,” Mr. Okah said.

Sa’adu Iliya, who sells `Suya’ at the `Arewa Suya spot’ in the park said that patronage was low compare to previous celebrations.

He said during 2010 festivities, patronage was high.

“I made a lot of sales, but this Eid-el- Kabir, the sells is very low; but we thank Allah for his mercies and love.”(NAN)

he Corp members of the Medical Community Development Service (CDS) group, Chanchaga Minna, have provided free HIV and diabetes screening to over 200 people in Paikoro Local government area of the state.

Speaking at the flag off of the medical outreach tagged: ‘my health, my wealth’, president of the group, Dr Wale Ogunlana noted that the medical CDS is tasked with the burden of ensuring optimal state of health for host communities, hence the outreach.

“We are a group saddled with the responsibility of ensuring optimal state of health for host communities through medical consultation, interventions, education and outreaches.

“We are carrying out blood pressure check, retroviral screening for HIV as well as round blood sugar among others, and they will be treated.

Ogunlana said the group chose Paiko because it is the first host community for all corp members in Niger.

“This community was chosen owing to the fact that Paiko is the first hosting community for all corp members serving in Niger state.

Also speaking, the Local Government Inspector for Chanchaga, Miss Jane Echeanyanwu, tasked the corps members to carry on with the scheme’s core objective of selfless service to the nation and to humanity in their future endeavors.

One of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Habiba Imam, said the intervention of the corp members could not have come at a better time, adding that there was hope for herself and others.

Al-makura appeals for early return of Nigerian pilgrims

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State has appealed to the management of National Hajj commission (NAHCON) to explore all means necessary to ensure the early return of Nigeria pilgrims

back home.

In a statement signed by his special assistant on media and publicity Ahmad Tukur, the governor who made the appeal in Makkah Saudi Arabia commended the NAHCON for the accommodation and feeding given to Nigerian pilgrims, saying it was

satisfactory and commendable.

He described the performance of the National Hajj commission as impressive, ranging from conveyance of the pilgrims as well as their Welfare.

While calling on Muslims to intensify prayers towards the positive development of the country, the

Governor equally appreciated the conduct of Nasarawa State pilgrims and Nigerian at large.

He used the medium to wish the people of the state a happy eid-kabir celebration and urged them to be law abiding citizens during and after Eid celebration to move the state forward.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

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News

Niger: LG workers, govt at loggerheads over salaries From Mustapha,Minna.

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arely four days after the release of N1.4 billion bailout by the Niger state government, it was drama at Lapai local government secretariat as the education department staff of the council protested over four months nonpayment of salary despite screening of workers and ascertained of some ghost workers.

Investigation revealed that Lapai Local Education Authority workers who insisted on the payment of all its members while the council said it will only pat those verified during its screening where ghost workers, retirees and death records were verified.

Report has it that the workers were asked to meet the Director of Personnel Management DPM to commenced payment based on the verification but the workers insisted on general payment which contained those unverified staff.

The Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism Mr Jonathan Vatsa in a statement issued in Minna, that the governor has given the directive for the release of N1.4billion to ugument the affected local government councils whose allocations could not cater for their staff Salary.

“Immediately after the directive on Monday all relevant Ministries released the money to the councils for them to pay the July and August salary so that their staff can celebrate Sallah (eid-el Kabir) conveniently” Vatsa declared He stated that the councils that were affected by the outstanding balance of salary payment were twelve out of the twenty five local government areas in the state and the state government gave the succor to alleviate the suffering of local government councils’ workers Vatsa listed the affected local government councils to benefit from the bai out to include Agaie, Bida, Bosso, Gbako, Gurara, Katcha, Lapai, Lavun , Chanchaga, Paikoro, Shiroro , and suleja.

When contacted, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Salihu Gbage disclosed that “the council has carried out staff screening and have directed payment the DPR to effect payment base on the result of the screening but they refused that they will only accept general payment”.

He refuted the allegation of crisis in the council but said it was a misinformation by mischief makers, added that, the council will maintained its ground of paying only verified staff that the era of harboring ghost workers to the detriment of the government was over.

L-R: Chief Imam, Oro central mosque, Alhaji Mikail Mohammed; Minister of Information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Oloro of Oro kingdom,Oba Abdulrofiu Ajiboye Oyelaran, at the Oro eid praying ground in irepodun local government area of kwara on Monday . Photo: NAN

CAN commends Sultan on peace efforts

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar for his constant effort towards ensuring peace and harmony in the Nigeria.

Engr. Daniel Kadze who is the National Youth Wing President of CAN made the commendation yesterday in a Sallah message in Jos.

According to the president, the Sultan of Sokoto had undoubtedly helped a lot towards achieving and promoting peace and unity particularly between Christians and Muslims in the country and therefore deserve recommendation.

The perspective and insight of the Sultan with the regards to the incessant attacks in the Communities being attributed to foreign herdsmen is thoughtinspiring into the challenges of security in Nigeria.

While congratulating the Muslims, “we strongly suggest the promotion of ranching loans to all Nigerians desirous of promoting Cattle Ranching to boosting the Agricultural Sector in the country.

According to CAN, the establishment of ranches would serve as an alternative to the cattle routes grazing reserve which has been argued on by indigenous communities.

He said, “ What comes to bare are the porous nature of Nigeria’s’ borders, ill-equipped Immigration,

Security personnel and border post. Apart from the incessant corrupt practices and compromise.

“While calling for overhaul of the immigration and declaration of emergency stringent measures at our borders, a special infiltrators Law must be enacted to check foreign mercenaries’ terrorist. “ In this regards, we call on the government to increase the role of all security organizations to complement the immigration services”.

We’ll protect subscribers from unsolicited messages by operators –NCC

By Paul Efiong

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he Nigerian Communications Commission has reiterated its readiness to protect subscribers from the nuisance and irritations of unsolicited text messages and calls from mobile network operators.

Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, noted in a statement, that in spite of earlier warnings to telecommunication service providers to activate their Do-Not-Disturb facility which gives subscribers the freedom to choose the messages they receive, the Commission is still inundated with complaints by subscribers of continuing text harassment by operators.

The direction issued to industry operators to activate the 2442 Do Not Disturb Short Code took effect from

July 1, 2016. Ojobo explained that the Direction mandates the operators to take immediate action which will allow the subscribers to take informed but independent decisions on what messages to receive from the networks.

He observed that industry compliance doesn’t seem to have matched the seriousness of the direction thus, compelling the Commission to issue a final warning to the operators.

According to him, the direction takes into cognizance the broad range of services, which include: Banking/Insurance/Financial products, Real estate, Education, Health, Consumer Goods and Automobiles, Communication/ Broadcasting/ Entertainment/ IT, Tourism and /Leisure, Sports,

Religion (Christianity, Islam, others), and directed the operators to give the necessary instructions and clarifications that will enable subscribers subscribe to a particular service/services/none at all. “ In fact, a Full DND which is SMS ‘STOP” to 2442 does not allow the subscriber to receive any unsolicited messages from the operators at all.

Below are the various options: “SMS 1” for receiving SMS relating to Banking/Insurance/ Financial Products to 2442 “SMS 2” for receiving SMS relating to Real estate to 2442 SMS 3” for receiving SMS relating to Education to 2442 “SMS 4” for receiving SMS relating to Health to 2442

“SMS 5” for receiving SMS relating to Consumer Goods and Automobiles, to 2442 “SMS 6” for receiving SMS relating to Communication/ Broadcasting/ Entertainment/ IT, to 2442 “SMS 7” for receiving SMS relating to Tourism and Leisure to 2442 “SMS 8” for receiving SMS relating to Sports to 2442 “SMS 9” for receiving SMS relating to Religion to 2442,” he explained Ojobo called on the service providers to immediately comply with the direction as further complaints from the subscribers would be taken as serious infractions to a major regulatory intervention by the Commission.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

News Prison congestion worries Niger NBA From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.

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he Nigeria Bar Association NBA, Minna branch Chairman, Barrister Mohammed Kudu Ndayeko has directed the bar to take over probono cases so as to contribute to the prison decongestion of over 75,000 inmates in the country.

Ndayeko made the disclosure yesterday during his visit to Minna Old prison as part of activities to mark legal week, decried the level of congestion in Nigerians prison called for collaborative effort by all stakeholders.

He said that its regrettably that Minna old prison built to house less than 150 inmates presently housing 532 awaiting trail inmates suspected of committing various offenses with only 98 convicted.

The Chairman assured that his administration will assist in no small measure in decongesting prison in the administration of criminal Justice system in Niger State just as he directed all senior lawyers to take two cases each.

He noted that it would iron out problems associated with the prison congestion by meeting with the magistrates forum, bar and the bench hence to restored sanity, institute discipline as well as the welfare and mentoring of you younger professionals in the state.

He further said that with the lawyers stamp and Ceil practice by exhibiting practicing license would curb fake or quackery in the system just as such cases of homicides and other cases will henceforth to be assigned to the senior lawyers for summarily hearing.

The Deputy Controller in charge of Minna old prison, Sanusi Muazu DanMusa lamented over the congested prison while urging the bar to be steadfast by taking responsibility of decongesting the prison in Nigeria adding that some inmates were brought without proper investigation.

DanMusa who appreciated the visit called for action from the bar and assured to cooperate with them while he gave the prison statistics to have 13 females, 165 homicide cases, 27 rape cases, 157 armed robbery cases, 20 drugs related cases and 74 others.

He applauded the efforts of the Legal Aids Counsel in the state and plead to decentralized investigation that is presently centralized in the CID office in Minna.

L-R: Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Administrator, National Judicial Institute, Justice Rosaline Bozimo during the Refresher Course for Chief Registrars, Deputy Chief Registrars, Directors and Secretaries of the Judicial Service Commissions on Monday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Plateau confirms two cases of Lassa fever From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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he Plateau State government yesterday said two cases of Lassa fever had been found in the state, adding that three cases were being tested at the Lassa Fever Treatment centre in Irrua Edo State.

Dr. Kunden Deyin who is the

Plateau State Commissioner of Health, gave the confirmation this at a press briefing in Jos .

According the commissioner, the first victim was a student of University of Jos who was treated and later discharged while the second one was currently being treated at the Jos University Teaching hospital (JUTH).

He said “the government

was able to screen about seven persons suspected to have this disease, out of the seven that we took their blood to Iruwa, two of them tested positive and one was a student of University of Jos, he has been treated and discharged while his contacts are being followed up. “ All of them will be released soon because they have

completed the mandatory 21 days surveillance. For the second patient, a Fulani woman from Riyom, four of her relations are under surveillance,” He however reiterated that the state government would do its best to arrest the viral disease.

He further called on the people in the State not to get panic.

I will fix Ondo economy if elected, Agunloye assures

By Ese Awhotu

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he governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Ondo State, Dr. Olu Agunloye has assured that if elected, his administration will make salaries of civil servants a top most priority.

The move, according to the candidate, will ensure that salaries are not only paid promptly but put an end to the lingering problem of government’s indebtedness to public workers for several months.

Dr. Agunloye, who spoke when he visited the SDP national secretariat in Abuja, expressed sympathy with civil servants across the state that is being owed nine months salary

arrears.

He promised that payment of salaries will be one of his administration’s priorities if the electorates give him the mandate to steer the ship of the state in November when the governorship election will be held.

He said the SDP administration, when elected into office in November, will invest in people as well as tap into the vast rich mineral resources available in the state noting that with his past record of achievement and the fact that he has credibility, integrity and capacity to build human and structural infrastructures he can be relied upon to make the difference in their lives.

The former Minister of Steel and Power and lecturer, asserted that the Ondo state economy was in limbo and in need of quick fix to stop further plunge.

“We shall make the payment of salaries and pension a priority. To do this, we shall place the salary of civil servants on the first line charge to ensure that they are paid as at when due. We intend to do this because we are pained by the level of poverty on the land.

“We want to alleviate the poverty on the land, boost the purchasing capacity of the people by ensuring that their salaries are paid promptly thereby assisting them to meet the basic needs of their families.

“The people, who are mostly civil servants, are suffering and, of course, whatever affects them has considerable impact on the lives of others largely because these civil servants have many dependants,” he said stressing that lack of focused planning and the will to effect positive change in the lives of the people were the reasons government has failed to affect them positive.

The former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, lamented that in spite of collecting over N1 trillion from the federation account in the past eight years there is little or nothing to show for the huge revenue the state earned from its share of the national coffer.

Gov Jibrilla offers N5m to victim of medical misconduct in Adamawa From Umar Dankano,Yola

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overnor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla of Adamawa state has offered the sum of N5 million for the transportation and medical expenditure to be incurred in the process of treating Mallam Isah Hamma ,a victim of unprofessional misconduct of a doctor who removed his two kidneys mistaken for ailment.

Jibrilla who paid an unscheduled

visit to dialysis centre of the Federal Medical Yola where the innocent victim is receiving medical attention, Monday announced that initially his government had approved N2.5million for treatment but with the pathetic situation of boy he personally added N2.5million making N5million.

He instructed that, the victim should be fly to Kano dialysis centre with an aero plane within two days before possible move to over sea but some

medical experts around suggested that young Isah should be convey by road in an ambulance for availability of secured oxygen which the boy rely on for survival.

People’s Daily recalls that, about two months ago Young Isah Hamma of Safa-Jowle village was operated on the 8th July,2016 by one Dr.Yakubu Hassan of Jimeta Clinic in which his kidneys were removed in the belief that it was turmoil aliment due severe

abdominal pains which he reported to his doctor.

It was three days later when his relations noticed Isah could no longer pass urine that informed a protest to the embattled medical practitioner that made him to refer them to Gombe State Teaching Hospital where after nine days clinical observation discovered that his kidneys were removed by Dr.Hassan during the said surgery.

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,L-R: Representative of the president Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions, Mr Edward Simajutak, Minister delegate of the presidency in charge of Supreme Audit office of Cameroon, Mbah Acha Rose; Representative of the minister of Environment, Mr Philip Bankole and the Ag Auditor general for the Federation, Mrs Florence Anyanwu during the 6th African Organization Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI) Annual meeting, yesterday in Abuja . Photo: Justin Imoowo

Concerns as Arik suspends operations, cites insurance issues From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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ess than a fortnight when Nigerian foremost domestic airline Aero Contractors halts its operations, the country’s biggest carrier, Arik Air yesterday disclosed it has followed suit citing challenges in updating it insurance certification as reasons behind it decision.

Arik Air suspension of operations bring to three the number of airlines that has temporary close shop within two weeks after Aero Contractors and FirstNation Airways.

Stakeholders expressed concerns over the spate of withdrawals of services by airlines, some questions the capability of the regulatory, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) in carrying out its technical and economic regulatory functions.

A former Captain with the rested Nigerian Airways lashed out at the inspectors at the agency as he alleged that they have been induce to compromise on the safety of the airlines.

The foremost Pilot, who does not want his name in print thundered “ why will the NCAA pretend that all was well especially with Aero when it inspectors and those in the know knew that the airline was a walking corpse? now see what has befall the sector, these things didn’t just happen overnight, the airlines has been cooking the books while NCAA inspectors smile to the banks and look the other way” He retorted that the country was fortunate not to have witness another crash and said “ now they have reach a point where they can no longer hide, so the chickens are coming home to roost” Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest airline alerted its passengers of a temporary disruption to its operations, pending approval of aircraft documentation related to insurance renewal.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig Cars) Part 18.11.2 deals with aviation

CBN to extend BVN registration to MfBs, PMIs customers From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed ongoing plans to extend Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration project to customers of Other Financial Institutions (OFIS) such as Microfinance Banks (MfBs), Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs), among others.

CBN Director, Banking and Payment Systems Department, ‘Dipo Fatokun who disclosed this at the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) Bi-Monthly Forum hosted by the apex bank in Lagos, said the OFIS operators are already angling to have their customers included in the BVN project.

He said the CBN is considering having the OFIS customers enroll through deposit money banks, because of the high cost of procuring the machines. “We are considering using commercial banks as registration points for the OFIS customers. We also expected that many of the OFIS customers, who already

have their BVNs will supply the data to their banks, while others without BVN will register afresh,” he said.

Fatokun said the BVN project, which is being coordinated by CBN, commercial banks and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) has helped reduce the number of bank frauds in the industry.

The CBN director explained that that before the coming of the BVN, identifications previously used in the banking industry were not foolproof, with fraudsters easily go unidentified.

However, BVN has now made it easier for the CBN and banks to uniquely identify every customer or to be able to trace transactions when frauds are committed. He explained that no bank customer, including Nigerian bank customers in Diaspora, is authorised to have more than one BVN. “I want to assure you that the BVN has assisted us a lot in the banking system. It has assisted us to check frauds, and we are work-

insurance, it states that no person shall operate any aircraft in public air transport category without adequate and valid insurance cover.

The regulations further read in Part 18.11.2.2. “ Any person having a duty to maintain adequate insurance shall submit to the Authority on quarterly basis, insurance certificates, evidence of paying premium and policy documents.”

The implication is that the airline cannot fly if it does not have insurance for its aircraft as it amount to a gross violation of the regulations and attracts stiff penalties in terms

ing on a framework, that will enable us if not to blacklist customers, because of some legal implications, but at least to watch-list a customer that is identified to have been fraudulent, or have done what he is not supposed to do across the banking sector,” he said.

Fatokun, who spoke on the theme: ‘Recent Developments in the Electronic Payments System and Implications for Consumers of Electronic Payment Services’ said the CBN has been at the forefront of the transformation of the payments system in the country which has been demonstrated through the development of the Payments System Vision (PSV) 2020 document in 2007, which was reviewed in 2013.

The CBN Director said the number of BVN linked to customers’ accounts as at August 23, this year was 36.7 million while the total number of individual customers in the banks was reported as 59.9 million as at the same date.

“Any bank customer resident

of fines and others.

Arik Air in a statement signed by the management said it is working around the clock to resolve the necessary documentation, which has been a challenge due to the long weekend holidays due to Ed al Adha.

It said “ At the present time, all flights of the airline have been cancelled for Tuesday, 13 September 2016 and the airline has stated that it would be getting in touch with passengers to provide an update on rescheduling of their flights.

This situation is likely to continue for the

in Nigeria without a BVN would be deemed to have inadequate KYC while effort is on-going to ensure that customers of Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) such as Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) are brought into the system begin to get their BVNs,” he said.

Fatokun said the e-Payment remains an initiative of CBN under the Payments System Vision 2020 as part of the overall FSS 2020 Strategy adding that one of the CBN mandates is the promotion of a sound financial system (Section 2 (d) of the CBN Act 2007).

He disclosed that Section 47(2) of the CBN Act 2007, stipulates that the CBN shall continue to promote and facilitate the development of efficient and effective systems for the settlement of transactions, including the development of electronic payment systems, adding that the promotion of a sound financial system entails active support for the effectiveness, efficiency and systemic safety of the payments system.

next few days until such time that National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) approves a waiver on a priority basis for the new insurance company to renew the policy.” The statement added.

The airline advised all customers to contact it Call Centre (01-2799999), Airport or City ticket offices or visit the airline’s Website (www.arikair.com) for further updates.

It also advised passengers are also advised to check with the airline regarding the status of their flights before proceeding to the airport.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Aviation

FAAN seeks understanding as massive works continue at terminal construction locations A s parts of efforts to deliver new terminals under construction in line with it schedule, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has appeal for understanding among operating airlines,

travellers, airport users and it general publics as works enters another phase.

FAAN said the public will experience little as it relocates massive power cables from the construction site of the new terminal being

built at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airports (MMIA) in Lagos.

The airports custodian explained that the recent power outage that affected some parts of the facility was as a result of damaged L-R: President, Lagos State Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Chief (Mrs.) Nike Akande; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; Chief Technical Officer, Airtel, Col. Awadhesh Kalia and Senior Manager, Idems Ultimate Ltd, Ubong Imoh during the presentation of CEO Award for Excellence in Customer Acquisition to Idems Ultimate at the Airtel Smart Partners Awards 2016 organised by the telco to honour its Channel Partners, held in Victoria Island, recently in Lagos.

power cables that ran through the new terminal stating that engineers were on ground to carry out the relocation.

FAAN General Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr. Yakubu Dati explained that the issue is being resolved and called for calm affirming that within a short time the relocation work of the cables will be complete.

Also, FAAN in a statement indicates that ”The power outage that affected some parts of the Lagos Airport monday is being resolved. Preliminary reports indicate the cause being damage on two number 11kv underground power supply cables located within the construction premises of the new international terminal.”

“Our engineers are resolving the identified issues. However, FAAN needs to relocate these cables from the construction site to prevent re occurrence and we crave your indulgence while that is being done. “ The statement said “The airport authority apologizes for inconvenience caused to airlines, passengers and the general public.”

Sirika inaugurates steering committee, affirms concession is not privatisation

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he federal government has made good it decision to hand over four major airports to private investor with the inauguration of two committees; a Project Steering Committee, and a Project Delivery Committee by the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

Performing the inauguration in his office, the Minister said the Project Steering Committee with him as Chairman, is to provide the general direction, and steer the course of Public Private Partnership project concessions in the Aviation Sector.

A statement signed by James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press & Public

Affairs, indicates the Minister reiterated that the driving force behind the federal government’s resolve to concession the airports was the over-riding national interest in ensuring the establishment and sustenance of world class standards in both infrastructural development and service delivery.

In his words, “the misgivings some people have expressed concerning the exercise was borne out of misconception that Concession is synonymous with Privatization,” He explained that the institutions being concessioned remained the properties of the federal government and that more jobs will be generated at the

end of the day.

Among the Committee’s Terms of Reference are the approval of technical, financial and legal framework for the successful preparation and execution of the concession, Provision of policy guidelines and general direction on all matters relating to PPP and concession of projects and programmes in the aviation sector.

Also, it is to consider and facilitate necessary permits, clearances and carrying relevant stakeholders along in the processing of PPP /Concession matters and approve action plans, budgets and financial requests submitted by the Project Delivery

Committee.

The committee will serve as the final decision-making body on PPP / Concession matters on air transport generally.

Members include the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, relevant Chief Executive Officers, Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Director of Planning of the Ministry of Transportation, representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Budget and National Planning, the Ministry of Finance, and the Deputy Director of the PPP Unit in the Ministry who will serve as the Secretary.

Similarly, Sirika inaugurated the Project Delivery Committee with a charge on members to be diligent and patriotic in the implementation of the decisions and policy guidelines as approved by the Steering Committee, as their success or failure would determine the fate of the whole process.

He told them to see themselves as the foot soldiers of the concession process which has no room for lapse, and to ensure that all their activities are in compliance with the guidelines of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), as well as recommend the terms of engagements and disengagement of concessionaires.

Anxiety mounts over FG airports’ concession plans as workers threaten mass resignation

Stories from Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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nxiety has continue to heighten among staffs of agencies under the Ministry of aviation over plans by the federal government to concession four entry airports in Nigeria to private investors.

The workers had hitherto doubt the workability of the exercise considering the processes involve but insiders said reality has set in following the inauguration of a steering committee to birth the plans by the Supervising Minister of the sector Senator Hadi Sirika last week.

Meanwhile reports indicates that thousands of staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have threaten to massively resign from their job should the federal authority go ahead with it plans.

FAAN, the custodian of the airports on behalf of government has come under the spotlight because of it over- bloated staff strength with many redundancy.

Stakeholders feared there will be massive purge in the agency unlike the rest.

Agencies where staffs could be retrench should the plan see the light of the day include FAAN, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Findings showed that a group representing some categories of staff who has put in some years in the service who had vehemently expressed disapproval of the decision is mobilising support to rebuff the concession of the facilities under their purview.

To drive home government seriousness,

Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika at an interactive session last Tuesday told aviation correspondents that government will not make any U-turn in concessioning the prime aerodrome.

The airports earmarked for the exercise include the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAA), Abuja, Port Harcourt Airport and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

As a follow up of his declaration in Lagos, Sirika set up a Project Steering Committee and a Project Delivering Committee in Abuja, which according to him would ensure the success of the planned concession.

Those who spoke to Peoples Daily in confidence accused the supervising Minister of deliberately planning to hand over the

airports to his cronies and friends at a give a way price while they are been hoodwink with promises that will never see the light of day.

A staff told select journalists that “There are lots of murmuring ongoing in FAAN at the moment over the plan to concession the four airports by the government. As I’m talking to you now, plans have reached an advanced stage to implement this plan of the government, but the staff of FAAN who are about 7,000 are not carried along.”

He said “In fact, there is a lot of skepticism on the plan of the government. Sirika said the staff would be trained by the concessionaire, but that has never happened before. It was the same thing Maevis said they would do when they took over all the revenue points of FAAN for over four years, but it never happened till they were pushed out.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Pension/Insurance -L-R, Head Sustainability Live Above Poverty Organization Microfinance Bank Limited (LAPO), Brandie Steven-Igbe, Managing Director/CEO LAPO, Godwin Ehigiamusoe and Director General, National Directorate Of Employment (NDE), Kunle Obayan during the signing of MoU between LAPO and NDE on the Training of unemployed Persons in Nigeria, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo.

PenCom recovers N9.38 bn in 2016 Q1 Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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he National Pension Commission, PenCom said it recovered N9.38 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2016, being part of unpaid contributions and penalties slammed on defaulters.

According to PenCom’s latest report, N348.81 million was recovered during the period under review. The Commission stated that the services of 55 consultants were retained to follow-up and conclude the recovery of outstanding pension contributions with penalty from defaulting employers. it said: “Following the issuance of demand notices to defaulting employers whose liabilities

had been established by the consultants, some employers have remitted the outstanding pension contributions and penalty of N348.81 million during the quarter.”

“This makes the total recoveries from inception at N9.38 billion as at the end of the first quarter, 2016,” the report read in part.

PenCom, while giving an update on informal sector’s participation in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) during the period under review, said that it embarked on consultations with some key stakeholders with a view to mobilising the selfemployed and persons working for organisations with less than three employees to participate in the Micro-Pension Scheme.

“The consultations were to

Economic Recession: insurance remains a veritable tool- NIA

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ollowing economic recession in the country, the Director General of the Nigerian Insurance Association (NIA), Sunday Thomas has described insurance as a veritable tool in cushioning its effect.

Thomas noted that it’s essential that one insured life and property during this period stressing that one needs to insure home, business, car, children among other things.

Speaking at the 2000 Man-Match Awareness Campaign organised by the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) in Lagos, opined, “The best way to go now, is to keep what you have. You have a building why not insure it, in case anything happens, so that you can continue to have a house? You have a car, why not insure it to make sure that in case anything happen to it and you could not buy a new car, the one you have can be sustained?

You have children in school, how do ensure that if anything happens to you, their education would not be affected? There are various policies for all of these. And that is the way to go. In times of recession, Insurance is the last hope.”

He said operators have products to cater for risks faced by individuals daily, adding that the campaign was held to consolidate on the achievements recorded in Lagos State.

He described Lagos as the most insurance-compliant state in the country, adding that it is supporting insurance development.

Thomas added that his colleagues would continue to educate the public on the importance of insurance.

ARIAN President, Olamerun Gbadebo, said the event was organised to enable the public cultivate insurance culture and expose them to the dangers of buying fake insurance.

provide stakeholders’ perspectives and preferences in savings for retirement, which would allow the Commission to finalise the Framework and Guidelines for Micro Pension.

“In this regard, consultations were held with leaders of Lagos State Council of Trade Men and Artisans (LASCOSTA) and Nigerian Builders Association.

“A meeting was also held between the Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to discuss the modalities for using the mobile money platform for pension contributions as well as the BVN for verification and validation during registration of the Micro Pension participants,” the report added.

The commission said

it received a total of 2,670 applications for issuance of Compliance Certificates while the certificates were issued to 2,196 organisations. Applications from 474 were turned down due to non-remittance of pension contributions or non-provision of Group Life Insurance Policy for their employees, it added.

Shareholders approve SA Insurance, Life Assurance merger

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hareholders of SA Insurance Plc and SA Life Assurance Limited have approved the planned merger of the two companies.

This was the major fallout of the separate court-ordered meetings which the two companies convened recently in Lagos where their respective shareholders voted in favour of the merger plan.

At the separate meetings, Mr. Bode Akinboye, CEO, SA Insurance Plc and Mr. Bolaji Oladipo, Managing Director, SA Life Assurance Limited, respectively explained the strategic derivable values from the merger to the shareholders, noting that joint strength from the process will ensure a much stronger performance and returns to the companies’ owners.

According to Akinboye, the merger plan was a deliberate and strategic decision by the boards of both companies to form a frontline composite insurance company which will play a leading business role in the nation’s insurance sector with an ultimate goal of making the company a most preferred place to invest in.

He further told the owners of the company that the corporate action was being taken with a focus on delivering superior returns to them, providing much higher level of satisfactory service to the company’s clients and to save cost of operations.

On his part, Oladipo assured SA Life’s shareholders that “the composite company to emerge will continue to build on the success of the transaction in the months to come, providing more innovative products and delivering on its promises to clients,” noting that “with the combined professional and result-oriented workforce of the two companies involved, the composite company was sure of achieving its set merger goals.”

While lending his voice to the need for the merger during the court-ordered meeting convened

by SA Insurance Plc, Amb. Timothy Olufemi, President, Renaisssance Shareholders’ Association, told his fellow shareholders that the move by the board was commendable and timely, noting that going by the prevailing difficult conditions under which the nation’s insurance companies have continued to operate, the

best alternative to ensuring shareholders have better values for their investments was the merger option.

He urged the board to further look at dropping off any unprofitable investment and products and concentrate instead on what had formed the two companies’ areas of advantage with a view to reaping the effect of the merger decision.

The merger issue was later put to an electronic vote moderated

by Sefton Fross Law firm in the presence of representatives of the relevant regulators with the result indicating shareholders’ full approval for the merger scheme.

It could be recalled that to give the merger plan the necessary regulatory backing, the management of SA Insurance had much earlier applied for and secured a “no objection consent” from its regulator, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM and in line with market procedures and pursuant to Rule 228 (ii) of the Investment and Securities Act 1999, the Management had also notified the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Business

Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu (2nd right), inspecting the Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project immediately after commission , recently in Otuoke, Ogbia in Bayelsa State.

Fashola advocates movement of cargo by rail

By Etuka Sunday

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he Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has advocated the movement of cargo across the country by rail in order to save the nation’s roads.

The Minister who spoke in Lagos after the inspection of road project which included the construction of a new bridge running parallel to the existing one from Liverpool Roundabout across Port Novo Creek, Fashola, who expressed dismay at the rate the roads and bridges are collapsing as a result of stress of cargoes on them by the tankers and trailers, warned that unless the trend is reversed, the transportation business would be adversely affected.

The Minister said there was need for all the stakeholders including government and all those in the transportation business, especially those in the trailer and tanker business moving cargo across the country, to agree on reverting to the rail transportation as means of moving heavy cargo in order to save the roads.

Recalling that he had in the past suggested to the drivers of articulated vehicles moving heavy cargos to begin to think of alternative means, seeing the damage they cause on the roads, Fashola pointed out that if this was not done in time the roads may collapse and so would their

business.

“In the past, I told all the tanker drivers that if they could move from rail transport to tanker and container transport on roads and we have seen the damage we have done, there is no reason we cannot move back”, the Minister said adding that although it may take time but there must be a common agreement to move off the roads “because if the roads fail, the transport business dies”.

He declared, “So in the same way they import trailers to move their cargo, they can begin to make arrangements to import wagons.

We must all agree that this is the way to go. I am convinced that this is the way to go for the future”, adding that Nigerians have even designed tankers beyond the capacity found in any other parts of the world. “We must all agree because this is not sustainable”, he said.

Fashola suggested that instead of building and reconstructing the rail-lines, the same containers and tankers could be configured to run on tracks adding, that the present administration was now moving cattle by rail from the North to Lagos and that, according to him, is how it should go to save the roads.

On the rehabilitation project, the Minister, who described it as an emergency intervention, added, “This is why Ijora-Apapa Bridge failed because it was just over burdened with cargo for a very long time and after

sometime it could not hold it anymore”.

Explaining his reason for the inspection, the Minister said, “I am here to see things for myself so that those who will give me budgetary support when they ask me for details I can give to them”, adding that the project could not be appropriated in

the 2016 budget but would be accommodated in the 2017 budget.

According to him, “The Chairman Senate committee on works is someone who is also committed to this project and to finish it. Unfortunately the appropriation did not deal with it this year probably next year in

a sense that we give some relief to the people of Apapa and the environs and we hope that as we go on we will be able to revive the old rail tracks even if all it does is to move our cargo”. The Ministry of Transportation, he said, is working to revive the rail transportation.

South Africa base Nigerian arrested with drugs worth N31m at Lagos airport From Lagos

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Suleiman

Idris,

Nigerian living in Pretoria, South Africa Abiodun Israel Banjo, 45, has been arrested with parcels of methamphetamine at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.

Officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) claimed the arrest took place during the outward screening of passengers on a South African Airline flight to South Africa.

The parcels of drug tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 3.435kgs with a street value of thirty-one (31) million naira in Nigeria.

NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Ahmadu Garba said “The drug was

detected during routine check on passengers on South Africa Airline flight to South Africa.

Two bags belonging to one Abiodun Israel Banjo, 45 year old were found to contain parcels of methamphetamine.

Inside the bags were food ingredients and clothes but underneath was a thin parcel of narcotics carefully concealed.

He was immediately arrested and investigation is on-going” The suspect who works in South Africa said that the bags were given to him by a friend in South Africa.

“I work in Pretoria. My friend in South Africa called me that his brother will give me two bags containing foodstuff to take to him. He also promised to give me two thousand dollars.

I opened the bags and check thoroughly but could not find anything criminal that was how

I accepted to take the bags but I was surprised when the drug was detected under the bags. I feel very sad that my friend has implicated me”.

The suspect, a graduate of Technical College Ijebu-Ode has been living in South Africa since 2012. He hails from Osun State.

NDLEA Chairman, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah advice the publics to be wary of tricks employed by drug trafficking cartels.

He said “Drug traffickers recruit mules by enticing them with money. They are very clever in concealing drugs as drugs have been detected in bags, electronics, foodstuff and clothes among others.

We strongly advise that all passengers should endeavour to pack their bags themselves and avoid taking bags for others”

Motoring PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

By Ray Massey

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dventurous Land Rover has unveiled the first shots of the new fifth-generation of its premium family-friendly Discovery model.

The British carmaker released teaser front-on only images of the visibly more rounded and streamlined family-oriented off-roader ahead of its official world premier launch on the eve of the Paris Motor Show at the end of this month (28th September).

It will reach UK showrooms from early next year priced at around £48,000 to £60,000. The new car aims to continue a sales drive which has seen more than 1.2million Discoveries sold since the first generation version went on sale 27 years ago. Land Rover said: ‘The new Discovery is coming. This is the first sight of Land Rover’s new full-sized, seven-seat sports utility vehicle. It is created with absolute versatility, capability and hugely capable premium SUV. ‘The new Discovery embodies Land Rover’s drive to go ‘Above and Beyond’, combining British desirability with an unstoppable spirit of adventure’.

Land Rover’s chief design officer Gerry McGovern, who has overseen the transformation of the Discovery added: ‘New Discovery redefines the large SUV. Land Rover’s design and engineering teams have revolutionised the Discovery DNA to create a highly desirable, extremely versatile and hugely capable premium SUV.’ More details are to be released closer to the official launch.

The Discovery is built at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant on the outskirts of Birmingham which was visited last week

by Prime Minister Theresa May. Land Rover sold 1,574 vehicles in August – up 44.94 per cent from the 1,086 for the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders published on Monday.

For the year to date it has sold 49,015

4X4s, up 22.3 per cent on the same eight month period last year. It came as the UK new car market achieved ‘modest growth’ in August - ahead of the September ’66 plate change - as registrations rose 3.3 per cent against the same month last year, according to the SMMT. Some 81,640 new cars were registered in August with year-to-date sales up 2.8% to 1.68 million vehicles.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: ‘August is traditionally one of the quietest months as consumers look ahead to the September plate change, so growth, albeit small, is good news’.

Land Rover in total sold a record 100,900 vehicles for the first quarter to the end of June- exceeding 100,000

vehicles in three months for the first time, boosted by strong demand for the Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport, with Land Rover accounting for 100,900 vehicles.

But Jaguar sales also accelerated 76 per cent to 31,800, taking total JLR sales to 132,700.

The new Discovery is the fifth generation of the premium 4X4, launched originally in 1989 as a more comfortable but no less capable alternative to the more workhorse Defender and more luxurious and expensive Range Rover.

Some 1,213,060 ‘Discos’ have been sold globally since 1989 making it a huge export earner. The Discovery has also gone more upmarket in recent

incarnations and comes with a price tag that pits it against executive motors. The first generation Discovery 1 achieved 348,619 between launch and 1998, with the second generation managing 300,727 in the six years to 2004.

The third generation hit 233,047 in the five years to 2009 while the current outgoing model has managed 330,667 to July this year.

In 2012 Land Rover celebrated the millionth Discovery coming off the line by recreating the Overland Expedition called ‘The Journey Of Discovery’ and driving the landmark vehicle from Birmingham to Beijing to raised £1million for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

PAGE 25

Peoples Daily, tuesday, September 13, 2016

PAGE 24

Special Report

Illegal migrant makes good as plumber in Nigeria Nearly 15 years ago, successful Nigerian businessman Anselm Okoukoni was one of the desperate African migrants prepared to do anything to get to Europe.

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s the first son of his widowed mother a farmer - custom demanded that the responsibility for his six siblings would shift to him the minute he graduated from university.

Long before he got his degree in statistics, he decided that he did not want to join the mass of unemployed university graduates in his country.

But the embassies of Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, France, Belgium, UK and the US all refused to give him a visa.

However, things began to look up when someone introduced him to someone who knew someone who could facilitate a visa to Greece - for the sum of about 400,000 naira which, at the time, was equivalent to about $3,500 (£2,350).

“My uncle in America had already told me to let him know whenever I got a visa,” Mr Okoukoni said.

He soon sent a total of $5,000 to cover the visa, air ticket and some travel allowance - a gift, not a loan - his contribution to his nephew’s future.

Aged 24, Mr Okoukoni left Nigeria in December 2002, arriving in a country where he knew absolutely no-one and so he quickly headed to Italy where he had friends.

When his visa expired several weeks later, he did what most of his friends had done and claimed asylum.

“I don’t remember what story I told,” he said, explaining that the thing to do was to choose a topical story.

Over the next two years, he struggled with learning to communicate in Italian and found it impossible to get a decent job.

He ended up street hawking, which is illegal in Italy, and a number of times he was arrested and his goods seized.

“It wasn’t the kind of life I wanted to live,” he said, adding that his income was hardly enough to pay for his siblings’ school fees.

Job satisfaction Once again, luck shone on Mr Okoukoni when someone introduced him to a man who had a genuine passport from a European country and who shared a strong facial resemblance to him.

He agreed to allow him use his passport to cross over to the UK in the summer of 2004.

Safe in London at last, Mr Okoukoni was both shocked and thrilled by his first impressions of the city.

“I saw Africans driving buses and cabs, and working in McDonald’s

and in hospitals,” he said.

“In Italy, you could hardly see a black person doing those kinds of jobs. Most of the black people I saw were factory workers or farm workers or cleaners or prostitutes.”

His Nigerian friends in London helped him with accommodation; found him a job as a parking attendant and organised the relevant documentation.

He would work with someone else’s identity.

“Within one year, I had job satisfaction,” he said.

“I felt I was doing something professional.

I was paying taxes. I was sending money home to Nigeria.”

Mr Okoukoni remembers being elated with his salary of £8.50 an hour, but after seeing an advert for a community college open day, he decided it was time to further his education.

Of all the vocational courses on offer, he chose to study plumbing.

“I remembered that I’d never entered a house in Nigeria where the plumbing was done properly,” he said.

The one-day-a-week course was free for British citizens but not for foreigners - and he was required to show his passport showing his leave to remain in the UK when

Mr Okoukoni is now a top plumber in Nigeria he handed over his fee of £1,400.

Luckily, the woman who registered him believed his story that he had forgotten his passport at home.

After a year of studying, he quit his job and, using his student ID card, found a new job as an apprentice plumber with a construction company.

“The pay was even more than what I earned as a parking attendant - at £9.70 an hour,” he said.

Anselm’s journey: 2002: Goes to Greece 2003: Goes to Italy, works as street hawker 2004: Goes to the UK, works as parking attendant 2006: Trains as plumber 2008: Starts work as plumber 2012: Returns to Nigeria and sets up plumbing business

Okon doing what he knows best

“I paid for all these courses myself. Everything cost me roughly £10,000.”

Long before he had finished his studies in 2012, he had decided to return to Nigeria as he knew his skills would be invaluable in his home country.

In 2013, he bought a van and loaded it with all manner of tools of his trade, then shipped if off to Nigeria.

Shortly afterwards, he quit his £12-an-hour job in London, for a property development company in Lagos.

He proved so efficient his boss was loath to let him go at the end of it.

“But I wanted to go and build my own business,” Mr Okoukoni said. contracts that came simply by referral from pleased clients.

Over the next few years, Mr Okoukoni acquired another qualification in plumbing, one in heating and gas and a certificate in building services engineering.

As he had envisaged, the dearth of quality workmen in Nigeria had made his plumbing, fire protection, air conditioning and ventilation services highly sought after.

“Right now, I shuttle between Port Harcourt and Lagos doing jobs,” he said.

His plans to immediately build a website and advertise aggressively did not materialise, as he was soon inundated with In Nigeria, it is common to enter a magnificent building only to find that the toilets do not flush properly, or that the wall sockets are askew, or that the door handles come off in your hand, or that the windows cannot shut, or that the interlocking tiles have spaces in between that can be injurious to the Gucci or Jimmy Choo heels of the owners.

Many developers who aim for high quality have taken to importing artisans from nearby countries like Togo and Benin, who are reputed to be more skilled than their Nigerian counterparts.

Mr Okoukoni blames

the poor quality of work

by Nigerian artisans on their primary focus on money.

The time it takes to learn a skill is time not earning an income.

“So, once they can hang one door, they go away and tell everyone that they are a carpenter.

They stop coming to work.

They don’t wait to learn everything they should.”

His company, Ansko Building Services Ltd, currently employs 12 plumbers and two apprentices.

His plumbers initially presented themselves as experienced, but he had to train them afresh.

However, he paid them while they were learning, and also pays his two apprentices a salary that is above the country’s minimum wage. That way, they were motivated to stay on.

“Since the beginning of this year I’ve not touched any tool. They now do all the work while I supervise.”

Mr Okoukoni’s future plans include opening a training centre for people in the building services industry, to show them

Most of Mr Okoukoni’s plumbing tools were shipped from the UK

“

Rangers need all the help they can get in the fight against poachers. Killing elephants for their tusks and rhinos for their horns has become an illicit multimillion dollar business, with demand particularly high in Asia.

And the trade is threatening Africa’s lucrative wildlife tourism industry.

“South Africa’s Kruger National Park is ground zero for poachers,” says Crawford Allan, spokesman for the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) crime technology project. “There are 12 gangs in there at any time. It’s almost like a war zone.”

Mr Okoukoni currently employs 12 plumbers and two apprentices

in particular the range of tools they could use.

“Nobody has ever taken the time to teach them,” he said.

He is ashamed of all the illegal steps he took in the course of his life’s journey to and through Europe, but he is glad with the way things have turned out.

He is now able to provide employment for other young Nigerians, take care of the wife he married after returning to Nigeria, look after his mother and pay for his brother’s studies in the US. And his advice for those migrants in Europe or making their way there?

“When they get to Europe, they should obey the law and do the right thing.

“They should look for unique skills that they can develop and use to improve the society over there and also back home.

“If you go to Europe to simply look for money, you are wasting your time.”

Source: BBC

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Property The notorious incidences of Gwarinpa building collapse

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uilding collapse is a cankerworm bedeviling property developments generally, not only in Abuja. But, the frequency of its occurrence in the Gwarinpa Housing Estate relative to the entire City is something else.

The Gwarinpa Housing Estate constitutes only two of the developed districts out of at least thirty in the Abuja City development plan. These are Bunkoro and Wupa Districts in the Phase III. In October 2009 there was building collapse at the Gwarinpa Estate, which was attributed to structural failure. February 2012 was a period

when another building collapsed in the same Gwarinpa, and was attributed to the developer’s refusal to respect the stop work order served by the FHA staff, including marking the structure which accompanied the enforcement order.

Yet on the 29th of August 2016 at the same Gwarinpa Housing Estate there was building collapse which claimed 4 lives according to the last report received. The same recurrent reason of disrespect to the enforcement notices served to the developer was again attributed as the cause of the latest collapse.

There are different Authorities in charge of

controlling developments. While Development Control of the Gwarinpa Housing Estate is handled by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the remaining districts of the entire City is under the AMMC. For the fact that incidences of building collapse is less frequent in the larger area under the AMMC, than the small entity under the control of the FHA, indicates that development control activities under the AMMC is more effective than that of the FHA. Thus, the first step of curbing the Gwarinpa building collapse recurrent incidences is that, the FHA must learn from AMMC, on how the AMMC

is able to effectively mitigate the incidences of building collapse in the entire City, against its only two districts.

Whenever there is any incidence, the FCT administration always makes the statement that it shall investigate the cause of the collapse in order to forestall future occurrence. For the Gwarinpa Estate, even if it investigates, it cannot implement, because, it has ceded the power of enforcement of development control to another Authority. Certainly the FHA lacks the sophisticated machines for the control of development in a beehive like that of Abuja.

Survey reveals positive sentiment in Dubai real estate market

By Tpl. Umar Shuaibu

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The president Abuja chapter of NIESV- Adamu Danladai Kasimu, RSV, FNIVS

eople in Dubai are expecting the residential property market to recover in the next 12 months with this positive sentiment expected to attract more buyers, according to a new survey.

Some 50% are expecting the housing market to improve and those renting are keen to buy with 51% indicating so, the details of the Dubai residential market sentiment survey from international real estate firm Savills shows.

Of those tenants seeking to buy some 62% were leaning towards buying a home for their own use rather than buying to let, thus demonstrating further reinforcement towards ownership, consistent with the high yield levels in a majority of mainstream residential districts in Dubai.

The report highlights that of all tenants looking to move towards ownership, more than half were looking to purchase a property within the next 12 months, a trend in line with Savill’s previous forecast of the growing pool of buyers looking to enter the bottoming market.

Confirming the general optimism, only 17% were not planning to buy real estate in Dubai anytime in the future, while 32% were unsure.

Savills is expecting sales to rise with 58% of existing owners saying that they are likely to transact over the next 12 months and almost 46% are inclined to expand their

FMBN revenue hits 5.8bn operating surplus of N424m

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) said the bank has recorded surplus of N424 million from a total income of N5.8 billion in 2016.

The FMBN said the paradigm shift is towards sustainable profitability and the delivery of quality services to National Housing Fund (NHF) contributors and mortgagors .

The bank is now focusing on approval and disbursement of pending loan applications to retiring contributors.

To benefit from this, contributors must have provided their Bank details and Bank Verification Number (BVN).

This was disclosed during the bank’s Business

Performance Review in Abuja, where the banks’ Group Head, Finance and Control Group, Mrs. Oby Nwokedi, disclosed that FMBN recorded surplus of N424 million from a total income of N5.8 billion, saying, it was a turnaround from a loss-making entity in decades, to a profitable organization in 2016.

She further stressed the need to identify critical factors affecting operational performance in the bank such as sound corporate governance principles in its continuous engagement with government and stakeholders.

“The bank must also adequately strategize in all facets of its operations in order to redefine its role in the housing/mortgage finance market with a view to being operationally efficient and profitable like its international

peer institutions; and finally, periodic performance review sessions will be sustained to entrench the culture of performance and accountability in the Bank”.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, urged the Bank to entrench the culture of accountability and profitability in its systems and periodically review its portfolio, with a view to optimizing its assets to drive mortgage lending and profitability.

The Minister, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Emmanuel Otu, implored the staff to take advantage of the session to highlight issues impeding on their performances in their respective offices so as to improve efficiency and ultimately the Bank’s

image.

Also the Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank, Mr. Richard Esin, said the business performance review which was the first of its kind in the history of the bank was imperative in order to successfully chart a new course.

According to him, the bank must focus on creating a performance driven culture at all levels of its operations by embracing its four pillars namely; corporate governance compliance, bank profitability, operational effectiveness and debt recovery.

The bank, he said, is collaborating with other organizations of like minds to promote self re-invention and stimulate competition for the overall growth of the housing sector.

existing residential portfolio.

As expected, Dubai Marina continues to hold its position of the most favoured residential district while Downtown came in second. Both these locations account for more than a quarter of all responses, clearly positioning their dominance on desirability despite or perhaps because of their current drop in sales prices.

Mid-segment villa communities such as The Springs, The Meadows and The Lakes emerged as the most sought after villa districtsi while newer suburban residential districts are yet to match interest levels with the established central residential submarkets.

Of all the factors hindering Dubai residents to buy, the single largest reason is the difficulty to secure finance with one in four reporting this as their main deterrent.

Some 71% believe that mortgage regulations should be relaxed even when factoring in the detrimental effect of a possible return of speculative buyers.

Further analysing tenant responses, particularly those who were unsure or not interested to buy in Dubai, a prominent 30% reported difficulty in accessing mortgage finance, probably representing a substantial segment of tenants who are kept away from ownership by the current criteria and reinstating the fact that there exists a strong underlying demand of tenants who would consider transitioning to ownership if the mortgage regulations are relaxed, further highlighting the affordability issues faced by the mainstream market segment.

Despite much debate in the aftermath, a majority of 56% responses indicated Brexit to have had a neutral effect on Dubai’s real estate while 24% agreed that it would be bring about a positive impact compared to 21% expecting a negative outcome Water front developments such as Dubai Water Canal and Dubai Creak Harbour were the preferred flagship developments which would shape the future of Dubai with 62% choosing them over other inland developments such as Dubai South and MBR City.

Overall 59% of survey participants perceived owning a property in Dubai to be advantageous despite the current market backdrop whilst a robust 71% of the owners holding properties in Dubai agreed to this statement and Savills says this reflects a sense of confidence in the real estate market.

‘Unsurprisingly in the context of softening prices seen in the past two years, the flight to quality towards core locations is translated in a positive market sentiment for the prime apartment locations of Downtown, Dubai Marina and the freehold segment of Jumeirah in addition to the villa districts of Palm Jumeirah and Emirates Hills,’ the report says.

‘On the flipside, areas such as Dubailand and Dubai South were perceived less likely to appreciate by participants. The issues of affordability and mortgage regulations continue to weigh down upon the buying intent of the mainstream tenants,’ it points out.

‘We expect progressive relaxation of the current mortgage regulations to provide relief to this large segment by particularly focusing on those who are buying to live thus keeping speculators away,’ it concludes.

Landlord sentiment survey reveals impact of tax changes for buy to let Falling property prices make Dubai a more mature real estate market Brexit unlikely to affect Dubai real estate markets New analysis reveals impact of real estate as an asset around the world.

Source : Propertywire

P A G E

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Property

No going back on the ban of building material importation in Nigeria- Fashola

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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he Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said there is no going back on the decision of the Federal Government to ban the importation of 10 building materials into the country, to enable the growth of locally-produced ones.

He identified the affected materials to include doors, windows, tiles, ceilings, plumbing accessories, cables, paint and iron, noting that the only way Nigerians could help to reflate and stimulate the economy back to growth was for people to look inwards for satisfaction of their needs.

Speaking at the fifth National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development, themed, ‘Building Adequate Capacity of Professionals, Artisans and Tradesmen in the Built Environment,’ Fashola said all the benefits envisaged in this year’s budget, such as inclusion and employment, would not happen if the people for whom the budget was made, abdicated the responsibility for building to foreigners or prefer foreign goods to

locally made ones.

The Federal Government had in March after a two-day retreat held by the National Economic Council proposed the stoppage of the importation of tiles, Bitumen/Asphalt and others.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, quoted Fashola as saying that the ban would provide opportunity for the professionals, artisans and tradesmen in the built environment to show what they could do, build capacity and help to produce the “hundreds of thousands of doors, windows, roofing materials, gallons of paints, plumbing materials and other accessories that would be required

by Nigerians.”

On the road map for Housing, Fashola, said progress had been made and that steps were being taken to complete the remaining processes, noting that the government was being meticulous in its planning to ensure that the National Housing Programme meets national acceptability.”

National Housing wants softer loans to build cheaper houses

N

ational Housing and Construction Company Limited (NHCC) has asked the government to make better policies so that it can build affordable houses for Ugandans.

NHCC is tasked with offering lowcost houses but has received mixed feelings over the prices of its apartments that range between Shs 100m and Shs 600m – amounts that are way beyond the reach of ordinary Ugandans.

Government owns a 51 per cent stake in the company.

According to Parity Twinomujuni, the chief executive officer of NHCC, government needs to come up with stricter legislation and incentives like tax waivers so that construction costs are minimised in order to achieve affordable housing.

Speaking at the launch of Impala estates in Namungoona last week, Twinomujuni urged government to dictate that banks avail mortgage finance and also extend services to communities so as to reduce the costs incurred by NHCC in the construction of roads and other services. He added that NHCC houses are expensive due to the fact that the interest rates on credit are high.

“When you invest in housing, you invest once. It’s not like other sectors.

When you invest Shs 100bn today, that figure doubles in five years and it contributes to about 1,000 more houses,” said Twinomujuni.

“Like any other business that needs long-term funds but borrows at shortterm high rates, our model provides for houses that can’t be afforded by a bigger population. These hurdles can be overcome with support from government and other stakeholders,” he added.

COURT BATTLES

Agnes Kalibbala, the NHCC board chairperson, said her board was faced with a series of challenges such as court battles over land. She asked government to consider allocating free land so that cheaper apartments can be built.

“We talk about affordability of houses as a major factor affecting home ownership but it’s impossible to bring the prices down in the current environment. Land is highly-priced and we get no contention when it comes to purchasing it and yet we have to compensate squatters,” said Kalibbala.

Matia Kasaija, the minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, called for a review of the Land Act, saying many important projects had stalled due to irrelevant land issues.

Kasaija urged the company to come up with cheaper but effective construction techniques and venture into other sectors such as road construction. Kasaija said government has not paid lip-service to the cost of funds.

“We are looking into ways of sourcing low-cost finances for long-term duration projects so that companies like NHCC can borrow money from banks like Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and pay back at lower interest rates,” he noted.

The recently-launched Impala estate has 133 modern apartments, valued at Shs 290m each. One can get a mortgage with selected banks such as Stanbic and Tropical. NHCC has a total of 469 apartments in Namungoona.

With 58 apartments in Naalya, 160 in Mbarara, 3,600 affordable units in Bukerere and 300 units in Luzira, the construction firm estimates that 5,000 apartments will be constructed in five years.

Observer.ng

Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing

Dearth of artisans & craftsmen in Nigeria

N

igeria is currently bedeviled by poor workmanship which has led to delivery of poor quality of works handled by Nigerian artisans and craftsmen. Foreign artisans and craftsmen from neighboring countries have therefore seen this gap in the Nigerian industry and have therefore trouped into Nigeria in large numbers to take advantage of this opening and fill this vacuum.

The influx of foreign artisans and craftsmen in Nigeria is caused by a combination of the following reasons: 1. Lack of very skilled artisan and craftsmen in Nigeria 2. Death of Technical and vocational Skills training Center’s in Nigeria. Existing ones are poorly and ill equip to offer any form of professional skill training.

3.

Lack of interest in Vocational skill acquisition by our youths; 4. Preference of University Education than technical Education 5.

More Preference for “Easy”, “less stressful” white collar jobs 6. Poor remunerations by the industry for skilled professionals compared to their white collar job colleagues 7. There is no well-defined career path that can guarantee “growth to the top” as there is stagnation at certain ranks for people who acquired technical education and are working in government establishments and companies.

8. Nigerian Work environment “do not attach any value” to People who attend Technical Education as there is more preference for People with University Degree as is seen with most Job Advert placements.

For this to be checked, there are a number of things that has to be done; 1. Government must as a matter of urgent importance introduce and put in place the National Vocational Qualification Framework

(NVQF) which will seek to recognize technical and vocational education and skill as well as ensure the guarantee of a career growth path for people in this cadre. This will also ensure that work output is judged based on competence and not paper qualification.

2. Government should also ensure that equal opportunities are given to those with technical education in job placements and career growth in government establishment and companies.

This will make technical education attractive and people who choose the path of technical education will not be stagnated in their work places.

3. The remunerations of those with technical education should be improved to “match or be better” than those who do white collar jobs in view of the level of skill, exposure and strength required to carry out their jobs.

4. Government should enact a law that will ensure that every youth either at primary or Secondary school level must acquire a vocational skill. This will help youths to be exposed to and appreciate hand works as a tool for economic development. This will also show the need for less dependence on white collar jobs as young school leavers can work with the skills acquired even when waiting to further their education.

5. Government should equip existing and set up more skill and vocational training centers across the country for the massive recruitment and training of skilled artisans and craftsmen.

6. Government and the private sector should make vocational skill works attractive to youths by giving scholarships for youths willing to learn trades and create job opportunities that will be awaiting those who acquire vocational skills.

Source : Bldr. Musa Yakubu National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Recession: Summon national economic conference - DPC tells Buhari

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

F

ollowing the current economic recession biting hard on Nigerians, the Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC) has asked President Mohammadu Buhari to summon emergency national economic conference where experts would be gathered to advise the

government on measures to pull the country out of recession.

In an Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslims, the national Chairman of DPC, Olusegun Peters, said this is the only way the government can halt the country from its present economic drift.

It also advised President Buhari to urgently overhaul his economic

team and set up another cabinet that will be generally acceptable and has the capacity to pilot the economy of the country to greatness.

“The state of the nation is bad and demands the collective efforts of all Nigerians and the nation’s development partners to revamp the economy and strengthen over frail democracy.

“Nigerians are suffering. It is time for patriotism. It is time to set aside mundane and parochial politics and take governance serious.

It is time to organize a national economic conference with a view to proffering solutions to the current economic recession and halt the drift; and thereafter set up a generally acceptable economic team,” the party

• L-R: Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Lagos State Governor , Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his Wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during their Sallah Homage visit to the APC Nayional Leader, at Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence, on Monday in Lagos .

Photo: Lagos Govt House

Don’t succumb to blackmail from N/Delta groups, Ijaw Chief urges Buhari

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n Ijaw chief, Wilfred Ogbotoboh, has asked communities in the Niger Delta region to stop their campaigns of calumny against military operations aimed at flushing out criminals and militants from the creeks.

Ogbotoboh, who is a chief from Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State, said criminals and their activities were the reason why the region was lagging behind in development. He said no investor, foreign or local, would risk putting down money in an area notorious for violence and militancy.

The Ijaw chief also decried the situation where some persons will sponsor communities to accuse security agencies of human rights violation whenever a move is made to permanently silence criminal elements.

Chief Ogbotoboh pointed out that the military had conducted its Operation Crocodile Tears with strict adherence to its rules of engagements, despite massive deployment of soldiers in the region.

He also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of entering into dialogue with some persons, especially the group led by frontline Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark.

He said persons presenting themselves for dialogue as stakeholders – in apparent reference to Clark and his group – were busy cornering the collective wealth of the region during the administration of Goodluck

Jonathan and failed to engage him.

He said: “Hence, the FG should not allow itself to be deceived and coerced into engaging in any form of dialogue, by the covert threats, blackmail and intimidations of the likes of the Chief Edwin Clark group or any other such group in the Niger Delta.

“These people and groups, oftentimes, do not represent the genuine interests of the ordinary Niger Deltans and, deep down they are the very architects, masterminds and beneficiaries of the insane criminality peddled mostly by the Ijaws in the region. They are not effectively connected with the people they claim to lead. No amount of dialogue, with this same set of characters, would produce any single meaningful result.

“These self-styled leaders and stakeholders forgot dialogue when the likes of Ibori, late Alamieyesiegha and lately the federal administration of one of their own, unscrupulously fleeced the states and national economies and never gave a damn about the impoverishment of the region. Can Professor G.G Darah deny his participation in the Ibori Vanguard jamboree? Were the monies expended on those meaningless trivialities not weighty enough to capture the attention of serious leaders?

“They didn’t remember dialogue when Jonathan refused, bluntly, to implement the UNEP report on Ogon iland”.

“Moreover, presently there is no

need for any other form of dialogue as the ongoing military dialogue ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’, has proved to be the best suited for the circumstances. The federal government has taken the most sensible right step in the circumstances in the military dialogue codenamed Operation Crocodile Smile. The federal government has taken the most sensible right step in the circumstances in the military dialogue codenamed Operation Crocodile Smile.

“This specific dialogue must be allowed to run a full course and restore the region for meaningful fast tracked development that would impact on the lives of the ordinary folks.”

This specific dialogue must be allowed to run a full course and restore the region for meaningful fast tracked development that would impact on the lives of the ordinary folks.”

Ogbotoboh said Buhari had demonstrated the will to develop the region by commencing the implementation of the report on Ogoniland without dialogue, adding that the All Progressives Congress-led federal government knew the issues confronting the region and were enthusiastic at addressing them.

He said: “Apparently Nigerians and the international community are in the dark about the heinous atrocities being committed against hapless traders and other users of the waterways of the creeks by the demoniacs, tacitly abetted by the likes of the elders and their groups.

“The US fact-finding mission should abort their grand speech making mission and rather take time to visit the creeks and listen to gruesome narratives of the experiences of some unfortunate ordinary people.

“From Andoni, Bonny to Nembe, Brass and Southern Ijaw and other areas, mothers and daughters have been shot dead while travelling on the creeks.

“Others have had their babies smashed on the planks of wooden boats and thrown into the rivers because they hid money inside the baby’s pampers or had no money at all to give to militants.

“A woman had her ten fingers smashed with hammer for speaking against militancy during a private conversation. Another woman was forced to offload a full boat load of oysters, probably one week’s labour, into the river for not having money to give to them at the moment.

“People outside the region should not listen to the barefaced lies and propaganda of these people. They are not serious. The demonic activities of the criminals they protect and represent,who are in truth their foot soldiers, have turned the Ijaw areas into lawless jungles”.

He added: “These are the same people who didn’t do anything while Jonathan, his wife and Wike recklessly destroyed the beauty, peace and security that former Governor Amaechi assiduously worked hard to put in place in Rivers State.

said in the statement.

While urging Nigerians to be at alert and carry out their civic duties of holding governments at all levels accountable for their actions, DPC expressed pains that Nigeria, being a country blessed with abundant natural resources and enterprising citizenry, has become an impoverished and beggar nation.

“We enjoin the faithful to imbibe the virtues of love, peace, tolerance, understanding and sacrifice in the service to Allah and humanity.

They should also use the occasion to pray for the nation in this period of economic recession,” part of the statement said.

Meanwhile, the party condemned in strong terms the postponement of the Edo governorship election, arguing that the security agents were on notice that the election would take place and ought to have taken necessary security measures ahead of the election to protect lives and property.

It also challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sit up and be decisive to avoid any action that can truncate the ongoing democratic process in Nigeria.

Economy will recover if Nigerians support Buhari’s ‘Change Begins With Me’ – APC

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he All Progressives Congress, APC, has appealed to Nigerians to pray for the quick recovery of the nation’s economy and support government efforts on the economy.

“Indeed, Nigeria is today passing through challenging times in its socio-economic life, the Party calls on Nigerians to pray and support the administration as it works assiduously to pull the country out of the present hardships and restore the country on the path growth in all facets,” the party said in a Sallah message to Muslims, signed by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“Happily, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration is already employing all legitimate and innovative means to restore the country’s battered economy back to health in the quickest possible time.”

T he party said Muslim faithful and all Nigerians should use the occasion of Eid-elKabir celebration to show love and promote harmonious and peaceful co-existence with one another irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations.

Page 29

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Politics

• Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State flanked by his Deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu (R) and the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Dr. AbdulMumin Kabir Usman when the monarch paid the traditional Sallah homage to the Governor at the Old Government House,, yesterday in Katsina . Photo: Katsina Govt House

Edo 2016: Top APGA members defect to APC

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hief Pius Okolie, the Publicity Secretary and Chieftain of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has dumped his party for the APC, as the state’s governorship election draws

nearer. “I believe Obaseki will consolidate on Oshiomhole’s good works and even do better.” he said.

Okolie decamped with over 1,000 of his supporters, APGA executive members and chieftains including the

Organising Secretary, Mr Chidi Eze; Ikpoba Okha Ward 1 Chairman, Festus Agbonlahor; Ward 2 Chairman, Uchenna Ogugba; Ward 7 Youth Leader, Pastor Peter Akeredolu; Woman Leader, Mrs Blessing Aikharaekpen; Uhunmwode

Youth Leader, Godfrey Ogbarate and Chief Raymond Okpara, Ex-Officio.

Okolie is a former aspirant for House of Representatives for Oredo Constituency and House of Assembly, IkpobaOkha Constituency.

Oshomhole’s commissioner denies supporting PDP candidate

T

he Edo State Commissioner of Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has refuted reports on social media that he is backing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 28 rescheduled governorship election in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The commissioner, in a statement last night, described

the reports as a “big scam”, stressing that “the conveyors of such odium are not only suffering from political thalidomide, but have taken desperation to ridiculous extent”.

Prince Afegbua pointed out that in this jet age, people should drive information with truth and honesty and not shameless imputation of misleading information to score cheap

political points.

“I did not discuss with anyone about any support for the PDP candidate. I am fully for the candidate of the APC and my last interview on Friday, 9th September, captured in Daily Independent, says it all. It is a straight win for the APC. So why on earth will some clueless and colourless demagogues ascribe a false statement to me?

“Is this the ridiculous extent that the social media has degenerated or someone is trying to be clever by half? What a society with very disturbing character indices with their ridiculous promoters. I am for Obaseki pure and simple. Anyone not comfortable with that can go to hell. That’s my political right and I can exercise it to the fullest”, he asserted.

Edo Guber: I don’t want to be governor on the blood of my people – Obaseki

T

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that he’d rather not be a governor than see the blood of Edo people spill.

Obaseki made this statement in Lagos State while fielding questions from newsmen over the postponement of the state governorship election by the Independent National Election Commission, INEC. He said: “We were ready for the elections, but when the police belatedly raised the issue of security, there is nothing we could do. I will rather not be a governor than to have the blood of many people shed by miscreants that were imported into Edo State to cause havoc”.

Referencing the Rivers State incidents, Obaseki asked “How many people have been tried or charged to court for the wanton killings and violence in Rivers State, let alone being convicted?

“How many people have been arrested for the blatant murder of the Port Harcourt lawyer?” he queried.

“These imported hoodlums have nothing to lose, they are not from Edo, and would not think twice before killing our people the way they killed people in Rivers State,” he added.

Obaseki maintained that though it was disappointing for the election to have been postponed as the APC was coasting home to victory, however, the APC will win the election convincingly any day or time.

“The postponement was just a mere shift of the doomsday for the People’s Democratic Party and others. The people of Edo State have made up their mind never to go back to the dark era. They know me, they know the lineage of my family, they can trace me from four five generations back, they know I don’t have a violent past.

“I have never been charged or tried for violent behavior. Let me assure you that we will win the election and win hands-down”, he said.

Be patient and prayerful for Buhari – Muslim clerics in Ekiti urge

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uslim leaders in Ekiti State have urged Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to be patient with the President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration, adding that with prayers and steadfastness, the government would soon lead the country out of the woods.

Speaking at the El-id-Kabir prayer organised by the Ekiti State Central mosque held at the Ado Grammar School, Poly Road, AdoEkiti, Ekiti State captial, Alhaji Abdulraheem Olowo, who is the Awiye Adinni of the state, urged all Muslims to live by the dictates

of Islamic religion which include respect and support for constituted authority, maintaining peace with fellow citizens and sharing love among one another. He also enjoined all to be patient with the federal and state governments in the face of the current economic hardship.

Otu Seriki of Ado-Ekiti central said, “Islam is a religion of peace, compassion and love for one another; and we should live by these dictates. It is true that things are quite hard now because of the painstaking efforts of the government to ensure that things

are done differently to effect the change we desire by bringing them into power. So, let‘s be patient and prayerful for our government as only these would help them to fulfill the electoral promises they made. The change promised

by President Buhari requires a collective sacrifice on the part of all Nigerians and this is not an easy task. You would recall that even though Prophet Ibrahim, that great servants of Allah who bestowed the legacy of faith on us, did not find it easy to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael for Allah, even though he had promised to give

the supreme being whatever He asked of him,” he said.

Also, encouraging the Muslims faithful, and all Nigerians to be prayerful for government and equally urging the government to urgently find means of alleviating the suffering of the common man, Chief Missionary of the Ahmadiya Muslim Central Missionary Centre of Ekiti State, Alhaji Kamarudeen Ololade Yusuf, said “the government at all levels must ensure that the suffering being inflicted on the masses as a result of the economic recession will in no time be gotten rid off.

They must make urgent efforts to improve the condition of life of the people, as things are just too bad for everyone currently. This is the reason why they have been supported and voted for.”

Alhaji Kamarudeen also advised that Muslims who could afford to buy the rams for the celebration of the Sallah, should endeavour to share with their neighbours who couldn’t, adding that “only when this is done can we all have a fulfilling Sallah celebration, because the celebration of Sallah itself is to show love to everyone.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Page 30

Politics

Our current economic situation a passing phase, says Bola Tinubu

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he National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has said the current economic situation was not the making of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The former Lagos State Governor, in his Eid-el-kabir message, noted that the current economic challenge was a phase that will come and pass.

“We must see our current economic situation as a passing phase. We shall overcome. Our faith summons us to have faith but also to work so that things can get better.

“This economic predicament is not of our making or choosing. It came not by invitation. The economic downturn represents a tough challenge not lightly overcome. No one wished that such an impediment would confront us. Now, we must rise to the occasion. Our economic situation presents an opportunity for us to do something we have avoided too long.

Speaking through his Media Office,Tinubu said the “present circumstance” wasn’t pushed on the populace by the ruling party.

Urging Nigerian to join the government in building a new, vibrant economy, Tinubu said, “During this Season of Eid-el-Kabir, I wish to felicitate with the Muslim brotherhood. We must give thanks to almighty Allah for keeping us alive to celebrate this Eid celebration.

“This spirit of sacrifice and unselfish giving that defines this celebration must guide us all in the way we relate to others and in our quest for a better society. Through sacrifice and a heart and hand of charity we can lift up many who will in turn become better tools for the socio-economic rejuvenation we so desire.

“Nigerians deserve a better country, more empowerment, job opportunities and an overall strong economy. The current government is committed to achieving this.”

• Gov. Muhammed Abubukar of Bauchi state (R) welcoming the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu to the Government House, yesterday in Bauchi for Sallah homage to the Governor.

Photo: Bauchi Govt House.

Lagos: PDP, APC renew rivalry as aspirants jostle for vacant Ifako-Ijaye rep seat

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olitical gladiators in IfakoIjaiye Federal Constituency of Lagos State have commenced jostling for the vacant seat of their representative in the Federal House of Representatives (HoR).

Presently, members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and their rivals in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are engaging in horse-trading.

The seat became vacant with the death of the former representative, late Dr. Elijah Adewale, who passed on in his Abuja resident recently at the age of 65.

His death has rekindled jostling among aspirants in the constituency with politicians engaging in subtle moves to oil their political machinery in readiness for when the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would signal the commencement of the electioneering process.

One of such is the candidate of the PDP in the election, Mr. Babatope Akinyele who recently began

consultations with stakeholders within the party.

At a well attended meeting held somewhere in Oko-Oba, he enjoined them (members) to work together in the interest of the collective good of the party, saying unbridled quarrel within their ranks cost them the seat.

According to him, those invited to the meeting were stakeholders irrespective of the caucus they belong to, saying what was important was for members to work together to deliver the seat to the PDP. Addressing the members, Akinyele stated that, “We really need to meet with opinion moulders across the wards, units and polling booths. What we want to do is to correct the errors that we made the last time.”

While stating that the move was not in any way called to flout relevant sections of the Electoral Law of the constitution, Akinyele said it was consultative in nature and that it was called to rekindle hope in members.

On his part, the Chairman of the party in the local government, Alhaji Yisa Adeleye thanked Akinyele for the meeting, which he said will restore hope amongst members.

Addressing members, he urged them to forget the past, saying if all members work in harmony, the PDP is expected to win the seat, saying the APC through the performance of its governments at all levels has made the job of winning the forthcoming election easy.

Meanwhile, the APC is currently strategizing on how to retain the seat stressing that losing to the PDP would send a wrong signal to the public.

The spokesperson of the party in Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe at the weekend said his party us battle ready to bury PDP in Ifako/Ijaye any time INEC fixes a date for the poll.

“We are ready for PDP. They do not exist in Lagos. They misruled Nigeria for 16 years. Lagos will not be a testing ground for them. We shall bury them during the poll”

Igbokwe said.

Three aspirants namely Demola Doherty, Yomi Ogunnusi, and Abiola Josiah have signified their interest to contest for the seat on the platform of the APC. Also, five aspirants have signaled their intention to contest for the seat on the platform of PDP as further confirmed by the state party chairman, Tunji Savador.

Pundits have opined that the election is going to be a duel as it is the first major popularity contest between the APC and PDP in Lagos State since the conduct of the 2015 general elections.

A social critic, Femi Olarenwaju posited on his Twitter page (@ femrewa) that sensing defeat, the APC is currently making move that will ensure INEC do not fix a date for the election this year so as to have time to douse the tension currently being generated by the hardship in Nigeria which he said was caused by the inefficiency of the APC at the central.

My court case political, ‘ll soon fizzle out – Saraki

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mbattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki described his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and others as mere distractions that would soon fizzle out.

He made this known at a town hall meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to Saraki: “All the travails one is going through; for those people who believe in God know that all these are politics. All those are distractions not to allow us focus on issues. They always say that the truth will always prevail. We are beginning to see truth is already prevailing. The distractions are finding their ways.

“I want to say that my business

in government is to improve the lives of the people. If it is for myself and family I don’t have to be in government.”

“I want to assure you that since my eight years as governor of the state, the legacy that we left is there for people to see. There is nobody after I left office who can say either there is any uncompleted project or any contractor anywhere in Kwara State, or who can stand up and say I demanded for any gratification from him.”

The Senate president stressed that the All Progressives Congressled federal government has no excuse not to fix the economy, adding that no responsible leader would abandon his followers in time of distress.

He warned members of the National Economic Management team to buckle up and proffer solutions to the challenges confronting the economy, warning that any of them not willing to offer personal sacrifice would have the Senate to contend with.

He, however, urged Nigerians to exercise restraints with the ongoing efforts to find solution to the problems.

Saraki, who vowed that the Senate under his leadership would not rest until the solution was found, declared that “It is a challenge to fix the problems and improve the nation’s economy”.

“We have no excuse not to fix Nigeria economy but we need to

be more patient on our agitation.

It is important and of necessity to bring about solution. There is no responsible leader that will allow his people to suffer just because the economy is not doing well.

“Until we find solution to Nigeria problems, we will not rest. It is a challenge to improve the nation’s economy, and that is the primary reason people voted us into power.

We can no longer engage in blame game, we are here to fix the problems.

By the special grace of Almighty, we shall succeed”, Saraki said.

The country’s number three also lamented that Nigerians were in the habit of aiding the economy of other nations with unbridled patronage for foreign goods at the expense of the

locally made ones.

He noted that the National Assembly had provided requisite legal frameworks to strengthen the campaign for patronage of made-inNigeria goods.

Speaking on the renewed hostility in the Niger Delta, Saraki added that only dialogue would stem the rising militancy.

Explaining that the ruins in the region had grounded crude oil production from 2.2million barrels per day to 900,000 barrels, the Senate president maintained that engaging the concerned people in the area in talks would arrest the situation, adding that “the same method was used during Yar’adua and it worked”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Politics

Director-General, National Orientation Agency(NOA), Dr Garba Abari (L), with the Senior Special Assistant on Information Communication Technology(ICT) and social media, to Borno Governor, Alhaji Abba Bashir-Shuwa, at the Government House, yesterday in Maiduguri.

Edo 2016: Top APGA members defect to APC

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hief Pius Okolie, the Publicity Secretary and Chieftain of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has dumped his party for the APC, as the state’s governorship election draws

nearer. “I believe Obaseki will consolidate on Oshiomhole’s good works and even do better.” he said.

Okolie decamped with over 1,000 of his supporters, APGA executive members and chieftains including the

Organising Secretary, Mr Chidi Eze; Ikpoba Okha Ward 1 Chairman, Festus Agbonlahor; Ward 2 Chairman, Uchenna Ogugba; Ward 7 Youth Leader, Pastor Peter Akeredolu; Woman Leader, Mrs Blessing Aikharaekpen; Uhunmwode

Youth Leader, Godfrey Ogbarate and Chief Raymond Okpara, Ex-Officio.

Okolie is a former aspirant for House of Representatives for Oredo Constituency and House of Assembly, IkpobaOkha Constituency.

Oshomhole’s commissioner denies supporting PDP candidate

T

he Edo State Commissioner of Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has refuted reports on social media that he is backing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 28 rescheduled governorship election in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The commissioner, in a statement last night, described

the reports as a “big scam”, stressing that “the conveyors of such odium are not only suffering from political thalidomide, but have taken desperation to ridiculous extent”.

Prince Afegbua pointed out that in this jet age, people should drive information with truth and honesty and not shameless imputation of misleading information to score cheap

political points.

“I did not discuss with anyone about any support for the PDP candidate. I am fully for the candidate of the APC and my last interview on Friday, 9th September, captured in Daily Independent, says it all. It is a straight win for the APC. So why on earth will some clueless and colourless demagogues ascribe a false statement to me?

“Is this the ridiculous extent that the social media has degenerated or someone is trying to be clever by half? What a society with very disturbing character indices with their ridiculous promoters. I am for Obaseki pure and simple. Anyone not comfortable with that can go to hell. That’s my political right and I can exercise it to the fullest”, he asserted.

Edo Guber: I don’t want to be governor on the blood of my people – Obaseki

T

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that he’d rather not be a governor than see the blood of Edo people spill.

Obaseki made this statement in Lagos State while fielding questions from newsmen over the postponement of the state governorship election by the Independent National Election Commission, INEC. He said: “We were ready for the elections, but when the police belatedly raised the issue of security, there is nothing we could do. I will rather not be a governor than to have the blood of many people shed by miscreants that were imported into Edo State to cause havoc”.

Referencing the Rivers State incidents, Obaseki asked “How many people have been tried or charged to court for the wanton killings and violence in Rivers State, let alone being convicted?

“How many people have been arrested for the blatant murder of the Port Harcourt lawyer?” he queried.

“These imported hoodlums have nothing to lose, they are not from Edo, and would not think twice before killing our people the way they killed people in Rivers State,” he added.

Obaseki maintained that though it was disappointing for the election to have been postponed as the APC was coasting home to victory, however, the APC will win the election convincingly any day or time.

“The postponement was just a mere shift of the doomsday for the People’s Democratic Party and others. The people of Edo State have made up their mind never to go back to the dark era. They know me, they know the lineage of my family, they can trace me from four five generations back, they know I don’t have a violent past.

“I have never been charged or tried for violent behavior. Let me assure you that we will win the election and win hands-down”, he said.

Be patient and prayerful for Buhari – Muslim clerics in Ekiti urge

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uslim leaders in Ekiti State have urged Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to be patient with the President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration, adding that with prayers and steadfastness, the government would soon lead the country out of the woods.

Speaking at the El-id-Kabir prayer organised by the Ekiti State Central mosque held at the Ado Grammar School, Poly Road, AdoEkiti, Ekiti State captial, Alhaji Abdulraheem Olowo, who is the Awiye Adinni of the state, urged all Muslims to live by the dictates

of Islamic religion which include respect and support for constituted authority, maintaining peace with fellow citizens and sharing love among one another. He also enjoined all to be patient with the federal and state governments in the face of the current economic hardship.

Otu Seriki of Ado-Ekiti central said, “Islam is a religion of peace, compassion and love for one another; and we should live by these dictates. It is true that things are quite hard now because of the painstaking efforts of the government to ensure that things

are done differently to effect the change we desire by bringing them into power. So, let‘s be patient and prayerful for our government as only these would help them to fulfill the electoral promises they made. The change promised

by President Buhari requires a collective sacrifice on the part of all Nigerians and this is not an easy task. You would recall that even though Prophet Ibrahim, that great servants of Allah who bestowed the legacy of faith on us, did not find it easy to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael for Allah, even though he had promised to give

the supreme being whatever He asked of him,” he said.

Also, encouraging the Muslims faithful, and all Nigerians to be prayerful for government and equally urging the government to urgently find means of alleviating the suffering of the common man, Chief Missionary of the Ahmadiya Muslim Central Missionary Centre of Ekiti State, Alhaji Kamarudeen Ololade Yusuf, said “the government at all levels must ensure that the suffering being inflicted on the masses as a result of the economic recession will in no time be gotten rid off.

They must make urgent efforts to improve the condition of life of the people, as things are just too bad for everyone currently. This is the reason why they have been supported and voted for.”

Alhaji Kamarudeen also advised that Muslims who could afford to buy the rams for the celebration of the Sallah, should endeavour to share with their neighbours who couldn’t, adding that “only when this is done can we all have a fulfilling Sallah celebration, because the celebration of Sallah itself is to show love to everyone.”

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

• Many unsold Ram late Monday because of Economy Situation at Phase 3 Ram market, Kubwa, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

FCT Minister vows to reposition all public schools Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

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he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) would do everything possible to reposition all FCT public schools with adequate teaching aids that would make

them pacesetters in the country, according to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.

He said the FCT Administration is already working on a blueprint to make all government primary, junior and senior secondary schools in

the Territory models for other 36 states in the country to emulate.

Speaking after receiving a report of completion of a mechanized borehole for the pupils of LEA Primary School, Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, Bello noted: “We have high level

of elites gathered in the FCT which should be reflected in the performance of our primary and secondary schools.

“And the foundation we are laying would surely translate into brilliant performance because we need to get it right at the

foundation level.”

Recall that the Minister had recently directed the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye to meet with all the principals of secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory on the need to work towards achieving 50 percent in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO) as from next academic year.

On the completion of the mechanized high capacity borehole in LEA Primary School, Mpape by the FCT Administration, he assured that it is the beginning of good things to come for the FCT public schools.

Also, the Minister had a couple of months ago directed the FCT Water Board to drill a borehole in the LEA Primary School, Mpape to alleviate the perennial water problems being experienced by pupils and management of the school.

Earlier, the Director of the FCT Universal Basic Education, Dr. Adamu Jatau Noma, thanked the Minister for the special attention his administration has given to the education sub sector in the FCT. Dr. Noma, who expressed satisfaction with the borehole, said the school is now enjoying better teaching and learning activities since getting efficient water supply is no longer a problem.

He therefore assured that the borehole would be properly maintained and utilized to achieve the purpose for which it was drilled.

Board partners NGOs to bolster training of 52 female students in science A s part of efforts of the FCT Administration to promote Science and Technology Education, the FCT Secondary Education Board its partnering with two NonGovernmental OrganizationsAfrica Information Technology Exhibition and Empowerment Initiative (AFRITEX), and Working to Advance African Women Foundation (WAAW) for the training of about 52 selected female students for Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) camp.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the one – week intensive STEM camp training in Abuja, the founder of WAAW, Dr. Unoma Okorafor said female education along with technology innovation is key components to engage young girls early against all economic odds.

She stated that, in the STEM camp training, the girls are motivated to innovate with technology using locally available materials, engage in hands activities, lectures, experiments, mentoring, career counseling and field trips led by female role models in STEM fields.

Dr. Okorafor said the Foundation is established to build a pay-it- forward system that inspires and empowers girls to become leaders in their communities for economic development and poverty alleviation.

The WAAW founder explained that, the foundation provides an annual scholarship of $500 to need based African College girls and recipients are female students of African origin enrolled in undergraduate

full time STEM based degree programme.

She therefore called on parents to encourage their girl child in Science oriented courses for all round development.

Speaking in the same vein, the project coordinator of AFRITEX, Sandra Gold said the STEM programme is to increase girls’ interest and confidence while providing digital literacy training and improve their technology skills.

Gold stated that, the various training received during the STEM camp will further bridge the existing digital gender gap in Science and Technology as well as help the girls early to take up careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and ICT courses adding that, female participation and contribution in technology

builds human capacity and increased innovation and entrepreneurship.

In her keynote address, the Director, FCT-SEB, Hajia Rakiat Daniya described the STEM programme as a laudable initiative that required the support of every stakeholder.

She said the world is advancing at a high speed through Science and Technology and Nigeria cannot be left behind hence the need to continue to encourage female students to pursue career in STEM) and the total involvement of the womenfolk without discrimination.

The Director, who was represented by the Head of Division (PRS), Mr. Charles Arowolo, stated further that, the SEB has been in the forefront of promoting STEM education in its fifty-six (56) Senior Secondary

Schools in FCT through the active participation of the female students in Science oriented activities within and outside the academic environment.

She commended the NGOs for their focus on the girl child, as it will enhance productivity and showcase their potentials as leaders of tomorrow.

She urged the students to explore this life time opportunity to add technology value to improve their academic performance and share their experiences with fellow students when they return back to their various schools.

The Education boss expressed the FCT Administration readiness to continue to support and partner with organizations with genuine programmes aimed at improving education standard in the FCT.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Metro

FCTA and task of bridging infrastructural gap in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

here is no gainsaying that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja,was designed and planned to be developed in 25 years into 74 districtsas well as sector centers with integrated infrastructure. But currently, the available facilities designed to cater for a small population predicted to be in the city are become grossly overstretched, chiefly due to population explosion.

Interestingly, Abuja remains a unique city that all of Nigerians feel very proud of. It’s the only city in the entire country that is a creation of law; a city that was created some forty (40) years ago, when founding fathers of the nation decided to get a place that is going to be the center of unity for all.

The situation of Abuja conceptualized as the administrativecentrefor the country,can be attributed reasons ranging from economic, social to religiousproblems in various parts of the country, which along the line has resulted to population explosion with its attendant overbearing effect on existing amenities in the Territory.

Also, the city has since become one where hermaster development blueprint christened ‘Abuja Masterplan’ envisioned by the founding fathers was gradually being eroded and balkanized. And despite attempts by successive FCT Ministers to address the menace, the city continues developing towards some level of chaos; chaosin service delivery, chaos in traffic management and some level ofchaotic development in terms of buildings, infrastructure and socialfacilities.

This was type of city the current FCT Minister, MallamMuhammad Musa Belloinheritedwhen he assumed office in November 2015.

Retrospectively,Bello met a city where a number of the contractors hadstopped work, laid off staff and abandoned sites; many uncompletedprojects due to deliberate refusal by previous administrations to fundthese critical projects that have led to the myriad of problems. For whatever reason, many perceive these lingering issues as a sign of poor performance on the part of the presentAdministration.

Curiously, the Apo - Karshi road, which is a mere 14km road project thatwas scheduled to be completed in December of 2011 but was starved offunds and abandoned until this present administration took the bull bythe horn and budgeted N1.5 billion in the 2016 budget to complete thevery important road to provide alternative route to motorists cominginto the city from the Nyanya-Mararaba axis.

More so, the same scenario prevails in many parts of the city andSatellite Towns where deliberate refusal to relocate indigenoussettlements away from the city center have hindered the completion ofcritical infrastructure within the city center, thereby leading to thehorrible situations one finds around places like Garki village, Utako,Jabi, Mabushi districts and a host of others.

However, to address the situation, the Bello-led FCT Administration encouraged contractors to return back to site. Records

• FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, clearing garbage heaps during the flag-off of FCT Household and community sanitation exercise at Kuje Area Council Abuja, recently.

show thatthroughout 2015,there were no capital releases to the FCT Administration until inDecember of 2015. It then became necessary to request for the extension of thebudget by additional three months, so as to be able to mobilize allavailable resources to pay the contractors.

And during the last few months, glaring semblance of construction activitiesreturned to the city. Construction works on the roads and othercritical infrastructure are now being continued.

There is massive roads rehabilitation that is ongoing especially, in the city center.

For instance, the interchange along the Airport Road and Bill ClintonDrive previously abandoned is presently being completed.

It also rehabilitated some of the roads in the city center like the M20 road leading to the popular Utako Motor Park, the road shoulders along the ShehuShagari Way in Maitama District, Ring Road 1 (NnamdiAzikiwe Expressway) in addition to the complete rehabilitation of the road between the National Assembly Complex and office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) provided with storm water drainages and ornamental trees planted on both sides.

In the same vein, the current Administration has also concluded arrangements to install new model traffic lights in 98 intersections of the FCT that is expected to come up within the next 2 to 3 months to improve traffic management

in the city.

To improve the sanitary outlook of the city, the Minister resuscitated the hitherto seemingly waning Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and replaced its leadership with capable hands that are already delivering on the expected goals.

Bello followed this up by establishing the FCT Task Team on environmental protection to work alongside 200 officers/ men of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for enforcement purposes.

The Task Team has so far impounded hundreds of unpainted taxis including “One Chance”, kekeNapep as well as Okada motorcycles.

Also, they have arrested several hundreds of street hawkers and broken the beggars syndicate in the Abuja metropolis. All of these were done to give the green and clean vision the accelerated push it deserves. Already, there is noticeable improvement in the sanitation in the city.

Of course, all of these are being done againstthe backdrop of serious funding challenges, which is a reality we areall facing as a nation but which also will make us stronger as apeople, make us prioritize our objectives and obligations and aboveall, appreciate the need to be prudent managers of resources.

In fact, within his short sojourn in the FCT, Mallam Bello with the help of the Permanent Secretary was able to achieve

all these through prudent management of resources accruing to the FCTA as well as drastic reduction of frivolities, especially in the wake of the current economic recession.

To the Minister’s credit, he hashad to offset over N2 billion owed cleaning and maintenancecontractors by previous Administrations, to enable them resume work onthe evacuation of solid waste in the city center and satellite townsas well as the streetlights. The debt of over N19 billion was paid tomultinational contractors to enable them return to sites, whilecontractors owed below N20 million were also cleared totaling over N6billion.

In the first quarter of 2016, the FCTA also released the sumof N5, 744,835,928.38 to various development partners beingcounterpart funds for the projects that they are executing in the FCTwhich were never attempted in the past. Equally over N1.7 billion was paid to the Universal BasicEducation Board (UBEB), which included arrears that have not been paid since2013. Also, the sum of N2, 939,681,413.96 and N808,075,585.62 was released as counterpart funds for the Abuja Rail project as well asits Consultancy Services respectively. These obligations ought tohave been carried out by the previous FCT Administrations but wereclandestinelysidestepped in the excuse of lack of funds.

As expected, the Minister had carried out intensive demolition of illegal shanties in Dei-Dei, Area 1, Utako and Wuse Districts among others. There is also the planting of trees along road corridors to improve the city’s ecosystem and aesthetics of the city.

Similarly, in demonstration of its commitment to curb vandalization of public facilities like manhole covers, rail for bridges, traffic light equipment and streetlight cables, the FCT Administration has engaged security agents particularly the NSCDC. Furthermore, there is the strategically repositioning of all the land related administrative organs such as Departments of Land Administration, Development Control, Urban &Regional Planning as well as Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS), which many observers opined have tremendously improvedthe ease of doing business in the FCT. With this major restructuring, now prospective real estate developerscan be rest assured that they can get building approvals within arecord three-week period.

Notably, these activities and initiatives taken by the Malam Bello, since his assumption of office, manifest in the remarkable feats so far recorded under his leadership. The Minister has made tremendous efforts to take the FCT to the desired level in City Management. One cannot but appreciate the orderliness that Change Agenda of the government of the day portends.

And by reason and experience, with the instrumentality of the 2016 budget recently assented to and forwarded to the FCTA by President MuhammaduBuhari, the nation’scapital city will no doubt witness fast tracked developmental strides.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Money Sense My five year fixed-rate savings deal paying 4.1% matures soon – where should I put my cash now?

By Lee Boyce for Thisismoney. co.uk stuck £35,000 in a five-year fixed savings deal which had a 4.1 per cent rate back in 2011. The account is set to mature in the next few days.

I want to put the money into another low-risk savings account, but am aware rates have crashed dramatically.

Should I put the money into an easy-access account and hope rates begin to move, put it in a fixed-rate, or split it between the two? Via e-mail.

Lee Boyce, consumer affairs editor, replies: That rate may not have felt that generous in 2011, but tying up your cash for five years 4.1 per cent now looks like one of the smartest moves you could have made when using a traditional savings account.

Isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing?

With £35,000 in your account, over the five year period, you would have garnered roughly £7,948 of interest, the equivalent of £1,590 a year. This was worked out using our lump sum calculator.

The best five year fix now pays just two per cent from Shawbrook Bank. In comparison, the best one-year fix open to all pays just 1.4 per cent from Al Rayan Bank.

I

How This Is Money Can Help Can you find a better deal? Check the best fixed-rate savings accounts in our independent tables Rewind to earlier in the year, and a battle between challenger and smaller banks led to fixed-rates heading north.

You could have grabbed more than two per cent over a year from a number of providers – Metro Bank for instance offered 2.4 per cent for an 18-month fix.

The best five-year fixed rate is currently 2 per cent from Shawbrook Bank.

On a £35,000 pot now, you’d get a far slimmer £3,678 interest over five years with that two per cent rate, or £736 a year.

Now your pot has grown to £42,948, if you put that all away with the two per cent rate, you’d get £4,531 interest over the five year period.

Whatever way you look at it, it’s a tricky time for savers. We reported recently how one of Britain’s biggest savings providers, NatWest, has slashed a number of rates to pay just 0.01 per cent.

It blamed the Bank of England base rate cut for the move – and it is not the only major bank to slash savings rates.

I turned to an expert for their opinion.

Susan Hannums of rate checking website Savings Champion, replies: It’s a real shock for savers like you who have enjoyed a fixed rate of interest for a few years - now you have to scrape around for the best rates you can find, and unfortunately with rates at a historical low level, this is no mean feat.

•

The added problem is that there is no way of knowing what will happen to savings rates going forward.

If we knew, it would be far simpler to decide whether to lock your money in a fixed rate or to leave it in a variable easy access account to wait for rates to rise.

So splitting the cash between fixed rate bonds in order to earn some of the highest rates available and accessible money to be used ‘just in case’ could be a wise move.

The good news is that there is also another way to make your cash work harder for you, although there are a number of hoops to jump through.

High interest current accounts are not only offering the very best rates available but the money is also easy access.

However, you need to look out for the terms and conditions otherwise you may not earn what you were expecting.

For example, you will usually need to deposit a minimum amount each month and may need to set up direct debits. And look out for any fees that may apply. However, the rewards can be well worth it.

For example, someone with £35,000 could earn as much as £1,330 per year (3.8 per cent) if they were prepared to open multiple current accounts.

If you are looking to open multiple

current accounts with either the same provider, or a number of different providers, you should be aware that these applications are likely to leave a footprint on your credit rating, which may affect your credit score.

Lee Boyce adds: Your question has been a common one received at This is Money in recent months and it’s hard to know what to do for the best with rates this low.

You could take a look at a stocks and shares Isa which may be less daunting than you think, although your investment can go down as well as up, or even think about overpaying on your mortgage (if you have one).

One thing I will add is avoid those tempting offers of high-interest from risky products such as mini-bonds without fully understanding the risks and firm offering them.

This week, This is Money reported how one offering 8.25 per cent has gone bust - with £8.15million of investor money now at risk.

Five Of The Best Bank Accounts To Consider Bank accounts are the financial product we use the most, yet many of us fail to get the best from them.

Switching banks can get you an account better suited to your financial life, interest paid on balances and even free money as a reward. These are This is Money’s five of the best:

From November 1 Santander will cut the interest rate on its popular 123 account to 1.5 per cent on balances up to £20,000 (it currently pays between 1 and 3% interest). However it could still be a winning option for anyone with a big balance sitting in their current account. It also gives 1 to 3% cashback on bills. You need to pay a £5 a month fee, pay in £500 a month and have two active direct debits.

First Direct regularly tops polls for customer service. First Direct’s First Account offers £100 for joining and has a £250 interest-free overdraft beyond that an authorised overdraft is 15.9% EAR. You must pay in £1,000 per month.

Nationwide’s FlexDirect pays 5% interest on up to £2,500 and has a fee-free overdraft. Watch out these are both for the first year only and you must pay in £1,000 a month.

Halifax’s Reward account will pay you a £5 monthly bonus and £100 for signing up. You must pay in £750 a month, stay in credit and have two active direct debits.

M&S Bank’s current account has a £100 gift card for switching to it plus a £10-per-month top up for the first 12 months. You also get 1 point for every £1 spent on your M&S debit card in store in the M&S Loyalty Scheme. It has no qualifying criteria.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

The UN has failed its peacekeepers in S Sudan analysis

By Matt Wells

T

he past three weeks have seen steady criticism of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for its inability to protect civilians during and after the July fighting in Juba. Much of that criticism is justified, and a recently appointed UN Special Investigation should lead to accountability for those who underperformed. But UN leadership in New York, including the Security Council, has failed those same peacekeepers through inadequate emergency care and a meek response to government obstruction.

It’s time for the Council, just back from South Sudan, to put peacekeepers in the best position to succeed - including by imposing an arms embargo.

The War the World Forgot People and Power On July 10-11, UN House - the core area of UN offices in Juba as well as the site of two camps sheltering some 37,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) - was the epicentre of heavy fighting between President S a l va K i i r ’s S u d a n P e o p l e ’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and thenFirst Vice President Riek Machar’s SPLA-in Opposition (SPLA-IO).

Bullets, tank shells, and rocketpropelled grenades (RPGs) landed near and inside the UN base in yet another flagrant violation of the UN’s sanctity and the laws of war.

Rules of engagement According to our interviews with witnesses and UNMISS officials, as well as an internal UNMISS timeline, an RPG struck a UN armoured vehicle inside POC1, which houses about 8,600 IDPs, around 6:30 pm on July 10.

Six Chinese peacekeepers were seriously injured.

South Sudan - A country captured by armed factions The wounded peacekeepers were quickly transported to the basic clinic at UN House, where there was no blood for a transfusion and no surgical team. Around 7:30pm, China requested a UN medical evacuation to get the casualties to a hospital at the UN base in Juba’s Tongping neighbourhood, only 10 miles away.

Improved trauma care and medevac capabilities would send peacekeepers a strong and needed

UN peacekeepers control South Sudanese women and children before the distribution of emergency food supplies in Juba [Reuters] message of support.

Fifteen hours later, the wounded Chinese peacekeepers were still stuck at UN House. Two died during that period, one of them after bleeding for 16 hours. His death, many UNMISS officials told me, was most likely preventable. It took another seven hours, and China negotiating bilaterally with the government, to move the remaining casualties.

A military officer at UNMISS told me that in return for their commitment to put their life on the line, soldiers have two basic expectations. First, that if they follow their rules of engagement, they will have the support of their military and civilian command. And second, if wounded, every effort will be made to get them immediate medical care.

Failure to uphold these expectations is devastating for soldiers’ morale. A Western official in South Sudan told me his country’s military officers are even encouraged to disobey orders if medevac capacities are not in place, and have done so in places such as Afghanistan.

In the weeks since the July violence, UNMISS struggled to send out armoured or foot patrols.

During this period, South Sudanese women venturing outside the camp, desperate to find food for their families, were raped on a large scale

by SPLA soldiers.

Several UNMISS military officials linked the reluctance, in part, to troops’ concerns about the lack of medevac capacity if they ended up in a confrontation with the SPLA. To be sure, concerns over medical care and evacuation are not solely, or even primarily, responsible for peacekeepers’ inability or unwillingness to protect civilians.

There were serious inadequacies with UNMISS’s response in July irrespective of the medevac problem. Likewise, there were major peacekeeping failures during an attack in February on IDPs housed in a UN base in Malakal.

Message of support Still, improved trauma care and

medevac capabilities would send peacekeepers a strong and needed message of support. While in Juba, we were told that, after what happened in July, there were efforts to recruit a medical team and establish a hospital at UN House.

That should be an immediate priority for the UN leadership in New York.

South Sudan - Independence movement gone wrong The Chinese peacekeepers’ likely preventable death is also another consequence of the government of South Sudan’s relentlessly blocking UNMISS’s movement.

The UN was negotiating to move the casualties to Tongping, yet did not receive the necessary assurances. Even the Chinese Battalion’s Quick Reaction Force

“

There is no question that the government continues to impede the mission’s movement, and it has sent mixed signals, at best, on accepting the additional peacekeepers. To better position UNMISS to protect civilians under threat

would not transport the wounded soldiers through Juba, so great was the perceived risk that the SPLA would target a UN vehicle.

The fighting forces’ obstruction of UNMISS has been an almost daily occurrence over the past three years, undermining the mission’s response as civilians have been targeted for killings and sexual violence; and humanitarians have been blocked repeatedly and subjected to violence.

The recent Security Council resolution on South Sudan links a long overdue arms embargo to continued obstruction, either of UNMISS or the deployment of 4,000 additional peacekeepers.

There is no question that the government continues to impede the mission’s movement, and it has sent mixed signals, at best, on accepting the additional peacekeepers. To better position UNMISS to protect civilians under threat, the Security Council needs to stop simply uttering condemnations and take decisive action by imposing the arms embargo.

Matt Wells is the senior adviser on peacekeeping for Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC).

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial policy.

Source: Al Jazeera News

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Page 36

News From Africa Opposition Walks Out of Election Talks in DRC

O

pposition parties walked out of talks on elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo Monday, saying their position on the order in which presidential and local elections should be held is non-negotiable. A spokesman for the ruling coalition said the walk-out is a negotiating tactic and the talks are not over.

The talks began September 1 and this is the first time the opposition party members, who make up about one-third of the 285 people taking part, have suspended their participation en masse.

Only a few of the country’s dozens of opposition parties have been taking part in the dialogue anyway, so it is questionable whether any agreement reached here could overcome the obstacles to elections.

But even this minority group now says it cannot agree with the proposal by the ruling coalition, that the country should vote in local elections before the presidential poll.

The leading opposition spokesman at the dialogue, Vital Kamehre, told the media why his group is insisting that the presidential elections must be held first.

He says the binding election for which the timetable is clear in the constitution is for president.

All the elections (local, provincial and national) are constitutional, he says, but there’s a fixed timetable for the presidential election in order to avoid a national crisis.

Kamehre also suggested local elections could take a long time to organize.

The majority proposed holding local elections first, he says, but since the decentralization we now have some districts that overlap and others that have no population.

How long will it take to sort that out?

Last year, the government went ahead with a decentralization program, more than doubling the number of provinces from 11 to 26.

A spokesman for the ruling coalition, Emanuel Shadari, played down the disagreement.

He says the opposition has said it’s suspending its participation, but the dialogue is not over, and the opposition has not left the dialogue.

It’s a negotiating tactic, he adds.

There are other groups at the dialogue, drawn from civil society organizations such as churches, trade unions, non-governmental organizations and traditional chiefs.

There also are senior politicians and others. According to Shadari, most of these groups support the proposal that local elections be held before presidential elections.

The African Union appointed facilitator of the dialogue, Edem Kodjo, said Monday after the opposition walkout that talks already have started between the stakeholders to create conditions for a resumption of the work in committees.

Zambia’s Edgar Lungu sworn in after disputed vote

Z

ambian President Edgar Lungu has been sworn into office after the country’s top court rejected a petition by the opposition to block his inauguration as “illegal and unconstitutional”.

Lungu, re-electedlast month in a closely contested vote, called for national unity in his speech on Tuesday at the event held at a stadium in the capital Lusaka and attended by regional leaders.

“Now that the elections are over, we must say as a people that we stand as united as ever,” Lungu told tens of thousands of spectators, vowing to prioritise reviving the country’s stumbling economy.

“There is no time and latitude to settle scores. We have work to do,” he said. “It is our duty that as citizens of this country we are on this journey together and be peaceful.”

Al Jazeera’s Tania Page, reporting from Lusaka, said the National Heroes stadium was packed with people and police had to use tear gas outside the venue to control members of the crowd pushing each other to get inside.

“But overall the situation has been very calm and there’s a very happy and excited crowd here along with half a dozen heads of state and government leaders from across the continent,” she said.

The ceremony was attended by several regional leaders [Dawood Salim/AFP]

Lungu, 59, won the August 11 election by about 100,000 votes, but his opponent, Hakainde Hichilema, went to court alleging that the result was riddled with irregularities.

After the supreme court rejected his petition on Monday, Hichilema, a wealthy businessman who has run five times for president, accused Lungu, the election commission and judges of all being guilty of fraud.

“This inauguration is illegal and unconstitutional,” Hichilema said in a statement sent to the AFP news agency.

“There has been no (court) ruling that President Lungu has been validly elected. We are drifting to the law of the jungle. The truth is that our election was stolen.”

Hichilema stopped short of calling for street protests but urged Zambians

to “fight for your rights”.

“You can’t have free, fair and transparent elections in this country under this leadership,” he said.

Lungu first took office last year after beating Hichilema in a snap election, has since faced a number of challenges, including falling prices for copper - the country’s key export - soaring unemployment and inflation rising to over 20 percent.

S Sudan to take legal action after corruption report S outh Sudan’s government says it will take legal action against a US-based watchdog that has accused the leaders of the country’s warring sides of amassing fortunes during a nearly three-year conflict that has left tens of thousands dead.

The Sentry group, founded

by US actor George Clooney and rights activist John Prendergast, alleged on Monday that President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar, and those close to them, had looted state coffers, accumulated luxury homes and cars, and enriched themselves and family members through stakes in oil and other business ventures.

Responding to the allegations, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said on Tuesday that even though there was corruption in the country, the statements that had been made against Kiir and other government officials were “completely rubbish”.

“Their statement is a mere recipe for fueling gross misconception about the leadership of South Sudan,” Ateny told Al Jazeera, accusing Clooney and Prendergast of conducting a “politically biased” investigation.

The report alleged that President Kiir and his family had amassed a significant amount of wealth [File: Jok Solomun/Reuters]

“We will [take] them to court; we will hire the law firm in the US and we will sue them because they have relied on evidence that is completely rubbish,” he said from the capital Juba.

“They were actually interviewing 100 people who ...

only came to give evidence on condition of anonymity ... but at the end of the day, [their identity] will be disclosed, because if we go to the court of law they will have to be disclosed.”

James Gatdet Dak, a spokesman for Machar, also denied that the

rebel leader owned property in either Kenya or Ethiopia, as the report alleged.

“It is a lie. Dr. Riek Machar’s family does not own a house in Nairobi or in Addis Ababa as alleged,” he told Reuters news agency.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

The day I met my father in an Israeli jail

A

l-Eizariya, occupied West Bank - This summer, 18-year-old Yara alSharabati was allowed to be in the same room as her father, who is serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison, for the first time in 12 years. She was finally allowed to hug him.

Ayman al-Sharabati affiliated with the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah’s armed wing was arrested in 1998 for carrying out an attack in Jerusalem that killed one Israeli and wounded another.

According to prisoners’ support group Addameer, Palestinian prisoners accused

by Israel of committing security offences routinely face severe restrictions on family visits, as well as isolation, and are tried in military courts. To cross from the West Bank into Israeli territory, prisoners’ families have to apply for permits from the Israeli Civil Administration, a process facilitated by the Red Cross. The organisation’s decision to cut back its family visits programme caused an uproar last month.

Currently, 7,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, 458 of whom are serving life sentences. Seven hundred are administrative detainees, held without charge or trial.

Yara al-Sharabati told Al Jazeera about the events of July 10, the day she met her father.

“When I walked through the door, I felt free that I could hug him. I suddenly felt like I wanted to run. So I ran to him, and he held me and hugged me. We held each other for about four minutes.

At first, my father had to argue with the guards that it wasn’t a regular visit, but a private one. That’s why our time was cut.

Then there came two security guards, a male and a female one, who separated us. The female guard took me away, and the male guard took my father. They said, “Now it’s time to take your picture together.” Then the guards came and took our photo together, with their camera, and said the meeting was over.

We had one minute left till the end of the meeting, but they only allowed us four minutes together.

I didn’t get the picture immediately. I got it after one month, when people who visited my father asked for it from the prison administration. That’s why I could only publish it on Facebook a month later.

This was the second time I was allowed to hug him. The first time I was only six years old. I’m 18 now. I was born when he was in jail. But when I was six, I wasn’t aware; I wasn’t conscious that I was hugging my father. Basically, this is the first time, because it’s the first time I felt I knew what it means to hug him.

Asia&Middle-east US Envoy: Washington Flexible Eid Ceasefire in Syria on North Korean Nuclear Talks Brings

I

n South Korea Tuesday two American B-1 bombers flew in from Guam as a show of force, while on the ground U.S. and South Korean diplomats met to coordinate strategies to respond to North Korea’s fifth nuclear test, conducted Friday.

The U.S. long-range bombers conducted a low-altitude flight over Osan Air Base in South Korea, which is 77 kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone border with the North.

The B-1 deployment was scheduled to arrive Monday but was delayed due to bad weather in Guam.

It appears that the long term reaction by the U.S. and its allies to North Korea’s fifth nuclear test last Friday is going to be economic in nature.

At a press conference in Seoul U.S. Special Representative for North Korean policy, Sung Kim, and South Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, Kim Hong-kyun stressed their countries’ joint commitment to impose even greater economic pain on the Kim Jong Un government.

“South Korea and the U.S. decided to have strong sanctions and pressure measures at maximum level, and strengthen measures against North Korea including the U.N. Security Council measure, independent sanctions and pressure at global level,” said the South Korean envoy Kim Hong-kyun.

U.S. B-1 bomber, center, flies

Widespread Calm but Some Fighting Continues

A

U.S. State Department’s Special Representative for North Korea Policy Sung Kim, left, watches as his South Korean counterpart Kim Hongkyun speaks during a joint press conference. over Osan Air Base with U.S. jets in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016.

U.S. B-1 bomber, center, flies over Osan Air Base with U.S. jets in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016.

North Korea reacted defiantly to the United Nations sanctions imposed in March for its fourth nuclear test. In the last six months Pyongyang has accelerated its weapons development efforts, conducted 20 missiles tests and last week detonated an unprecedented second nuclear test in one year.

Despite the sanctions’ failure in the short term to change Pyongyang’s

behavior, the U.S. envoy said they have been effective in curbing North Korea’s access to foreign currency to support its weapons program.

“I think it’s important to remember that pressure and sanctions need time. It requires sustained concerted effort, systematic effort to really have the kind of effect we desire,” said Sung Kim. On Monday the U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said coordinated economic sanctions had been shown to work but added China’s participation was very important.

North Korea is economically dependent on China for trade and assistance.

China: Wukan in lockdown as residents clash with police

C

lashes have erupted between residents of a village in southern China - once dubbed a symbol of grassroots democracy - and riot police who fired rubber bullets and used tear gas against crowds of stone throwers.

The violence broke out after 13 people were rounded up in pre-dawn raids on Tuesday in the fishing village of Wukan in southern Guangdong province.

The raids and arrests followed less than a week after a democratically-elected local leader, Lin Zulian, was jailed by authorities on corruption charges. Locals in Wukan, a village of 13,000 people, took to the streets in June to protest Lin’s arrest and what they claim was his forced confession.

“The riot police started attacking and shooting at us,” one Wukan resident told Reuters news agency by telephone on Tuesday.

“They are still fighting now. We want them to leave,” he said.

Video and photos shared on Chinese social media, including a clip posted to the website of the South China Morning Post newspaper, showed clashes in what was said to be the streets of Wukan, including footage of Chinese police with riot shields and helmets retreating under a hail of bricks and stones.

A protester against the jailing of Wukan village chief Lin Zulian in Hong Kong on September 9 [Bobby Yip/Reuters] Other images showed bloodied civilians and people in the streets wearing crash helmets and holding Chinese national flags and rocks.

Lufeng county police, who oversee Wukan, stated in a microblog post on Tuesday that 13 people were arrested for organising illegal assemblies and using threats to force villagers to protest.

The police also issued a stern warning to people using social

media, accusing them of spreading false rumours on “the so-called Wukan issue”, adding that China’s cyber police were investigating the posts.

Wukan residents received international attention after their 2011 uprising led authorities to grant direct village-wide elections, and which saw the now jailed Lin, a protest leader at the time, elected as their village chief in 2012.

cease-fire in Syria entered its first full day Tuesday with reports of widespread calm and a few instances of violence.

The halt in fighting went into effect after sundown Monday.

Hours later, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry declared it “may be the last chance” to preserve the country fractured by five years of civil war.

He said it is premature to make a determination on the U.S. and Russian brokered cease-fire’s effectiveness.

The agreement was announced early Saturday in Geneva by Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

It is supported by a number of other nations, including Iran, which is a backer of the Syrian government, and Turkey, which wants the removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power in Damascus.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands at the conclusion of their press conference following their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 9, 2016.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands at the conclusion of their press conference following their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 9, 2016.

Making an appeal from the State Department podium for all parties to observe the cessation of hostilities, Kerry predicted there will be challenges in the immediate days ahead for the cease-fire to hold, and clearing the way for significant humanitarian access to some of the hardest-hit areas to resume.

Seven days of relative calm under the agreement would lead to U.S.-Russian coordinated air strikes against Islamic State and the al-Nusra Front (which now calls itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham), considered to be a branch of al-Qaida.

The agreement “makes no provision whatsoever for the U.S. and Russia to approve strikes by the Syrian regime, and this is not something we could ever envision doing,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. “A primary purpose of this agreement, from our perspective, is to prevent the Syrian regime air force from flying or striking in any areas in which the opposition or Nusra are present.”

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

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Europe & Americas Ukraine Rebel Leader Announces Unilateral Truce

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he separatist leader in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region has announced a unilateral cease-fire starting at midnight on Wednesday.

In a recorded statement aired on Russian television Tuesday, Alexander Zakharchenko said he had ordered rebel troops to cease fire and urged Ukraine to do the same. He accused Kyiv of a “lack of willingness to solve the problem in a peaceful manner.”

The rebel leader’s statement came as a cease-fire that went into effect on September 1 appeared to unravel. The Ukrainian military said Tuesday that three of its servicemen were killed and 15 wounded in the past 24 hours in fighting with the Russia-backed separatists, the first major casualties since the September 1 cease-fire came into force.

The warring sides had agreed to the truce during a meeting in the Belarusian capital Minsk on August 24.

Wearing a suit instead of his normal camouflage uniform, Zakharchenko said the rebels are “fully committed to the Minsk agreements” and see them as “the only solution” to end the hostilities. His statement came a few hours after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that he expected the country’s parliament to vote soon on constitutional amendments granting autonomy to eastern Ukraine.

Italy: Amatrice sues Charlie Hebdo over quake cartoons

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n Italian town devastated by an earthquake last month is pursuing legal action against the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo for defamation over a series of cartoons about the disaster that killed almost 300 people.

The magazine caused an outcry in Italy by publishing a cartoon that portrayed victims of the quake in Amatrice, a town known for its homegrown Amatriciana pasta sauce, as various pasta dishes, as well as a separate drawing blaming the mafia for the alleged poor construction of the buildings and the high death toll.

After the legal move was announced the town council’s lawyer, Mario Cicchetti, told reporters: “It amounts to a macabre, tactless and inconceivable insult to the victims of a natural catastrophe.”

One cartoon published in early September, entitled Earthquake Italian Style, captioned drawings of a bloodied and bandaged man with the line “Penne in tomato sauce”, a scratched and swollen woman with “Penne au gratin”, and a collapsed building with blood and feet emerging from it “Lasagne”.

Germans arrest Syrian men over suspected ISIL links G erman authorities have arrested three men suspected of membership in Islamic State, who allegedly were sent into the country by the terrorist group last year.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Berlin, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the three men, who arrived in Germany using the Balkan route, were arrested in the northern part of the country.

It appeared that they used the same smugglers and received phony Syrian passports made in the same workshop as some of those involved in the Paris attacks, de Maiziere said.

They allegedly arrived in Germany in mid-November and had been under observation, but there were no indications of concrete plans for attacks at this stage, he said, adding that they may have been a sleeper cell.

“Three people have been arrested,” said de Maiziere.

“They are being accused of being members of a terrorist organization. According to the current state of information, the investigations by the federal criminal police office [BKA] indicate connections to the perpetrators of the attacks in Paris in November 2015. All three

De Maiziere ruled out indications of concrete plans for attack [Michael Kappeler/EPA]

came to Germany via the Balkan route. At this stage there are no indications of concrete plans for attacks, but there is the suspicion that the arrested [people] have been sent to Germany by the so-called Islamic State [group] in November 2015. They may have been advised to wait for instructions by the Islamic State [group] in Germany, and could

therefore have been a sleeper cell.”

More than 200 police commandos took part in the pre-dawn raids that led to the detentions.

A statement issued by federal prosecutors partially identified the suspects as Mahir al-H., 17, Ibrahim M., 18, and Mohamed A., 26.

Six locations in two German

states were searched Tuesday, the statement said, and “extensive material” was seized as evidence.

About a million migrants arrived in Germany last year and their presence has become an issue of concern after a recent series of violent attacks, three of which were carried out by asylum seekers. Of those, two were claimed by Islamic State.

MSF: Baby born on rescue boat in Mediterranean Sea

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healthy baby boy has been born to Nigerian parents on board a rescue boat in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, according to the medical charity Doctors without Borders (MSF).

Newman Otas was delivered on Monday by an MSF midwife on the MV Aquarius vessel, just 24 hours after his parents Otas and Faith and their two elder sons were rescued from an overcrowded rubber dinghy.

“A very normal birth in dangerously abnormal conditions,” said Jonquil Nicholl, the midwife. “I am filled with horror at the thought of what would have happened if this baby had arrived 24 hours earlier.”

Faith, the baby’s mother, said she had been having contractions for three days.

“I was very stressed on the rubber boat, sitting on the floor of the boat with the other women and children, panicking that I would go into labour,” she said.

“I could feel my baby moving; he would move down and then move back up again.”

The Aquarius, hired by MSF

Newman Otas was born on the MV Aquarius vessel [Alva White/MSF]

and SOS Mediterranee, a civil society group working to rescue at-risk refugees at sea, picked up 392 people on Sunday, including women and small children.

Among those saved, 55 people on board were under 18, 141 of them travelling alone without a parent or guardian accompanying them. MSF said.

In total, more than 1,100 people were rescued off the coast of Libya on Sunday by Italian coastguard and naval vessels,

a British and an Irish warship, and several ships chartered by humanitarian NGOs, the Italian coastguard said.

Those saved on Sunday had left Libya aboard eight overloaded inflatable dinghies and two fishing vessels, they said.

According to Italy’s interior ministry, about 124,500 migrants have arrived since the start of 2016, just slightly more than the 122,000 recorded for

the whole of last year.

Italy is sheltering growing numbers of would-be refugees as its neighbours to the north move to tighten their borders and make it harder for migrants to travel to their preferred destinations in northern Europe.

According to interior ministry figures released earlier this month, Italy now has 155,000 migrants in reception centres, compared with 103,000 in 2015 and 66,000 in 2014.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Strange

Page 39

world

Doctors are baffled after a vegetable salesman named Jabbar balloons to 42½ STONE and is left unable to move or speak in Pakistan

By Alex Matthews

• Abdul Jabbar Tunio, 39, from Larkana, unable to move for two months • He is morbidly obese and team are now investigating his weight gain • Abdul broke his leg as a teen and family believe weight linked to injury • Father-of-three suffers breathing problems and skin ulcers from weight Doctors have been left scratching their heads after a morbidly obese man weighing over 42 stone has been left unable to move or talk.

Abdul Jabbar Tunio, 39, from Larkana in Pakistan, has been paralysed and kept silent by a mysterious condition for the past two months, reports theExpress Tribune.

Such is the seriousness of his illness that he has also been unable to eat or drink.

His concerned family have taken him to various doctors, but none had the facilities or expertise to analyse his condition.

Fortunately Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) intensive care unit , in Karachi, offered him treatment - but even their expert medical team are unsure what the route of his problem is.

Despite his current struggle, the father-of-three has not always been in such an unhealthy state, only becoming overweight as an adult.

He broke his leg as an 18-year-old and his family believe that his obesity can be linked back to the medication he took while he was recovering.

Since then his weight has ballooned leaving him suffering from severe breathing problems, renal complications and skin ulcers.

Such is Jabber’s size that the hospital does not even have a bed to accommodate him.

However, they have ordered a bespoke bed so that he can be treated at the facility in comfort.

Professor Rasheed Khan Durrani told the Express Tribune: ‘Right now, he is not stable but we are hopeful that he will recover.

‘We are trying hard to stabilise the patient. We are trying to ascertain the cause of the weight gain so that we can further proceed with his treatment.’

A medical board has now been assembled to find the cause of Abdul’s condition, including a general physician, general surgeon, nephrologist and chest physician.

DailyMail on Facebook

Abdul Jabbar Tunio, 39, from Larkana in Pakistan, has been paralysed and left silent by a mysterious condition for the past two months

Abdul’s obesity is causing him serious health issues including severe breathing problems, renal complications and skin ulcers

Page 40

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Digest Why mango really is a ‘superfood’: Tropical fruit ‘helps to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes’

By Kate Pickles

D

ieters have long sworn that grapefruit and even pineapple can magically help people lose weight.

Now scientists have added another fruit to the mix, claiming mangoes may also help to stop obesity and type 2 diabetes, new research claims.

The superfood was found to boost gut bacteria which can ward off the conditions.

The study found eating the fruit can prevent the loss of beneficial gut bacteria which can be caused by a high-fat diet. Researchers said the specific bacteria in the intestinal tract may play a role in obesity and obesityrelated complications, such as type 2 diabetes.

In this study by at Oklahoma State University, 60 mice were put in one of four dietary treatment groups for 12 weeks.

This included a control group where 10 per cent of calories consumed were from fat, a high fat group where 60 per cent of calories were from fat, or a high fat diet where one or 10 per cent of it was mango. All high-fat diets had similar macronutrient, calcium, phosphorus, and fibre content.

When samples were compared from the beginning to the end of the study

period, those which were supplemented with mango lost the least beneficial gut bacteria often induced by a high-fat diet.

‘Mango is a good source of fibre and has been reported in previous studies to have antiobesogenic, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory properties,’ said Professor Edralin Lucas.

‘The results of this animal study showed that adding mango to the diet may help maintain and regulate gut health and levels of beneficial bacteria levels.’ The research, published in the Journal of Nutrition, was commissioned by the National Mango Board which promotes consumption of the fruit in the US. It adds to a growing body of evidence the tropical fruit, which is native to southern Asia, has various healthboosting properties.

Previous studies have found compounds in mango exhibit anti-inflammatory activities with its high fibrecontent aiding digestion.

One cup of mango is bursting with antioxidants and over 20 different vitamins and minerals and provides a good source of fibre.

But the effects of mango on the gut microbiota have not previously been investigated.

Further research is necessary to see if these study results can be replicated in humans, researchers said.

The tropical fruit has previously been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and is a good source of fibre. Now scientists believe it can help prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes

Blood pressure checks could save thousands of lives from heart attacks and strokes

By Ben Spencer Medical

I

f everyone in Britain had their blood pressure checked every year it would prevent 45,000 heart attacks and strokes in the next decade, experts have calculated.

One in three people in Britain - 16million in total - are living with high blood pressure.

Yet at least 5million people have not had the problem diagnosed. Raised blood pressure is known as the ‘silent killer’ because it has no symptoms until someone starts suffering heart problems or has a sudden stroke.

The problem is one of Britain’s biggest killers.

Yet it is entirely preventable - undertaking more exercise and eating less salt and more vegetables quickly reduces blood pressure.

And if the problem is severe, there are a range of cheap medicines to treat it. Experts are now mounting a campaign for everyone to get their blood pressure checked at least once a year.

Every GP in the country can quickly check blood pressure.

And this week [12-18 Sep], volunteers at hundreds of ‘pressure stations’ at pharmacies and hospitals across the country are offering free tests. Professor Graham MacGregor of Queen Mary University of London, said: ‘Blood pressure is one of the most preventable and treatable conditions and yet it is still one of the leading causes of death in the UK. ‘Having your blood pressure checked is one of the biggest steps that you can take to reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack

or heart failure and yet so many millions are taking unnecessary risks with their health.

‘The simple message is have your blood pressure checked at least once a year.’

Katharine Jenner, CEO of Blood Pressure UK, said: ‘High blood pressure has no symptoms but strokes and heart attacks – when it is too late - do.

‘After you have had your blood pressure checked, you can make changes to reduce your risk, such as eating less salt, eating more fruit and vegetables, taking more exercise and losing weight – it’s never too late.’

Jamie Waterall of Public Health England added: ‘Getting a blood pressure check is particularly important for people over the age of 40, when cardiovascular risk generally increases.’

At least 45,000 heart attacks and strokes could be prevented in the next decade if people in Britain got their blood pressures checked

PEOPLES DAILY

Sports

WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Page

41

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

I regret my Six years at Hamburg - Chrisantus reveals

F

ormer golden boy of Nigeria football Macauley Chrisantus says he has regrets over his time at German side Hamburg, where he spent six years during the formative years of his career.

The shy talking forward came to limelight during the 2007 Under-17 Championship where he emerged as top scorer and silver ball winner. However nine years on from that time, he is yet to make the step up to the senior national team of Nigeria.

Chrisantus who presently plays for Spanish second division side Reus Deportiu told Owngoalnigeria.com that the years he spent at the German side, without getting to play in the first team cost him the chance to still be at the top. ” What I went through at Hamburg was crazy, six years, 10 different coaches. I was always close to the first team but as it is in football, most managers have what they want, so every new manager always comes with special demands” He said.

“I know people will always compare my career growth to that of Toni Kroos at Real Madrid, but if it wasn’t for coach Jupp Heynckes who gave him his breakthrough at Bayern Munich because he spent three years at the club, who knows as just like me, he also had four different spells away from the first team”.

However, Ex-Nigeria World Cup star Mutiu Adepoju has admitted his failure to break into the Real Madrid first team was his biggest regret in over a decade of action in La Liga.

The 45-year-old Mutiu is now the La Liga country manager in Nigeria.

He joined Real Madrid second team Castilla after the 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia with the hope he will progress to Real, but it was not to be.

“Probably, not been able to break into the Real Madrid first team would be regret, but generally, I enjoyed my time in La Liga,” he recounted.

“Today, Spain is home to my family as we have dual nationalities.”

He further said that it was his exploits at Castilla that earned him a call-up to the Super Eagles.

“I did well as Castilla, winning them promotion from division 2B to 2A and that was why I was invited to the Super Eagles,” he said.

Mutiu will later move to Racing Santander and also won them promotion to La Liga, before he helped Real Sociedad to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Macauley Chrisantus

5 Nigerian referees fail FIFA fitness test

>>Pg 42

Fans hate us under Mourinho, says Pepe

>>Pg 43

PAGE 42

Sport

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

5 Nigerian referees fail FIFA fitness test F ive Nigerian male football referees have failed the FIFA Physical Fitness Test held at the main bowl of the National stadium Abuja.

The match officials are among the 16 ungraded FIFA referees invited by the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) for a possible upgrade.

Seven male and nine female ungraded referees were invited for the test out of which five male failed.

Emmanuel Imiere, an instructor at the programme, who declined to mention the names of the referees, said that five of them have missed the opportunity of being listed as FIFA badge referees.

“This is the first set of non-badge referees that will take this test and it is not easy but some of them didn’t take it serious.

“About fifty per cent of them passed the test and I am happy for the invited female referees because all of them passed.

“Five out of the seven invited male referees failed

the test and they will wait till next year for another opportunity.

“They can come in November for another test for them to qualify to officiate in the national league, but as an international referee, no,’’ Imiere said.

He also said that 20 out of the 28 FIFA graded referees failed to submit their Electrocardiogram (ECG) report which made the FIFA Physical Fitness Test inconclusive.

“Their own is medical issue; they did not come with their Electrocardiogram (ECG) report which is a prerequisite to participate in the fitness test.

“If the medical team did not certify them medically fit, they won’t participate in the programme and until they submit their ECG report, they won’t participate in the fitness test.

“That is why we have given them two weeks to come back for the fitness test.

“ECG has to do with the heart and if that report says

no, we can’t allow such person to participate because we don’t want a referee to collapse on the field of play.

“It will be an embarrassment to FIFA and CAF; so, we have told them to go back and get their ECG report before they can participate,’’ he added.

Imiere, who is a retired referee, pointed out that Nigeria had until Oct. 2 to submit the list of successful referees to FIFA. 44 referees arrived in Abuja on Friday for the twoday programme among which 28 are FIFA badge, while 16 of them were not.

Referees

NFF collects kits 3SC players boycott training over from us including unpaid Five months salaries socks- U-17 P Players

S

ome players of the Nigeria U-17 that failed to qualify for the Africa Youth Championship have revealed the harsh treatment they received in the hands of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), after their exit from the qualifiers for next year Africa Youth Championship.

The Nigerian team fell 2-3 on aggregate to their counterparts from Niger Republic after a controversial lost away in Niger. Although the players are set to retain by the NFF as they are the youngest they have however lament the poor way they were treated.

Their plea is for the football body to treat them a lot better than last time out, as they have reportedly been told that they will be called to camp after the Sallah holidays in Nigeria. ” We saw hell in camp prior to our game against Niger, we stayed at the FIFA Goal Project hostel that has no light, no water with mosquitoes everywhere” One of the players said, ” We were moved into an hotel few days to the game and after the game, we wash and wear our kit for the return leg. To our surprise we were asked to return everything including socks after the game. ” I also need you to know that we were not paid any form of allowance before and after the game.

Some of us had to beg for transport money to go home because they didn’t give us any money”.

U-17 Players

layers of Nigeria Professional Football League side, Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC), boycotted training yesterday due to the non-payment of their salaries.

The players are owed five months’ salaries and 10 match bonuses.

The strike was earlier planned for last week but they put it on hold due to the importance of last weekend’s clash against traditional rivals Enugu Rangers which 3SC won 2-1.

The Oluyole Warlords just like last season are battling hard to

escape the drop.

It remains to be seen if the players will honour this weekend’s matchday 36 clash against fellow relegation battlers Warri Wolves.

The Gbenga Ogunbote-led side currently sit in the 14th position in the table.

How robbers invade Onazi’s home, assaulted father

F

our armed robbers attacked the Jos home of Nigerian midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi.

According to a spokesman of the Nigerian men’s national team, Toyin Ibitoye, the robbers took away with them “valuable items including a white Toyota Highlander and an undisclosed amount of cash.”

However, the robbers were said to have assaulted the father of the Nigerian international after gaining entry into the house in Jos, a central city in the West African nation.

The 23-year-old midfielder has taken time to speak on the incident from his base in Turkey and disclosed that the robbers pretended to be courier men when his father approached them.

Onazi said the robbers left a message saying that “this is a first in a series of attacks” they will carry out on his household.

“Those robbers came, pretending they were there to deliver a letter to my dad at about 1.40pm on Monday, as soon as he collected their fake letter and asked where it was coming from they swooped on him, tied his hands, beat him up, inflicting machete cuts on him in the process.

“They told him this is the first in a series of attacks that they will launch

on our house and that I( Onazi) will be their target the next time.

“Those guys took their time to take some valuable materials including a car and some cash but I am thankful to God they didn’t do more than that,” Onazi said.

Ogenyi Onazi

The Onazi family, according to Ibitoye, has already reported the incident to the Nigeria Police while the father of the Super Eagles midfielder has been discharged from hospital after being treated for injuries sustained during the attack.

Sport

Page 43

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Footballer dies after collapsing on pitch A

non-league footballer died after collapsing on the pitch during a match on Monday, his club has announced.

Shaw Lane defender Daniel Wilkinson, 26, collapsed during a cup game at Brighouse’s St Giles Road stadium.

He was treated on the pitch before being taken to Calderdale Royal

Hospital in Halifax.

“He was such a great lad. I don’t how we move on,” Craig Elliot, manager of the Barnsley-based club, who play in England’s eighth tier, told BBC Sport.

“It’s just devastating. Everyone went to the hospital. We all deal with it in different ways, but we just have to support the family as much as we

can.

“His mum and dad are such brave people. We signed him in pre-season, he had just finished university at Loughborough and moved in with his girlfriend in Sheffield.”

The Northern Premier League Division One South side led the preliminary-round game 2-0 when Wilkinson collapsed with an hour

Fans hate us under Mourinho, says Pepe

R

eal Madrid defender Pepe has admitted he was relieved to see Jose Mourinho’s time at the club come to an end because they were so strongly hated.

Mourinho joined Madrid in 2010 after a successful spell with Inter, winning La Liga in 20112012 but falling short in the Champions League.

The Portuguese exited the Santiago Bernabeu after making enemies inside and outside the club, having become embroiled in a bitter feud with thenBarcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Pepe endured a difficult relationship with

Mourinho, but the centre-back is loving life again under Zinedine Zidane, who took over from Rafael Benitez in January.

“Mourinho has a lot of experience as a coach, with great clubs and players. Zidane has only just started in La Liga last year. But he has played at the highest level himself and always knows what’s expected on the pitch.

Madrid, who defeated Atletico Madrid on penalties in the final of the last season’s Champions League, begins their defence of the competition at home to Sporting in Group F today.

Terry rules out of Liverpool clash with foot injury

J

ohn Terry has been ruled out of action for “approximately 10 days” by Chelsea with strained foot ligaments, meaning the defender will miss Friday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool.

Chelsea confirmed in a short statement that Terry, who picked up the injury in the final minutes of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Swansea City and left the Liberty Stadium on crutches, will be out of action for approximately 10 days.

It means the Chelsea captain is definitely out of Liverpool’s visit to Stamford Bridge as well as next Tuesday’s EFL Cup third-round tie against Leicester City, and faces a fight to recover for the Blues’ trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on Sept. 24.

In Terry’s absence, David Luiz is expected to make his first Chelsea appearance since finalising a shock return to Stamford Bridge after two years at Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day.

The Brazilian, along with fellow new arrival Marcos Alonso, was an unused substitute against Swansea.

Gary Cahill is expected to keep his place alongside Luiz after sources told ESPN FC that the England international will not be punished by the Football Association for his postmatch tweets and comments about referee Andre Marriner in the wake of the Swansea draw.

Pepe and Mourinho

Everton to donate £200K to Sunderland fan

E

verton have pledged to donate £200, 000 pounds to five-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery in his battle against cancer, the Merseyside club said.

Lowery was just two when he was first diagnosed with the lifethreatening illness. His parents have launched a fundraising campaign for his treatment in the United States which would cost 700 000 pounds.

“Everton Football Club has pledged a donation of 200 000 pounds to support Bradley Lowery in his brave battle,” the club said in a statement.

Everton, who secured a 3-0 win at Sunderland on Monday, host Middlesbrough on Saturday. Sunderland fan

played. The match was abandoned.

Wilkinson started his career at Hull City, signing his first professional contract in 2010, before loan moves to Harrogate Town and North Ferriby United.

He later played for Loughborough University, Scarborough Athletic and Goole, and joined Shaw Lane from Rushall Olympic in the summer.

John Terry

Page 44

Photo Splash

L-R: Gov. Yahaya Bello, The Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Muhammed Maikarfi 11 and the Speaker of the State Assembly, Right Hon. Ahmed Umar Imam at the Eid-el-kabir praying ground, yesterday In Lokoja ,: Govt House, Lokoja

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

L-R: Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo; Gov, Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa state; the Speaker, Adamawa House of Assembly, Alhaji. Kabir Mijinyawa, at the Yola Eid El Kabir prayer ground, yesterday in Yola .. Photo: NAN

Muslims faithful praying at Ile zik Ikeja Idil prayer ground to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Lagos yesterday. Photo: NAN

Mrs Linda

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Linda Ijeoma Bekee.

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Mrs Linda Ijeoma Ndubueze. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MTS. Asmau

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Asmau Sanda Ndayako.

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MTS. Asmau Ndayako Ibrahim Idris. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

mrs obiageli

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS mis nnamani obiageli mercy. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS mrs obiageli mercy marcel chukwubuikem. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Miss Adekunle

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Mrs. Okwechime Olukemi Temitope . NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Miss Adekunle Olukemi Temitope. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

L;-R: Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land; Alhaji Akinola Daud and the Secretary to the Oyo state Government, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, at the Sallah prayer, on Monday in Ibadan . Photo: NAN

Cross Section of Muslim Faithfuls, during Eid-el-Kabir celebration , yesterday at the National Praying Ground, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Page 45

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Sport

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l

Maria Sharapova will find out in the first week of October if her two-year doping ban will be overturned, says the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka beat world number one Novak Djokovic with a scintillating display to win his first US Open and third Grand Slam title.

US Ryder Cup skipper Davis Love’s wildcard picks are conservative, says Iain Carter, as the Americans go for experience in a bid to end their losing streak.

A hearing into Tyson Fury’s charge for an alleged doping violation will take place in November, after his title rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.

The World Anti-Doping Agency condemns Russian hackers for leaking confidential medical files of Olympic athletes including Serena Williams and Simone Biles.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Page 46

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END-TIME TRUMPETER OF TRUTH MISSION

UNITY OWO ‘94 SET ASSOCIATION

AL MASAAKIN CHARITY FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION 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.BABAJIDE AJIDAHUN 2.BELLO SALIU 3. HECTOR-OLUKOYA OLUFUMILAYO BAMIDELE 4.MORENIKE MOBISOLA ADEPOJU 5.ORETUYI OLUWAKEMISOLA FOLASADE .

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.to promote and foster unity,peace and progress among its members.

2.to contribute to the learning development of SAJOMUSSO. 3.to promote the best interest of all old students in all facets of educational andsocial endeavours.

4.to organise workshops and seminers for the students of SAJOMUSSO in capacity and human development and empowerment.

5.to promote social and cultural activities of its 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 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1-PASTOR NOSAKHARE ODIASE 2-EVANGELIST ESTHER ODIASE 3-ANDERSON OSAZEE ODIASE 4-NOSA MICHAEL ODIASE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1-To propagate the gospel of jesus christ round the world,by preaching salvation that jesus brought to the world.

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 : OZIEGBE EKHATO 8C,BISKRA STREET, WUSE ZONE,ABUJA 08032403752

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Idris Adekola Babalola -Chairman 2. Danladi Usman 3.Khadijat Oyenike Oyeniyi 4. Naanah Idris Lawal 5.Shafa’atu Ibrahim Ahmad- Secretary THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGED. 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.

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SWEET-LIFE COVENANT MINISTRY(AKA HOUSE OF PEACE AND POWER)

TRADEMORE NEIGHBOURHOOD SHOP OWNERS

This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Cmommission Abuja for Registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. EMMANUEL CHINWEOKE AJA 2. DR. PETER OGE-ALI 3. MR. CHUKWUDI ELEM 4. MR. UGURU THEOPHILUS CHIBUEZE 5. UCHENNA NWAMBE 6. MR. ANI CHIDIEBERE CHUKWU 7. MR. NWALI SOLOMON OBINNA 8. MR. OKE LAZARUS OKECHUKWU 9. MR, NNABUIKE OKORIE 10.

MR. GODWIN NJOKU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provide social amenities in the communities.

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Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. AKEJU EMMANUEL OLUSEGUN - CHAIRMAN 2. CHRISTOPHER TAIWO - SECRETARY 3. AWOLUYI KUNLE 4. SEKINAT RAJI 5. DOLLARIS IWU 6. AUSTIN OLUBUKOLA 7. CHUKWUDI DIEKE AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. PROMOTE UNITY AND JUSTICE AMONG ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.

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Signed : Bright Egualeon

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Noble Greens of Trinity Secondary School ‘92 Old Students Association

Tricycle owner and drivers association of lagos CAC/IT/NO. 65699

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION 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) CHINYERE MBA. (2) OKWUOSA NKECHI TRACY. (3) CLARA SAMUEL (4) ERNEST CHUKA NWANOLUE. (5) CHINEDU OKEREKE. (6) ANASTESIA AGU THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE INTEREST OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for change of trustees under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES Name ARE: 1. Musa Muhammed -Re-appointment 2. Alhaji Musa alaba Bello (Secretary) -Appointed 3. alhaji olorunnishola Suleiman ajao -Appointed 4. comrade kuboye adebowale -Appointed 5. Comrade adisa olanrewaju (Chairman) -Appointed 6. Mr. Nurudeen abdulsalam -Appointed 7. Mr. Nurudeen Mufutahu -Appointed 8. Mr. Olorode adeforowope -Removed 9. Mgbakor victor -Removed 10.Runmonkun Ayinde Rasul -Removed 11.Ibrahim Azeez -Removed 12. ajayi taofeek omotayo -Removed 13. Mr. bamgbose oluseye -Removed Aims and objectives Remained the same Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

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LOSS OF DOCUMENT Letter of grant, acknowledgment and other accompanying title documents/certificate of occupancy (C of O) of Muhammed Tila Jega Nig. Ltd with respect to Plot No. 1063 Kaura District with file No. MISC 106521 got missing and every efforts to trace it’s were proved abortive.

Please if it’s found contact these numbers Alh. Abubakar Makanta. Tel: 08033495565 DANIEL

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Nagari Nakowa Motorcycles Owners & riders Association of lagos Cac/it/no. 83759

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for change of trustees under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for change of trustees under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES Name ARE: 1. Sarki alhaji baba lawan bukar sarki (chairman) 2. Alhaji musa mohammed (Secretary) 3. Alhaji falalu mohammed 4. mohammed buba bello 5. alhaji mohammed mascots 6. Sarki alhaji muktari Abubakar 7. Yahaya musa alhaji 8. alhaji garba a. akilu 9. alhaji adam Muhammed 10. Ali Gusau alhaji

THE TRUSTEES Name ARE: 1. Alhaji Muhammed Musa 2. Alhaji Suleiman adesina Raji (chairman) 3. Mr. Badmust tajudeen Idowu 4. Mr. Yakubu yunana Sarki (Secretary) 5. Ahonye james odeh 6. Mr. Rabiu Usman 7. Mr. ahotin howi segbenu 8. Mr Balogun abdul-lateef 9. Mr. adenuyi Hassan 10. Chief Moradis Aliu 11. yeniyo moses jp 12. bolanle adedeji 13. olalekan amusan 14. Hon. Albert adedoyin omotayo

-Appointed -Appointed - Appointed -Appointed - Appointed - Removed - Removed - Removed - Removed - Removed

Aims and objectives Remained the same Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY.

Any objection to this registration must reach the registrar-general of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

-Re-appointed -Appointed -Appointed -Appointed -Appointed -Appointed -Appointed -Appointed -Appointed -Appointed - Removed - Removed - Removed - Removed

Aims and objectives Remained the same Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Some Interesting Facts 24.) Mandela and 150 others were arrested on December 5, 1956 and charged with treason.

They were all acquitted in 1961.

25.) During his years of hiding, to evade arrest, Mandela adopted different forms of disguises that earned him the title of the “Black Pimpernel”.

26.) Although he started and wanted to achieve independence through non-violence approach he moved to armed struggle as a last resort.

27.) The MK guerrilla wars waged against the apartheid regime resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

28.) Mandela admitted that the ANC, in its struggle against apartheid, also violated human rights.

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29.) Nelson Mandela was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges in 1962.

30.) He was imprisoned for 27 years and was released in 1990, 18 years of which were spent in the Robben Island – that eventually came to be so-called “Mandela University”.

31.) In prison, Mandela never compromised his political principles and was always a source of strength for the other prisoners.

32.) Mandela was as a D-group prisoner, the lowest classification, where he was allowed one visitor and one letter (often made unreadable by the prison censors) every six months.

33.) Mandela was offered his freedom in 1985 by President Botha but turned it down and released a statement saying “What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned?

Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.”

34.) It was President De Klerk who announced Mandela’s release in February 1990. This historic event was broadcast live all over the world.

35.) He was the very first South African president to be elected in a fully democratic election.

Say what?

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Butterflies lap up some orange juice at the Natural History Museum’s latest exhibition, Sensational Butterflies.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

WEDNESday, september 14, 2016

QUOTABLE QUOTE High ranking public officers who use safe havens and secrecy jurisdictions to breach the fundamental requirements of asset declaration must be sanctioned, named and shamed - SERAP

SPORTS $20m Loot: Between Being Patient latest and Becoming a Patient

Muir delights over Olympic 1500m final strategy

L

aura Muir says she has no regrets about going for Olympic 1500m gold despite believing she could have won a medal with a different race strategy.

Muir travelled to Brazil with high hopes of a medal after breaking Kelly Holmes’ British 1500m record in London a few weeks before the Games.

But after taking up the pace and leading after two laps, she saw Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and six other athletes surge past her on the home straight.

The Scot swiftly put the setback behind her, however, knocking another two seconds off her British record in winning in Paris on 27 August with a world-leading time this year.

She then became the first Scot, and only the third British woman, to win a Diamond League series of races. She earned £30,000 after clinching the title with a second place finish in Zurich on 1 September.

Doping hearing to take place after Fury, Klitschko rematch

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yson Fury’s charge for an alleged doping violation will take place in November, after his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on 29 October.

Fury upset Klitschko last November to secure the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles but was charged by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (Ukad) in June.

A provisional suspension was lifted pending an independent investigation.

Fury, who fights Klitschko at the Manchester Arena, has denied any wrongdoing and threatened to sue Ukad.

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igerian historians will definitely scribble the activities of Dame, Patience Jonathan as the most controversial First Lady in the history of the country. when you analyse her according to the support she has given to her husband in the area of mobilization, you might want to ascribe to her the last vestige of Eva Peron of Argentina. But the flipside of her badly perfumed mimicry of Mrs. Peron is the avalanche of hate, disgust and loss of goodwill she made her husband to suffer at the polls in 2015.

It however appears she is not done with her strings of controversies, as her audacity to muscle in on a huge stash of cash to brazenly claim belongs to her has left many wondering if we should continue to be patient with her or dismiss her as a patient suffering from intense visitation from the gods.

If the news making its round in several national dailies including credible social media networks are worth the substance of facts therein, then the exFirst Lady may have opened the gallows for a massive head crop for her husband, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and other eligible criminals who looted Nigeria fiber by fiber to the bones.

It may be recalled that the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has reacted swiftly against Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Order to restrict $20m traced to her and associates.

Speaking through one Mr. Gboyega Oduwole, she informed the Federal High Court in Lagos that Mrs. Jonathan had filed a fundamental application against the EFCC, claiming ownership of the money.

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has insisted the fresh admission by Patience Jonathan claiming ownership of the monies, means the anti-graft agency has the right to probe her. According to him, if the former first lady is claiming that she owns the money then she must explain how she earned it. The former first Lady is however maintaining that she earned the money!

If the monies traced must be subjected to forensics based on pedestal calculation of what a former permanent secretary

0806 564 8620 0704 385 9705 0814 292 9046 08074420617

Wednesday Column

By, Israel A. Ebije which was the position Mrs. Jonathan was occupying at a time when she was the First Lady, and possible income from her businesses including sales return from her ice-cream business, then it can be imagined the quantum of corruption that characterized the immediate past administration.

We have not allowed the memory of the build up to the last presidential election to slide past us. The picture of the dramatis personae is still very fresh. Those who said or did something are not going to be forgotten. Dame Patience was leading the pack in infamy. She made many utterances that contributed measurably to the ouster of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

She was unbridled, unguarded and untamed.

At the height of her diatribe, vituperations, I began to wonder if Jonathan was really at any time ideal to rule Nigeria on account of how untamed the wife was let unleashed against the system she knew nothing about. Nobody could stop her, but the burden of the PDP was indeed the asset for the All Progressive Congress (APC) needed for victory.

It may be true that she is the most educated wife of president in Nigeria, with a Master Degree, it is also heartwrenching that she is the only unenlightened. She bandied her trade of ignorance at every facet of the society, reducing the presidency to kitchen and bedroom talk of a husband and

Dame Patience Jonathan

wife. Her perception could be felt in her utterances, which ordinarily would have been half ideal for a tête-à-tête with her husband in the confines of their bedroom.

The devil that has managed to marionette her has indeed tickled the beast of anti corruption against the past administration to roar the more. Just the way she fired up hate against her husbands administration, she has managed to put more wood in the flame to smoke out more corrupt Nigerians.

Her audacity may have been premised on some of these permutations; first her unbridled approach to issues which makes her assume the status of the lord of the fife. Secondly,

She once mentioned that “this Buhari will jail me and my husband”.

The prediction might just be about to become a reality on account of her impudence. Sane minded corrupt Nigerians will bow their heads in shame upon revelation of such financial rascality.

her misconnected perception over the south-south assumed victimization meted on Jonathan.

Then the third assumption that interest of Nigerians is beginning to wane in matters that concern corruption, recovery of looted funds since many opine it has not translated to immediate economic fortunes.

She may have tinkered all the above but managed to forget that the era of impunity is over and reality beckons as Nigerians are seeking vengeance against people like her. Interestingly, no sane person will permit her effrontery against sensibility of Nigerians to slide without condemnation.

It is however very possible that in the script of her comedy of errors, she hope to get a public support when she finally makes it to the duck or dragged along to detention by the EFCC operatives.

She may never get the sympathy she is angling for. It might just be another suffocating blonder that will take her further down the lane of infamy.

She once mentioned that “this Buhari will jail me and my husband”. The prediction might just be about to become a reality on account of her impudence.

Sane minded corrupt Nigerians will bow their heads in shame upon revelation of such financial rascality. Her audacity of greed is certainly the most unfortunate, provocative and indeed cantankerous, which wouldn’t have fit in Nollywood catalogue of badly written scripts.

Ebije can be reached via: ebijeo5@gmail.com or ebijeisrael@yahoo.com

DAN GAYE

Mob sets rapist, ritualist ablaze in Delta – News

They will continue their act in hell!

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