Friday 16th May, 2014 Edition

Vol. 13 No. 64

Friday, May 16, 2014

..

. putting the people first

Rajab 17, 1435 AH

N150

Reps okay extension of emergency rule

l May extend Adamawa, Borno, Yobe govs’ tenure

l Senate debates proposal Tuesday >>pg 2

L-R: Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Alhaji Kabir Mashi, during the FIRS Stakeholders Engagement Forum, yesterday in Lagos.

Abducted schoolgirls

At last, Jonathan visits Chibok l ACF berates president, wife >>pg 2 >>> page 3

Mutiny: Military moves to forestall recurrence

>>> page 3

Nigeria must learn from Sudan’s breakup - Envoy

>>> page 6

Yakowa’s projects: Yero comes under pressure

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 2

News

CONTENTS News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Metro 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Int’l 27-31

Money Laundering: Ibori has case to answer - Appeal Court – Page 7

Vogue 32-33 Feature 34,35 Digest 36 Politics 37-38 Newsxtra

39

Sports 41 Columnist 48

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Reps okay extension of emergency rule

By Lawrence Olaoye, Ikechukwu Okaforadi & Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives yesterday approved President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of state of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states for another six months.

This is just as the House expressed its readiness to activate the provisions in the Constitution by extending the tenure of the governors by maximum of six months should the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) find it impossible to hold elections in the three affected states by 2015.

Explaining why the House resolved to endorse extension of the emergency rule, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep Zakari Mohammed, said the firsthand information given to the lawmakers by the service chiefs who briefed them on the reality of the situation in those states, made them to endorse the proposal unanimously.

According to him, the service chiefs informed them that “Nigeria is at war”, that was why they granted President Jonathan’s request for the extension.

“We were told that there is progress that has been made in the last extension that will soon be crowned with success, especially now that they have foreign collaborators who are helping in fighting these terrorists.

“As a responsible institution, we decided to give them approval to be able to get the desired result.

It is their responsibility to provide us with the security of lives and property. We know that this is the

only way we can end this terrorism. We tried to probe into whether they are adequately equipped and the armed forces seem to be on top of the situation. We have all the assurances from the Service Chiefs that they are on top of the situation”, Mohammed said.

The service chiefs led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, had at the meeting which began at 2.08pm and lasted till 4.26pm, convinced the lawmakers on the need for the emergency rule’s extension.

Others present were Chief of Naval, Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin, his Air Force counterpart, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu, Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Ita Ekpeyong, and Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar. The Chief of Defence Staff was said to be on official assignment abroad.

Mohammed, who briefed newsmen after the closed door meeting, said the House approved the emergency extension proposal because the primary responsibility of every government is to protect life and property and the House had to support the military to end the insurgency.

Responding to a question on what would happen should insecurity persist in the three North-east states till election period in 2015, Rep Ibrahim El-Sudi, a lawyer, who jointly addressed the press with Mohammed said: “Section 180 (3) provides that if the federation is at war, as the service chiefs had told us emphatically that the country is at war, it can be civil war or insurgency war; ...the territory of Nigeria is physically involved

and the President consider that it is not practicable to hold election, the National Assembly, by resolution shall extend the period of four years from time to time. And no such extension shall exceed the period of 6 months at any one time”, El-Sudi explained.

By this assertion, the three governors could be allowed continue to carry on in office through a resolution of the National Assembly even beyond their four-year tenure.

Meanwhile, the Senate has reserved Tuesday next week for debate on the proposal by President Jonathan to extend emergency rule in three North-east states.

After about five hours at a closed door meeting with the service chiefs, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, who presided over the plenary, said the Senate’s decision to suspend the debate to next week Tuesday was to enable the lawmakers consult further with relevant stakeholders.

He said that at the closed door meeting, the security chiefs had briefed them on the on-going operations in the three states, and advanced reasons why the emergency rule should be extended.

He said the Senate will go further to consult with other stakeholders to ensure that every party agrees, and that anything worth done is done to end the insurgency.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), who is one of the senators from the region, said the necessary action is for the soldiers to be well equipped with modern military technology.

He said continuous extension

of emergency in the three states would not solve the problem in the region as experiences of other countries have shown.

“I feel very strongly that sufficient consultation has not been done.

We know where the shoe pinches and we have made it categorically clear, our people have made their minds known, our elders have made their minds known.

“Our state governors have made their minds known on behalf of the people that we don’t need an extension of the state of emergency and speaking very patriotically and responsibly as a citizen and responsible as a senator, I believe that what we need is to ensure that we give our security forces the required enablement.

Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) said there was need to extend consultations with relevant stakeholders on the appropriate decision to take.

It would be recalled that the senators from the North, under the umbrella of Northern Senators Forum (NSF), had, after a four-hour closed door meeting on Wednesday, vowed to frustrate the proposal whenever it comes up to the Senate for debate.

But Nenadi Usman (Kaduna South), while speaking to journalists, said the position of the Northern Senators Forum was not to reject the emergency extension.

She said, rather, the resolution of the senators from the North was that they should advise the federal government to explore other alternative means of ending the insurgency, other than continuing to extend emergency rule in the three states.

Abducted schoolgirls: At last, Jonathan visits Chibok

By Joy Baba, Abuja and Femi Oyelola, Kaduna, with agency report

A

fter dithering for one month, President Goodluck Jonathan will today visit Chibok, Borno state, venue of the Government Girls Secondary School where over 200 female students were abducted by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents from their dormitories.

But the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described as “disappointing”, the government’s response to the Chibok abduction, and Patience Jonathan’s meddling into the security matter.

Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, revealed yesterday, that the president will visit the burnt out school early in the day and later fly to Paris, France, where he will attend a security meeting tomorrow, Saturday, to discuss mainly the 5-year old Boko Haram insurgency in three North-east states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The meeting, which will be attended by government officials from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, is being financed and hosted by the French government.

Delegates are expected also from the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

One of our reporters learnt, as at the time of filing this report, that an advanced team of the president had already arrived Borno, ahead of the president’s arrival.

Meanwhile, the ACF’s Rapid Response Committee, in a press

statement signed by its SecretaryGeneral, Col. John I. P. Ubah (rtd), yesterday accused the president of not approaching the abduction with a sense of urgency or seriousness until ordinary Nigerians poured out on to the streets.

“The approach of the President to the tragic abductions of the Chibok girls is not much different from his handling of the entire insurgency war that has engulfed the North, especially the North-east region since 2009.

Even the president’s most ardent supporters readily agree that his prosecution of the insurgency war has been hesitant, feeble and halfhearted.

“The president hardly ever took action until he came under pressure from people outside his government. The mounting pressure from local and the international community is now compelling him to talk of deploying more troops to confront the Boko Haram insurgents. His belated acceptance of help from foreign powers had come only after the abduction of over 200 young girls, stirring worldwide outrage”, it said.

On the president’s wife, the statement said: “She conducted a mock trial of the officials on live television and at the end of it, declared that no school girls were missing, suggesting that the entire story was some hoax constructed to embarrass her husband.

“We caution that the request before the National Assembly to approve the extension of the year-long state of emergency declared in the North-east states of

Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, be considered against its impact so far, which can only be described as disastrous.

“Before the State of Emergency was declared in the three states, between 2009 and 2012, the total causalities of the insurgency were less thanb1,500. But this figure sky-rocketed to over 2,700 during the one year of the emergency, according to figures released by Amnesty International”, it added.

The ACF committee also observed that it is not clear to the public why the violence has been escalating since the imposition of the state of emergency on those three states, saying the federal government does not need to declare a state of emergency before it can discharge its responsibility of maintaining law and order.

“It remains to be added that a majority of Nigerians, Muslims and Christians, accept that the Boko Haram insurgency is a fight against the whole country without regard to religion or ethnicity. However, there is a small vocal minority who erroneously claim otherwise. It is on record that almost all locations attacked by Boko Haram are populated by mostly Muslims who are invariably the main victims.

“We should never forget that Boko Haram will be over-joyed to discover that their activities are causing suspicion, animosity and even conflict among Muslims and Christians in the country. We must deny them that victory”, the ACF pleaded.

Also yesterday, a top United

States (US) Defence Department official, Alice Friend, criticized Nigerian security forces for being too slow to adapt in response to the threat of Boko Haram, saying that the Nigerian state has failed to mount effective campaign against the insurgents.

Friend, who is the Pentagon’s Principal Director for African Affairs, in a testimony provided to the Africa subcommittee of the US Senate, said America is committed to helping fight the terror group, and bring the over 200 girls abducted a month ago.

She also described as “more troubling” the atrocities being perpetrated by some security forces during operations against Boko Haram, noting that the US human rights law would bar it from providing assistance to the Nigerian military.

Friend disclosed that 16 US Department of Defense personnel with medical, intelligence, counter-terrorism and communications expertise have been assigned exclusively to advise Nigeria on how to recover the girls safely.

“Our intent is to support Nigerian-led efforts to recover the girls and help catalyze greater efforts to secure the Nigerian population from the menace of Boko Haram”, she said.

Several efforts to reach the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, for reaction to Friend’s allegations proved abortive as his number could not be reached and he did not respond to a text message sent to his cell phone.

News

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 3

Insurgents raze Borno village, kill 2

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

S

uspected Boko Haram insurgents, riding on four motorcycles, invaded Alau Ngawo Fatoye village of Jere Local Government Area of Borno state killing two residents and injured nine others.

Alau is about 10 kilometers from Maiduguri and had suffered series of attacks carried out the Boko Haram militants.

In the latest incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, the invaders reportedly set the entire village on fire, even as hundreds of houses were burnt to ashes.

A resident of the village, Malam Bukar Mustapha, who spoke to our correspondent on phone, said the onslaught happened around 10 p.m., when over 12 gunmen rode into the area on four motorcycles, each carrying three persons.

Malam Mustapha said if not the villagers were hinted on the impending attack, the casualty would have been higher.

“The gunmen had a field day as they wreaked havoc on the village chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ in Arabic language (God is Great) and left without no confrontation from the armless residents, who mostly fled and hid into the bush during the time of the attack.

“When they arrived, majority of our people who got hint of their coming fled into the bush; so they met only few persons.

As I am talking to you, some of our people are still missing, as we ran into the bush for our safety and unfortunately, the security agencies are yet to be deployed to the scene, not to talk of any arrest.

At the end of the attack, the gunmen killed two residents, burnt hundreds of houses and shops, before carting away assorted foodstuff and livestock”, he said.

L-R: National Executive Chairman, Traditional Rulers of the Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON), H.R.M. Eze Ikegwuruka, President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, National Life Patron of TROMPCON, Dr. Akpabio Udo Ukpa, Amanyanabo of Twon Brass Bayelsa state, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and other traditional rulers, during a Visit by the members of TROMPCOM to the president, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Nigeria must learn from Sudan’s break-up, says Ambassador From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he Ambassador of Sudan to Nigeria, Dr. Tagasir Tasul Ali has cautioned Nigerians to embrace unity and shun any form of break up.

He said this on Wednesday, when he paid a courtesy visit on the Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at the Government house, Minna, saying that Nigerians must unite to keep the country and Africa intact.

He said “the citizenry should learn a very big lesson from the fate that befell my home country which led to the granting of selfdetermination to the Southern Sudan after a protracted war that was responsible for the killings of

thousands of people both from the Sudan and Southern Sudan.

“In fact what happened in Sudan should serve as a lesson that all of us must try to understand.

Unity is critical and important. If you don’t give a chance to unity, you will give a chance to others who are interested in disrupting the whole set up for their own selfish interests.

“I think for Nigeria, it is critically important that Nigeria remains intact, not only for the sake of Nigeria but for the sake of the entire Africa, it is important.”

“You all must come together irrespective of political affiliation, religious belief and ethnic group on the need for unity among yourselves with a view to allowing peace

to reign and for development.”

The Ambassador noted that the relationship between the two countries dated back to over a hundred years ago, while about no fewer than 10 million Nigerians who are residents in Sudan are doing very well in businesses, Law and other aspects of life and have co-existed peacefully with both his fellow country men and women and the rest of other African descent.

“About 12,000 Nigerians are studying different courses like Engineering, Law, Islamic studies among others in the Sudanese University.

“I remember my first real contact with Nigeria was when I was an instructor in the Somali Nation-

al University, in 1969- 1970 and I was to teach Contemporary African Literature and that was when I came in contact with people from Nigeria like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Cyprian Ekwensi and J. P. Clark; and all these good writers and so on. I read a lot about what was going on in Nigeria and ‘Things Fall Apart’ has always been in my mind,” he said.

Tasul further disclosed that “the seeds of the Cottons which has become one of the leading cash crops being exported by Sudan to foreign countries were brought from Nigeria. We look for areas where we can work with the Nigerian Government in some critical sectors of the economy like in the airline sector”.

Policemen shoot 2 auto mechanics in Zuba, FCT

Mutiny: Military moves to forestall recurrence

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By Usman Shu’aibu

ome member of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SAS), a department in the Nigerian Police Force, yesterday shot two automobile mechanics, Mr. Jamiu and Mr. Dele, in Zuba, Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Eyewitness accounts told Peoples Daily that the incident occurred when there was a minor argument between the police and the two mechanics at their workshop.

The sources further disclosed that the policemen drove into the mechanics workshop when there was a heavy traffic-jam in Zuba, which led to a misunderstanding between them.

A source, who did not want his name to mentioned in print, said that the policemen shot indiscriminately during the incident, which scared the people of the area.

It was gathered that the policemen, who were coming back from the journey are the staff serving with Zuba Police Division.

When contacted, the Zuba Police Divisional Officer (DPO), declined comment, but it was learnt that the policemen who shot the mechanics are being detained in police custody in Zuba.

Meanwhile, the victims have been taken to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for medical treatment.

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri ormal military procedures have been instituted by the Nigerian Army to forestall a repeat of Maiduguri incident where protesting soldiers fired into the air last Wednesday over the death of their colleagues.

Director, Defence Information, (DDI) Major-General Chris Olukolade said this yesterday, while briefing

newsmen at the Maimalari Military Cantonment in Maiduguri.

According to Olukolade, Wednesday’s incident did not affect the morale of soldiers and officers in the on-going counter-insurgency operation, adding that the military authority have put in place normal procedure to deal with the situation.

“Normacy has returned; all operations continue.

The normal procedures in

the military has been put in place to ensure similar incident do not occur again,” he told journalists.

However, the DDI said the incident was “highly reported,” urging journalists to exercise caution in the reportage of such military affairs.

“We should down-play the level of sensationalism in our reportage,” he counselled.

He maintained the GOC was not shot by the protesting soldiers as rumoured,

adding that he had gone to the barrack after the evacuation of the remains of the slain soldiers at the scene of the Boko Haram attack to the morgue.

He disclosed that the change of the GOC would not affect the psyche of men and officers of the 7 Division as well as the counter-insurgency operation. “A successor will soon come but for now, there is an acting GOC in the division,” he added.

PENGASSAN threatens strike over new wage payment system

T

he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) yesterday rejected its members’ inclusion in the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS).

The association also threatened to embark on strike if its members were not exempted from the scheme.

This is contained in a statement signed by PEN-

GASSAN’s President, Mr. Babatunde Ogun, and made available to newsmen in Lagos.

It claimed that IPPIS would compromise effectiveness and efficiency if introduced into the oil and gas sector. ``The oil and gas industry thrives on performance evaluation; therefore, introducing a system that is not

based on deliverables should be discouraged,” it said.

The union also said that it would go on strike if the Federal Government stopped the May salaries of its members in government agencies, as threatened by the Head of Service of the Federation.

It listed the affected agencies as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pric-

ing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Nigeria Content Development Board, Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).

It expressed dissatisfaction that the government was threatening the workers with an ultimatum in spite of the union’s protest letters to the government against their enrolment into IPPIS. (NAN)

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 4

News

Chibok girls: FG must speak with one voice - APC

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the federal government to immediately stop the discordant tunes emanating from the highest echelons of government and speak with one voice on issues concerning the ongoing efforts to find and rescue the schools girls abducted by Boko Haram.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the conflicting statements credited to top government officials over the conditions given by Boko Haram for releasing the girls were totally unwarranted and could send the wrong signal to the insurgents

and hinder the efforts to ensure the safe return of the girls.

It said the government must designate a spokesman, be it the Minister of Information or whoever the government deems fit, to be responsible for daily relaying to the public any relevant information concerning the search for the missing girls, instead of allowing a cacophony of voices on the issue.

“Information management is key if the government itself is not to jeopardize ongoing international efforts to find and rescue the girls, and the government must move fast to keep the nation informed through an established channel, in line with global best practices under such circumstances,’’ APC said.

Nyanya Bombings: SSS arrests Ogwuche’s father

By Joy Baba

A

s diplomatic paperwork is being concluded to repatriate Abubakar Sadiq Ogwuche, co-mastermind of the Nyanya Motor Park bombing in which scores of citizens died and hundreds wounded, the Federal Government yesterday announced the arrest of his father retired Col. Agene Ogwuche.

Spokesperson for the Department of State Security Services (SSS), Ms. Marylyn Ogar stated this during the daily media briefing by the National Information Centre, at the National Orientation Agency in Abuja, noting that the elder Ogwuche was arrested because he breached the bond, which he signed while taking his son’s bail in 2012.

Ogar said Abubakar Sadiq Ogwuche, a British-born Nige-

rian, was arrested on November 12, 2011, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from the UK on terrorism related charges but was released on Oct. 15, 2012, following intense pressure from human rights activists, who alleged human rights violation.

Also commenting on the senior Ogwuche’s arrest, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Frank Mbah said the retired military colonel would be made to answer for his inability to meet the bail bond which he signed pledging to produce his son when needed for questioning.

In his address, Director General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri gave the assurance once again, that the over 200 Chibok Government Secondary School girls still in the custody of Boko Haram terrorists would soon be brought back home to rejoin their families.

FG lauds Borno community for foiling Boko Haram attack

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he Federal Government yesterday commended the people of Kalabalge in Borno state for foiling attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to attack their community.

Mr. Mike Omeri, Coordinator, National Information Centre, gave the commendation at a joint news conference, which was attended by the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police in Abuja.

Omeri said: “The federal government commends the Kalabalge people for moving ahead of the Boko Haram to foil attempt at unleashing terror on their community”.

He applauded the residents for mobilising against the attackers to stop them from carrying out their heinous crime against them.

Omeri said the actual number of casualties in the foiled attack had not been determined, adding that the federal government would soon make the figure available.

On the reported mutiny by solders against Maj.-Gen Ahmed Muhammed, GOC, 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Omeiri said information on the issue was sketchy. He added that what transpired would soon be made known.

He said government would not join issues with anyone who claimed to know the whereabouts of the abducted Chibok girls.

“The government of Nigeria is responsible enough not to join issues with anyone who claims to know the whereabouts of the Chibok girls. (NAN)

An escapee student of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, identifying her colleagues from Boko Haram released video clip at an ongoing identification exercise, yesterday at the Government House, in Maiduguri, Borno state.

Gunmen kill 1, injure 5 in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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nknown gunmen killed one person and injured five others along Koro dodo and Gobiya village in Bauchi state.

The gunmen whose number could be ascertained killed a motorcycle rider with a machete, just as they critically injured the driver of a Peugeot 806, who was returning from a market in Bogoro local government along with four other people in the vehicle.

The Police Public Relation Officer (PPPRO), DSP Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident to news men yesterday in Bauchi.

DSP Mohammed said three expanded live ammunition of

. . .burn down 2 primary schools, MTN mast 7.62mm was recovered at the scene and investigation is on top gear to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The PPRO added that all the victims of the attack were rushed to Bogoro Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

In a related development, unknown gunmen burnt down two primary schools and MTN mast sites in Darazo local government area of the state.

The Bauchi state Police Command’s Public Relation Officer

(PPRO), DSP Haruna Mohammed confirmed this to news men yesterday in Bauchi saying the unknown gunmen burnt the following structures: (1) MTN mast site T.1137 and the surveillance monitoring site located adjacent to the mast; two primary schools namely Shadarki and Yelwan Darazo primary schools respectively. No casualty recorded.

The PPRO said the entire surroundings has been cordoned by combined security forces and efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Don’t sell our girls, look for goods to sell, NLC tells Shekau From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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ollowing the recent threat by the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Ahmed Shekau to sell the kidnapped Chibok school girls at open market, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) advised the Boko Haram leader to go and look for goods to sell if he has chosen to be a trader and not sell Nigerian girls because they are not his products, but Nigerian girls with future.

The congress stated this during a rally to bring back the Chibok girls unconditionally held in Kaduna yesterday.

Speaking to the protesters, a human right activist and President, Women Arise for Change

Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin said it is disheartening to hear somebody who claimed to be leading people on the part to paradise to be talking of selling girls that are created by God to be future mothers, governors, doctors and business gurus “We want Shekau and his cohorts to know that in this civilized world, the era of slave trade and capture fugitives are past, so they should release our girls to us immediately without ant stitch attached.

“We also want to tell the Boko Haram members that they have murdered sleep and they are not going to have rest unless they bring back our girls safe and healthy,” Odumakin stressed.

Speaking earlier, the Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu said the rally was organized as part of the continuous protests not only in Nigeria but across the globe to mount pressure on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts in other to release over 200 abducted school girls in Chibok, Borno state.

According to the comrade, real men don’t sell girls but goods, so Shekau should go and look for goods to sell.

The protesters were however prevented from leaving the Murtala Square which was the agreed assemble point of the intended rally.

News

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 5

Presidency wants states, councils to create offices to administer Ecological Fund T he Ecological Fund Office (EFO) in the Presidency yesterday urged states and local governments to create similar offices for specific channeling of ecological funds to them.

The Deputy Director in the office, Mr. Tolu Makinde, made the call in Abuja, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Makinde said these offices would address the misconception that states were not receiving the funds or using it to address their ecological problems.

He explained that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) allocate ecological funds to states and local governments monthly.

According to him, the funds are disbursed together with the federal allocation to all tiers of

government.

He said the amount allocated to the Federal Ecological Account was not meant to be shared, but for intervention during emergencies.

The deputy director recalled how the Federal Government approved N17 billion during the 2012 flood disaster from its share

T

he Appeal Court, Benin Division, yesterday said former Governor of Delta state, James Ibori has a case to answer in connection to 170-count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Marcel Awokulehin, of the Federal High court, sitting in Asaba, Delta state capital had six years ago struck out all 170 countcharge.

In a lead judgment delivered

by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, of a three-man panel, however set aside the judgment of the lower court presided over by Justice Marcel Awokulehin. on the grounds that the court erred in law.

EFCC had approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the Federal High court, Asaba, Delta state on four grounds, which include that the trial judge looked at the proof of evidence and evaluated same as if the prosecution had called all its witnesses and trial, has been concluded.

The anti-graft agency also prayed the court that the procedure is by way of summary trial and not trial by indictment or information.

That the proof of evidence clearly shows a prima facie case has been disclosed against the accused/ respondent and that His Lordship erred when he held that no case was disclosed against the accused/ respondent Ibori is currently serving a 13year jail term in a London prison.

considered the gravity and enormity of ecological problems.

He commended the National Conference Committee on Environment for recommending additional two per cent allocation of the national revenue to ecological fund.

He said the fund would be used to tackle desertification, soil

erosion and many other ecological challenges in the country.

It could be recalled that the Federal Government established the Ecological Fund through the Federation Account Act of 1981, in order to have a pool of funds that would be solely devoted to funding ecological projects.

(NAN)

L-R: Deputy Director, Public Affairs, State Security Service, Marylyn Ogar, Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, and Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, during a media briefing on national security, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

170 count charge: Ibori has case to answer – Court

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin, & Joy Baba, Abuja

of the fund and disbursed to the affected states.

He, however, urged communities to approach their states and local governments for funds to address ecological challenges within their localities.

On the criteria for the approval of ecological projects, Makinde said that Federal Government

From Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

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he Executive Director/ CEO, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo has said Nigeria will stop exporting raw materials to other countries.

According to him, the decision will increase the abilities of the Nigerian exporters to expand into the West African market which is especially important at this moment.

Awolowo revealed this while speaking at the NEPC’s one day capacity building workshop tagged ‘Strategies for Perpetrating West African Market’ held at Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) House yesterday in Lagos.

He said the decision would be

Nigeria to stop exporting raw materials - NEPC considered extremely important as Nigeria seek to improve market access and make inroad to the heart of economic growth and development into the West African market.

“In the export Market, what we are looking into now is that we want to stop exporting raw materials; because, you don’t create a value-chain with raw materials.

“But when we stop exporting raw materials, and start processing, producing, manufacturing here (Nigeria) and we start taking

it abroad, we would start a Nigeria brand based on qualities and we can dominate the ECOWAS countries:, he said.

However, Awolowo later assured that with the over 28 billion US dollars’ worth of investment coming to Africa, Nigeria have what it takes to take the rightful opportunity amongst the top global economies and be a manufacturing hub.

Also speaking, the DirectorGeneral, Lagos Chambers of Com-

merce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, made it known that the workshop is to create awareness for the exporters of Nigeria on the need for export products to be of high standards in order for Nigeria to achieve its potentials of becoming the biggest export traders in West Africa.

“The whole idea is to see how we can give an insight into what, industrially, the exporter can do to improve competitively in the export market”, he said.

Court orders First Bank to refund N4.56m illegal transfer

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Jos High Court yesterday ordered First Bank of Nigeria Plc to refund N4.56 million illegal transfer made on the account of one of its deceased customers.

The Acting Chief Judge of Plateau, Justice Pius Damulak, in his judgment, declared the transfer made by the bank on the personal

account of late Bawa Yarima on his demise, as illegal and unprofessional.

He said that the mandate left by late Yarima on which the bank claimed to have acted could not remain valid after his death.

The judge declared that the transfer of N4.56 million out of his personal account, without author-

ity of the Estate Administrators, was illegal.

The judge held that the applicant, who is the third son of the deceased, had proved his case against the bank and that the first son, Solomon and his other two siblings, had no right to order the release of the fund without the consent of the estate administrators.

KDSG to investigate Kachia crisis From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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aduna state Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero yesterday said it would investigate the recent crisis that erupted in Kachia at the weekend, as he vowed to ensure that anyone found culpable in the crisis is punished accordingly.

Speaking when he visited vic-

tims of the crisis on Wednesday, the Governor said investigation into the cause of the ugly incident has since commenced and government will ensure that persons found to have perpetrated the violence are prosecuted no matter their status in the society.

He said, “Investigation is already on and whoever is found to have a hand in this crisis will face full wrath of the law. I want to as-

sure the people and I will call on people not to try thwarting the course of justice by protecting suspects during arrest.”

He called on people in the area to prevent their children from engaging in violent acts during crisis saying “if you allow your children to engage in such acts, they will one day turn against you when there is no crisis.”

Besides, he held that there was no proof that the deceased or his hotel owed the bank such an amount.

The judge held that the plaintiff had proved his case and ordered the return of the amount to the personal account of late Yarima under the estate administrators.

Damulak awarded an accumulated cost of N300,000 in favour of the plaintiff.

The bank, through its counsel, Chief Ofodile Okafor, SAN, claimed that Yarima owed it N4.56 million at his demise, being an investment on his hotel.

The bank said that the transfer of the amount from the deceased personal account was in settlement of the debt.

Okafor said that authority to transfer the fund was given by Solomon Yarima, the first son of the deceased, as the Managing Director of his hotel and estate.

(NAN)

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 6

News

Chibok girls: FG must speak with one voice – APC From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Federal Government to immediately stop the discordant tunes emanating from the highest echelons of government and speak with one voice on issues concerning the ongoing efforts to find and rescue the schools girls

abducted by Boko Haram.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the conflicting statements credited to top government officials over the conditions given by Boko Haram for releasing the girls were totally unwarranted and could send the wrong signal to the insurgents and

hinder the efforts to ensure the safe return of the girls.

It said the government must designate a spokesman, be it the Minister of Information or whoever the government deems fit, to be responsible for daily relaying to the public any relevant information concerning the search for the missing girls, instead of allowing a cacophony of voices on

the issue. ‘’Information management is key if the government itself is not to jeopardize ongoing international efforts to find and rescue the girls, and the government must move fast to keep the nation informed through an established channel, in line with global best practices under such circumstances,’’ APC said.

L-R: Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Malam Muhammad Sani-Sidi, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa, Mr. Sa’id Djinnit and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Daouda Toure, during the visit of UN team to NEMA office, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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ad una s tate Go verno r Mukhtar Yero has recently come under heat from some individuals in the state, particularly the peoples of Southern Kaduna for abandoning projects initiated by his predecessor, late Governor Patrick Yakowa.

It could be recalled that some groups from Southern Kaduna recently accused the governor of abandoning most of the projects initiated by his former boss in the southern zone of the state.

The group, Concerned Realists of Southern Kaduna (A Core Southern Kaduna Group) said governor Yero remained unelectable in Southern part of the state come 2015 election.

It alleged that nothing is currently working in the state, saying that health and education sectors remain in shambles.

Yakowa’s projects: Gov Yero comes under heat “Road and other infrastructural projects are all gone with the wind except for signboards bearing giant portraits of the governor and robust media advertorials presenting failures as achievements, in the name of ‘silent achiever’, instead of ‘open failure’.

“Therefore, we are making it clear that Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero remains unelectable in Southern Kaduna area of the state. It is because we are pursuing vigorously and leaving no stone unturned in making it a reality.

We are aware of his plot to divide the Southern Kaduna people, but as a people we will triumph with God on our side,” the group said.

However, Governor Yero, while debunking the claims yesterday, said as far as he is concerned, all projects in the state are still on-going in all parts of the state.

Yero disclosed this when Forum of Former Councillor’s in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state paid him a courtesy call in Sir. Kashim Ibrahim’s house in Kaduna.

He added that the said projects started by late Yakowa were ongoing except for the ones where work was stalled due to delay on the part of the contractors handling the projects.

“We have not abandoned late

Yakowa’s projects as some people were alleging. The projects are ongoing in the state. Therefore there is need for people in the state to promote peaceful coexistence, rather than wrongful insinuation that would cause havoc in the state,” he said.

The governor assured the counselors that the state government will pay all their outstanding allowances at their various local government areas.

Responding, Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Yahaya Kakiyeyi said they visited the governor to show their support and to ask him to intervene in the payment of all their outstanding allowances.

SURE-P: KDSG to recruit 2000 graduates From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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aduna State Government yesterday said arrangement has been completed to recruit 2000 graduates across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state for its Subsidy Re-investment programme ( SURE-P) programme.

According to the state government, the graduates would be sent to various

ministries within the state to work for a year.

Addressing newsmen, State Deputy Governor who doubles as the Sure-P Chairman Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga said each of the selected graduate would receive 10,000 monthly in additional to Federal Government FG’s 30,000 naira.

He added that after their intensive training, they will be employed into the state civil service.

“2,000 graduates from Kaduna will be recruited and send to various ministries in the state. We intend to pay them 10,000 naira monthly in addition to the 30,000 naira given to them at the national level.

“After their one year training we intend to keep some of them that prove to be good by giving them employment in the state civil service. We need professionals like civil engineers among others in our

ministries so we will ensure we recruit such individuals into the SURE-P programme,” he said.

The Deputy governor assured that at the end of their intensive training no graduate would be sent back to labour market.

He said the need to recruit the graduates emanated because there are civil servants that have reached retiring age and some have died hence the need for more hands to be employed.

Suswam frowns at politicisation of terrorism in Nigeria

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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enue state governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam has frowned at the manner some Nigerians are politicizing terrorism which is presently plaguing the nation,noting it is aggravating the issue.

Governor Suswam, who said this in a chat with Journalists at Government House, Makurdi maintained that Boko Haram menace is a new phenomenon the nation never anticipated could degenerate to this present level.

“Dealing with terrorism is a very difficult thing. It is a new phenomenon that nobody anticipated and when it comes, you must absorb the shock and then find an appropriate way of addressing it. You will agree with me that even the developed nations like America, Israel, Britain and others who have suffered terrorism, it took them years to overcome out”.

“For a long period of time after the Civil War, Nigeria has enjoyed peace.

We were not prepared for this at all and the war with terror is different from the conventional war because these are people you cannot see, no access to wheretheyarestaying,theydon’tbelieve in luxury. Some of them are even ready to die any moment. So, it is difficult to deal with such people”, he said.

While positing that government was doing its best to stem the tide of terrorism in the country, the governor urged all Nigerians to unite and condemn the Boko Haram insurgency especially the abduction of the Chibok school girls.

Donate blood to disaster, accident victims -Blood donor tasks By Miriam Humbe

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ith the rising wave of emergency cases in the country, Cross River state governorship aspirant, Mrs. Alice Achi, yesterday called on all Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper and to freely donate their blood to the blood bank for onward transfusion to victims of disaster and road accidents.

Achi said this when she donated blood for victims of the recent bomb blast in the FCT, at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) in Abuja yesterday.

She said that her gesture was borne out of her concern for humanity; and called on Nigerians to develop the habit of voluntary donation of blood to save lives during emergencies.

Achi said: “I am here because of the concern I have for humanity and I implore many to take a cue from others and donate for patients who need blood transfusion.

“I believe that if we decide to make blood donation part of us, we will see the benefit of saving lives because donating blood to an individual is like giving life to someone”, she said.

The aspirant also donated some items to the NBTS for the refreshment of blood donors at the centre.

PAGE 7

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

News

Money Laundering: Ibori has case to answer- Appeal Court

By Joy Baba

S

ix years after Justice Marcel Awokulehin sensationally struck out all 170-count charge of money laundering preferred against former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) a threeman panel of justices at the Benin Division of the Court of Appeal today, yesterday ruled that the exgovernor, who is currently serving a 13-year jail term in a London prison, has a case to answer.

The unanimous decision of court

setting aside the infamous ruling of Justice Awokulehin was delivered

by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa and was supported by Justices P. M Ekpe and H. A Barka respectively.

A statement signed by the commission’s Head of media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said, displeased with the controversial ruling by Justice Awokulehin, then of the Federal High Court, Asaba, the EFCC had approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment on the grounds that the court erred in law.

The statement said the appeal was predicated on four grounds.

One: that the trial judge looked at the proof of evidence and evaluated same as if the prosecution had called all its witnesses and trial, has been concluded. Secondly, that the procedure is by way of summary trial and not trial by indictment or information.

That the proof of evidence clearly shows a prima facie case has been disclosed against the accused/ respondent and that His Lordship erred when he held that no case was disclosed against the accused/ respondent Fourthly, that the judgment is unwarranted, unreasonable

and against the weight of proof of evidence filed by the prosecution in support of the charges.

Holding that the appeal was meritorious, the statement said Justice Salauwa, resolved all the four issues for determination in favour of the EFCC and directed that the matter be re-assigned to another judge of the Federal High Court for continuation of trial.

“With this judgment, the coast is clear for Ibori to face trial in Nigeria upon the completion of his jail term in London. Other respondents in the case are Udoamaka Okoronkwo and Chinedu Ebie” the statement added.

L-R: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Kenneth Minimah, and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, during their meeting with National Assembly members on the proposed extension of state of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Court remands unemployed man for hemp smoking

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n unemployed man, Abubakar Mohammed, 26, of no fixed address, was remanded in Keffi prison custody on Tuesday for vagabond behaviour and hemp smoking.

A Grade 1 Area Court in Aso Pada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, presided over by Mr. Albert Maga, gave the order after the accused pleaded guilty to the two-count charge leveled against him.

Earlier, the prosecutor, PC Friday Adaji, told the court that Cpl. Dalami Moses of `A’ Divisional Police Station, Mararaba, arrested the accused after a tip-off.

Adaji said the accused was found smoking Indian hemp, and was arrested and detained, but he attempted to escape before he was caught and brought back to the cell.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 192 and 172 of the Penal Code.

The accused may get up to eight-year prison term if convicted of all the charges.

Maga adjourned the case until May 22 for ruling on the bail application by the accused. (NAN)

Crime gangs launder N22.4tr yearly through sports betting – Report

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riminals are using betting on sports events to launder $140 billion (N 22.4 trillion) each year, a report said yesterday, exposing a lack of effective regulation which has allowed matchfixing to spread.

The report identified football and cricket as the sports most threatened by criminals seeking to rig the

gambling market, but tennis, basketball, motor racing and badminton were also affected. ``The rapid evolution of the global sports betting market has seen an increased risk of infiltration by organised crime and money laundering,” said Chris Eaton of the Centre for Sports Security (ICSS) in Qatar.

The report, compiled by the ICSS and the Sorbonne in

Paris, said 80 per cent of global sports betting were being carried out on illegal markets.

This has placed it beyond the reach of regulators and investigators.

A number of football leagues have been hit by match-fixing scandals in recent years.

Three Pakistani cricketers were jailed for a plot to deliberately bowl no balls

during a test match against England at Lord’s in 2010.

Technology and live television have transformed the sports betting market in recent years, allowing viewers to bet on a wider range of events.

This has also allowed them to gamble in real time as a match progresses.

Eaton, a former head of

security at FIFA, said the changes have made suspect betting patterns harder to spot.

Among solutions the report recommended are a sports betting tax to finance investigations into matchfixing, and closer co-operation between betting companies and sporting bodies.

(Reuters/NAN)

N5bn property theft: Court remands ex-Chevron accountant in prison

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n Ikeja High Court yesterday remanded a former accountant with Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Michael Adenuga, in prison over an alleged fraudulent conversion of landed property worth N5 billion.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya remanded Adenuga, 50, at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Apapa, Lagos, after his arraignment by the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adenuga was arraigned alongside his company, Covenant Apartment Complex Ltd. The defendants are facing a three-count charge bordering on stealing, forgery and use of false documents.

The EFCC counsel, Mr. Jamiu

Musa, alleged that they had between February 2008 and September 2011, fraudulently converted to their own use, a land measuring about 22.68 hectares.

Musa said the property, situated at Ayetoro, Ikota in the Lekki area of Lagos, was jointly owned by Covenant Sugarland Property Development Ltd and Messrs Sunday and Joseph Oyeniran.

He also accused the defendant of forging a document titled, ``Contract of Sale between Covenant Apartment Ltd and Kingview Realty Ltd,” to facilitate the theft.

According to him, the said document was later presented by Adenuga to an EFCC officer, Mr. James Buzugbe, as genuine.

Jamiu said the defendant’s alleged offences contravened

Sections 278 (1) and 285 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Adenuga, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In a short ruling, the judge turned down the request and ordered that both parties should return to the court on May 21 to argue the bail application.

She also fixed July 13 and July 14 for trial. (NAN)

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 8

APC Congress In Nasarawa State

Delegates at the APC congress

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura waving at the crowd on arrival at the congress

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura casting his vote during APC State congress in City Hall, Lafia

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura thumbs-up shortly after casting his vote

Governor Al-Makura casting his vote during the State congress

Sen. Abdullahi Adamu casting his vote during APC State congress in City Hall, Lafia

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (c), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and APC Congress committee Chairman, El-Manzuq Mohammed during the State congress in City Hall, Lafia

Delegates at the APC congress

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 9

C’ttee on public service proposes Foreign Service Commission

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

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he committee on public service has recommended the creation of a Foreign Service commission and a separate foreign service.

The commission is to be headed by a chairman and made up of six permanent commissioners representing the six geo-political zones, membership of which will include former ambassadors, a person of permanent secretary status as secretary and three or four directorates.

The deputy chairman, Ambassador Adamu Aliyu made this known during the committee’s sitting yesterday whereby he explained that the committee had accepted that there is the need for a Foreign Service commission because this issue had been dragging on for many years now, and they (the Foreign Service) had argued that the police and so on have their

own commissions.

The chairman of the committee, Engineer Ebele Okeke while announcing the proposal pointed out the need for the commission to be lean, thus the small number of six permanent commissioners “The committee has approved a separate foreign service, and a Foreign Service commission.

The board of the Foreign Service commission should be lean, of not more than six members,” said Okeke.

The committee also reached certain decisions regarding the Federal civil service commission following the visit of the commission’s chairman, Deaconess Joan Ayo on Wednesday.

The committee noted that the commission should be well funded, to stand by its rules and ethics, provide a desk officer to handle issues relating to Persons living with disabilities, and

provide brail question papers for those disabled persons.

The committee also hosted the Chairman, National assembly service commission, Dr Adamu Muhammad Fika, who was represented by Elder Stephen Yepwi.

The committee following the presentation by the chairman of the commission tasked the commission to ensure a synergy between the National assembly service commission and the Federal civil service commission.

It also noted that the commission to regulate the tenure and salaries of aides and staff of the commission.

The issue of increasing the retirement age of civil servants from 30 to 35 which was previously debated was eventually postponed by the commission, to be raised following the resumption of plenary.

L-R: Secretary, National Conference Committee on Energy, Mrs. Bassey Ntur, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, and member of the committee, Justice Richard Akinjide, during the committee meeting, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

C’ttee on religion recommends commission to tackle religious discrimination, harassment

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

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L-R: Member, National Conference Committee on Civil Society, Labour, Youth and Sport, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, Director General, Industrial Training Funds (ITF), Professor Longmas Wapmuk, and Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs. Bola Osunrinade, during the committee meeting, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

he committee on religion at the National conference has proposed a religious equity commission as its main recommendation as it concluded its committee work yesterday.

The committee proposed that the commission be set up to look into issues of religion, religious discrimination, and religious harassment where religious minorities are denied access to their rights, or their rights are violated or infringed upon as provided to them in the constitution.

Speaking to fellow committee members after the committee’s final session, all of which were conducted behind closed doors, the co-chairman of the committee, Nurudeen Lemu who is representing the Supreme council of Islamic affairs said not everybody was satisfied, but they had to compromise for the greater good of the country.

Hajiya Shattu Alfa, one of the few delegates willing to talk to press expressed happiness that the committee was able to reach an agreement. She said the commission which they recommended is supposed to look into issues like that of religious minorities who had had their rights infringed upon, and to see

that the commission enforces the rights of such individuals.

If the commission is approved, its composition will be from the various religious bodies in the country.

She noted that “there is no way we can’t have problems but Thank God most of us came here with open minds, putting Nigeria first.

We’re doing this for our children and for a better Nigeria. We all came here with open hearts to see where people have problems or are been marginalised which was the essence of the dialogue.

“Everything was put on the table, we had our ups and downs but Thank God at the end we were able to come to an agreement.

The time wasn’t enough but we were able to manage the little time that we had even though our agenda was not really much, it was tasking.

The committee’s sessions were conducted behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the issues at hand. It has also seen its share of controversy. As it may be recalled that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) accused the chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi of religious bias, criticising the chairman’s choice of composition of the committee, arguing that he should have made a member of the association co-chairman

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 10

News

Jigawa awards N1.5bn hospital contract From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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he Jigawa state government has awarded the contract for the construction of a new General Hospital, at Birnin kudu local government of the state, at the cost of

N1, 498,970.14 billion.

Announcing this yesterday, after the state Executive Council meeting, the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim said the hospital is expected to be completed within 8 months.

The commissioner also announced that the contractual agreement entered with Datum Construction Company has assured that the hospital would be ready for use at the stipulated agreed time.

The commissioner said the

state government has approved the construction of additional 30 windmills for animal-grazing across the state, at the cost of N350, 487, 264. 60.

He said the number of windmills constructed would amount to fifty since the conception of the idea.

Taraba: Ag. gov donates buses to state FCJalingo, police Form Yusha’u Alhassan Jalingo.

T

araba state Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar has donated two twenty-seven seater buses to the Taraba Football Club, Jalingo and one to the state Police Command Band, Jalingo.

Presenting the keys of the buses to the two organisations at the Government House, the Acting Governor asked the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the buses to enhance their performances.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the state Police Commissioner, Kalafite Adeyemi thanked the Acting Governor for initiating the state Police Band and donating a bus for the Band and assured that the bus ould be used for the intended purpose.

Jonathan reiterates Nigeria’s appreciation of int’l support R-L: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, in a handshake with National President, Alhudahuda Old Boys Association, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, during a visit by members of the executive of the association to the vice-president, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo:JoeOroye

Chibok girls: Archbishop Kaigama calls for nationwide prayer

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has called for a nationwide Holy Hour adoration prayer by all Catholic faithful in

the country, for the recovery of the abducted Chibok girls.

A statement from the Catholic Secretariat, Abuja, said the problem of insecurity in the country portrays Nigeria in a negative light.

The CBCN president, therefore, called for a pro-active action from

all Nigerians to end the menace.

“We live in difficult times but nothing is so difficult beyond the Lord’s intervention”, he asserted.

Archbishop Kaigama also stated that the Church is considering organising another National Prayer Event, “as a remedy to

all the insecurity, violence and anti-social activities plaguing the nation”.

He, therefore, urged all Catholic Bishops to lead the faithful in the special prayer session, which is to take place in all the archdioceses, dioceses, parishes and outstations.

newsmen in Katsina.

Responding to a question on growing insecurity in the country, Chairman of the committee, Gen. Muhammad Magoro (rtd) said poverty and unemployment are the cause, but insisted that the current insecurity has nothing to do with bad governance.

Magoro said what the nation needed was proper surveillance of its

border so as to ensure regulation of persons coming in or going out of the country, but declined to comment on the need to fence the nation’s border.

He said the Joint Committee was on an assessment visit to six northern states comprising Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Benue and Nasarawa hit by bug of insecurity.

He said the committee was on a fact-finding mission, noting that

in Katsina state, the committee “will visit Faskari LG and talk with stakeholders and other victims of this criminality before going to Zamfara”.

Although Gen Magoro did not give an inkling into the committee’s finding, he however said there was nothing wrong with Nigeria seeking foreign help on the rescue of abducted girls.

Poverty, unemployment, promote insecurity-Senate

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

joint committee of Nigerian Senate has attributed the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria to poverty and unemployment.

The Senate Joint Committee on National Security, Defence, Army, Police Affairs and Interior, stated this, while fielding questions from

International Day: Minister urges families to pray for peace

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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s Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s International Day of Families on Wednesday, with the theme: “Family Matters For The Achievement of Development Goals: International Year Family +20”, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has called on Nigerian families to embark on sustained vigilance and prayers towards bringing to an end to the current security challenges facing the country.

A statement issued in Abuja, by the Director, Press, at the ministry, Saghir el-Mohammed, the minister said as a result of the activities of insurgents, some Nigerian families, especially in the North-East are becoming homeless, as some family heads and breadwinners have been killed, thereby increasing the number of widows and orphans in that part of the country.

Maina said the annual observance of the day was aimed at raising awareness on issues relating to the family as the basic unit and building

block of the society and also reflects the importance the international community attached to family and issues affecting them around the world.

“In view of the present situation we find ourselves, we have to dedicate this year’s celebrations to finding lasting solutions to these and other problems affecting the survival and proper development of the Nigerian families.

“To this end, I call on all Nigerian families to embark on sustained vigilance and prayers towards

bringing to an end the current security challenges facing our nation. We must show greater commitment to ensuring that our girls are re-united with their families within the shortest possible time frame.

She said the Federal Government has established 77 skills acquisition centres for women, provided credit facilities to over 3,400 women groups/ cooperatives, 400 persons with disabilities and 172 older persons were trained and empowered, while 20 Disabilities – focused NGOs received grants to boost their activities.

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resident Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, in Abuja, reiterated Nigeria’s appreciation of the support being given by Britain and others for their efforts to locate and rescue the girls abducted from Chibok Speaking during talks with the British Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Mark Simmonds at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan said that the Federal Government will also welcome international support for its plans for the socio-economic rehabilitation of the northeastern states after the Boko Haram insurgency has been substantially curtailed.

President Jonathan told Mr. Simmonds that he looked forward to meeting the Heads of State and Government of Benin Republic, Chad, Niger and Cameroon this weekend in Paris, for talks on how Nigeria and their countries can strengthen and intensify collaboration against Boko Haram and other criminal organisations.

“If we all collaborate more, it will easier to eradicate Boko Haram and terrorism,” he said.

Mr. Simmonds reassured President Jonathan of Britain’s commitment to giving Nigeria all required assistance to find and safely rescue the abducted girls.

“We are keen to support Nigeria in every possible way and help you overcome present challenges,” he told the President.

Page 11

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Money Sense

How you can start ornamental flower business

T

here are a range of different businesses that you could begin and starting a florist business is one of them as it was one of the few known profitable businesses.

The first thing that you will need to do is to determine the type of floral business that you wish to start. The majority of people choose to open a retail florist business giving you the opportunity to interact with customers and design floral arrangements; however, another side to the floral business involves growing flowers and selling them to retail stores.

Once you have made the decision as to the type of florist business that you plan on opening, you will need to look for a location.

You should choose a location that is in a high traffic area, providing customers with easy access to your store. If you choose to start a wholesale business, it would be wise for you to choose a location where there is ample land to grow your flowers.

When starting a florist business you will require supplies and equipment to provide the proper care for the flowers and plants that you sell. This should be your main priority when running a flower shop; therefore, it is essential that you have the required materials to do this efficiently. If you plan on opening a retail business, you will need a cooler to prevent cut flowers from diminishing too quickly. If you plan on opening a wholesale business you will need a large amount of growing space such as a greenhouse. You should work out what you need in

Money Tip:

Consider healthy food delivery

M

ost people do not cook, either because they do not like to cook or because in these hard economic times, they spend a lot of their time working to make ends meet. This means that they will mostly consume junk food when they are hungry. If you are not a good cook, you can get a lot of cheap and healthy food recipes that, if carefully followed will produce great and mouthwatering dishes including drinks.

Simply make a few samples for tasting and visit several offices in your area and give people a taste of your home made, tasty and healthy food before you get into it. No one will reject good food and if you leave your contacts behind during the food tasting mission, you will soon begin to receive orders.

Quote

A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.

-unknown

advance, and fix a budget on your spending.

If you are new to the floral industry, you should consider taking a class such as horticulture, or spend time reading about flowers, this will provide you with extra knowledge about the flowers that you will be caring for. Even if you are already familiar with the florist industry, continuous

learning should still be one of your goals.

Depending on the size of your business, it may be necessary for you to hire staff to assist you with the day-to-day running of your store. Not only will you need staff to help you to look after your flowers and see to customers, you may also need staff for accounting, bookkeeping,

and legal issues.

Your business idea may be the best in the world; however, if people do not know that it exists, you will find it difficult to make a profit. You need an efficient marketing and advertising plan to gain visibility. There are two types of advertising, internet and print, you will need a fixed strategy for both. Internet advertising will

out of you, they will be willing to part with the books for as cheap as N100 per textbook or fill a paper bag for N1000.

One day, I scanned the textbooks and hopped on eBay to find out how much there going to by searching the ISBN. I was shocked! They were going for over a hundred dollars a piece on eBay! I soon realized that just because our University upgraded to the next edition, many other schools didn’t. The best part yet, even selling the books for, say N1000, the buyer is getting a great deal. I found out after talking to the buyers that some textbooks would have cost them N1700-N2000 new! A win, win for all!

I was able to make a decent amount of money off this process.

As time went on, it was obvious others had the same idea as the more profitable books became few and far between. My last year at University, I started to see a group on campus who were looking to purchase old textbooks from students. Was this the end? Is it the end?I’m several years removed from University so I’m curious to find out if University still resell

their books to their students.

So a few tips: 1. Avoid selling your books back to the bookstore or another group until you look at the value on eBay or their affiliate Half.com (or other market sites). You probably can get twice as much online if you are willing to take the time and effort to list and ship them.

2. When you resell your books, be sure to wait until the start of the semester when students are actually looking! All too often I see books flood on eBay when the semester is over. While there are holiday courses, your best bet is to wait until resume of semesters when demand is higher.

3. Just like selling books, buying books online can save you some much needed money. See if you can get a syllabus in advance to start your search for needed textbooks.

So check out your University bookstore today. Do they sell used books? Are they worth more to other students around the country? While a bit more difficult, the same criterion applies to thrift stores and garage sales.

require that you have a website built, and to increase your visibility through tactics such as search engine optimization.

Print advertisement requires that you have your details in as many newspapers and magazines as possible.

These are the steps you will need to take when starting a florist business.

Attention: University students can also make money while at school

I

know what it is like being a University student. It takes a lot of dedication to devote time to studies and because of that, not a lot of time to have a job. It’s a good wake up call to life by juggling many responsibilities and being on your own. So other than work, how else can University students make money at school?

Here is an idea…sell your books!

Inspired by Nut @ The Writer’s Coin, I want to share how you can make some good cash by selling used University textbooks. The University I attended had book rentals for University courses. While it may seem like we were lucky for not having to pay for books, the cost was already included in our tuition. There were still books that needed to be purchased.

It was very often that the University Librarian would take the old edition textbooks that were no longer used in classes and sell them to students. I can assure you, not many University students were running to get their hands on those big, thick Law books. Because the University got their use out of them, and will get money

PAGE 12

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

EDITORIAL

ouse Public Accounts Committee has been investigating an allegation that state oil monopoly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has chartered a plane, Challenger 859, at the cost of N10 bn for the private use of its supervising minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and her immediate household. It spends another 500,000 euros (N130 million) on monthly maintenance.

The allegation was made by a House member, Rep Samuel Adejare, who said an investigation would reveal that the N10bn was just a “tip of the iceberg”.

A very angry Adejare reasoned that “If government could be bankrolling this waste in the face of ever dwindling public resources,…it amounts to a misplacement of priority, impudence and breach of public trust, an action that offends the Fiscal Responsibility Act and all other laws on fiscal discipline in Nigeria.” His allegation came exactly after Sanusi blew the whistle on $20 billion oil revenue that the NNPC had been unable to account for. Instead of ordering a prompt inquiry, President Goodluck Jonathan suspended him as CBN governor, with just three months left of his tenure.

Diezani hasn’t officially reacted to Adejare’s allegation, but the NNPC management rushed to her defence. It agreed that indeed a chartered aircraft has been acquired but not for the minister’s

private use and it didn’t dispute the scandalous cost of the plane either.

A statement by NNPC’s former acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr.

“

H

Diezani Alison-Madueke must face the music We welcome the House probe of this latest squandermania at the NNPC, hoping that this time the lawmakers will muster the will power to name names and clean up the cesspit of corruption that NNPC has become.

Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said the law allows NNPC to “hold, manage and alienate moveable and immovable property...which will facilitate the discharge of (Its) duties…” Besides, “It is standard practice for large oil and gas corporations such as NNPC to make use of the most efficient means of transportation to ensure the effective and efficient coverage of critical oil and gas assets under its purview.”

Without knowing, the NNPC management has succeeded in indicting itself. If it uses the “most efficient means of transportation”

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

and covers the ground “effectively and efficiently”, how come there is so much oil theft going on in this country? With 100, 000 barrels of crude believed to be stolen daily – a conservative estimate -, the loss in revenues this year is feared to amount to $3.5 billion. Secondly, there is a disturbing parallel between the purchases of bullet proof BMW vehicles by FAAN for immediate past aviation minister, Ms. Stella Oduah, a scandal that led to her sack in February. Diezani Alison-Madueke must be made to face the music too.

In the light of the public conduct of the people President Jonathan has put in charge of the oil industry, particularly the NNPC, his description of the Sanusi Lamido Sanus-led CBN as “a government within a government” was inappropriate. The government agency that fits that description smugly is the NNPC, overseen by Alison-Madueke.

Under her, the corporation has become, in the words of opposition leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a veritable ATM which is used to steal the nation’s oil money.

We welcome the House probe of this latest squandermania at the NNPC, hoping that this time the lawmakers would muster the will power to name names and clean up the cesspit of corruption that NNPC has become. But we wouldn’t be surprised if the investigation turned out to be another spectacle.

Previously, Alison-Madueke had proved to be untouchable and she may surprise us once more.

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OUR VISION

Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Director/Editor-in-Chief Rufa’i Ibrahim Managing Editor Abdul-Azeez Abdullahi

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Deputy Manager, Production Abdul-Rauf Musa

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Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 13

Opinion

Global assistance: Gratitude and caution

By Benedict Oladipo Koledoye

I

was actually compelled to put down my thought on this discussion late last week.

Somewhere in Lagos, I was part of a discussion on the imperatives of foreign military assistance. I was taken aback, when I raise the very important issue of sovereignty.

I was arguing that despite the necessity of military assistance from the Global North, care should be taken by the leadership so that the sovereignty of Nigeria would not be compromised in the process.

I was really shocked because, the mentioned of Nigeria sovereignty was waved aside. All that seem to be important to the eminent group is the bringing back of the girls. Not Nigeria! Yes, I agree, the girls must be rescued by all means, at the same time Nigeria is also very important, we are not just fighting to bring the girls back, we should also save Nigeria. I need to emphasize that yes we should find and rescue those girls, rehabilitate them and reunite them with their families. But for me this should go beyond #Bring Back Our Girls to #Restore Nigeria# only then would we have some fortune from the unfortunate misfortune that is called Boko Haram.

The news of the military intervention, assistance, or cooperation from the Americas or the Global North, appears to be a welcome development. For many Nigerians, it is like a soothing balm. Indeed, in the face of regular terror activities, the more heinous tactics being employed by the Boko Haram terrorist group;

the apparent ineptitude of the Federal and State Governments to effectively deal with the insurgency, Global North military assistance is more than a welcome development to helpless Nigerians.

Even as we are happy with the prospect of whatever assistance, call it military intervention, or describe it “cooperation or support of the Global North”, it is important to begin to consider the implications of such military intervention, assistance or cooperation.

Cooperation, militarily or through economic initiative is an essential part of global solidarity and politics. To this end, whatever the case may be, issues of cooperation must necessarily be approached with tact and caution.

That may likely explain the initial reluctance of President Goodluck Jonathan in accepting the offer of military assistance, particularly from the United States and United Kingdom. Sometimes, such offers could best be described as the proverbial ‘Greek Gift’ –which prescribes absolute caution in accepting gifts which might appear beneficial and advantageous but laden with negative consequences.

However, since it appears that there is no other option left for him and the country, rather than accept the offer of military support or assistance, it behooves on Nigerians to continue to examine the implications of such military assistance, cooperation or support.

The tragedy of Chibok that eventually necessitated the acceptance of assistance from

the Global North cannot be overemphasized. For me, it is not only the abduction of the girls that is very disturbing, callous and appalling, the comments and the insinuations that suggest that this is the peak or worst crime committed by Boko Haram sect is equally very disturbing. I believe every single life that has been taken by this evil group is as terrible as the abduction of our girls. The same hard situation being faced by the parents and relatives of these children, men and women of goodwill across the globe, could be said to be in the same proportion with those whose relatives have been murdered in cold blood by this band of murderers. Many lofty dreams have been cut short.

Their death is as gruesome as the adoption of these innocent girls. God forbid, if these children have been killed, I doubt if the present outrage and campaign against this terror group would have been sustained. We cannot, but thank the Global North, for sustaining this campaign, left to us, it would have been business as usual after two weeks. The credit of sustaining this campaign goes to the Global North. We owe them immense gratitude.

We have had more than enough onslaught from this terror group, which should have made the Nigeria Government more decisive in dealing with this band of murderers. As we all lament the abduction of the innocent girls, and collectively seek their immediate release or rescue, we must not forget those whose lives

have been brutally cut short by this evil group. We must always remember them. They must not die in vain.

Can the Global North military assistance in whatever means or shape really solve the security problems? Boko Haram is just one of them. Is this military cooperation or assistance simply for the rescue of the Chibok girls?

I think there is need for more clarification from the Federal Government. Yes, the Chibok issue is presently the main issue, but there are other issues that must be properly addressed. Like majority of Nigerians, I hope and pray that whatever be the case, the military assistance would be a success.

Despite our optimism, we should not forget that Boko Haram and other security challenges are the effects of years of bad leadership and poor governance. Whatever the gains that might accrue from military support or cooperation, it will only have short term effect(s). We must not forget that without tackling the issues of bad governance and healing the nation from the root, in my opinion, we are just dancing round the circle.

It appears that there is no concerted effort in bringing about a responsive and responsible government that would, essentially fulfill the core responsibility of government to its citizens. We should, therefore, not be too excited about the prospects of a successful military assistance or cooperation. In the same vein, it will be very important to study and critically appraise countries

where the Global North has rendered security assistance in the past. A cursory survey shows that not all military interventions and assistance results in success, many has ended tragically, in some cases, the situation has become even worse off. It may not be out of place to consider, just in case…!

Finally, whether we like it or not, the Global North could be very snooping, and excessively prying.

Even among themselves, think of Angela Merkel’s phone bugged by the NSA. This military assistance, may further make Nigeria vulnerable, at this point we stand at the danger of compromising our sovereignty. It would amount to complete naivety in global politics if we ever imagine that the Global North is offering military assistance for nothing, as the saying goes ‘there is no free lunch’.

We must certainly pay some price.

At this point, it appears we have no option, since our own leaders and system has failed us. We hope that the price to be paid would not be too much.

I am aware that this write-up might be grossly misunderstood by some of the readers and I might receive negative echoes as usual, but my thoughts herein are borne out of empirically and historical verifiable details. More importantly for the love of Mother Nigeria.

The events of the after-years of the eventual destruction of the menace of the Boko Haram in Nigeria shall either justify or condemn this short write up.

Benedict Oladipo Koledoye is linedIn

coming to the dreary brass stack of authoring and producing a report. When I came to the Commission, first as Editor, and then as Technical Resource Person, the Commission was at a crossroads. It was also riven into factions. One of the Editors, a senior colleague, who was earlier scheduled to edit the report of the Commission dithered and developed cold feet at the last minute. The lot of editing the corpus of the Panel thus fell on a troika of

my humble self, the erudite but highly unassuming Professor Adele Jinadu and the bohemian intellectual, Dr. Sola Olorunyomi.

The secretariat which should have buoyed the Commission and supported its work was almost in a shambles. The official Secretary to the Commission was a serving Permanent Secretary. And the proxies he delegated to merely excelled in mischief and running circles around the ever busy

Commissioners. As if that were not enough, the Commissioners were divided as to their approach to the task at hand.

There were those who wanted the task of the Commission to continue interminably so long as the appurtunances of the office accrued to them; there were those who were simply indifferent; there were those who, claiming to represent certain powerful interests/ sponsors, were ready to subvert the work of the Commission

so that the report would not ultimately indict their principals; and there were those who wanted to get the job done over with so they could face other challenges. Bishop Kukah who had a Fellowship awaiting him at Oxford University and two others, belonged in the last, eager category.

When this writer arrived at the Commission, His Lordship, Chukwudifu Oputa, had by any benchmark conceivable, earned his dues. As a prolific and voluble Justice of the Supreme Court, he was noted for his wit and profundity. Brilliant and intrepid lawyers such as Chief Gani Fawehinmi stood in awe of him. And on account of his numerous judgements which brimmed with wisdom and lustre, he was deferentially referred to as “Socrates”. And but for the fact that he came of a long-lived stock, Justice Oputa, at eighty years plus, was at the twilight of his earthly existence.

Eventhough I was procured

by Bishop Kukah to the Commission, Justice Oputa was to soon bring me under his wing.

Two reasons were responsible: When he discovered to his pleasant surprise that I was the Secretary of the Committee

Fare thee well, “Socrates”

By Nick Dazang

W

e were just putting finishing touches to a book project, entitled: “Democracy, Good Governance And Development: Documenting Progress For Posterity”, when I received an urgent summon from Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (then Reverend Father). The book, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Information, then led by Professor Jerry Gana, was to chronicle the accomplishments of the thirty six governors as witnessed by a team of journalists on a Media Tour. It was to underscore that there was a correlation between democracy and good governance and to encourage our governors, across the board, to continue to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians as an ingenuous and potent effort to keep the military at bay. Our brief was to do so in riveting and graceful prose.

Bishop Kukah’s summon coincided with a time when the Human Rights Investigation And Violations Commission (HRIVC), also known popularly as the Oputa Panel, had just finished its soap-opera-like Public Hearings and it was

“

Eventhough at first blush, Bishop Kukah’s submission appeared to be unblemished and cast in stone, when they were subjected to further rigorous scrutiny by the Commissioners, led by Justice Oputa, some were jettisoned outright while others were fortified and made more robust. It was my task, in the absence of the Secretary, to take down these amendments after a stretch of not less than twelve hours each day and to produce clean copies ahead of the next day’s session. At the end of the first ten days, I requested for a day’s break. But rather than giving in, Justice Oputa soldiered on, notching up even more hours than the previous twelve

Contiuned on page 15

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

Chibok abductions: Lesson for Igbo leadership

By Osittsa Ebiem

T

he mass kidnapping of about 279 young high school girls from Chibok in Northeast of Nigeria by Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist group is currently making headlines around the world.

There is a public outcry and righteous indignation against this dastard crime. This sort of heinous crime against children and the innocent is completely unacceptable anywhere in the world today. By every standard it is a crime against all decent human beings everywhere. We all condemn it.

All well-meaning leaders everywhere have come out to condemn this evil in strongest terms. These leaders include the group known as Southeastern or Igbo states’ governors. Igbo governors are supposed to be the political opinion leaders of Igbo people. For this reason they are expected at all times to play politics in consonance with the general vibe of the people they lead. This means they must know how to express to the rest people in the Nigerian union what the Igbo really think in every given situation. When they are in doubt it is expected of them to consult widely before

coming up with a consensus positional statement that will sit well with the majority of the people they are leading.

In the group’s recent positional statement on the Chibok abduction which was made without making any connections of the travails of the girls from Chibok

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with the Igbo’s past collective Biafran genocidal experience is just as condemnable and disgusting as the Chibok abduction they came out to condemn.

In Chibok as well as in many similar incidents in the past the Igbo governors got it all wrong and committed an unpardonable blunder. As the representatives of Igbo people, duty demands from the governors at all times to state boldly the actual feelings of the Igbo in every Nigerian discourse. Leaders are those who take the people they lead to a future that is predetermined

and largely influenced by the current generation, to reflect the people’s collective aspirations. Such a future is only possible when the people and their leaders are not afraid or ashamed to make copious references to their past.

Chibok presented the governors an opportunity that a more sensitive and politically savvy leadership would have used to remind Nigeria and the rest of the world about the gravity of the same atrocity that the perpetrators of the Chibok gruesome act – the Islamic terrorists committed against Nigerians. There is nothing

wrong with sympathizing with a grieving neighbour while making references to one’s own similar horrible experience.

This does not only help the grieving neighbour to heal better by knowing that their present

situation resonates with the experience that their sympathetic neighbour went through in the past; it equally helps the sympathizing neighbour to heal too by knowing that he is not alone in his pain. Chibok should have afforded the Southeastern governors the opportunity to remind Nigeria, the British and the rest of the world that Chibok is possible today fifty years after Biafra because the ghost of the Biafran genocide has not been exorcised.

Perhaps the most noticeable embarrassing twist in the Chibok incident is the fact

that the victims of the ongoing crime include also the original perpetrators of the former crime on the sympathizing neighbor.

As we conclude this piece, it becomes harder to silence this nagging and uncomfortable question: Why are Igbo governors afraid or ashamed to confront Nigeria and Nigerians with the injustices of the Biafran genocide whenever they are given the opportunity as in the ongoing Chibok opportunity?

What is wrong with Igbo governors, anyway? If they are not well prepared for the position they are holding – leading Igbo people, why can’t they learn a lesson from their brother and a true leader – the Governor of AkwaIbom State, GodswillAkpabio.

Over the years, Akpabio has not only proved himself as real leader at every given opportunity by always doing and saying the right thing, he has shown real leadership when he conducted in the first week in April 2014 a memorial service for the proper and honorable repose of the heroes from his state who died in the civil war.

OsitaEbiem is on Twitter:@ositaebiem

Is Africa’s future in trade or aid?

By Edwin Ekene Uhara

E

arly in the month of August last year, the 12st edition of the USSub-Saharan African Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum otherwise known as AGOA Forum was held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

The theme of the forum was: “Sustainable Transformation through Trade and Technology”.

The event was hosted by the Federal Republic of Ethiopia in association with the United States Government. Delegates to the forum were drawn from the AGOA Eligible African Countries among other stakeholders.

Mr. Michael Forman, the United States Trade Representative who co-chaired the forum with Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Tedros Adhanom said: “US officials and Ministers from AGOA Eligible Sub-Saharan African countries have launched a review on what kind of changes to be made to AGOA going forward”.

However, participants at the forum including private sectors and civil society organizations highlighted the challenges hindering the development of Africa’s trade with the US and the world in General. Some of the challenges include; infrastructure gap, marine transport and logistics, absence

of evaluation mechanisms to gauge the performance of AGOA exports, cost of branding exports, absence of direct air transport connection between major African countries and the United States among others were challenges listed at the forum.

Nonetheless, it will be recalled that, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which was introduced to provide tangible economic incentives for African countries by opening up America’s market to eligible African countries was signed in to law on May 18, year 2000. It was on this basis that some civil societies and activists called on the United States Government to increase its investments in Africa so as to unleash the continent’s potential for growth.

They argued that, the US investment in Africa currently stands at a mere 1 percent of the total US investment across the globe. But, in what looked like an open admission about America’s investment status in Africa, the former United States President, Bill Clinton who spoke to the BBC admitted that, his country America is lagging behind China in terms of development in Africa, saying, the only area America is far more above other countries is in the health sector, where it is still the leading light in Africa.

But, at the AGOA forum, some suggestions on how Africa could maximally benefit from AGOA were postulated! For example, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister who co-chaired the forum with Mr. Forman noted that, since one of the major reasons for the poor performance of Africa is mainly related to supply side constraints, he asserted that, “Africa is not asking for a mere extension of AGOA beyond 2015, but rather, it would work on the supply side problem so that it could benefit from the untapped potential of the AGOA Initiative”.

Meanwhile, some American analysts and commentators have decried the participation of African negotiators in the EU— Africa Economic Partnership Agreement. For example, one of the commentators who appeared on the Voice of America said, Africans cannot be demanding for the extension of AGOA, while it allows its own market to be flooded by goods from Europe under the EPA. It will be recalled that, when the idea of EPA with Africa was mooted as a replacement to preferential trade between Africa and Europe some years ago, it was greeted by a massive protest in some countries like Senegal.

They argued that, EPA will

pauperize their country, as it will expose local production to big international corporations.

They also listed some objectionable elements in the EPA to include but not limited to lifting of quotas on imports, lifting of taxes on imports, no subsidy in the agricultural sector among others! But in allaying the fears expressed by those protesters, the promoters of the EU–Africa Economic Partnership Agreement promised to compensate Africa for the losses it may incur.

In the same vein, I must also look at the attitude or the mentality of Africans themselves. Even without EPA with the EU, have our local productions been able to match their foreign competitors? Can an average African willingly buy a “made in Nigeria or made in South Africa product on his or her own accord? Even when a product is declared contraband, why do we still have people who smuggle them in to the continent if they are no buyers readily available to buy them? It like a question one of the BBC Journalists asked former President of Mexico, Mr. Philippe Kaudorun on why the incidence of drug related offences are on the increase in his country despite his clampdown on their activities?

His answer was “If they are no drug buyers in America, would those barons continue with their illicit business?

Looking at it from the other perspective, what if those companies should come to Africa where there is huge market, land and manpower to establish manufacturing plants to produce and sell their goods to Africans as some of them have done in China, would that assuage those analysts and commentators who are against the extension of AGOA beyond 2015?

Whether Africa’s future is in trade or aid, the continent’s leaders should negotiate a deal that will reduce unemployment, poverty, maternal and child mortality, youths restiveness, national crises cum regional conflicts and engender a new frontier for Africa where a child in South Sudan enjoys the same rights, privileges and access as the child in Germany. Where no woman in the continent would die just because she wants’ to give birth to a baby; and where the dreams and hopes of a better life for an African child would no longer be a pipe dream, but a reality he or she lives with!

By Edwin Ekene Uhara via thewillnigeria.com

Comment Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 15

Negotiation with BH: Let Chibok parents decide

By Pergrino Brimah

W

e have come to the conclusion that the only legitimate option for the government of Nigeria in the predicament of the abducted 234 Chibok girls is to entrust the decision to negotiate with the terrorists to the parents of the girls.

We advise the Federal government of Nigeria to host a meeting of all affected parents for them to make a decision on what course of action Nigeria should take in handling the release of their wards. This recommendation is in the best interest of the nation and the direct victims of our failure. This decision on the next course of action is made with due consideration of the reality that the government of Nigeria, based on the history of its dealings with Boko Haram, leading up to this notable abduction, has lost the credibility to make this decision on behalf of the victims. The Nigerian civilians are the only entity endowed with the credibility, responsibility and authority to decide in this matter.

In regards to giving money for the release of the girls; if the parents so decide, then so be it. There are mechanisms of controlling the impact of financed terrorists, and it is time these are enacted.

Nigeria’s commonwealth goes to terrorists’ hands every day, regardless.

Nigeria’s oil goddess still

steals $4 million from the poor masses including the Chibok families, every day in the kerosene subsidy scam that the executive and senate leadership yet refuses to debar. If this is not money going to terror, in frank terror to the nation, then what is?

Billions of dollars looted from Nigeria’s oil revenue by government officials and their cabal partners is what finances terror. Thus, giving some money to these terrorists today if the parents so decide, will be Nigeria-business as usual.

We assure you that the money you give them will not affect or in any way reduce the rate at which we are going to be killing them. Boko Haram are dead. The civilians have dug their graves.

As regards prisoner swaps,

“

we had earlier advised the Nigerian government to visit Algeria for consultation on how the Algiers government addressed their similar “Boko Haram” crises of the 90’s “Black decade.” Apart from the Algerians officially training and arming civilians to defend their neighborhoods, they decreed a conditional amnesty by which terrorists who had not been directly implicated in death or rape were released.

If the Chibok parents so decide, we believe Nigeria can exchange some of those women and youth arrested who have not been directly involved in murder or rape in exchange for the girls. Those convicted of rape and murder should have long been killed.

We also strongly advise you not to listen to advice

from any so-called northern leaders. Many of those who shout loudest and come forward to make suggestions to the government today have lost the credibility to do so.

Where were they during the four years of Boko Haram free flowing carnage? Where were they when Churches, Mosques and farming villages were destroyed across the north? We do not believe they care about these 234 girls when they hardly cared about the 40-80,000 who have been massacred. Most especially, please do not listen to certain individuals who suddenly became Boko Haram “analysts” as a French media organization referred to them. Their amazing ability to predict Boko Haram’s next moves to the letter have made

Thus, we advise a meeting of the parents during which they are informed of the consequences of all decisions they take and they decide what decision Nigeria should take in this matter. If they decide we use force at the risk of harm, we assure you, the civilian army is on standby to accompany the military to search, rescue and exterminate. It is time for the Nigerian people. By God, no girl can die or be killed by a terrorist unless it is the stipulated time of her death as decreed by God. It is time to act fast. May the Merciful Almighty have mercy on us all! Amin

them greatly suspect. It is strongly advised you steer clear from these persons.

We also caution you against information and advice from foreign “partners” and the nation’s you are visiting in addressing this Nigerian situation. Please realize the hesitance of these nations, despite the Boko Haram holocaust, to declare the group a terror organization.

Please notice the UN’s reluctance to do the same and to place sanctions and declare resolutions against Nigerian government officials and partners for their support and sponsorship of Boko Haram terror. Nigerians have only Nigerians to blame and to consult in these matters. We have only ourselves.

Thus, we advise a meeting of the parents during which they are informed of the consequences of all decisions they take and they decide what decision Nigeria should take in this matter. If they decide we use force at the risk of harm, we assure you, the civilian army is on stand-by to accompany the military to search, rescue and exterminate. It is time for the Nigerian people. By God, no girl can die or be killed by a terrorist unless it is the stipulated time of her death as decreed by God. It is time to act fast. May the Merciful Almighty have mercy on us all!

Amin.

Dr. PeregrinoBrimah via drbrimah@ends.ng

Fare thee well, “Socrates” Contiuned from page 13

that authored Plateau State’s submission to the HRIVC, he was overcome with joy. Of the thousands of submissions made to the Commission, he singled out that report and that of Ndi-Igbo, reportedly authored

by Comrade (now Senator) Uche Chukwumerije, as the most acutely reasoned and seminal.

And as a testament to the tribute he paid to these two submissions, he kept copies permanently on his writing table at his Top Rank Hotel Pent House where he worked feverishly.

None of the submissions, he stated, addressed the issue of marginalisation and marginality as that of Ndi-Igbo and to reinforce his case, he gave me a copy to study.

Justice Oputa saw in anyone who was hard working as a son and kindred spirit. On account of the many man-hours and selflessness which some of us brought to the job, we were like his children, with Mama, his amiable wife, dotting on us.

Dr. Haniel John Pongri (now Provost, College of Education, Hong, Adamawa State) who was always prepared to research topics for the Justice at no cost

to the Commission, became one of his “sons” as well. Dr. Pongri wrote tomes at the behest of Justice Oputa and at one point, Bishop Kukah had to express bewilderment as to whether the Justice found time to read them.

If Justice Oputa was a voracious reader and a connoisseur of reasoned and elegantly authored treatises, his energy for his age, was simply stupendous. One of Bishop Kukah’s first motions at Oxford was to tease out hundreds of suggestions and recommendations arising from the Panel’s report which were e-mailed to me and subsequently forwarded to the Commissioners.

And when it turned out that the government wanted the submission of the HRIVC report to coincide with its three years in office, President Olusegun Obasanjo directed my humble self to recall the Commissioners from their break so that the report would be prepared and submitted ahead of the anniversary.

Eventhough at first blush, Bishop Kukah’s submission appeared to be unblemished and cast in stone, when they were subjected to further rigorous scrutiny by the Commissioners,

led by Justice Oputa, some were jettisoned outright while others were fortified and made more robust. It was my task, in the absence of the Secretary, to take down these amendments after a stretch of not less than twelve hours each day and to produce clean copies ahead of the next day’s session. At the end of the first ten days, I requested for a day’s break. But rather than giving in, Justice Oputa soldiered on, notching up even more hours than the previous twelve!

Because the tasks of Commissions that seek to reconcile aggrieved and hurt persons are strenuous, emotional and energy sapping, they tend to create tensions of their own. At a point, and as a consequence of the strain, some Commissioners of the South African Truth And Reconciliation Commission were reportedly not on speaking terms. But because of Justice Oputa’s forebearance and father figure stature, it was to his credit that tempers seldom rose, even if nerves frayed. His tolerance, fellow feeling, selflessness and occasional sense of humour were modulating. And they calmed nerves.

In addition to a moderating influence, Justice Oputa was

blessed with an elephant’s memory. If he lent you a document or a book he would not bother to note it in a diary. But on the day the book or document was due, he would call and ask for it. So superlative was his memory that he would recall events going back decades with their dates and with clarity and detail. His capacity for recall was so graphic and near total that Professor Jinadu once querried: “Baba, don’t you ever forget anything?”

Thankfully, he was not a vengeful person.

Eventhouhg Justice Oputa was a workaholic, he was not ascetic. After the day’s job had been done, he would retire to his pent house and find recourse to his Cognac. Usually, he would invite hard working and personable fellow devotees at the temple of Bacchus to partake at his generous offering. And as you savour the smooth offering, he would regale you with his youthful escapades. Out of deep respect for Mama, such yarns would always be rendered out her ear shot!

In the course of this writer’s strivings, he has been given several commendations. But the one I cherish most, and which you are likely to find in my file, is

the one issued by Justice Oputa.

And when he did so, he gave me two, remarking effusively: “My son, should one get missing, you should have a spare.”

Fare thee well, “Socrates”.

For even as you taught us to embrace the values of our new national anthem, you insisted that we should not jettison the one bequeathed us by the Colonialists at Independence because of its resonance with, and its relevance to the Nigerian condition. So strongly did Justice Oputa feel about it that it ran through several of his discourses. Permit me to reproduce the second and third stanzas of “Nigeria We Hail Thee” (1960-1978) which he was fond of: “Our flag shall be a symbol That truth and justice reign, In peace or battle honour’d And this we count as gain, To hand on to our children A banner without stain.

O God of all creation, Grant this our one request, Help us to build a nation Where no man is oppressed, And so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed.”

Director and Head of Publicity, INEC.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 16

First Lady mourns death of FCT minister’s mum

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has described late Hajia Aisha Mohammed, mother of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, as an honest and intelligent woman, who has left a good legacy for others to emulate and follow in the society.

Mrs. Jonathan, who paid a condolence visit to the minister and his family at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, said the deceased was a source of encouragement her advocacy for peace and unity in the country.

It would be recalled that the minister’s mother, who died last week, after a brief illness at the age of 80 years, had since been buried according to Islamic rites.

According to the first lady, she had missed “a great mother and a comforter that the late Aisha was.

“I know it is so painful when you missed a loved one, especially a mother, but death is a necessary end for everybody.

“We might not know the time; Allah is the giver and taker of life; who are we to question Him, but we can only say may she rest in peace,” the first lady said.

She therefore, urged the minister and the entire family to emulate and follow the good legacy of their late mother.

Responding on behalf of his family, the minister thanked Mr. President and the first lady, for their love, care and support to the entire family.

He said although the year had been a mixed grill with the death of his elder brother and the over 70 people killed in the Nyanya bomb by insurgents, but the city hosted successfully two events within the period.

The first lady was accompanied on the visit by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr. Precious Gbeneol and the former Minister of State for Women Affairs, Mrs. Becky Igwe.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and FCTA Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu, in a group photograph with members of the FCT Council of Speakers, when they paid him courtesy visit yesterday, at Life Camp, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

AUMTCO takes delivery of 70 new buses – Official

By Stanley Onyekwere, with agency report

T

he Abuja Urban Mass Transit Company (AUMTCO) has taken delivery of 70 new High Capacity buses promised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to shore up its operations.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Abdulrazak Oniyangi, the vehicles that were part of the 100 buses ordered by the FCT

Administration from China, would be on display today (Friday), at the Eagle Square.

It would recalled that over 40 vehicles comprising of 16 high capacity buses (4) and 24 other cars and minibuses, in first car bomb explosion, that rocked the Nyanya motor park, in the suburb area of the FCT, on April 14.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Oniyangi, further disclosed that the remaining 30 are yet to be cleared at the Lagos State Sea Port, saying that they will be inaugurated

next week.

The FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, had earlier promised that the 100 buses were expected in the territory between April and May. Mohammed said the additional buses would help to expand the fleet of AUMTCO in the city and also improve service delivery.

He also promised that some of the buses would be deployed to the Nyanya-Abuja route, to address the inadequacy of vehicles being experienced by commuters.

However, following the attach on the park, the FCT minister, after visiting the scene of the blast, said the FCTA would look at the ways to install special mechanisms to detect metal or explosive devices on its high capacity buses, in order to preserve human lives.

According to him, “the FCT Administration would meet with security agencies to exploit ways of providing additional security for motor parks, markets and other public places in the FCT.”

Council signs MoU on secretariat project

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the National Council of Women Society, (NCWS), yesterday signed deed of assignment with Beraward Limited, a private developer, for the construction of secretariat building project for the Council.

During the signing ceremony presided over by the Secretary of FCT Legal Secretariat, Barrister

Ima Okpongete, the President of FCT National Council of Women Society, Mrs. Nancy Bulus, noted that the plot of land for the project, which was allocated to the Council 17 years ago by Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni has suffered a several setbacks.

Bulus, however expressed satisfaction that despite the challenges faced in acquiring the land for the construction of the secretariat project, the project has

become a reality with the support of Abuja Investment Company and both ministers of the FCT Administration.

She commended the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, for their various support towards the realisation of the building project, by working through the Social Development Secretariat in assisting the Society to retrieve

the Certificate of Occupancy,and monthly grant subvention to the Council.

Speaking on behalf of the developer, Mr. Raymond Ogunshakin, assured that with the signing of deed of assignment, the company will commence work on the site, as soon as possible, while commending the FCT Administration for fast tracking the process and providing the legal framework for the project.

Activist donates truck, 10 motorcycles to APC Bwari office

By Umar Muhammad Puma

E

xecutive Director Alliance for Credible Election, Mr. Emma Ezeazu, has donated one Toyota Hilux van and ten motorcycles to the All Progressives Congress (APC), office in Bwari

area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Presenting the vehicles in Bwari, yesterday at the commissioning of the party’s office, Ezeazu said he is out to serve the people and that he has a strong conviction that the APC will takes over from the ruling

People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the forthcoming election.

According to him, “People of this area have suffered a lot from the misruled of the PDP it is time we have a change, the battle for the 2015 will not be an easy battle. I call on the leaders of this great party to

joins hands in building the party for the interest of the common.”

Earlier in his goodwill massage, former FCT interim chairman of the party, Sen. Sidi Ali, express happiness with the progress of the party in the area council, and call on the party members to work hard

for the success of the party in the forthcoming 2015 general election.

In his remark, chairman elect of the FCT chapter, Abdulmalik Usman said 2015 is not going to be business as usual, urged them to ensure the register and obtain their permanent voter cards.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 17

Metro

Young girls hawking fura da nunu, yesterday at Apo, in Abuja.

A food vendor in search of clients, yesteray at Central Area, in Abuja.

Water vendors waiting for clients, yesterday at Garki village, in Abuja.

A cross section of camera men on duty, during the 5th African Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, in Abuja, recently.

Commercial motorcyclists waiting for passengers, yesterday at Kubusa community, Garki, in Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo

PAGE 18

S

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Senator Bwacha’s Self-Destruction And The Inebriation Of Power

enator Emmanuel Bwacha’s latest outburst against the person of His Excellency, the Acting Governor of Taraba state, Alhaji Garba Umar UTC, in an open letter published in some national dailies, speaks volumes about his upbringing and his opportunism as a politician.

The language employed by the Senator, is not only undignifying for a supposedly distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic but also, uncouth, slanderous malicious and contemptuous. In as much as we may disagree socially and politically, no society or culture tolerates such reckless insubordination and irresponsible behavior against constituted authority or elderly persons. And to be sure, as a Senator, the language employed by Emmanuel Bwacha constitutes a direct assault on the democratic institution in which he is a beneficiary.

It is indeed pitiable and ungratifying that a politician of his standing will continue to heat the system by making unguided and inflammatory statements that impinges the character and integrity of divinely appointed leaders. This is to carry political demagogy and vindictiveness too far.

As the days continue to eclipse his gubernatorial ambition, Bwacha seems to be losing all sense of reasoning as he has now thrown caution to the winds by throwing hateful insults on the personal integrity of the Acting Governor, for which he knows little or nothing at all.

Without doubt, his entire frustration is anchored on the controversial issue of betrayal within the context of the typical Nigerian brand of politics, which believes that government is a personal estate which can be dispensed to cronies at any given time. But Bwacha should know more about betrayal or “cin amana” as he called it in Hausa. Before the current political dispensation, Bwacha was an unemployed half educated young man with virtually no means of livelihood. But today as he boastfully declared he is a Senator, former Member State and National Assembly and Commissioner, and yet he is disparaging respected politicians and arrogantly displaying insolent behavior against leaders like Bibinu of blessed memory, former Governor Nyame and Baba Adi. This is the height of ingratitude. What then constitutes betrayals? All close confidants of Governor Nyame are aware of the stiff opposition of Sen. Bwacha to the emergence of Danbaba Suntai as Governor and yet shamelessly came back to usurp power under Suntai on the pretext of a maternal relationship.

It was the insidious scheming of Bwacha that led to the severing of relationships between Suntai on one hand and Nyame and Baido on the other; the same people who brought him to power. It was this malevolent behavior that also led to the ostracization of many party faithfuls from the government and leaving the space for Bwacha to perpetrate his evil agenda against the state. Emmanuel Bwacha had the hallucinatory feeling that he has conquered his territory and was cruising to power, before Danbaba’s accident and the emergence of His Excellency, Alhaji Garba Umar UTC and threw spanners in the works.

Bwacha wants the Acting Governor to operate like a pawn or tool in the hands of few opportunists who believe that they have a God appointed right to manage the affairs of the state on behalf of Suntai and eventually hand over power to Bwacha as the ultimate heir apparent. It was Bwacha who had mischievously tried to drag Governor Suntai to the Southern zone by portraying him as an Ichen man of Southern extraction. Shamelessly, he wants power shift to the South to enable him benefit.

Sen. Bwacha’s political trajectory is draped with the sweat and blood of many people as he has been linked to every circle of violence in his native Donga local government in the past two decades of his political career.

His village Mararaba holds the unenviable record of being the only village with a Divisional Police Station despite not being a local government headquarters. And yet, Bwacha has the audacity and temerity to accuse others of fomenting trouble and benefiting from it, just as he has been doing in the past fifteen years.

Not a few Tarabans take serious exception to Sen. Bwacha’s imaginary claim to being born again as his behavior does not in any way portray him as such. The holy Bible in Ephesians 4.29 employs us that “let no

corrupting talk come from your mouth but only words that are good for building up and graceful to the ears of people”. A true Christian should not allow himself to be overtaken by bitterness, wrath, anger, malice and slander in pursuance of a crazy political ambition. But Bwacha generously availed himself of abusive and disrespective words that completely erodes his very claim to being a born again.

No matter how distasteful or repulsive Senator Bwacha’s letter may appear to right thinking Nigerians, he has only succeeded in exposing himself as an irresponsible leader who has nothing to teach the younger generation. The good people of Taraba state are now more informed of the character and antecedents of the person who is ruthlessly clamoring to rule them. Taraba state is lucky to have a matured, cultured and unassuming leader in the person of the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar UTC. Bwacha and his ilk should know that Alh. Garba Umar UTC is an accomplished businessman and technocrat, who by dent of hard work and honesty, surreptitiously rose from a humble beginning to the top echelon of UTC, a multinational company, which has been operating in Nigeria for more than a century. He gracefully retired as Executive Director.

In spite of his so-called political achievements, Bwacha would have been nothing without farmers, traders and other ordinary people who elected him to power. He is engaged in the arrogant display of a CV, which was thrust on him by leaders, he is now disrespecting. Bwacha’s current anger is underlined by the fact that his previous elections were neither based on his integrity nor his electability, but by the force of government machinery. In this country everything is possible; if you are rich and powerful, you can buy a university degree and delude yourself as a Senator Emmanuel is shamelessly doing.

It is very curious that Senator Bwacha had nothing to say about the Health condition of Governor Danbaba Suntai and his inability to govern or the constitutional stand of the legislature of which by now he should be an expert. His inability to understand the constitutional provision in respect of the Governor’s indisposition following his ill-health is nothing short of indolence. Instead he elected to misdirect his anger to the Acting Governor. In other climes, Senator Bwacha and his cohorts should be facing trial or serving prison sentences for unlawfully abducting Governor Danbaba Suntai from his sick bed in the United State and dumping him in Jalingo. His only concern is the office of the Governor and that is why he is so fixated on the politics of Alhaji Garba Umar’ dispensation as Acting Governor. This needless polemics of ‘Deputy Governor’ or ‘Acting Governor’ is a dissipation of energy which cannot help him any way.

Senator Bwacha is now obsessed with the mentality of the demented woman in King Solomon’s judgment, who want the baby killed because she was not the real mother. Senator Bwacha has no interest in the peaceful development of the state except his narrow drive for power hence his degeneration to the use of gutter language in national papers.

Why is he in such a hurry? While “his zone is still consulting to produce a consensus candidate?” The truth is that Bwacha is not in agreement with any governorship aspirant from the zone and obviously cannot be considered or accepted as a consensus candidate. He is on his own.

Bwacha has always been a poor student and true to type he wants the contest to be narrowed because he knows that he lacks the capacity and the integrity to win the whole state Bwacha has continued to deal collateral damage to the image of the state he craves to govern by constantly taking the pages of newspapers to disparage the people and its leaders. After his call for a declaration of a state of emergency failed, he is now focused on blackmailing the Acting Governor and stoking the embers of religion and ethnicity. This too will fail him. Taraba state is greater than every individual and one thousand Bwacha’s will not bring it down.

Philip Kafiya JP On Behalf of Concerned Political Elders

Page 19

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

INSIDE

business@peoplesdailyng.com 08142929046/etuka2012@gmail.com/08066605655

Peugeot to resume assembling operations in Nig by June -Pg 20

L-R: Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson; Director, e-Government, Mr. Tope Fashedemi, and Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Professor Peter Jack, addressing a news conference on the 2014 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NDIC asks court to order payment of N250m All States Trust Bank debt

By Ahmed I. Shekarau

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) on Wednesday asked a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, to enter judgement in its favour in a debt recovery suit it filed against Ogeyi Place Hotels Limited and one other.

The hotel is owing N250 million it took as loan from the defunct All States Trust Bank Plc, which is currently in liquidation by the NDIC. The plaintiff, in a motion of notice, filed through its counsel, Ricky Tarfa (SAN) asked the court to deliver judgement in its favour as the defendants failed to file any defence to the suit up till date.

When the matter came up Wednesday for definite hearing, the plaintiff, through its counsel, prayed the court for leave to substitute its witnesses.

The defence counsel, Bright

Owhor in his objection, argued that the two motions filed by the plaintiff were not ripe for hearing as he was entitled to more time to file his response to the pending applications.

He further stated that the defendants were still interested in settling the matter out of court.

Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Uche Agomoh adjourned to 11th of June, 2014 for hearing of the pending applications.

The judge advised parties to further explore an amicable means of settling the matter.

It would be recalled that the defunct All States Trust Bank granted the 1st Defendant (Ogeyi Place Hotels Limited) a syndicated loan facility of N250 million to develop a hotel in Port Harcourt.

The sum was made up of a Term Loan of N200 million and an Overdraft facility of N50 million.

The other parties to the syndication were Prudent Bank (now Skye Bank), Merchant

Banking Corporation (now First Bank of Nigeria Plc) and First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB).

The total indebtedness of the 1st Defendant at the closure of the defunct bank in 2006, from both the Term Loan and the Overdraft was N483, 856,915.09.

The facilities were secured by a Deed of Composite Debenture on the fixed and floating assets of the 1st Defendants and a registered Multipartite Deed of Legal Mortgage over property situate at No. 45, Tombia Street, GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt.

All States Trust Bank (in Liquidation) took over the rights and obligations of FCMB in 2002 after FCMB pulled out of the transaction.

The rights and obligations of FCMB were assigned to the defunct bank.

The addition of the defunct bank gave rise to a Supplemental Deed of Composite Debenture

Dangote Cement gives reasons for building collapses in Nigeria

By Etuka Sunday

D

angote Cement Company yesterday gave reasons for the persistent building collapses in the country especially Lagos state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Speaking at a workshop organised to demonstrate the proper usage of Cement for the Abuja based Concrete Block Makers, the Dangote Regional Manager, Marketing Services, Johnson Olaniyi said Lagos has so far contributed 52% of building collapses in the country, while Abuja recorded 28%, totalling 80%.

Olaniyi attributed the collapses to the greediness of block molders to deviate from the acceptable standards in order to make quick profit.

He said, the research he conducted round Abuja metropolis

revealed that the block molders inspite of using the old 32.5R cement grade which is of lower quality, were producing 60 blocks from a bag of cement contrary to the professional standards.

Olaniyi said “the only antidote to the stoppage of collapse buildings in Nigeria is by all stakeholders; government, private developers, artisans and other users insisting on the right quality of cement which is 42.5R grade as against the current usage of 32.5R of their jobs irrespective of the nature of work.

“The regulatory body, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), should enforce the usage of the right quality cement while the masses should reject any other quality cement being sold at the same price with higher quality that may aggravate the menace of collapse building both now and in future,” he advised.

He said Dangote has not increase the price of cement as it was being speculated, saying that those who are buying at a higher price are those perhaps who refused to register with the company for direct supply.

Also speaking, the representative of the Head, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) FCT office, Danladi Walong said that the workshop was organised to review the skills of molders so as to ensure a standard products that can endure the test of time and be competitive in the global arena.

He listed lack of basic technical knowledge, lack of adequate training and lack of functional tools as some of the problems confronting the molding industry but assured that the practical demonstration would make the needed difference.

and a Supplemental Deed of Legal Mortgage in order to properly assign FCMB’s interests in the collateral to All States Trust Bank (In Liquidation).

The security for the facility is therefore made up of: “A Copy of the Multipartite Deed of Legal Mortgage over No. 45, Tombia Street, GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, dated the 6th of December, 2001 and registered as No. 38, page 38, in Volume 277 at the Lands Registry Office, in Port Harcourt Rivers State.

“A copy of the Supplemental Deed of Legal Mortgage dated the 15th of April, 2003 and registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Rivers State Geographical Information System at No. 44, page 44, in Volume 288.

“A copy of the Deed of Composite Debenture over the fixed and floating assets of the 1st Defendant dated the 6th of December, 2001, and registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission and, “Original Copy of the stamped Supplemental Deed of Composite Debenture”, documents obtained from court revealed.

What constitutes ‘trade’ for TAX purposes: guidelines for the general public -Pg 21

Our weak insurance industry – bane of terrorism menace -Pg 22 Exchange Rates

CBN as at 8th MAY, 2014 Buying

Selling

$

154.7

155.74

€

256.94

258.60

£

212.44

213.81

Riyal

41.25

41.52

YEN

1.49

1.50

CFA

0.30

0.32

Management Tip of the Day To manage your workload, defer early and often

Y

ou can make the greatest contribution to your organization by focusing on your own highest-value work.

If you find yourself taking on an increasing number of projects and/or people, deflect tasks that someone else can do — even if you could help — before they ever hit your to-do list.

Deferring is different from delegating. Delegating is handing off your responsibilities; deferring incorporates delegating, but also involves passing activities on to another appropriate party before

they ever hit your to-do list. For example, if someone asks you an IT question, direct them to the Help Desk. If you’re invited to attend a meeting where you may offer some insight but other attendees could probably offer something similar, consider not going.

Deferring shows respect for others’ competency and allows you the bandwidth to get done what only you can do, which is what your team really needs.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 20

Business

Peugeot to resume assembling operations in Nig by June

By Stanley Onyekwere

N

igeria’s automaker, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Limited, has reiterated commitment to revalidate and restart its plant in Kaduna state, and start test assembling operations by June, this year.

Disclosing this yesterday in Abuja, PAN’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Boyi, said the company has been working with its foreign Technical Partner, Automobile Peugeot France (AP France), to restart the factory and resume vehicles assembling operations and maximize their benefit under the new Nigeria’s auto policy.

Speaking when he led some AP France top officials on a courtesy visit to the office of the minister of state for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, further disclosed that AP France has provided PAN, with all the technical support that it required to start the plant and test run of its product in June.

According to him, “Our vehicles are safe and made for the Nigerian roads, and we have full back up support for the vehicles, because they are going to be assembled and maintained here

by Nigerians and for Nigerians.”

He added that the current PAN’s plant capacity is quite significant to restart assembling and production of quality vehicles in the country.

On the measures the company is taking to reposition

the Peugeot brand in Nigeria, considering her existing automobile market, he said PAN is introducing very competitive vehicles made for the Nigerian roads that can compete with any other brand.

On his part, the Vice President of AP France, Yves Moulin, said the motivation behind company’s renewed partnership with PAN

was obvious, given that Nigeria is the number one and fastest growing economy in Africa; the country has a huge and young population, which will continue expanding for many years.

He added that Nigeria’s automobile policy is good, because it could be compared with that of other countries in the world, which is the right way

to create jobs and added value to the country.

He added that, although it would take some time to assemble, build and integrate cars locally in the country, but if stakeholders work together and consist we will be able to achieve it.”

Responding, the minister, said the development shows

that the President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda is working and the auto policy in the industrial revolution plan is actually working.

He says: “We are confident it will happen. We have been to the factory; we have seen the equipment and I’m sure that they will launch their product as scheduled.”

L-R: Oyo state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Adedeji Adelabu, and Imo state Commissioner of Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor, during month of May Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

DHL to strengthen business, boost Engineers back FG’s industrial revolution policy intra-Africa trade

By Etuka Sunday

D

HL Express, the world’s logistics company said it would bridge the mobility deficit in Africa in order to significantly strengthen businesses and boost intraAfrica trade on the continent.

This it said formed the key topic of discussion among global leaders at the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa in Nigeria.

Managing Director, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, Charles Brewer, who attended the forum said, “There was a collective consensus among African leaders on the topic of mobility in Africa, as well as the importance of efficient border and visa policies. We have seen good follow-up particularly in East Africa and it is imperative to continue to work on the border and customs environment to grow intra-Africa trade.”

He said that the forum took place against a backdrop of significant economic growth in Nigeria – having recently overtaken South Africa as the largest economy in Africa – and that this has spurred investment interest in the country. “Africa is clearly on the global agenda.

Despite security concerns, delegates and heads of state from all parts of the world gathered in Abuja to discuss inclusive growth for Africa.”

A key view expressed by a number of African leaders at the Forum was the need for a proactive approach to border management, which would enable trade between various regions. The creation of an environment that enables business growth on the continent as opposed to obstructing it was also addressed by various parties.

Recognising the importance of travel facilitation and

talent mobility as drivers to integrate and develop the region, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Prime Minister Moussa Mara of Mali have all signed The Call to Action on Travel Facilitation & Talent Mobility, which urges all African States to work together towards the establishment of joint policies and the removal of barriers to facilitate movement of people.

Brewer adds that it was also positive to witness how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly being recognized as the primary driver of economic growth in Africa and how they are being supported across Africa. “A growing SME base will create thousands of new jobs, which is an absolute must for this ever-growing continent, as it is a critical driver of sustainable economic growth.”

By Miriam Humbe

E

ngineers on the platform of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have expressed the willingness to significantly plat their role towards supporting the federal government to achieve its transformation agenda of bringing about industrial revolution in the country.

NSE president, Engr.

Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi said this yesterday during the society’s 2014 first quarterly dinner and conferment of fellowship on 13 of its deserving members.

“We are fully in support of steps taken by government which are geared towards the realisation of self-reliance and quick transition into a manufacturing and exporting nation. We must in one way or the other play significant roles to help government achieve this feat,” he said.

In furtherance to accomplishing this, the NSE said

it has moved to contribute to the recently launched National Enterprise Development Programme, NEDEP and also established partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, to execute this allimportant national assignment.

“We are working together to see to the success of this programme in order to make SMES in the country functional and viable”, Olorunfemi said.

NSE also announced its plans to push for the replication of the Nigerian content development in other sub-sectors of the economy.

“To this end, we have entered into an arrangement with the Agricultural and Equipment Fabrication Association of Nigeria, AMEFAN to anchor a conference and exhibition where a methodology for the achievement of Nigerian content development in agricultural machinery will be presented to stakeholders”, he said.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 21

Business

What constitutes ‘trade’ for TAX purposes: Guidelines for the general public T

answer to the question of whether or not there is a trade.

The weight to be attached to each badge will depend on the precise circumstances.

his article clarifies the FIRS’ position on what constitutes ‘trade’ or business for tax purposes. In accordance with the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), and the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA), any trade is subject to tax under CITA and PITA, even if that trade is carried out by friendly societies, cooperative societies, charitable and ecclesiastical organizations, or trade unions. .

CITA states that “any trade or business for whatever period of time such trade or business may have been carried on” shall be subject to Companies Income Tax (Sec 9(1) (a)). The profits of certain institutions are exempt from tax under CITA, but only in so far as such profits are not derived from ‘trade or business’ (Sec. 19(1) (a, b, c, e)). This means that the profits of any organization that are derived from ‘trade’ shall be subject to Companies Income Tax. This raises the question, what exactly constitutes ‘trade’?

A definition of the word ‘trade’ cannot be found in Nigerian tax legislation although an attempt was made in PITA. The interpretation Section of the Fifth Schedule of PITA defines “trade or business” to mean “trade or business or that part of a trade or business the profits of which are assessable under this Act”.

However, the issue has been addressed in several legal cases, the rulings of which provide some legal certainty regarding how the courts interpret the word (see Section 2). In line with these rulings, ‘trade’ can be regarded as “the business of buying and selling or bartering goods or services”. Furthermore, the one-off nature of an activity in no way invalidates that activity as constituting trade.

This interpretation matches the approach in other jurisdictions, namely the UK and USA (see Section 3).

Case Law in Nigeria Although no explicit definition of ‘trade’ exists in the law, the issue has been addressed in several legal cases, the rulings of which provide some legal certainty regarding how the courts interpret the word. The most important case is that of Arbico Ltd v. FBIR, {1996} 2 All NLR 303. The plaintiff in the dispute, Arbico, had acquired a plot of land, erected a building, and sold the property at a profit.

The company was subsequently assessed for tax on the proceeds

FIRS Position

of the sale of property The Company objected to the assessment on the basis that the transaction was a one-off and therefore did not constitute ‘trade’. The case was ultimately settled in the Supreme Court. In the ruling the Court laid down two important axioms: • Firstly, that the word ‘trade’ should be interpreted in its widest sense, in accordance with its common everyday meaning; • Secondly, that an isolated one-off transaction can still constitute a “trade”.

In line with the ruling of the Supreme Court, the following definition seems to capture the common meaning of the word ‘trade’. Trade is “the business of buying and selling or barter in goods or services”(taken from Black’s Law Dictionary, Eighth Ed. (2004)).

Treatment in Other Tax Jurisdictions In considering what constitutes ‘trade’ for tax purposes it is useful to consider how the issue is addressed in other jurisdictions.

In the UK, as in Nigeria, there is no statutory definition of the word ‘trade’. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) relies on case law to formulate a working definition.

HMRC states that “Usually, trading involves the provision of goods or services to customers on a commercial basis”. As in Nigerian case law, “Simply because a venture is a one-off or occasional does not mean that it will not be treated as trading for tax purposes”. It is interesting to note that although the HMRC definition employs the notion of ‘commercial basis’, HMRC

explicitly states that whether or not the profits of an activity are ultimately used for charitable purposes is not relevant for the determination of whether or not that activity constitutes a trade.

In the USA, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employs a similar approach to HMRC. IRS regards ‘trade’ as including “any activity carried on for the production of income from selling goods or performing services”. It is interesting to note how IRS treats the trading activities of an organisation that also carries out tax exempt activities. IRS states that “an activity does not lose its identity as a trade or business merely because it is carried on within a larger group of similar activities that may, or may not, be related to the exempt purposes of the organizations. In other words, a single organisation can undertake both exempt activities and trading activities.

This implies that an organisation cannot argue that none of its activities constitute ‘trade’ just because it undertakes some exempt activities.

Badges of Trade In 1955 in England, the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income in reaction to whether a statutory definition of trade was necessary, said that “each case must be decided to its own circumstance (1955 Cmnd.9474 para.116) and suggested badges of trade” which they considered to be the major relevant considerations that will facilitate in determining whether any profit is a taxable trading profit or not. Badges of trade refer to certain indicators that may be used in determining the factual question as whether an activity is trade or not. Case

law has expanded it to 9. The badges of trade are: Profit seeking motive. An intention to make a profit supports trading, but by itself is not conclusive.

The number of transaction.

Systematic and repeated transactions will support ‘trade’.

An isolated transaction may also constitute a trade.

Existence of similar trading transactions or interests.

Transactions that are similar to those of an existing trade may themselves be trading.

Changes to the asset.

Was the asset repaired, modified or improved to make it more easily saleable or saleable at a greater profit?

The way the sale was carried out. Was the asset sold in a way that was typical of trading organizations?

Alternatively, did it have to be sold to raise cash for an emergency?

The source of finance. Was money borrowed to buy the asset? Could the funds only be repaid by selling the asset?

Interval of time between purchase and sale.

Assets that are the subject of trade will normally, but not always, be sold quickly.

Therefore, an intention to resell an asset shortly after purchase will support trading. However, an asset, which is to be held indefinitely, is much less likely to be a subject of trade.

Method of acquisition.

An asset that is acquired by inheritance, or as gift, is less likely to be the subject of trade.

These ‘badges’ will not be present in every case and of those that are, some may point one way and some the other.

The presence or absence of a particular badge is unlikely, by itself, to provide a conclusive

A definition of the word ‘trade’ cannot be found in Nigerian tax law. However, the issue has been addressed in several legal cases, the rulings of which provide some legal certainty regarding how the courts interpret the word. In line with these rulings, ‘trade’ can be regarded as “the business of buying and selling or bartering goods or services”.

Where one or more of the criteria on the badges of trade apply, FIRS will treat such transaction as trade. Furthermore, the oneoff nature of an activity in no way invalidates that activity as constituting a trade. This interpretation matches the approach in other jurisdictions, namely the UK and USA. The following decided cases are relevant in this regard: i In the case of Marlin Vs Lowry (1955)3 All ER 48; 11 TC 297), a person without previous knowledge of linen trade bought a surplus stock of aeroplane linen from government which he sold to the public in small lots. He engaged employees for the re-packaging and embarked on sales” promotion through extensive adverts and campaigns.

It was held that he was trading. ii In Murray Vs I.R. Comrs (1951, 32 TC 238), where a timber merchant who bought standing timbers in two plantations and could not cut them due to labour cost, sold the rights to cut the timbers to meet his indebtedness. He was assessed to tax on the profit from the transaction. He contended that the sale was a capital transaction since it was not in the normal course of his business but it was held that the transaction was part of his normal trading as a timber merchant. iii In Burge Vs Pyne (1969, All ER 467), a club proprietor providing facilities for bar, dancing, cabaret, fruit machines and gambling, appealed against the inclusion of his winnings in his assessment. The appeal was dismissed on the ground that the winnings formed part of his regular income from the trade of running the club.

From the foregoing and in accordance with the provisions of CITA, any friendly society, cooperative societies, charitable and ecclesiastical organizations or trade unions that carry out trade as defined and described above would be liable to tax on income derived from such trade.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 22

Business

‘Weak insurance industry heightens terrorism’

By Etuka Sunday

A

UK based lawyer and management consultant has said that the current state of terrorism in the country could have been curtailed, had we built a robust and fit-for-purpose insurance industry.

Kachi Okezie, told journalists in Abuja Monday that in advanced societies, the insurance industry is a major deterrent to negligence by both public authorities and the general public.

“The insurance industry is well known for its powerful

lobbies all over the world. In the UK, the industry has forced nonperforming police chiefs from office for failing to curb rising crimes such as burglary which hurt the industry’s finances the most.”

Okezie added, “Despite its avowed refusal for decades, to talk to the IRA, analysts believe the bombing of the City of London (the Square Mile), heart of the global financial centre and traditional home of Lloyds, the world’s premier insurer, marked the turning point which forced the government to the table, resulting in the peace process; all in response to pressure

from the insurance industry who threatened to decline further payouts to victims.”

“Aside of individual cover,” Barrister Okezie explained, “the government’s own responsibility is captured in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (2001) administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority under which compensation is payable to anyone (regardless of their nationality) who has sustained a criminal injury on or after August 1 1964. A ‘criminal injury’ is defined under the scheme as being “one or more ‘personal

injuries’ directly attributable to a crime of violence which has been sustained in Great Britain” and includes both physical and mental injuries.

He said, “Imagine how differently government, the business community and individuals would behave were they under pressure from the insurance industry.

People would think more about risk and compensation. Do you think some of the obvious lapses we’ve seen in the FCT and beyond would exist if the administrations had been slapped with a bill for USD100m

each time an incident happened?

Okezie who was in the country for the world Economic Forum Africa, congratulated the Federal Government on the highly successful hosting of the event which he said would go a long way in redeeming much of the country’s lost pride.

He then called on all those countries who have voiced their support for Nigeria to back their words with action and revise their negative travel advice on Nigeria, saying “That’s what determines insurance risk assessment for the country, not sweet words on CNN.”

NCC to issue two 2.3 intercity wireless licences to Infracos in September

By Chris Alu

T

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority, Mr. Habib Abudullahi, representative of Minister of Transport, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi, General Manager, Easter Ports, Mr. Sonny Nwobi and Harbour Master, Bonny, Captain Sylvester Owobu, during the inaugural call of WAERSK WAFMAX vessel to Onne Port, on Wednesday in Rivers state.

Photo: NAN

New owners decry low revenue inflow in electricity market

By Doyin Ojosipe

T

he Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Egbin Power Plant, Mr Mike Uzoigbe, has lamented the low revenue inflow from electricity and the refusal of Nigerians to pay for electricity consumed.

Accrding to him, the company has lost about N570billin as revenue since the beginning of November till date which electricity consumers have refused to pay.

He said the business was not so interesting again as the company has been recording serious loss while making huge investments to supply power.

In a meeting with the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, yesterday, Uzoigbe raised the issue of lack of metering for most Nigerian homes which has made the consumers to consume electricity without being appropriately charged, he therefore sought for a lasting solution to the problem in order

to help move the sector forward.

The CEO also complained about lack of gas which is affecting power generation; he said about N7 billion was invested for power generation in November but only 1008mw was generated while only 600mw was being generated for the past three months. He added the lack of adequate gas was affecting power supply while debts were being accrued on daily basis.

While addressing the various power CEOs at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission

(NERC), the minister of power, appealed to the new investors in the electricity market to try and synergize in order to generate as much power as possible so the quality of power could improve before June, 2014 as the President has given an ultimatum as regards quality of power.

He assured that all possible solutions will be provided in order to tackle the problems facing the investors and the supply of electricity in good time.

FirstBank extends ‘Big Splash Promo’ to accommodate more customers

By Etuka Sunday

F

irstBank Nigeria has announced the extension of its on-going ‘Big Splash Promo’ to reward and appreciate more customers.

The Bank said, “The savings promo which kicked off in July 2013 has been extended to December 2014 to create ample opportunity for more customers to participate in the promo and stand a chance of winning the grand prize of a Terrace Duplex.”

It said the third quarterly draw of the on-going FirstBank ‘Big Splash Promo has produced 3 more winners of the brand new Toyota Corolla cars at the draw

which took place today, May 15, 2014 at the Constantial Hotel, Benin City the Edo State capital.

The winners are Eseduo Francis of Makurdi Branch, Ezeanum Chinedu Maureen of OnitshaOwerri branch and Dairo Adeola Olugbenga of Ikeja Industrial Estate branch.

The draws supervised by representatives from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Consumer Protection Council and KPMG Advisory Services also produced 120 winners of standing gas cookers, 120 winners refrigerators as well as 120 winners of N50, 000 cash.

360 winners are expected to emerge from the Big Splash promo

from every bi-monthly draw while 3 lucky customers will drive home 3 brand new Toyota Corolla cars at every quarterly draw and 1 customer will win the grand finale prize of a completed 4-bedroom terrace house in Lekki.

According to the Business Development Manager, Benin2 FirstBank, Mr Francis Amuta,the ongoing big splash promo draw is designed to reward and appreciate the Bank’s loyal customers who have continued to do business with us. “In celebration of our 120th anniversary, we are committed to rewarding our existing and prospective customers in a special way as well as delivering excellent services to our customers with

innovative services and initiatives such as the Big Splash Promo,” he added.

In her speech, the Acting Head, Consumer Banking, Mrs Adebimpe Ihekuna, explained that for a customer to qualify for the FirstBank Big Splash promo, the customer need to operate a savings account and maintain a sum of N10, 000.00 monthly balance of which should be maintained for a minimum of 30 days to qualify for the bi-monthly draw. While fresh savings account holders will need to maintain the sum of N 10,000.00 monthly and maintain this balance in his account for 30 days to qualify for the bi-monthly draw.

he Executive Vice Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission, Engr. Eugene Juwah has said that out of the seven 2.3 intercity wireless licences two would be issued to an infrastructure company that would intervene in providing capacity building lacking in the telecommunication sector by September.

Speaking while defending the commission’s 2013 budget before the Senate Committee on Communications at National Assembly, Abuja, the NCC boss said that the two infrastructures companies issued licence would fill in the gap of providing broadband penetration in the country.

According to him, about 30,000 intercity fibers do not penetrate into the city centers thereby creating a huge gap in broadband penetration.

We have a huge gap in broadband penetration therefore these two licences offered to those infracos will fill in the gap in order to address the issue of quality of service on networks , Juwah said.

The EVC also said that the remaining five wireless licences would be issued to others at a later date, adding that NCC emergency centers have also been completed and would be commission in Gombe, Benue and Bauchi with an emergency call line number112.

He explained that the total budget was estimated at 54.4 billion naira, while recurrent expenditure 14.4billion naira and capital expenditure 15.8 billion naira, according to him, N8 billion would be transferred to the Universal Service Provision Funds.

Earlier, the Senate committee chairman, Senator Gilbert Nnaji said the committee was concerned over improved quality of service, adding that NCC should device a means of using ICT to assist the current security challenges in the country as well as providing rural telephony to the underserved areas.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Thursday, May 15, 2014

PAGE 23

Peoples Daily, Friday, May 16, 2014

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Cultivating cowpea and tackling Maruca pest attacks

By Ifeanyi Nwoko and Magdalene Ukuedojor

M

any farmers in Nigeria and other African countries are avoiding the cultivation of cowpea as a result of yearly losses caused by maruca pests’ attacks.

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), estimates that cowpea, a grain legume, is cultivated on more than 12.5 million hectares and consumed by nearly 200 million people.

However, maruca attack reduces the size and the quality of the popular beans, thereby discouraging farmers from cultivating the crop. ``Maruca reduces the size, and quality of cowpea harvest; we use insecticides to control it, but it is too expensive to be applying insecticides all the time. ``Sometimes I still get a very low yield after using insecticides; I will not cultivate cowpea again,” Abdulahi Yunisa, a beans farmer in Gombe State, said.

Mrs Rose Gidado, Head, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Nigeria, explains that maruca moths lay eggs on cowpea plants, and the emerging caterpillars feed on the plants. ``This damage affects the quantity of the leaves, flowers and quantity and quality of seeds leading to severe yield loss.”

However, modern biotechnology has provided a remedy for the marucainfested beans through a soil bacterial gene known as Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt).

According to Prof.

Mahammad Ishiyaku of Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, biotechnology is the only way to combat maruca.

Ishiyaku, a plant breeder, said over 80 per cent losses, forced plant breeders to source for maruca resistant varieties from the many strains of cowpea available on earth. ``For maruca especially, there is no such natural resistance in the cowpea strains, we have evaluated 15,000 different varieties

Maruca larvae and damage on pod

of cowpea. ``From the northernmost part of Nigeria up to the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in Victoria Island in Lagos, no single cowpea showed this resistance; the same thing in Ghana, Burkina Faso and South Africa. ``All over the world, there is no cowpea that has that resistance; it is like looking for a banana that produces milk,” he said.

He said that the only alternative was gene transfer, using biotechnology; a technology that was then not known by cowpea farmers. ``That is why over the years, we have to live with the painful solution of having to spray our cowpeas to control maruca. ``Until such a time when information came to us, that we can cut a gene from a non-cowpea organism and transfer it and cowpea will be able to absorb the gene and resist maruca,” he said.

Research by the AATF, sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led to the development and successful field trials of the maruca resistant cowpea varieties.

Ishiyaku said that the gene was derived from

bacillus thuringiensis, harmless bacteria found in the soil. ``These varieties are showing 90 per cent to 95 per cent of maruca insect control, where cowpea is mostly planted,” he said.

However, the maruca resistant varieties still

have to undergo series of trials and test before the proposed launch in Nigeria this year.

Mr John McMurdy, USAID’s International

Research and Biotechnology Advisor, said the research on the maruca-resistant beans was to ensure sustainable beans production for Nigeria, the largest grower and consumer of the crop.

“The gene that we put into the cowpea (beans) is actually the same gene that we put into maize in the U.S. and we have consumed it for about 27 years.

“It is a specific gene code that targets the specific insect, but has no effect on other organisms, so that is really the beauty of this

technology.

“We have made a lot of progress in cowpea; ultimately we are not going to see it as a success until we actually get it out there for farmers to use to increase their yields yearly. ``Getting the seed production systems in

place, is probably close to 10 million U.S. dollars over these next five years, specifically cowpea, to include the work in Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and now Malawi, the newest project partner,” he said.

Dr Denis Kyetere, AATF’s Executive Director,

said field trials of marucaresistant beans were carried out at multi-location sites in Kano, Zaria and Zamfara since 2011.

The results showed 90 per cent to 95 per cent of maruca insect control, ``which is expected to improve nutrition and food security for about eight million farmers and their families if inculcated.

“The research is not only carried out in Nigeria but also in Ghana and Burkina Faso, while Malawi is coming on board, seeing the possibility of the crop growth strides in Nigeria,” he said.

Dr Prince Addae, Project Manager, Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea Project, says the AATF plans to commercialise the maruca resistant bean seed in three target countries - Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso from 2017.

Mr Auwalu Balarabe, the Chief Executive, Maina Seeds Kano, said that the breakthrough in cowpea production was a welcome development for cowpea farmers.

“Every farmer in Africa who cultivates cowpea will tell you how much loss he has been recording as a result of maruca,’’ he noted.

Dr Alhasan Yakubu, Ghana’s Deputy Minister, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, urged African countries to immediately start utilising the benefits of the new technology.

He stressed that for a sustainable food security, Africa must embrace biotechnology in cowpea and other agricultural products. ``Food security in Africa is as important as it has always been in all our activities.` `It is important that we look at alternative ways of managing the already vast ecology and secure ourselves nutritionally,’’ he said.

The deputy minister appealed to African legislators to work on their bio-safety regulations and laws to ensure the passage of country-based bills which would guarantee improved technology for food crops. ``What the state institutions can do is to provide the appropriate legislations to help in this direction,” he said.

It is hoped that African lawmakers would heed the call, as passage of the laws are pre-requisite to the launch of maruca resistant beans by 2017. (NAN)

“

This damage affects the quantity of the leaves, flowers and quantity and quality of seeds leading to severe yield loss.”

However, modern biotechnology has provided a remedy for the marucainfested beans through a soil bacterial gene known as Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt).

Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina

Entomologists take closer look at the various stages of legume pod borer Maruca vitrata (Maruca pest)

Farmer checks cowpea plant for early detection of Maruca

PAGE 26

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Islam

No compulsion in religion

“Let there be no compulsion in religion: truth stands out Clear from error: Whoever rejects evil and believes In Allah hath grasped the Most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks, and Allah heareth and knoweth all things.”[al-Baqarah: 256]

I

n the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers till the end of time.

I am writing on this topic because am compelled by the circumstances in which the whole world is lamenting the incredible security hiatuses in Nigeria resulting in the Boko Haram insurgents an unprecidented ‘exploit’.Actually my column was set to discuss on the success journey on vaccination on poliomyelitis in Nigeria. But, for the current mind stunning and mystifying situation, this topic has no relevance at present.

However, I accept to the demand of the day, and in Allah I put my trust, and from Him I seek for help!

Allah (SWT) is the Creator of everything and everybody living in all the planets and elsewhere.

He creates, sustains and provide for all suitable their own fashions and ways. He created men and made them very special species by subjugating all their needs within their environment, and gave them control in phases and times. He controls their destinies to a larger extent from where He is eternality.

He says: 2. It is He who has created you; and of you are some that are Unbelievers, and some that are believers: and Allah sees well all that ye do.”[at-Taghabun: 2] Then in His infinite mercy and notwithstanding the criterion, He made a universal call to all mankind until the end in the following aweinspiring words. He says: 21. O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness.”[al-Baqarah: 21] He made another inspirational call, and says: “O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; - reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.”[anNisa’i: 1] In another chapter of the Qur’an, he majestically announced loudly,

thus; “It is Allah who creates you and takes your souls at death; of you there are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that They know nothing having known (much): for Allah is All-knowing, All-Powerful.’[an-Nahl: 70] In essence, Allah rehearsed to mankind that the life between creation and death is not for no reason or purpose. That is to say there is no creation without purpose and intention. Therefore, the objective of the creation of man and all other creatures was solely to adore Allah and to worship Him in manners and fashion assigned by Him alone! He says regarding the purpose of the creation of man and jinn, thus; “I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me. No sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me.”[ adh-Dhariyat: 56] Allah, indeed, the Lord of Islam and the Muslims does not eat bread, drink wine, let alone get drunk!

He is “Allah is He on Whom all depend!The Eternal, the Absolute”!

Buttress His reasons for the creation of this wise and intelligent animal, called man, He chose over time few wiser men amongst them, made them His messengers and burdened them with both the trust and responsibilities of teaching and guiding the rest of men on how to worship Him; alone! He raised many prophets and Messengers at different times and spaces.

According to Islam, Allah sent 25 principals Messengers to the entire mankind, beginning with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Jesus and terminating with Muhammad [pbu-them] within a specified time and space.

Fundamentally speaking, there are differences between a Messenger and a Prophet. The commonest difference is that a Prophet is one who receives Revelation from Allah, but he is not commanded to propagate it, but, to practice it himself, without being called upon to disseminate it. A Messenger is one who receives Revelation from Allah and he is called upon to propagate it and to act upon it. Thus, every Messenger is a Prophet, but not every Prophet is a Messenger. The Prophets are greater in number than the Messengers, such that no one their exact number.

Allah, the Most High says: “And indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O

“

islam explained

By Husain Zakariyya Yawale

+234-8052952900 (sms only) islamexplained35@yahoo.com Muhammad) Of some of them We have related to you their story, and some of them we have not related to you their story. And it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a Sign except by the leave of Allah.”[al-Ghafir: 78] “Messenger who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind, after (the coming) of the apostles, should have no plea against Allah; for Allah is Exalted In power, wise.’[an-Nisa’I; 165] Thus, Allah did not leave any chance for any nation to complain thatHe did not send any admonisher to them. In an instance where Allah stops raising Messengers, He commands the learned amongst his servants to continue with the propagation of his chosen religion (Islam) to the whole world in the most peaceful ways. He says: “Invite (all) to the way of Thy Lord with wisdom and preaching; and argue with them In ways that are best and Most gracious: for Thy knoweth best, who have strayed from His path, and who receive guidance.”[an-nahl: 125] And: “O mankind! There hath come to you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) In your hearts, - and for those who believe, a guidance and a mercy.”[Yunus: 57] They should call to His way with humility and modesty all men; the knowledgeable and the peasants.

He says: “And the servants of ((Allah)) Most gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace!”[al-Furqan: 63] When all procedures are observed in the processes of calling and inviting to the way of Allah, the inner conviction of the persuaded and covinced is left to Him to guide the person to accept Islam or not.

He says: “Those whom Allah (in His plan) willeth to guide,- He openeth their

breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying,- He maketh their breast close and constricted, As if They had to climb up to the skies: Thus doth Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.”[alAn’am: 125] Similarly, for the fact that He made the understanding of the message of Islam very easy to comprehend and grasp, He thus, abhors compulsion, coercion and use of force in converting people.

“Say: “With Allah is the argument that reaches home: if it had been His will, He could indeed have guided you all.”[al-an’am: 6] For these reasons, Allah has simplified the work on da’awah; propagation.Allah has been so much simplified most especially to the fortunate people whom He has wills to embrace it The understanding from the meaning of the word “Islam” itself makes it clear that there is no way that you could force someone to do something that requires them to do, out of their own free will and harmony. If someone were forced to convert to Islam, then his would not be accepted and acknowledged as genuine conversion; a condition that must be freely made on choice and peacefully. Forcing people into Islam is totally illogical and certainly not accepted, neither in concept nor in practice.

In order to keep the proscription to the optimum, Allah has warned Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] never to compel, coerce or force anybody to accept Islam out of enthusiasm or eagerness. Allah says: “If it had been Thy Lord’s will, they would all have believed, - all who are on earth! Wilt Thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe!”[yunus: 99] Thus, genuine and acceptable Islam is the one that is founded on persuasion and leniency. The following verse shades more light to the principles of Islam of patience

The understanding from the meaning of the word “Islam” itself makes it clear that there is no way that you could force someone to do something that requires them to do, out of their own free will and harmony. If someone were forced to convert to Islam, then his would not be accepted and acknowledged as genuine conversion; a condition that must be freely made on choice and peacefully. Forcing people into Islam is totally illogical and certainly not accepted, neither in concept nor in practice.

and endurance. Allah says: “Say thou: “This is My way: I do invite unto Allah, - on evidence Clear As the seeing with one’s eyes,I and Whoever follows Me, glory be to Allah and never will I join (other) gods with Allah.”[Yusuf: 108] The evidences and proofs regarding the clarity of Islam, and the strength of its arguments on all scientific references superannuated all other religions in history. Allah says: “And say: “Truth has (now) arrived, and falsehood perished: for falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish. We send down (stage by stage) In the Qur’an that which is a healing and a Mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss.”[al-Isra’i: 81-82] Similarly, the Sunnah has condemned anybody who abducts a free man, and enslaves or sells him into slavery. Allah has promised to cast him into the blazing hell fire on the day of resurrection.

In essence, anybody or group of people that forces defenseless and innocent people to accept Islam, such a person or group is NOT representing Muslims nor working for the sake of Allah! Allah has proscribed that action, Islam has forbidden it and Muslims condemned it in its entirety!

Such people are not only fighting Christianity and Christians, but, also waging an unholy war against Islam and Muslims! All true main stream Muslims have unanimously and equivocally condemned such atrocity and detest conditional release of the school girls and all abducted people.

The botherations and the anguishes the Muslims are undergoing the world over as a result of this heinous crimes perpetuated by the insurgents is severer than that of the parents and the CAN, which they tread in the pages of newspapers. These are people who are misguided with no sensible person around them to admonish!

They are people who are concocting lies and aberrations against Allah and his Apostle with nobody close to stop them! These are people that maim and kill all and sundry, regardless of sex, irrespective of age, heedless of religious inclination, mindless of tribal affiliation and with total disregard to race or nationality! We are all in stark dilemma and quandary as to think, say or do to end this predicament!

We are powerless and dumbfounded and devoid of any‘makhraj’ (exit) in sight! I this we close to position once mentioned in the Qur’an, where Allah tells us: “Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that Even the Messenger and those of Faith who were with Him cried: “When (will come) the help of Allah.” Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near”! [al-Baqarah: 214] May the help of Allah come as quickly as possible!

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

P A G E

International

UK: Crime and citizenship

preventing any form of defence being submitted.

We must remember, that it cannot apply to those born into British citizenship, only those who have been granted the same during their lifetime. Surely this poses a significant risk that communities will be marginalised further and thus perhaps compounding a problem. Under the Human Rights Act 1998, it will have to be determined that the legislation is not discriminatory in intent. By targeting an identifiable group, namely foreign-born naturalised citizens, who are treated differently to comparable groups, Britishborn citizens, this may raise serious concerns as to a discriminatory practise.

Affront to democracy It is anticipated that the Home Secretary will seek to argue that appropriate checks and balances have been put in place, in that there is an appeal process, however, this appeals process is in itself a further affront to the principles of democracy and justice.

Where national security reasons are cited as being the justification for the revocation of a person’s citizenship, any appeals process will be heard in secret, and the person subject to the removal will be barred from attending. They will be unable to see, or challenge any evidence being used to justify the decision. They will have to rely on a “special advocate” to present their case, remembering that this advocate will have little contact with the appellant, and will be barred from discussing any evidence that is being presented to the appeal.

ANALYSIS

T

he United Kingdom is largely regarded as a nation that has pioneered the rule of law and championed the course of human rights.

One would therefore have never expected a country that often takes the moral high ground and is vehement in its statements of support for human rights would introduce such a draconian legal measure that will undermine and destroy the most fundamental right of a citizen, however this is exactly what is happening in the UK. Theresa May, the current Home Secretary tabled an amendment to the immigration bill currently making its way through the legislature that seeks to give the power to remove someone’s citizenship, and thus render him or her stateless.

In 1958, the same issue was considered by the US Supreme Court, and it was decided thus: “Use of denationalisation as a punishment means the total destruction of the individual’s status in organised society. It is a form of punishment more primitive that torture.”

The power to remove

someone’s citizenship has been there for a significant number of years, however, it was only used very rarely. This amendment however seeks to extend the power significantly. The measures being sought would effectively leave an estimated 3-4 million peoplevulnerable, this being the approximate number of people who hold a British passport but were not born in the UK. It is truly a dark day for the UK when the Government will tell a person that they have done something against the interests of the UK and therefore are being stripped of their citizenship, but when the inevitable question of ‘what’ is asked, the answer will simply be that the Government cannot say for matters of national security.

Of huge concern is that the power could be exercised regardless of whether the person in question had committed a crime, the only test being whether to take such a step would be “conducive to the public good”, because the person has conducted themselves “in a manner which is seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the United Kingdom”.

Silencing dissent The proposed definition is appallingly wide in that effectively, anyone who voices opposition to the government or any of its policies could be deemed to fall into this category. Is this really where we have come to? One of the oldest democracies in the world, one of the bastions of freedom and human rights now seeks to

“

introduce legislation that can potentially be used to silence any form of dissent. The war on terror has indeed taken us into a very deep hole.

The legislation was passed in the commons and has been brought to the House of Lords, who have watered down the proposals somewhat, in that an amendment was added so that the government must “reasonably believe” that the person being stripped of his/her citizenship is able to become a national of another country, however, the power is still likely to remain.

However, the “reasonable belief” will be decided behind closed doors, without due process and without the subject of the discussion being made aware that this is being considered, and thus

The proposed definition is appallingly wide in that effectively, anyone who voices opposition to the government or any of its policies could be deemed to fall into this category.

Inside Story - UK bill: Passport to statelessness?

Such a move is indeed a cruel and unusual punishment, and one that has no place in any civilised state. To enact such powers will place us in the company of dictators and despots, such as the Saddam Hussein regime who exercised similar powers against the Kurds.

Appropriate legislation to enable the authorities to target, those engaged in terrorist activities is wholly necessary, however, transparent checks and balances must be put in place, and such measures should not undermine the very principles of a democracy that that they are seeking to protect.

It is truly a dark day for the UK when the government will tell a person that they have done something against the interests of the UK and therefore are being stripped of their citizenship, but when the inevitable question of “what” is asked, the answer will simply be that the government cannot say for matters of national security.

Lord Hoffman’s words in a 2004 UK case involving terrorism are never more stark: “The real threat to the life of the nation… comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these.”

Courtesy; Aljazeera

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 28

International Tanzanian witch doctors arrested over albino killing

Obama announces sanctions on five people over CAR conflict

U

.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five individuals for their roles in the escalating conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Obama signed an executive order targeting five former CAR officials or leaders, including Francois Bozize, former president of the CAR, and Michel Djotodia, the country’s former transitional president, the White House said.

Also on the blacklist are Noureddine Adam, a former minister of public security of the CAR, Abdoulaye Miskine, a leader of the Democratic Front of the Central African Republic People and Levi Yakite, an anti-Balaka political coordinator, according to the executive order, which freezes assets and bans travel for the sanctioned individuals.

Tuesday’s action sends “a powerful message that impunity will not be tolerated and that those who threaten the stability of the CAR will face consequences,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.

“Growing attacks perpetrated by both Muslim and Christian militia have brought CAR to a crisis of disastrous proportions,” Carney said.

The United States urges all parties in CAR to end the violence, to ensure justice and accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses, and to work together to forge a brighter and more prosperous future for all people in the country, Carney said.

More than 2.5 million of the CAR’s 4.6 million people need humanitarian assistance and about one million people have been displaced in the country, according to the spokesman.

Source; Xinhua

T

wo witch doctors in Tanzania have been arrested after a woman with albinism was hacked to death,

police say.

One of her legs and several fingers were removed in the attack on Tuesday.

Albinos have suffered widespread persecution in Tanzania, where witch doctors say magic potions made with albino body parts can bring good luck.

Such killings have declined in recent years, but this latest attack has prompted a human rights group to call for all witch doctors to be banned.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the group, Under The Same Sun said the current regulation of witch doctors was clearly not working.

The BBC’s Leonard Mubali in Dar es Salaam says that currently all witch doctors have to apply for a certificate from the ministry of health and welfare to practise.

The attack occurred in the village of Gasuma, in Simiyu province - a remote rural area in the north-west of the country where there have been killings of albinos before, our reporter says.

The woman’s left leg, two

fingers from her left hand and a nail from one of her thumbs were removed.

According to Under the Same Sun, which campaigns against the discrimination of people living with albinism, the last killing

Albinos in Tanzania have become targets for bodysnatchers seeking to sell them to witch doctors of an albino in Tanzania was in February 2013.

In recent years, the government has been also been trying to address the problem, and an albino MP was appointed several years ago.

S Sudan faces ‘catastrophic levels of hunger’

W

ar-torn South Sudan faces a catastrophic “tipping point” amid famine and genocide warnings, an aid agency has stated, as the conflict entered its fifth month with no sign of the bloodshed ending.

“We either act now or millions will pay the price,” Oxfam chief

executive Mark Goldring said on Thursday.

“We face a mammoth task of getting massive levels of aid to people at the worst time of the year, when rains make many areas hard to reach and turn roads into rivers of mud,” Goldring said in a statement.

UN warns of ‘catastrophic’ famine

The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, with more than 1.2 million people forced to flee their homes

in S Sudan “We need a massive and rapid global surge in aid to prevent catastrophic levels of hunger. We cannot afford to wait, we cannot afford to fail.”

President Salva Kiir and rebel chief Riek Machar signed a fresh ceasefire agreement last week but fighting broke out hours later, the second time in the five-month conflict that a truce has failed to hold.

More than a third of South Sudan’s population - 3.7 million people - are facing emergency and crisis levels of hunger. In the war-torn Unity state, the key oil producing region, more than three-quarters need aid, according to the UN. The ceasefire agreement, signed last week in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, was the result of weeks of mounting international pressure and shuttle diplomacy. But fighters on the ground appear to have paid little notice to it.

The war in the world’s youngest nation has claimed thousands of lives, with more than 1.2 million people forced to flee their homes, AFP news agency reported.

The conflict, which started as a personal rivalry between Kiir and Machar, has seen the army and communities divide along ethnic lines, pitting members of Kiir’s Dinka tribe against Machar’s Nuer.

UN rights chief Navi Pillay, a former head of the UN genocide court for Rwanda, has said she recognised “many of the precursors of genocide” listed in a report on atrocities released last week by the organisation.

UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon this week warned half of the country’s population will suffer if war continues.

“If the conflict continues, half of South Sudan’s 12 million people will either be displaced internally, refugees abroad, starving or dead by the year’s end,” Ban said.

S.African astronomers discover stars in galactic flare

S

outh African astronomers have discovered the very first known stars in the flared disk of the Milky Way Galaxy. These stars are situated on the far side of our Galaxy, 80 thousand light years from the Earth and beyond the Galactic Center, the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) said.

The discovery is important because stars like these will allow

astronomers to test theoretical ideas about how galaxies, like the Milky Way in which mankind live, formed.

In particular these stars, which are close to the effective edge of the Milky Way, will help astronomers trace the distribution of the very mysterious dark matter, the SAAO said.

Dark matter is known to be an important component of

all galaxies, but its nature and distribution remain elusive.

The five stars involved in this discovery are very special ones, known as Cepheid variables, whose brightness changes regularly on a cycle time of a few days.

These Cepheid variables have characteristics that allow their distances to be measured accurately.

A team of astronomers led

by Prof. Michael Feast used observations made with the

Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and the Infrared Survey Facility (IRSF), both at the South African Astronomical Observatory’s (SAAO) site at Sutherland in the Northern Cape, to determine the distances of these stars and hence their locations within our Galaxy.

The majority of stars in our Galaxy, including our own sun, are distributed in a flat disk. Early in the 21st century

radio astronomers discovered that hydrogen gas, of which the Galaxy contains a great deal, flared away from the disk at large distances from the Galactic center, but until now no one knew that stars did the same thing.

These results will be published in detail on May 15, in the international journal Nature Source; Xinhua

Page 29

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

International

Indian city on alert after communal unrest

I

ndian police in the south Indian city of Hyderabad are maintaining a tight vigil after paramilitary forces trying to break up clashes between two religious communities killed three people.

The violence broke out on Wednesday in the old quarter of the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, which has a mixed Hindu-Muslim population, according to AFP news agency.

Hyderabad police have declined

to say who or which communities were involved in the rioting.

Trouble erupted after some people attacked houses and shops of a religious minority following rumours that a religious flag had been burnt.

Hyderabad police have declined to say who or which communities were involved in the rioting

Security forces placed a curfew on the area and the situation was under control, CV Anand, Hyderabad police commissioner, said.

Police initially tried to break up the mob using sticks but then had to “open fire to disperse the clashing groups”, Anand said.

The Press Trust of India news agency said at least three people died of bullet wounds after reaching the hospital.

Extra police and paramilitary forces were rushed to the area as shopkeepers around Hyderabad’s historic Charminar monument pulled down shutters for fear of more violence.

The violence comes as India awaits the result on Friday of its general election. Exit polls, which have been unreliable in the past, indicate that the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led

by Narendra Modi will to sweep to power.

Political analysts have voiced fears that a victory for the BJP, with its close association with Hindu nationalist identity, could stir religious tensions in multi-religious India.

Thai protesters killed in grenade attack

T

wo anti-government protesters have been killed and 21 wounded after unidentified assailants attacked anti-government protesters in Bangkok, raising fears of wider political violence in Thailand.

Police said two M79 grenades were launched into a protest site at the city’s Democracy Monument early on Thursday and were followed by shooting.

“The first victim was a protester who was sleeping at Democracy Monument, while the second victim was a protest guard who died from gunshots,” Police Major Wallop Prathummuang told the AFP news agency.

In a statement on its website,

T

he Syrian people will see new faces running for the presidency in the first multicandidate poll in Syria’s modern history.

In the capital Damascus, giant posters and banners of three final presidential candidates decorated the main streets, with incumbent President Bashar al-Assad predictably receiving the lion’s share of the publicity.

The campaign for the presidential elections officially kicked off on Sunday, marking the first time in the 40-year rule of the Assad family that Syrians are able to witness campaigns for other candidates other than Assad for the presidency. The multi-

the city’s Erawan Emergency Centre said two people were killed and 21 wounded, without giving further details.

The deaths take the toll from six months of protests aimed at toppling the government to 27, with hundreds of others wounded in gun and grenade attacks linked to rallies.

In another development protesters broke into the grounds of air force premises where Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan, the interim prime minister, was meeting the Election Commission on Thursday, forcing him to flee, the Reuters news agency reported.

Yingluck Shinawatra was removed as prime minister by

a Thai court last week, but was quickly replaced by the ruling Puea Thai party, who are refusing

to bow to pressure, saying they are the democratically elected government.

Protesters in Bangkokk are hoping to pressure the Senate to appoint an new government

Syrians see new faces for presidential elections for first time in decades candidate poll is a result of the recent 2012 constitution that puts an end to Syria’s one candidate referendums.

Posters of Assad are now seen along with the posters of Maher Hajjar and Hassan al-Nouri -both served as lawmakers in the parliament -- in the main streets of Damascus and reportedly in other Syrian government-controlled areas.

For Syrians, watching the posters of their old time leader along with other publicly-unknown candidates,

although weird, is a sign of new democracy.

“The multi-candidate election is a perfect process and it’s the top of democracy and this multi-candidate poll should have taken place before,” Mahmoud Teriay, a shoe shop owner, told Xinhua.

Assad, who won the last election in which he was the sole candidate, is campaigning under the slogan “Sawa,” or “together” in Arabic. The Facebook page for the campaign

has already garnered more than 120,000 followers since it was created Saturday.

Nouri, a former minister under Assad, has focused his campaign on countering corruption and enhancing economic growth, while Hajjar, a Syrian parliamentarian, underscored “the free will of the people” and enhancing the living condition and wages of the people in his campaign.

Both are not widely known by the public.

Asia & Middle East Dozens killed in Vietnam antiChina protests

A

t least five Vietnamese people and 16 others described as Chinese have been killed in the latest incident of rioting, Reuters news agency has reported, as tension between Beijing and Vietnam escalates over the disputed territory in the South China Sea. Wednesday night’s violence comes hours after mobs burned and looted a number of foreign-owned factories at industrial parks near the capital Ho Chi Minh City. The protests by workers are against China’s recent placement of an oil rig in the disputed Southeast Asian waters.

Vietnam has sent ships to confront the rig which are engaged in a tense standoff with Chinese vessels protecting it.

At least 20,000 workers began rioting in Binh Duong province on Tuesday. Smaller groups of men attacked factories they believed were Chinese-run, but many were Taiwanese or South Korean, the provincial government said in a statement.

“Today we got as close as 12 km to the oil rig, and Chinese forces reacted with many ships and followed us closely. At one point, five Chinese ships surrounded one of ours to stop us from getting close to the oil rig that is operating illegally in our territories,” Colonel Phan Duy Cuong of the Vietnamese Coast Guard said.

Vietnam reacted angrily after China towed a deep-sea oil rig on May 1 close to the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China but claimed

by Hanoi. It sent a flotilla of vessels to try to disrupt the oil rig. Some of the Vietnamese boats clashed with Chinese ships sent to protect the rig, raising fears of a possible conflict.

China has shown no signs of backing down, and accused Vietnam on Wednesday of “hyping’’ the issue.

“I cannot confirm to you exactly what kind of construction China is conducting on the Chigua Reef (Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Islands). But I can tell you that in principle the Chigua Reef is Chinese territory and so it is totally normal for us to carry out construction there as it is part of our sovereign territory,” said Hua Chunying, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson.

The standoff underlines China’s aggressive pursuit of its territorial claims despite complaints from smaller nations such as Vietnam and the Philippines, which also claim parts of the waters. The United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines, has called the latest Chinese action “provocative’’.

China’s Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Hanoi issued warnings to Chinese citizens and urged Vietnam’s government to protect them. The embassy’s website said it saw no end to attacks by what it called anti-China forces and urged Chinese to take safety precautions and avoid unnecessary travel.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 30

International

T

he New York Times has abruptly replaced its executive editor, Jill Abramson, and named managing editor Dean Baquet to replace her at the top editorial post.

Abramson’s departure was announced on Wednesday by the newspaper’s publisher and chairman of its parent company, Arthur Sulzberger, and the paper’s own report said: “The reasons for the switch were not immediately clear.”

Abramson, the first woman to hold the newspaper’s highest editorial position, and Baquet had both been in their current positions since September 2011.

“It is an honour to be asked to lead the only newsroom in the country that is actually better than it was a generation ago, one that approaches the world with wonder and ambition every day,’’ Baquet said in a statement released by the newspaper.

Baquet, 57, received a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 1988, and will be the first AfricanAmerican in the top editorial position. Sulzberger called Baquet the best qualified journalist to take on the job in the Times’ newsroom.

Sulzberger told stunned staff members on Wednesday the appointment of Baquet “would improve some aspects of the

Abramson was the first woman to hold the newspaper’s highest editorial position

management of the newsroom,” according to his remarks obtained

by Reuters news agency.

He did not elaborate on what those issues were but said they did not relate to the direction of the journalism or the paper’s digital

Editor of New York Times fired

future.

“This is also not about any sort of disagreement between the newsroom and the business side over the critical principle of an independent newsroom,” he said.

In its most recent quarter, the

Times Co. saw overall advertising revenue rise for the first time in three years, jumping 3 percent to $158.7m.

The company’s print and digital advertising rose compared with the same period a year ago.

‘Friends of Syria’ group set for London talks

F

oreign ministers from 11 Western and Arab nations are due to meet in London to discuss new ways of supporting the Syrian opposition.

The Friends of Syria group will also discuss the country’s dire humanitarian situation. US Secretary of State John Kerry is among those attending.

The meeting comes days after UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi stepped down over lack of progress in ending the crisis.

Syria’s three-year conflict has left

some 150,000 people dead.

The Friends of Syria group is made up of Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. It was set up in 2012 in response to moves by Russia and China to block UN resolutions on Syria.

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said it was “the right time” for countries who support a democratic future for Syria to come together.

“Foreign ministers will discuss how best to significantly step-up our

support to the Syrian opposition, make urgent progress on improving the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and reinvigorate a political process that has stalled due to regime intransigence,” the spokesman said.

Thursday’s meeting is the first time the group has met since January.

BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says that since then, peace talks in Geneva have collapsed; Mr Brahimi has stepped down and rebel forces inside Syria have lost ground to President Bashar al-Assad.

UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon said the “hopelessly divided” international community was partly to blame for leaving Mr Brahimi battling “almost impossible odds” in brokering a peace deal.

Efforts to reconvene peace talks were dealt a fresh blow when Mr Assad announced presidential elections for 3 June. He is seeking a third seven-year term.

The idea was dismissed by the US as “a parody of democracy” and Mr Ban said it could torpedo efforts to broker a peace deal.

Thousands flee wildfires in south California

A

t least two structures burned to the ground and about 15,000 homes and businesses were told to evacuate as a wind-lashed wildfire roared out of control in the heart of a southern California coastal community.

The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday shortly before 11am in Carlsbad, some 40km north of San Diego, quickly became the most pressing battle for crews fighting flames across the region amid soaring temperatures and hot Santa Ana

Homes were burned amid a Southern California heat wave that sparked several blazes

winds.

“The safety and security of the community is our top priority, and all available resources are being deployed,” the city of Carlsbad said in a statement on its website that confirmed the destruction of at least two structures.

The city did not say that those structures were homes, but local TV images showed houses in the Carlsbad area consumed by flames as thick black smoke filled the sky and drifted over the Pacific Ocean.

The fires flared as California entered the height of wildfire season in the midst of one of the state’s worst droughts on record, setting the stage for what fire officials fear could be a particularly intense and dangerous year.

About 15,0000 homes and businesses in and around Carlsbad received the directive to evacuate ahead of the flames, according to the city, and emergency shelters were set up at area schools and community

centers.

The Legoland amusement park was also evacuated, spokeswoman Julie Estrada said, mostly because of power outages in the area.

San Diego Gas and Electric reported that an estimated 2,000 residents in and around Carlsbad were without electricity.

“It’s right in the middle of the city,” California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said of the so-called Poinsettia Fire, which had blackened more than 100 acres by mid-afternoon.

He said Cal Fire was assisting the Carlsbad Fire Department in fighting the flames and had deployed waterdropping aircraft over the community.

Meanwhile a second fire, called the Tomahawk, broke out on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base north of San Diego and had charred more than 100 acres by mid-afternoon, prompting evacuation of military housing and a naval weapons station.

Europe and Americas Anger in Turkey over deadly mine disaster

T

urkey’s biggest union is about to stage a strike amid mounting anger over the country’s worst mining accident, with the toll from the disaster rising to 282 and scores still trapped underground.

Unions were angry on Thursday over what they say are poor safety standards since the formerly staterun facilities were leased to private companies.

“Hundreds of our worker brothers in Soma have been left to die from the very start by being forced to work in brutal production processes in order to achieve maximum profits,” a statement from the said, referring to the area in western Turkey where the disaster happened on Tuesday.

Anger and grief boiled over into violent protests in several parts of Turkey on Wednesday. Police fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands who were protesting in Ankara’s Kizilay Square. Similar protests were taking place in Istanbul’s Taksim Square and in Soma.

Recep Teyyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister, said the accident would be “investigated thoroughly”.

But protesters in the streets of Istanbul were chanting “Government resign” and relatives of the miners in Soma shouted that Erdogan was a “murderer!” and a “thief!”

Police set up fences and stood guard around Soma state hospital to keep the crowds away from scores of injured miners, the AP news agency reported.

At least 80 were reported injured in the accident.

Erdogan declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff following the tragedy. He postponed a foreign trip to visit the mine in Soma, about 250km south of Istanbul.

Turkey accused of ignoring mining dangers.

A convoy containing Erdogan’s car was attacked during his visit to Soma by crowds who chanted for him to resign.

Authorities say the disaster followed an explosion and fire caused by a power-distribution unit and the deaths were caused by carbon-monoxide poisoning.

About 450 people have been rescued so far, according to the mining company, but authorities say the rescue effort was being hampered by the fact that the mine was made up of tunnels that were kilometres long.

Soma Komur Isletmeleri AS, which owns the mine, said the accident occurred despite the “highest safety measures and constant controls” and added that an investigation was being launched.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 31

Strange World

Man tries to find love on Facebook gets rejected by 5,000 women

S

ome people just can’t seem to catch a break.

Predrag Jovanovic, a single man from Serbia trying to find love online, hasn’t gotten a single positive response after contacting 5,000 different women on Facebook.

Desperate for love, the 34-year-old Serbian had turned to Facebook to find his soulmate. He sent individual messages to 5,000 different women, asking if they would consider being his girlfriend.

Unfortunately, none of the responses were favourable. “I got only 15 responses and they were all negative,” he said.

“All 15 politely refused to be my girlfriend, while the rest of them simply ignored me.

When someone ignores you, that’s the worst thing of all.”

But Jovanovic hasn’t lost hope yet; he vows to continue his mission to find his perfect woman online.

Well, he actually doesn’t have any other options, as most of the women in his tiny village (near Belgrade) are either

married or grandmothers.

He also said that he finds speaking to women online easier, owing to his shy nature. He admitted that he doesn’t laugh much, and that his behavior towards

girls as young as 16, both in Se rbia and ab road . Why should he have to narrow down his choices, he asked, when Facebook offers access to hundreds of thousands of women?

“I know I risk getting into the record books as the biggest Facebook romantic flop of all

time, but it is worth the risk,” he said. “I wish I had a girl next to me, I miss the presence of female energy in my everyday life.” Jovanovic said that his life is pretty lonely, and all he wants is for a girl to give him a chance. He pointed out that women have no reason to be afraid of meeting him.

In fact, he wants the meeting to take place in a public area of the girl’s choice, to avoid something ‘unexpected’ from happening. “All I’m asking is for someone to take a chance on me, meet up and we take it from there.”

Anyone interested?

strangers can be stiff at times.

Jovanovic doesn’t seem to be too particular in his choice of girls – he just sends messages at random and hopes for someone to respond. “The girl does not have to have personality traits just like me,” he said.

L o c a t i o n a n d a g e do n ’t m a tter either – he’s messaged

UMAR SULEIMAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION GASHUA P. M. B. 02, GASHUA, YOBE STATE. (OFFICE OF THE PROVOST) INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER FOR THE YEAR 2013 TETFUND NORMAL INTERVENTION PROJECTS Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua intends to undertake the procurement of various projects for the year 2013 TETFUND Normal Intervention Projects and hereby invites competent and interested contractors and suppliers to tender for the under listed projects:A. CONSTRUCTION WORKS

i.

Construction of Farm House

ii.

Construction of Fine Art Gallery B. PROCUREMENTS i.

Furnishing of Model Office & School of Management Services.

C. PRE-QUALIFICATION/TENDER REQUIREMENTS

Interested contractors should include the following:i. Evidence of up to date company registration with corporate affairs commission ii. Company audited accounts for three (3) years iii. Technical competence (list of plant/equipment) of the firm including profile of technical and administrative staff. iv. Verifiable list of similar projects executed in the recent past with evidence and completion certificate. v. Evidence of tax clearance certificate for the last three (3)years/VAT registration certificate. vi. Original documents should be available for scrutiny on demand vii. Evidence of financial capability to handle the work. viii. Evidence of compliance with PENCOM ix. Evidence of payment of industrial training funds dues etc.

D. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION Application for pre-qualification of contractors should be returned in sealed envelope not later that three (3) weeks from the date of this advertisement, and not later than 12:00 noon thereof, while tenders will be opened one week after in the college chamber All applications to be address to: The Secretary Tender Board, Umar Suleiman College of Education,P. M. B. 02, Gashua, Yobe State.

E. The invitation for pre-qualification for contract is not an invitation to tender and only contractors that have been pre-qualified will be invited to tender.

Signed Management

Jovanovic

MODIBBO ADAMA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, YOLA (Office the Registrar) NOTIFICATION OF EXTENSION OF DATE FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER FOR YEAR 2013 TETFUND SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION PROJECTS

On Page 20 of the People’s Daily Newspapers of April 17, 2014, and Page 52 of Blueprint Newspapers of the same day, Modibbo Adama university of Technology, Yola, invited tenders for the construction of the underlisted projects under the TETFUND (NEEDS Assessment) programme.

LOT I: Construction of Female hostel.

MAUT/YOLA/TETFUND/NEEDS/13/01 LOT II: Construction Male hostel Block A MAUT/YOLA/TETFUND/NEEDS/13/02 LOT III: Construction of Male Block B MAUT/YOLA/TETFUND/NEEDS/13/03 LOT IV: Construction of Post-graduate hostel MAUT/YOLA/TETFUND/NEEDS/13/04 The general public is hereby invited to note that the above advertised tenders are now extended by two (2) weeks and therefore now opening on Thursday 12th June, 2014.

Interested bidders and TETFUND to please be guided.

(Signed) Alh. Ibrahim A. Ribadu REGISTRAR

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 32

Weekend Revue Kelly Rowland secretly marries manager Tim Witherspoon With Tobias Lengnan Dapam lovelengz@yahoo.com 07036990957

F

ormer Destiny’s Child singer, Kelly Rowland quietly married her manager and boyfriend,Tim Witherspoonrecently, sources confirmed to Billboard/The Hollywood Reporter.

The 33-year-old big day was in Costa Rica, with Beyonce and her sister Solange Knowles among the guests.

HollywoodReporter broke the story, quoting an unnamed

K

ristine Rodas, the wife of Roger Rodaswho was driving the car in November 2013, filed the lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, claiming that the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT did not have a proper crash cage or safety features in the gas tank that would have saved both victims, Hollywood Reporter has said.

According to the legal documents, the vehicle did not have a

source who described the event as "a quick, simple ceremony -- only around 30 people."

On the same day, Beyonce shared a snap on Instagram in what appeared to be a bridesmaid's dress and the simple caption "Good morning" (just hours earlier, she’d apparently shared an eventful ride in an elevator with her husband and her sister).

Rowland was previously en-

gaged to football player Roy Williams. They ended their relationship in January 2005, two months before their planned wedding.

She used the platform of ‘The Queen Latifah Show ‘ last December to announce her engagement to Witherspoon. "He put a ring on it," she said at the time, adding: "It's been a while. We've kept it very, very low -- for years, to be completely honest."

It’s a particularly busy time for Rowland. Almost a year after the release of her album ‘Talk a Good Game’, she has been back in the studio working on her follow-up LP, Billboard.com reports. Pharrell Williams is among the collaborators committed to work on what will be her fifth album.

"I'm at the very beginning stages of the record. We're at the point now where we are all talking

"fuel cell," which is found in many race cars and stops the fuel from igniting in the event of a crash.

The lawsuit also contends that a failure in the car's suspension system forced it to careen out of control and strike three trees while driving down a street in Santa Clarita, Calif.

"The Carrera GT was unsafe for its intended use by reason of defects in its manufacture, design, testing, component and

constituents, so that it would not safely serve its purpose," states the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages from Porsche Cars North America.

Kristine Rodas' attorney, Mark Geragos, stated that the investigators he hired to evaluate the wreckage and the scene refuted the claim that it was speeding at 94 mph at the time of the collision.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol released the results of their inquiry in March, concluding that it was speed rather than mechanics that caused the accident. However, engineers from Porsche aided the investigation and evaluation of the wreckage.

Roger Rodas was trained as a race car driver, according to the lawsuit. His widow is claiming negligence, wrongful death and product liability, and demands a jury trial.

Walker was filming ‘Fast & Furious 7’ at the time of his death, and Universal is now enlisting the help of his brothers, Cody and Caleb Walker, to finish some of the action scenes. The film, also staring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, is slated for release April 10, 2015.

Kelly Rowland

Paul walker

-- writers [and] producers -- we're all excited. There are fresh ideas coming into the studio right now.

We're trying different beats," Rowland told Billboard. "It's a really great start."

She’s also due to appear on the Pepsi-curated "Beats of the Beautiful Game" project, which will be released June 10 to celebrate the World Cup.

Noomi Rapace to star opposite Will Smith in 'Brilliance'

N

oomi Rapace is in negotiations to join Will Smith in ‘Brilliance’, the adaptation of the Marcus Sakeynovel being made by Legendary Entertainment.

Julius Onahis directing the project, which has a script by David Koepp. Joe Roth, Thomas Tull, and Jon Jashnialso producing.

The book took place in a world where a minority set of people are born with extraordinary abilities and are called "brilliants." A panic sets in among the human majority, bringing the world to a civil war, which is exactly what a nefarious faction wants.

Smith is playing a federal

agent, a brilliant with great hunting gifts who is drafted to hunt down a terrorist, another such brilliant who intends to start the civil war.

Rapace will play a tattooed and pierced brilliant that is identified as a terrorist by the government.

Universal will release the feature project, which is aiming for a summer start.

Rapace made a name for herself as the tough and tattooed hacker LisbethSalander in the Scandinavian ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ movies. She was last seen in ‘Dead Man Down’ with Colin Farrell and has the crime thriller Child 44, with Tom Hardy and Joel Kinnaman, in the can.

Noomi Rapace and Will Smith

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 33

Weekend Revue Idris Elba to voice 'Enchanted Kingdom'

I

dris Elba will lend his voice to Enchanted Kingdom, the BBC Earth Films and Reliance Entertainment backed 3D nature movie being touted to buyers in Cannes by IM Global, Hollywood Reporter has said.

It added that the movie billed as BBC Earth Films could take the viewer to the wildest place on earth – Africa.

Enchanted Kingdom co-director Neil Nightingale (Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie) and

Patrick Morris (TV’s Life) wrote the narration with acclaimed screenwriter, novelist and playwright Nigel Williams.

Nightingale said: "You’ll tumble down trees, be swept along rivers and plunged over waterfalls.

Enchanted Kingdom is what 3D was made for an entirely different kind of nature film, more immersive than anything audiences will have experienced before."

Filmmaker, Mike Newellis the executive producer, and the music is by composer Patrick Doyle

(Brave).

The film is a BBC Earth Films production fully financed by Reliance Entertainment in association with IM Global and Evergreen Studios and produced by Myles Connolly, Amanda Hill andNightingale, with Deepak Nayar, Stuart Ford, Marcus Arthur,Newell, Mike Devlin and Miles Ketley on board as executive producers, along with co-executive producers Martyn Freeman and Mike Gunton.

My marriage is still intact, we only have challenges – Jennifer Eliogu

J

ennifer Eliogu is one of the growing numbers of Nollywood stars who are engaged in inter-continental marriages. The wellendowed actress, who has since returned to Nigeria after the rumour of her broken marriage, recently denied such reports.

She said her marriage is still intact and that they were just faing normal challenges being faced by other couples.

Hear her, “My husband is based in Switzerland, and after some years there, we reached the painful but practical decision that I should move back to Nigeria to continue my career in acting. I do not have

problems with an inter-continental marriage, but in my own case, I did not want to be a full time house wife. My husband is very comfortable with my decision, and it has not affected our marriage in any way.

Yes, as with most marriages, we have had our fair share of challenges, but overall, my husband is the best man I could ever aspire to have and seven years after we got married, the flame of passion remains the same.”

And on the rumour that her marriage has crashed, she said, “It is not true. We are still married, but I have already told you we have challenges and we are working around those challenges

Idris Elba

I just want to be famous in music industry —Orezi

T

alented Nigerian musician, Orezi has said that he is in the industry to be famous and not to be a career musician.

Orezi, who is a graduate of Urban and Regional planning from the University of Lagos, stated in an interview that he is only trying to be famous

because he thinks it will help him in future.

The Isoko, Delta state born artiste, added that if he has up to three albums, he will switch to music production and promotion.

Meanwhile, the artiste who just released a new single titled ‘Shoki,’ is working on the concept of the video, which he hopes to make global.

Miss Global Nigeria first runner-up in Italy for Miss Progress beauty contest

A

ntai Victoria, who emerged the first runner-up to the reigning queen Miss Global Nigeria 2014 Queen, Miss Michelle IjehUdoka, is currently in Puglia, Italy for the Miss Progress International Beauty competition.

Victoria is in Italy with her Chapron, Faith Irabor.

The beauty pageant, which aims at bringing together paragon of beauty queens from diverse cultures spanning five continents, started on the 9th- of this month and will end on Sunday, 18th, in the ancient town of Puglia.

With its goal of making the world a better place to live in, the contestants for the Miss Progress

International title will be grouped for intelligent quotient test via an essay writing in form of a project dwelling on Health, Human Rights, Cultural Integration and Environment issues.

The winner of the beauty contest will go home with 10,000 Euros

I can dance unclad only for charity – Project Fame 2008 star

T

Jennifer Eliogu

hird runner-up winner of Project Fame West Africa 2008 edition, Annette Cookey, despite expressing her love for music, disclosed that she could perform unclad only if it is for charity.

The Rivers state born singer stated that though she dislikes people going unclothed in music videos, but could only do that to save a live.

“Why will I go nude in a music video?Except it’s for charity or to save lives. I don’t think I can go n^de. It’s a ‘No’! for me. I can show a little flesh here and there but go n^de? It has to be for a just cause, may be for saving lives,” the pretty lady said.

The former talent hunt show contestant added that her journey into music has been quite interesting, though not necessarily a smooth ride, but that she has been able to meet a lot of people and contacts.

Annette Cookey

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 34

Feature

By Andrew Walker

E

xactly a year after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared “state of emergency” in north-eastern Nigeria, it seems to have had little effect in curbing the Islamist insurgency.

Attacks by the Boko Haram group that provoked the move included an assault on military barracks, detonating a bomb at a bus station in the northern city of Kano and the kidnap of a French family, including four children, which grabbed the world’s attention.

The declaration would bring “extraordinary measures” to bear against the insurgents in order to “restore normalcy” to the region, the president said.

“The troops have orders to carry out all necessary actions within the ambit of their rules of engagement to put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists,” President Jonathan said.

Now, after 12 months of state of emergency powers being in force, in the past few weeks Boko Haram has attacked several military bases, bombed a busy bus terminal in the capital, Abuja - twice - and launched an audacious kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok which has set the world on edge.

“When they declared it I thought it had to be tried,” says Habeeb Pindiga, editor of Nigeria’s Daily Trust newspaper, “but honestly it has not succeeded.”

In the year leading up to the State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe state, there were 741 civilian death reported, according to data collected by the University of Sussex in the UK. In the 12 months since the figure of civilian causalities has more than tripled to 2,265.

Mr Pindiga says the military has not dealt with big problems it faces.

Because of the military’s human rights record people do not trust them, plus they lack modern equipment, training and motivation.

Attacks in the three states have increased since the emergency rule was brought in last year

Why Nigeria cannot defeat Boko Haram

It is not clear if President Goodluck Jonathan (L) is being given the full picture about the security situation in the country

A UK military officer who has worked closely with the Nigerians says they are stuck in a Catch-22 situation.

“The trouble with the Nigerian government is that they want a big red button, which you can press and it will fix everything,” says James Hall, a retired colonel and former UK military attache to Nigeria.

“I was asked by a senior commander if we could sell them the machine that can tell if a car driving down the road contains a terrorist,” he added.

“I tried to tell them that such a machine doesn’t exist, but then they just thought we were hiding it from them.”

The UK is very wary in giving training assistance, and sales of better equipment are also problematic, he says.

“We have reduced dramatically the types of training and equipment we’re willing to provide.”

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both criticised the Nigerian military for their tactics.

Amnesty reported that some 600 people were killed

Civilians do not trust the security forces deployed to the Northeast

Are Nigerian soldiers tired?

by the military after an attack on Maiduguri’s Giwa barracks in March.

The sale of lethal weapons to Nigeria is prohibited by UK law because of such concerns.

“Without the training, they won’t be able to get the equipment, and we aren’t giving them the training either,” Mr Hall said.

Although Nigeria’s military has enjoyed a good reputation internationally because of its involvement in several

“

peacekeeping missions in Africa, it has not quite escaped the legacy of its past.

“What they say about former military regimes is true,” Mr Hall said.

“They cripple their militaries so that there can’t be further coups.”

The Nigerian military rejects such criticism. Speaking to the press on 7 May in Abuja, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye told journalists that the military were doing what they

“Without the training, they won’t be able to get the equipment, and we aren’t giving them the training either,” Mr Hall said.

could to stop the insurgency.

“Prosecuting large-scale counter-insurgency operations as well as numerous other operations in aid of civil authority in virtually every state of the federation has put pressure on the personnel and resources of the army,” he said.

In a bid to improve morale, he was announcing soldiers’ salaries would be paid to their families after their death for longer than currently allowed.

Payments usually stop a regulation three months after a soldier is killed, it was reported.

But observers say that there are other factors at work beyond just military capacity.

“There’s a lack of trust all across the board, politically,” says Ledum Mitee, a former activist from the oil-rich southern Niger Delta. He has followed closely the career of President Jonathan, who is also from the Niger Delta.

At the moment, the political leadership of the three states in the north-east are aligned with the opposition All Progressive’s Congress ( APC).

“People around the president, his closest allies, all tell him this Boko Haram is manufactured by the northerners to play politics,” Mr Mitee says.

“This leads him to distance himself from the whole affair.”

Military commanders on the ground also have to play politics, he said.

“If they give the impression it is a very bad situation, they risk being branded incompetent, so they give a less bad picture to their bosses.”

The n whe n crisis erupts no-one is able to deal with it effectively because it is so confused, Mr Mitee said.

It is international pressure over the girls from Chibok that has forced the government to change.

It has allowed advisers from China, France, Israel the UK and the US to help its forces.

But their presence is likely to be limited to assisting the search for the kidnapped girls, and will not include a general role in improving the Nigerian military’s capacity.

Even if they could, the job would be too big, Mr Hall thinks.

“It would take years of total engagement, training group after group to have any effect,” he says.

“And no-one is really prepared to commit to that.”

BBC Africa

Feature

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 35

Reforming criminal justice system in Osun

By Victor Adeoti

L

egal experts argue that an effective criminal justice system is central to the sustenance of law and order in the society.

A criminal justice system is a set of legal and social institutions established for enforcing the criminal law, in accordance with a defined set of procedural rules and limitations.

The importance of a criminal justice system notwithstanding, observers note that criminal trials are often delayed, particularly where the defendants are able to hire lawyers who could exploit the weaknesses in the system.

In the light of such observations, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organised a workshop in Osogbo recently for stakeholders in the legal profession.

The workshop was designed to expose the participants to pragmatic ways of developing a strategic approach to ensure effective justice delivery system in Osun State.

Organised in conjunction with the European Union (EU), the workshop deliberated on the necessary means of enhancing good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

The workshop, which has ``An Action Plan For Justice Sector Reform in Osun’’ as its theme, examined methods of effective coordination and cooperation among justice sector institutions within an enhanced legal and policy framework.

Mr Edwin Berry, the Deputy Coordinator of UNDOC, said that UNDOC was the UN agency entrusted with the mandate to assist member states in their efforts to tackle corruption, illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.

He said that UNDOC was also providing technical assistance in the area of justice sector reform globally, adding that it had built up a knowledge base of successful practices.

He said that Osun was important in the area of judicial reform, having set a remarkable example as being the only state in Nigeria that already had a reform plan developed by the government.

Berry said that the workshop would as well strengthen capabilities and operational structures in the justice sector to increase access to justice and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam “Given this experience, the EU and the government of Nigeria have entrusted UNDOC with the responsibility of implementing a justice sector support programme and a campaign against drugs, organised crime and anticorruption.

“The justice sector support programme is being implemented at the federal level and in some pilot states such as Rivers, Imo, Osun, Katsina, Lagos and the FCT,’’ he said.

Expressing the support of the state government for the programme, Mr Wale Afolabi, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun, said that the government was passionate about reforming

“

the criminal justice system in the state.

He pledged that government would ensure speedy acceleration of justice, while improving the welfare of judges and magistrates in the state.

Afolabi said that the state government would construct two new prisons as part of efforts to enhance access to justice, adding that the government recently employed 19 magistrates to facilitate speedy dispensation of justice.

According to him, the prisons will be located in Osogbo and Iwo Local Government Areas to decongest the two main prisons in Ilesa and Ile-Ife, which were established over 30 years ago.

“By the time these prisons

He noted that the government had revived the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Department as well as mediation centres to enable indigent people to have access to justice via alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesoare ready; they will decongest the main prisons, make transportation of suspects to the court faster and easier, while improving on our criminal justice system.

“This present administration inherited 18 magistrates but we discovered they were not enough and we employed additional 19 magistrates to ensure speedy dispensation of justice,’’ he said.

The attorney-general said that 17 lawyers were also recruited as public prosecutors for efficient prosecution of criminal cases.

Besides, Afolabi said that the Osun House of Assembly was reviewing existing laws in the state to ensure that they conformed to the present realities.

He noted that the government had revived the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Department as well as mediation centres to enable indigent people to have access to justice via alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

“We discovered that many people are very poor in the state and cannot employ the services of a lawyer to handle their cases.

“And as a result of this, when the present administration came into power, the Department of Public Defender and Citizen Rights in the Ministry of Justice was revived to help the citizens.

“Lawyers in the mediation centres are government employees and they render their services free of charge,’’ he said.

Commenting on the workshop, Justice Oyebola Ojo, the Chief Judge

of Osun State, said that the workshop was essential, as part of efforts to carry out occasional review of strategies in the dispensation of justice.

She said that the workshop would also be useful in efforts to conduct the internal and external assessment of personnel and tools available to the judiciary for optimum service delivery.

Represented by Justice Jide Falola, Ojo said that the workshop would also expose the participants to modern techniques to sharpen their skills and motivate them.

She, however, noted that the judiciary was not funded properly as one of the three arms of government.

She commended the Osun Government for providing an atmosphere that was conducive to the work of the judiciary and lauded UNDOC for making Osun one of its seven focal states.

Appraising plans for the reform, Mr Ibrahim Lawal, Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Legal Matters, said that appreciable progress had been recorded in efforts to reform the justice delivery system.

Lawal conveyed t h e government’s determination to reform the criminal justice system in the state.

He said that government was also striving to ensure speedy dispensation of justice, while improving the welfare package for judges and magistrates in the state.

Observers, nonetheless, underscore the need for a more aggressive justice sector reform in the country, so as to improve the criminal justice delivery system. (NAN)

PAGE 36

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Digest

Could yoga cure incontinence? yoga’s emphasis on meditation and relaxation.

But, regular practice of yoga may also help women strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor that support the bladder and protect against incontinence.

‘We thought this would be a good opportunity for women to use yoga to become more aware of, and have more control over, their pelvic floor muscles,’ Dr Huang said.

Approximately 25 million adults in America suffer from some form of urinary incontinence, according to the National Association for Continence.

Up to 80 per cent of them are women. Urinary incontinence becomes more common as women age, although many younger women also suffer from it.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Yoga can help women who suffer from urinary incontinence, new research suggests (file picture)

Y

oga could help women who suffer from urinary incontinence, new research suggests.

It can improve pelvic health and help women gain more control over their bladders.

U.S. researchers found it can also prevent accidental urine leakage.

‘Yoga is often directed at mindful awareness, increasing relaxation, and relieving anxiety and stress,’ said first author Alison Huang, assistant professor in the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.

‘For these reasons, yoga has

been directed at a variety of other conditions - metabolic syndrome or pain syndromes - but there’s also a reason to think that it could help for incontinence as well.’

The researchers recruited 20 women who were 40 years old and older and who suffered urinary incontinence on a daily basis.

Half were randomly assigned to take part in a six week yoga therapy programme and the other half were not.

The women who took part in the yoga programme experienced an overall 70 per cent reduction in the frequency of their urine leakage.

The group that did not start yoga therapy only had a 13 per cent improvement.

Most of the observed improvement in incontinence was in stress incontinence, or urine leakage brought on by activities that increase abdominal pressure such as coughing, sneezing, and bending over.

The researchers believe yoga can improve urinary incontinence through more than one mechanism.

Because incontinence is associated with anxiety and depression, women suffering from incontinence may benefit from

study’s senior author and director of the intensive care unit at Qingdao Municipal Hospital, China.

‘In particular, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is highly recommended because it meets micronutrient and macronutrient and fibre requirements without adding substantially to overall energy requirements.’

The studies demonstrated that high fruit and vegetable consumption can lower blood pressure – high blood pressure is a major cause of strokes - and improve microvascular function.

This diet also has favourable effects on body mass index, waist circumference, cholesterol and inflammation, the study said.

The beneficial effects of fruits and vegetables applied consistently to men and women of all ages.

The NHS recommends eating five 80g portions of fruit and veg daily.

Yoga can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles making women better able to control their bladders (file picture)

Eating just two and a half portions of fruit and veg a day cuts stroke risk by a third

M

unching just two and a half portions of fruit and vegetables daily may significantly reduce the risk of stroke, new research claims.

Stroke risk decreases by 32 per cent with every 200 grams of fruit consumed each day and 11 per cent with every 200 grams of vegetables consumed each day, according to a study.

The conclusion came from analysis of 20 studies about the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on risk of stroke published over the past 19 years.

The Stroke Association says that failing any of these tests means it’s a medical emergency and it’s time to call 999.

‘Improving diet and lifestyle is critical for heart and stroke risk reduction in the general population,’ said Yan Qu, the

The researchers combined the results of six studies from the U.S, eight from Europe and

Food for thought: Stroke risk decreases by 32 per cent with every 200 grams of fruit consumed each day and 11 per cent with every 200 grams of vegetables consumed each day

six from China and Japan. They noted that low fruit and vegetable consumption is prevalent worldwide, and especially in low and middle-income countries.

Over 150,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK and it is the third largest cause of death, with heart disease and cancer being the most deadly conditions, according to the NHS. Strokes are the largest cause of adult disability in the UK, as they can starve the brain of oxygen, leading to permanent damage.

Eighty per cent of strokes are the ischaemic variety, where blood supply is curtailed by a blood clot.

The other type is haemorrhagic, where a blood vessel connected to the brain bursts Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 37

ITF sharpens INEC staff skills on report writing From Umar Dankano, Yola

I

n an effort to encourage professionalism and efficiency, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has embarked on a sensitization drive to sharpen the skills of INEC staff on effective report writing.

The Director-General of the Fund, Prof. Longmas Sambo, made the pledge in Yola while declaring a three-day workshop

for electoral officers open yesterday.

Sambo said the workshop was aimed at improving the knowledge, skills and attitude of the trainees in report gathering and writing, especially during elections.

Represented by Alhaji Jibrin Bukar, the Yola Area Manager of the Fund, Sambo said that the workshop was coming ahead of the 2015 general elections.

“The training is aimed to improve knowledge, attitude and skills of the Assistant Electoral Officers who are working in administration department in 21 local government areas in the state.

“And the main objective is to enhance their writing ability, communication and demonstration of positive attitude while on election duty,” Sambo said.

Mr Kasim Gaidam, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, said that the training would be a continuous exercise aimed at building working capacity of the staff for effective service delivery. “`The ongoing effective report writing workshop is designed to equip the staff with latest method of data collection and reporting.

“It is also a step forward for the successful conduct of

the forthcoming 2015 general elections,” Gaidam said.

Gaidam, who was represented

by Malam Ibrahim Fika, Head of General Administration and Procurement, said that INEC office in the state had organised and sponsored several training for its staff.

He said that more than 30 officers from 21 local government areas and the state headquarters were among the participants.

2015: PDP intact in Sokoto, says Sen Maccido From Raji Bello, Sokoto

A

chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator representing Sokoto Central in the National Assembly, Senator Ahmed Maccido, has described the party as intact and united ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He also urged the party members to remain steadfast and hold on to the PDP, saying the party is strategizing towards ensuring success at all levels in the 2015 elections.

Maccido who spoke shortly after receiving his new membership card of the party described the PDP’s chances as bright considering what he noted as the massive turn-out of the party members across the state and Nigeria.

He noted the ongoing registration exercise of the party members as another milestone for the PDP. Maccido expressed confidence that PDP will take over Sokoto state in 2015. “PDP had been in charge in Sokoto state and this will be restored in 2015.”

Also, speaking against the backdrop of speculations that the incumbent governor of Sokoto state may run for senatorial seat come 2015 general election, he retorted that he cannot be intimidated by him.

His words: “We are bound to be on collision course because we are no longer in the same party; he is in the APC and I am in the PDP. If I am called to serve, I am going to go for that seat again under PDP. “I will not in any way be intimated; I know my position with my people, my senatorial district. I have been with them for the past eight years and I know my capacity. I am very much optimistic that I am going to win if I am called to serve,” he said.

L-R: Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, APGA National Women Leader, Hajiya Zainab Abdullahi, representative of PDP Youth Leader, Musa Suleiman, Deputy National Secretary, Labour Party, Alhaji Salizu Mohammed, and the Guest Speaker, Dr. Irene Pogoson, during. Nigeria Political Parties Discussion Series, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Excitement as PASAN holds annual week

By Lawrence Olaoye

M

embers of staff of the National Assembly under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff in the National Assembly (PASAN) were yesterday thrown into the mood of excitement as they commence their annual celebration laced with some educational, entertainment as well

as welfare issues.

The event tagged ‘2014 Pasan Maiden Week’ is of the theme “Sustainability, Efficiency and Effectiveness as pre-requisite for a healthy and robust Legislature.”

Chairman of National Assembly chapter of PASAN, Comrade Bawa Mohammed, told newsmen in Abuja that the one week event scheduled to hold between

Monday, May 19th and May 23rd, 2014 is being put together with a view to re-inventing, reinvigorating and re-directing the activities of Parliamentary workers in the National Assembly to achieve maximum efficiency and welfare.

“The events will have series of educational and information activities regarding health related issues, work ethics and

expectations from employees.

Similarly, there shall be a novelty football match between NASS and NASC,” he disclosed.

Mohammed further explained that the highpoints of the event would be a gala night, presentation and launch of a book on the President of the Senate, David Mark and Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa.

Kano LG Poll: Kano Emirate Council warns residents against violence From Edwin Olofu, Kano

K

ano State Emirate Council has warned the general public to shun any form of violence ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the emirate council in a news conference in his office yesterday, Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, implored residents to be law abiding during the exercise.

He called on the security agencies, district heads, politicians and other stakeholders to caution youth against engaging in violent acts during the forthcoming elections in the state.

“I hereby call on the security agencies, district heads and politicians to caution the youth against causing violence in our dear state during the forthcoming election. They should caution the youth against inflicting injuries on others, burning public buildings

and other forms of violence.”

“This is a great issue that needs us to be cautious against any form of violence. We should live peacefully with one another because no religion preaches violence. Therefore, I wish to tell you that the emirate council is standing firmly to take strict measures for the hitch-free elections.” He added.

He finally called on the general public to conduct special prayers on Friday at mosques, schools and

other places of worships.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on the general public to conduct special prayers on Friday at mosques, schools and other places of worships. I also pray for the peaceful local government elections in the state,” he said.

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), has fixed Saturday, 17th May, 2014, to conduct the Local Government Elections across the 44 Local Government Councils of the state.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 38

Politics

PDP group launches socio-political movement in Kwara

L-R: Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, condoling with Chairman, of Gujba Local Government Area, Alhaji Kyari Batarama over the death of his elder brother, Alhaji Ngari Batarama, yesterday in Damaturu.

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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2015: INEC directs politicians to remove campaign billboards in Nasarawa From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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cting on orders from its national headquarters, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Nasarawa state, has directed politicians to remove all campaign bill boards in respect of the 2015 general election.

State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Ahmed Makama, gave the directive yesterday while delivering a speech during a stakeholder’s forum in Lafia.

He said the Commission had observed with dismay that politicians were flouting the electoral law which stipulated that

campaign should not commence until 90 days before the election, stressing that the unwholesome attitude by politicians was against the rule of the game and should be discontinued.

“At the moment, the streets across the entire state are already strewn with billboards of political gladiators seeking elective positions in 2015,” Makama said.

“Rather than campaign now, politicians should be consulting privately with their constituents ahead of the 90 days allowed prior to election, “ Makama added.

The REC also disclosed that the Commission would soon commence the issuance of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in the state, adding

that the exercise would take place across all the 1, 495 polling units in the state.

According to him, voters would be required to present their temporary voters’ cards in exchange for the PVC, adding that there would be no collection by proxy as all voters must be physically present while in the case of loss of the temporary card, the voter would need to present an affidavit as well as fill a form with a passport photograph attached.

Makama also said the Commission would soon embark on continuous voters’ registration for those who had turned 18 years after the last voters registration exercise, pointing out that the continuous voter registration would

be done at the wards rather than the polling units and charged political parties to educate their members appropriately.

In a remark, the state Commissioner of Police, Idris Ibrahim charged the political parties to comply with the electoral laws and pull down all campaign billboards and posters immediately. “ The Police would henceforth, arrest and prosecute anyone found erecting billboards with regards to the 2015 general election in violation of the electoral law,” Ibrahim threatened.

He urged politicians to play be the rule in order not to further aggravate the security challenges facing the country.

Speaker’s conference elects new exco

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peaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Samuel Ikon, yesterday emerged as the new Chairman of The Conference of State Legislatures of Nigeria (CSLN).

Ikon garnered 15 votes to defeat his Ekiti State counterpart, Adewale Omirin, who did not score any vote.

Speakers from 15 states took part in the election.

The meeting also elected a Deputy chairman, Financial Secretary, Treasurer and six Zonal Vice chairmen of the association.

Speaking to newsmen, after he was declared winner, Ikon promised to work closely with the National Assembly to ensure the attainment of financial autonomy for state legislatures.

He said the new exco would come up with programmes that would promote inter-parliamentary solidarity and best practices with a view to deepening democratic culture among legislators.

The new CSLN boss pledged to enhance harmonious relationship

between the executive and the legislature and foster healthy cooperation among state lawmakers. `` My administration will initiate programmes that would facilitate understanding of lawmaking powers of the legislature such as retreat and publication of educative materials on the working of the parliament, Ikon said.

Earlier, the Speaker, Borno Assembly, Alhaji Abdulkarim Lawan, said the conference would assist the Federal Government to find lasting

solution to the current security challenge facing the country.

Lawan, the newly elected Deputy Chairman of the Conference, expressed the concern of the conference over the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno.

The lawmaker commended the international community for their support to the Federal Government in the fight against the menace of insurgency in the North-East. (NAN)

group, under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter, has lunched Orange Revolution Movement (ORM) for the political progress among the people of the state.

While lunching the movement at Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun local government area of the state, a chieftain of PDP in the state, Rev Bunmi Olusona said the lunching marks another milestone in the socio-political struggle of the state.

Olusona said “for too long, docility has defined the political landscape of Kwara and the so-called leaders have cashed in on this to not just mismanage public funds but continue to paint a rosy picture of events. Right in our presence, assets built with public funds are brazenly tagged private concerns.

“University graduates are offered N5,000-monthly jobs.

Public works for which billions of naira were borrowed or appropriated are never done. Women and even men purportedly employed are never paid at the end of the month.”

Olusona alleged that government is being run like a cult, with officials fearing they could be fired - unable to question decisions clearly at variance with public good.

“In Kwara, government is run to promote an individual’s ego; here, governance is run in manners injurious to our people’s inalienable right to seek to attain any height without having to be at the mercy of any political cult.

“Because history has never been kind to laid-back citizens who watched while their community is plundered, we have today decided to launch what we call the Orange Revolution Movement,” he said.

Olusona, a former chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state explained that the Orange Movement will promote conscience ideal of what governance are all about stressing that everyone would have a sense of belonging.

He added that the Movement will advocate for and insist on good governance stressing that it will seek a credible and peaceful change in Kwara through all democratic means.

Oba of Lagos endorses Lagos APC governorship aspirant

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ba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, says Mr Akinwumi Ambode, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member eyeing the Lagos Oval House, is a suitable successor to Gov. Babatunde Fashola.

Akiolu spoke on Thursday at the launch of a book on the Biography of Ambode, ``The Art of Selfless Service,’’ written by Maria Osoba.

The book tells the story of

Ambode and the need to leave a legacy that people can learn from.

At the event, Akiolu urged other governorship aspirants of the APC in the state to give Ambode a chance. ``When the APC leader, Bola Tinubu, chose Gov. Babatunde Fashola in 2007 to succeed him, it was met with stiff opposition but today Tinubu has been justified. ``We see a similar character like

Governor Fashola in Ambode,’’ the Oba said.

Akiolu said that all other aspirants of the party were great but God and the elders had chosen Ambode. ``The APC can go ahead with their primaries but the elders of the state have met and agreed that Ambode should be the next governor of Lagos,’’Akiolu said.

In his speech, Ambode said that

he was guided in life by the lessons he learnt from his father to be selfless. ``Today, I have a Lagos dream that we can share together,’’ he said.

Ambode, who worked in the Lagos State Public Service for 27 years, said he was properly mentored

by Tinubu and Fashola.

He was Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office, Ministry of Finance when he retired in August

2012.

According to the book, Ambode was born at Epe General Hospital, Epe in Lagos State on June 14, 1963 as the sixth child in a family of 10 children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book chronicles the challenging times that he went through and which shaped his life.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PAGE 39

News Extra

NYSC to deploy corps members to oil companies, banks, says D-G

By Albert Akota

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he Director-General (DG), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has said the corps was working on modalities to post NYSC members to oil companies, banks and the telecommunications industry.

Olawumi made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday, during a presentation before the National Conference Committee on Civil Society, Labour, Youth and Sports.

He said NYSC was looking beyond deploying corps members

to health, education, agriculture and rural development, which were the four key areas of their deployment.

According to him, the corps discovered that vacancies that exist in the four key areas cannot accommodate the number of corps members being posted to the areas.

The Director-General said the corps would evolve measures to check the abuse of corps members by some organisations.

He decried that some banks in the past used and dumped corps members, adding that, in view of that, stringent measures

would be put in place to protect them.

Olawumi said that skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme was already in place in states to train and empower members.

He said there were evidences to show that many corps members had started benefiting from the programme.

The NYSC boss said the scheme had assisted corps members to become job-creators rather than becoming jobseekers after the one year service.

He added that the corps was working to ensure that a

Youth Empowerment Fund was established, to enable corps members to assess interest-free loans, whereby they would be required to provide their NYSC discharge letter only.

On deployment of corps members to Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, Olawumi said there was a policy not to deploy members to those states.He said the policy would remain effective until the crisis in those states was brought under control.

He, however, said the NYSC would deploy corps members who requested to be posted to the states.

L-R: National President, Physically Challenged Persons, Comrade Abdul Nasir Argungu, Chairman of PDP in Adamawa state, Chief Joel Madaki, Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Chairperson, House Committee on Constituency Outreach, Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani), and her husband, a former Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo, during the distribution of 30 tricycles to physically challenged persons

by Hajiya Aishatu, on Monday in Yola.

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hairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and Governor of Niger state, Dr.Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has suggested that any agreement to be reached with the International Community offering to render assistance to Nigeria in the fight against insurgency should not exceed From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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he Kebbi state Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Sani Elder Kanya has assured the people of the state that the present administration, under the able leadership of Governor Sa’idu Usman Dakingari, is committed to transforming the state into ‘the best among the best’ in the country.

He stated this yesterday at Government House Birnin Kebbi, while addressing newsmen, shortly after the State Executive Council Meeting (Exco), adding that the state

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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hairperson of the Northern Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) and wife of the Benue state governor, Yemisi Suswam, has disclosed that the forum and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency(PHCD),will organise its first joint polio awareness campaign in July.

Mrs. Suswam said the goal of the forum is to pursue issues affecting women and children with greater enthusiasm, adding that polio and other child killer-diseases will soon become a thing of the past in northern Nigeria.

She said the forum’s almanac for this year captures the girl child education, which has recorded some setbacks in its awareness campaign with the abduction of over 200 school girls in Borno state.

She said the abduction of the schoolgirls will however not deter the effort of the first ladies, but will encourage them to intensify the campaign and encourage parents.

The meeting was attended by the first ladies of Gombe, Kogi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Taraba and, Nasarawa states.

Abducted schoolgirls: Katsina first Lady leads special prayer

Boko Haram: ‘FG’s agreement with int’l community shouldn’t exceed 3 months’ From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Polio: Northern govs wives’ forum, agency to host joint campaign in July

three months.

Aliyu also said that the country should be very careful in the crafting of the wordings of the agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be entered into with the international communities.

Governor Aliyu, who spoke in Minna, on Wednesday, after five new Commissioners and Head of Service took their Oath of Office and

Oath of allegiance at Government House,said Nigerians are already apprehensive of the outcome of the support to be given by these countries, necessitating the call for the Federal Government to be extra-careful.

While saying that it is a normal thing for the country to seek assistance in the fight against insurgency, Governor Aliyu declared that ‘people are

apprehensive; we must be careful of the wordings of the agreement and the MoU to be signed’.

He regretted that a nation that has been seen ‘as a peace keeper’ now needs the assistance of the international community to maintain peace within its territory, advising that Nigerians should rally round the Federal Government to ensure peace returned to all parts of the country.

Dakingari committed to transforming Kebbi, awards more contracts – info commissioner council has approved some projects that has direct bearing and would be useful to the communities and the state at large.

Given the break-down of the projects, the commissioner said that the contracts considered for award by the state Tender’s Board, such as the construction of Police Secondary School at Dakingari, would be awarded to Iconic Perfection Ltd,at

the cost of N546, 010,080;also, the provision of 7solar-powered water supply schemes, while provision of six solar boreholes at Fakai, Suru and Bunza local government areas.

Others are electrification of power supply to Tungar Bori, Kalkami Tsamiya, Bukuni/Falo and Binuwa, all in Shonga local government area of the state, at the cost of N159, 313,303.

He also said the extension of electricity supply to Unguwar Malami Argungu Kara-East would also be awarded to U.B.J Nigeria Ltd, at the cost of N34, 138,387 and the complete renovation and provision of a new 3-bedroom flat for the Governor’s Lodge,Zuru as well as the construction of KebbiState Polytechnic,Dakingari’s outstanding works, at the cost of N609, 123,307.45.

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he Katsina state governor’s wife, Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim Shehu Shema on Wednesday organised a special prayer session for the quick and safe rescue of the over 200 girls abducted from Chibok in Borno state.

Presiding over the prayer session, Hajiya Shema said that she decided to organise the prayer session as, according to her, ‘it is only prayer that can solve this problem, not embarking on protest’.

The first lady similarly stressed that Islam did not prohibit girls from seeking both religious and western education, calling on parents and all stakeholders to join hands in promoting girl-child education in the country.

Hajiya Shema also admonished parents to take proper interest in training their children as, according to her, “You need to show interest in the moral training of your children. You can’t just leave them at the mercy of the society”.

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

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News Extra

Chibok: Fact-finding committee says terrorism must end now

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, has said that the time has come to put an end to the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Nigeria.

He was speaking at a closeddoor meeting by the Presidential Fact-Finding Committee on the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, on Wednesday, in Abuja.

A statement by the spokesperson of the committee, Kingsley Osadolor, saidthe meeting was held by the members of the committee, led by its Chairman, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), Nigeria’s Defense Minister,Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau Mohammed (rtd) and the InspectorGeneral ofPolice, among others.

The Minister of Defense, LtGen. Aliyu Gusau Mohammed (rtd), describedas unfortunate the mass kidnap of the schoolgirls, adding that theactivities of the group should have been dealt with a long time ago.

The Minister made useful suggestions, for which the Committee Chairman expressed gratitude.

VIOs make case for inclusion as members of state, LGs security council From Umar Dankano, Yola

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he states and local government areas have been called upon to include Road Traffic Officers (VIOs) as part of their security council across the country, with a view to address vehicular worthiness on our roads.

The North-East Coordinator of Conference of Directors/Chief Road Traffic Officer (VIO), Mr. Williams Martins Joko, made the call on Wednesday, at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop for members of the conference, Joko also called for the inclusion of VIO officials as members of Joint Tax Board (JTB), in view of transport sector position in the generation of revenue.

He explained that based on the fact that vehicles were being used for the perpetration of crime, there was need for road traffic officials like VIO to be part of Security Council meetings in states and Local Governments.

Earlier in his speech, the Adamawa state Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Yakubu Ma’aji, lauded the conference for organizing it’s meeting for the first time in Adamawa and assured it of the support of the state government to improve the transport sector.

Abducted girls: PDP women leader dies as LG boss’ wife escapes death From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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ragedy struck in Katsina, on Wednesday, as Danja local government PDP Women Leader, Hajiya Maimuna died in an accident involving the wife of the local council chairman, while on their way to a special prayer session for the abducted Chibok girls.

The death of the PDP women

leader and the involvement of Danja Local government chairman’s wife in the accident was announced at the special prayer session organised for the quick rescue of the abducted girls.

The wife of the state governor, Hajiya Fatima Shema expressed shock over the death of the women leader and the injuries sustained by the chairman’s wife during the accident and pray for the reposed of the dead.

Our correspondent gathered that the accident occurred along TsigaMararraban-Kankara road, where the deceased died on the spot, while the chairman’s wife and the driver sustained various degrees of injuries.

A source from Danja told our correspondent that the deceased, Hajiya Maimuna has been buried in Danja according to Islamic rites,while the driver of the ill-fated car and the chairman’s wife are in a hospital receiving treatment.

L-R: Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, former Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, and other members, during NLC rally over abducted Chibok school girls, yesterday in Kaduna. Photo: NAN

FCSC boss wants commission to oversee govt parastatals

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he Chairman of Federal Civil Service Commission, (FCSC) Mrs. Joan Ayo has called for the strengthening of the commission to oversee government parastatals agencies in matters of quality control and standard.

Ayo made the call in her presentation to the on-going National Conference Committee on Public Service in Abuja, on Wednesday.

She said that the proliferation of parastatals agencies, with the enabling Acts giving them the power to hire and fire, had bloated thework force, resulting in indiscipline and political

favouritism.

“The commission can cover all federal executive bodies under one umbrella with the mandate to cover issues of staff recruitment, promotion and discipline on the recommendation of their management.

Such function, she said, would not include educational institutions. She identified some of the challenges facing the commission to includelack of autonomy, political interference and poor funding.

Ayo, however, recommended that the Commission be charged on the Consolidated Revenue Fund

(CFR) like the National Judicial Council.

She stressed the need for the Commission to be directly responsible tothe President and have an input into the president’s consideration in the appointment of Heads of Service of the Federation.

“At the moment, the Chairman of the Commission is equivalent to a Minister, but does not attend Federal Executive Council meetings only.

Ayo called for the Commission’s status quo of two tenure in terms ofappointment of members of the Commission. (NAN)

Mixed reactions trail proposed extension of state of emergency in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano, Yola

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ixed reactions trails President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of State of Emergency for another six months in Adamawa state.

Most people who spoke to Peoples Daily in Yola Adamawa State Capital yesterday condemned the proposed extension and urged National Assembly not to grant the request.

The state Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Rev. Phineas Padio, said the request was bad and totally unnecessary, particularly in Adamawa.

“Adamawa is okay and even the Chief of Defense staff, not long ago said the military had succeeded in clearing Boko Haram in Adamawa.

“Why do they want to extend it if not for political reasons?

Adamawa, in the first place, was

included for political reasons”, Padio said.

Habibu Isa and Jonathan Simon, both drivers, also kicked against the extension, saying it was uncalled-for, with the level of security now being enjoyed in the state.

“The problem is not that serious in Adamawa to warrant a state of emergency. If you talk of the recent kidnap in Chibok, that has no link to Adamawa”, Isa said.

I can sacrifice myself for peace in Borno – Shettima

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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n an effort to find the lasting solution to the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state, the state governor, Alh. Kashim Shettima said he could sacrifice himself for peace to rein in the state.

The governor spoke on Wednesday on the Hausa Service of the BBC, monitored in Jos, while fielding questions on his opinion on the proposed extension of the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Shettima said, `` If peace and harmony would be restored in Borno state in lieu of my life, I swear to Allah, I am ever ready to sacrifice myself for that. I have been so much worried about what is happening. My prayer has been that: let there be peace in the state and rescue of the abducted schoolgirls of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok. ``The fallout of Boko Haram insurgency in the state has been the cause of poverty in the state, because most of our people engage in either farming or business in which the insurgency saga has prevented people from going to the farms and market places, `` he added.

Kwankwaso effects minor cabinet reshuffle From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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ano state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, on Wednesday, effected a minor cabinet reshuffle in the state Executive Council.

According to the governor, the state Commissioner for Information, Prof. Umar F. Jibril swapped positions with Danburan Abubakar Nuhu, of the Ministry of Commerce, while Muhammadu Nadu Yahaya of the Ministry of Lands changed positions with the erstwhile Commissioner of Budget, Yusuf Bello Dambatta.

The gove rnor made the disclosure shortly after presiding over the swearing-in of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as the new Commissioner for Agriculture and Ali Ahmad Yako as Commissioner for Higher Education.

Speaking during the ceremony, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Governor Kwankwaso said the new commissioners were appointed on merit, adding that with their political profile and experience, more value would be added to governance in the state.

He explained that they were appointed at a critical time when the state local government elections are about to hold, adding that they must justify the trust reposed in them, by exhibiting the virtues of trustworthiness, hardwork and sacrifice, as promoted by the Kwankwasiyya ideology.

SporT 41 Page

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIday, may 16, 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046, 08036258222, albertakota@yahoo.com

Supreme Court Egwuekwe, Uzoenyi FC: Itodo sets 14 eye World Cup trophy goals target

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he Supreme Court FC supporting attacker, Isaac Itodo says he’s setting fourteen goals target for himself to ensure the team excel at the Nigeria National League (NNL) this season.

Itodo, who has two goals in three match, said he would do everything humanly possible to ensure he adhere strictly to the technical crew instructions, play as a team for the interest of the set target.

“It’s not just a boast; it’s what I believe I can do.

“I want to score 14 goals, but I can go even higher than that.

Right now we are building a new team for premier league next season by God grace, we have quality chief coach and assistants, and the spirit in the team is very high.

“I sincerely thank everybody

in the team for corporation, my parents who are praying for me fervently, my coaches who is giving me the necessary tactics and my manager who is working assiduously for my success, I thank myself after scoring my first goal of the season in the 2-1 defeat against Kwara United last Sunday and another one today (yesterday) against Jigawa Golden Stars.

“After this breakthrough, I am bold to say more goals are coming. At least, I expect to score fourteen goals before the end of the season because we still have fifteen matches to play.

“Surely, these are signs that collectively and individually we are going to do well in the season. On my part I have vowed to keep banging in the goals as my own quota to uplifting this team,” he said.

Ejike Uzoenyi

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Isaac Itodo

he Super Eagles defender Azubike Egwekwe and forward Ejike Uzoenyi are positive that the Super Eagles have what it takes to win the World Cup trophy in Brazil.

Both played important parts in the African Nations Championship bronze-winning campaign last January as well as bit parts in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations victory run and have been included in the provisional list of 30 by Coach Stephen Keshi.

“I don’t know why some people don’t want to believe in this team.

That is how they did not believe in us before we went to the Africa Cup of Nations and we surprised them by winning the Trophy in South Africa last year,” Uzoenyi said.

“I can tell you with full optimism and confidence that we have the wherewithal to win the World

Cup. “The only thing we need is the full support of soccer loving Nigerians and we as players will go all out to put everything we have got to ensure we come back with the trophy.

“We may look like the underdogs in our group as well as in the competition. That will even give us the edge to surprise everybody,” the diminutive attacker who was named best player at CHAN 2014 disclosed.

Lanky defender Egwuekwe also sounded very confident of his team’s ability to weather the storm in Brazil and bring the World Cup title home to Nigeria on July 13.

“The title is open to all the 32 teams that qualified for this competition including the Super Eagles of Nigeria. But I can tell you that with full confidence that we will get to the semi-final of this

competition,” Egwukwe said.

“I sincerely believe that if we get to the last four stages, then to win the trophy will not be very difficult for us. So I believe we can win the World Cup right there in Brazil,” the Warri Wolves captain said.

He also solicited for support from all and sundry to make the dream come true. “This is a Nigeria project, not for the coaches and the players alone. So I am using this medium to solicit for support and prayers from all football loving Nigerians so that we can achieve our ambition of coming back home with the trophy,” he pleaded.

Nigeria will play in Group F alongside Argentina, Iran and debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina.

They will open their campaign against Iran in Curitiba on June 16.

Egypt FA confirms arrival of U-17 team Stories by Albert Akota

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he Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has confirmed that their Under-17 National Team would arrive Abuja on May 26 for a two-match friendly against their Nigerian counterparts-the Golden Eaglets.

In a correspondence with Nigeria

Football Federation (NFF), EFA’s executive manager, Sarwat Swelam, informed that their contingent of 33 persons made up of 25 players and eight officials would touch down at Abuja International Airport aboard Egypt Air Number 877.

While the friendly matches against the Golden Eaglets would take place on May 28 and 30, the Egyptian contingent is due back

in Cairo on May 31.

Thereafter, the Coach Emmanuel Amuneke-tutored Golden Eaglets are also expected in Cairo early July for a two-match friendly against their Egyptian counterparts.

The NFF-organised series of friendly matches is geared towards preparing the Golden Eaglets for their 2015 CAN Un-

der-17 qualifier against the winner of the first round match between Burundi and Congo.

The Golden Eaglets on account of their performance in 2013 as the continent’s second best team and world champions for a record fourth time, were drawn bye into the second round by Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

Page 42

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THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Dominic Ohinosen Ebosetale Chairman 2. Evangelist Mary Richard

Secretary 3. Pastor Mike Ewewie Member 4. Pastor James Udekwe Member 5. Evangelist Anthony Mmaduaburochukwu Onyenusi Member 6. Evangelist Obobhase Ebadamioria

Member 7. Evangelist Jane Ozioma Uyamadu Member THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. Spreading the gospel of Christ worldwide 2. Reaching out to the widows, orphans and the less privileged ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed: Secretary

PLANET HEART FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN EMPOWERMENT AND EVOLUTION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Ilaria Chessa 2.

Elvira Salleras 3.

Peter Odimma Onyia 4.

Suleiman Mohammed Dikwa 5.

Adegoke Odukoya THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To empower children and the youth through a variety of means including (but not exhaustively) arts programs and education scholarships ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Singed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

ISHA WOMEN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

FCDA PUBLIC WORKS LIFE CAMP RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Chukwudi Amadife 2.

Emeka Maluze 3.

Sir Augustine Aniebonam 4.

Cosmas Udeh 5.

Cletus Mgbemena 6.

Felix Okafor THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To foster unity among members ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Singed: Secretary

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Omolade Faseru 2.

Ibrahim Yisa 3.

Jemimah Adesina 4.

Oluwatosin Adeyinka Adesina 5.

Morin Osunmakinde 6.

Daisy Udenyi Yusuf THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To develop robust initiatives that encourage women become more dependent on God and to garner courage to be confident in whom God has made them to be.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Singed: Secretary

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Chris Ikeliani Chairman 2.

Ibrahim Suleiman 3.

Abubakar Koro Muhammad 4.

Graham Zagbayi Nuhu 5.

Musa Abdullahi Soso 6.

Abege Terhemba Secretary 7.

Aliyu Abdulazeez 8. Lois Raphael Kumzhi THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To cater for the welfare of its members ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed: Barr. UJu Peace Mbah

GOD THE PILLAR OF JUSTICE MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Prophet Thaddeus Obinna Ugochukwu 2.

Ishaya William 3.

Ojie Princess Gloria 4.

Gladys Ugochukwu

Chairman Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed: Felix Abiodun & Co. 08065313166

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

EBIRA HOTEL OPERATORS ASSOCIATION

THE OBIELUM FOUNDATION

KARIS TOWERS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Ahmed Haruna Osike Chairman 2.

Akoono A. Ismaila 3.

Yusuf Mohammed Adeiku 4.

Momoh Jimoh Bello 5.

Okehi Ademoh

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Chief Godwill Monday Obielum Chairman 2.

Goodwill Monday Obielum (Jnr) Secretary 3.

Gold Onyemejor Obielum Member 4.

Godfrey Ogugwa Obielum Member 5.

Geofrey Onyemechi Obielum Member

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To foster unity among the Ebira hotelliers

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To provide hope and education for children, youths and the less privileged through building of school and scholarship

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Toje Elohozino President 2.

Victor Imhante Secretary 3.

Mrs. Joyce Ugbosu Megbaje 4.

Mrs. Julie Ozono 5.

Omamuzo Erebe 6.

Degha Frederick Oreva

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Singed: Secretary

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Singed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To cater for the needy in the society ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Singed: Barr. Evelyn Omajuwa

PUBLIC NOTICE

STRONGTOWER BELIEVERS CHAPEL

Great salvationint gospel christian church

LIFETOUCH ASSEMBLY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHAPEL HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the corporate affairs commission abuja for registration under part c of the companies and allied matters act no. 1 Of 1990.

THIS IS NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. NO 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Pastor Martins Adomi-Oghena 2.

Deaconess Juliet Adomi-Oghena 3.

Mr. Peter Magoh THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To deliver those held bondage by the power of the devil 3. To win souls for Christ

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Evang Adebayo Omowumi Pastor AdebayoDamilareAdetomiwa EvangOmotola Adebayo Ayodeji Deaconess Ogunsola Grace

TRUSTEES: 1. REV. DAVID EHI IMABEH-KING - CHAIRMAN 2. MRS. JUDITH OLUWABUNMI IMABEH -KING- VICE CHAIRMAN 3. PASTOR AUSMEN AUSTIN AMIEN -TREASURER 4. DR. RAPHAEL AKAEME - SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To proclaim the gospel

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYIIRONSISTREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyiironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar - General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja, within {28} days of this publication.

Singed: Barr. Louis Udo Itiba; Broadview Solicitors; 08063534609

SINGED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

PILLAR OF FAITH EVANGELISTIC MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL.

I, Formerly mrs. Christiana Alabi now wish to be known as Mrs. Rabi Benjamin, all other documents remain valid, Jigawa police Command, Premium pension and public to take note.

THIS IS NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. NO 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EVANG/PROPHET ELUSANMI ELUWALE SOLOMON (GENERAL OVERSEER) 2. PST/MRS ELUSANMI OMOTOLA REBECCA (mum G.O’) 3. MR AJIBOLA FEMI SAMUEL (ELDER).

4. Mrs Bolanle Sarah Sanusi (SECRETARY).

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To preach the gospel of the Lord.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

-Chairman -Vice Chairman -Treasurer -Secretary

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS miss okolo ijeawele vidal NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ezeoke awele vidal. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENEraL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS TUKU BASILIA ETTA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OWOBU BASILIA OKOYOMON (Nee) TUKU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENEraL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ABIKEADE FOUNDATION THIS IS NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. NO 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.HARLEY VICTORIA OMOLOLA. 2.MICHAEL ASHA-LAYON. 3.FALEGAN CHRISTINA OLANIKE. 4.OLAWALE OLADOTUN. 5.FOLUSHO ELEKODE. 6.HRH KABIRU AGBABIAKA AIM AND OBJECTIVE. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEDGED. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

SOCIETY OF ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGIST OF NIGERIA.

ADVANCED CENTER FOR ADVOCACY, DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF MUSLIM COMMUNITY

BADAGRY COMMUNITIES YOUTH ASSOCIATION THIS IS NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. NO 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. PRINCE BEYIOKU SEGUN -CHAIRMAN 2. MR. WHESU MAUYON MONDAY -SECRETARY 3. MR. SAMUEL OLUWAFEMI AINA 4. MR. ADEBOYE OHUNENI 5. MR SHANU DOMINIC 6. MR AGBOMENU JOSEPH 7. MR HONFOVU DENAGAN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND ORGANISATION IN THE COMMUNITIES 2. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

THIS IS NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. NO 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PROF MUSTAPHA .A.DANESI 2.CHIEF (DR) FELIX ADEKUNLE OKE 3.MR IKPONMWOSA OGBEBOR 4.DR OLATUNJI FRANCIS AINA 5.MR ISIAKA AMOO 6.DR MAYOWA OJO OWOLABI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.

TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS OF ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY 2. TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF HIGH TECHNICAL & ETHICAL STANDARDS OF ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY. 3. TO FOSTER & FACILITATE PROPER METHODS OF STUDY & MEANS OF MEETING & EXCHANGING IDEAS CONCERNING TECHNICAL PROGRESS IN ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY. 4. TO HELP STANDARDIZE ADEQUATE BASIC RECORDING PROCEDURE. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: FOLASADE RAJI

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. Mr. Adekola, Semiu kolawaleChairman 2. Mr. Daramola, Ismail BabatundeVice – Chairman 3. Mr. Showole, Rafiu Kunle- Secretary 4. Mr. Adebowale, Hamid Tunde - Treasurer 5. Mr. Umar, Muhammed Sheu -Member 6. Mr. Iposu, Kazeem Adebowale- Member 7. Mr. Ajibolu, Hakeem- Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assist in the development advancement of Muslim potentials.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication. singed Mr. S.S. Shittu Esq. Solicitor

SIGNED: SECRETARY

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

GREAT SOCIALITES CLUB 10

GOD’S PLACE AND COVENANT KEEPING MINISTRY

THIS IS NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. NO 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Obasanyin Ayodele Ganiyu -President.

(2) AKINWALE BABATUNDE OLADIMEJI-vice president (3) Olayemi Adedeji-Secretary (4) Olugbenga Ogunleye Ani-Financial Sec. (5) Ilesanmi Felix Dada-Social Sec. (6) Afeniforo Ayodele Ademola-P.R.O (7) Adesina Olujobade Bello-Treasurer.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (1)To promote unity and mutual understanding amongst members and within the community.

(2)To plan and execute programmes and project that will enhance the growth and development of our members and the community.

(3)To contribute to the welfare and progress of our members.

(4)To compliment the effect of the government in making life bearable for the people especially within our community.

(5)To promote and maintain high level integrity down to our in our generation.(6 Tto pass as a crusade of good moral and integrity in our community.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named ministry has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

UNIVERSAL WOMEN AND YOUTH SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR GOLDEN SOYIMIEGHA -PRESIDENT 2.STELLA SOYIMIEGHA

- SECRETARY 3.SEIYABOH ENEBIMOERA EMMANUELLA 4.PASTOR IYENIBO ELIJAH IKIMI 5.LUCY OYINMIEBI WONZU 6.FRANCIS PETER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO EVERY NATION. 2. TO RAISE A GOD FEARING GENERATION. 3. TO DISCIPLE MEN TO FULFIL THE GREAT COMMISSION AND FOSTER PEACE. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named foundation has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.EVELYN EDAMMWEN OKUNBO 2.HENRIETTA EKHOROSE AGUN 3.TINA ENIYE ODIGIE 4.ANTHONIA OGHOGHO OGBEMUDIA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO ERADICATE POVERTY AMONG THE WOMEN AND YOUTHS IN THE SOCIETY Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: BARR. OLAOLU ADENIYI 08032422124

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

KADUNA SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

HEAL NIGERIA PEACE INITIATIVE

The general public is hereby notified that the above Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990.

Jubilation grace garden estate landlords & residents association

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

The general public is hereby notified that the above Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) Ibrahim jacob jones. ( Nation Coordinator.)

(2) Dr. Jerry Ohikere : ( Secretary General .)

(3) Ajimir Ibrahim Mandu ( Treasurer ) (4) Bashir. J . Ibrahim. ( Member ).

(5) Anthony Ilori. ( Member ).

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES (1) Participate and collaborate with all government agencies on peace mission in any activities that will foster peace and unity in the country.

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Signed: Suzie Dung

The general public is hereby notified that the above Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) lt. Col. Hussaini yilwa musa (2) dr. Kenneth agu (3) mr. Vitus chigozie onuegbu (4) dr. Dennis itopa onotu (5) hafsatu abdu-gusau (6) dr. Godstime kadiri james (7) mr. Adeleke adelokun ademuyiwa.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ( 1) to promote and protect the general welfare and safety of residents of the estate. ( 2) to protect, preserve and improve the amenities/facilities and enviroment for the residents of the estate.

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

Signed: secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Cherubium and seraphim church agbala-ayo olomowewe

INITIATIVE OF LIFE SAVING EARTH SAFETY OF NIGERIA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mukaila o. Tiamiyu- Chairman 2. Yusuf Musa- Secretary 3. Abubakar D. Isah AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Empowering unemployed Nigerians with vocational and technical skills to become self employed.

The general public is hereby notified that the above Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1)fapohunda aderemi isreal (2) fapohunda adebola atinuke (3) adebiyi christianah olufunke AIMS AND OBJECTIVES (1) to propagate the gospel of jesus christ through revival and evangelism (2)to promote and develop spiritual growth of members Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

Signed: mohammed najeem esq. 08055955008

PUBLIC NOTICE THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL MINISTRIES

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.DICKSON OBUOFORIBO GEORGE 2.GEORGE DAWARIFAKA MESHACK - SECRETARY 3.SOTONYE MESHACH DICKSON GEORGE - CHAIRMAN 4.PATIENCE SOTONYE GEORGE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY OF LIFE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

YES FOR EQUITY, JUSTICE AND PEACE INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.EMMANUEL OJO AKHIGBE - AGGE 2.ADETOUN ADEOTI AKHIGBE-AGGE 3.OMIJIE THERESA EHI 4.OISE-UNUIGBOJE PAUL THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PROMOTE JUSTICE IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED:BARR ANTHONY ENUMAH (JNR)

SIGNED: IDOWU & ORIARAN ASSOCIATES

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

TSINTSIYA YOUTH ASSOCIATION

SHEKINAH GLOBAL WORSHIP CENTRE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CENTRE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.YAHAYA ISA - CHAIRMAN 2.RABIU NASIRU - SECRETARY 3.ABUBAKAR UMAR 4.TAIYE IWO 5.UBALE ABDULLAHI KIRU THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE ASSOCIATION IN SUCH A MANNER THA EVERYBODY WILL BE TREATED EQUALLY AND HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.APOSTLE UZUKWU VERNASTUS CHUKWUEMEKA - CHAIRMAN 2.MRS.UZUKWU FAITH - SECRETARY 3.MISS UZUKWU IJEOMA 4.BROTHER UZUKWU VICTOR 5.BROTHER OBIDIKE CHIDUBEM THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.GODGIFT ORIAYE SEKIBO 2.THOMPSON TAMUNOBARAOMIE SEKIBO 3.TAMUNOWENGIFIRI CRYSTAL SEKIBO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 2.TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST. 3.TO ORGANIZE CRUSADES,CHRISTIAN WORKSHOPS,SEMINARS ETC. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:BARR. KATE OKEKE 08037410809

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

BRIDGES TO AFRICA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

THE NATION FOR CHRIST FAITH APOSTOLIC MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Oloye Harrison Olaniyi 2.Harrison-Oloye Adeola 3.Aje Babatunde Olushola 4.Gupta Sonu 5.Amu Abiodun Ebenezer THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.To provide social amenities for Africans particularly Nigerians, To bring development closer to the people in the areas of health, electricity, information communication technology etc ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TOM O. EGBELE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PETER AKINMOLADUN ASHAOLU 2. ESTHER OLUWABUNMI ASHAOLU 3. ISRAEL OLUMIDE ASHAOLU 4. JOHN OLUWAGBEMIGA ASHAOLU 5. SUNDAY REXONA GEDU 6. SOLOMON OYEKUNLE OYEDAPO 7. NOAH OLUWASEUN IBITOYE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO EVANGELISE AND AROUSE THE AFRICANS TO THE PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE. 2. TO RENDER HELP TO WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

PUBLIC NOTICE EXCEEDING FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTER

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CENTRE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR ELISHA AIRE-GENERAL OERSEER 2.PASTOR PRECIOUS OSADIAYE-MEMBER 3.PASTOR MRS.JULIET AIRESECRETARY 4.MR.CLEMENT AKHIDELOR-MEMBER 5.DEACONESS MRS VICTORIA OKOJIE-MEMBER 6.MR.FELIX IZIUDU-MEMBER 7.MR.COLLINS OMOGUI-TREASURER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPLE. 2.TO FOSTER PEACE AMONGST MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: ADEREMI O. OLALEYE

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

QUEEN EMMA INSURANCE BROKERS LITD

ABIA GSM AND COMPONENTS DEALERS ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

GOOD-FELLAZ CLUB

SIGNED:SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MR OBIOMA AKOMAS _ PRESIDENT 2.CHIEF BARR. SOMADILA UZODINMA - SECRETARY 3.MR OKECHUKWU ANYA 4.MR CHUKWUMA OPARA 5.MR IKECHUKWU ONOKA 6.MR IMO OKPO 7.MR CHIBUIKE MEREGINI 8.MR CHUKWUEMEKA NWANKWO 9.ARCHITECT OGBONNAYA IHEANYI 10.MR DAVIDSON OKPO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO FOSTER THE SPIRIT OF SOCIAL TOGETHERNESS AN WELL-BEING OF OUR MEMBERS. 2.TO ENCOURAGE MORAL SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY IN TIME OF JOY. 3.TO ENCOURAGE MORAL SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY IN TIME OF SORROW. 4.TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDY AND LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:OGECHI ENYINNAYA CHIKWENDU 08035696116

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

A THOUSAND HELPING HANDS FOUNDATION

PRINCE C.N UKACHUKWU OUTREACH MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

DIGITAL LITERACY EMPOWERMENT FOR MOTHER & CHILD

OLD NAME: QUEEN EMMA INSURANCE BROKERS LITD NEW NAME: OPTIMAL INSURANCE BROKERS LTD THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.VICTORIA IKWUNZE 2.AUSTIN T. ASOGO 3.IKWUNZE AUSTIN . O THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO RENDER QUALITATIVE INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE OF NAME SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:VICTORIA IKWUNZE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PROFESSOR AUGUSTINE ELUGWARAONU AGBAKWURU 2.PATRICIA OLUBUNMI KEN-OSAZUWA 3.DR. TOLA ELIZABETH ANTHONY-OSAJI 4.PHARM. EJIRO GRACE ORIMOLOYE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO ASSIST WITH FUND RAISING AND SEEKING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED GIVING PREFERENCE TO CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 18 IN NEED OF LIFE SAVING MAJOR SURGERIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND CONSTITUTION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.IHEUKWUMERE EVEREST OBI (JP) - REMOVED 2.HON. CHIEF ABARAOYE THEOPHILUS NJOKU - RETAINED 3.MRS. EBERE OKENWA - REMOVED 4.EZE MARCEL - RETAINED 5.OKONKWO ALOYSIUS - REMOVED 6.CHIEF. EMMANUAL IKECHUKWU EZEOFOR - RETAINED 7.PASTOR. MAGNUS CHIGOZIE MGBOKWERE - REMOVED 8.CHIEF PHILIP KALU AGWU - RETAINED 9.MR. JOACHIN SUNDAY NWANKWO - RETAINED 10.MR. CHRISTIAN OKWARA - REMOVED THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THESAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.HON. PRINCE NICHOLAS UKACHUKWU - REAPOINTED 2.BARRISTER (MRS) NNENNA UKACHUKWU - REAPOINTED 3.PASTOR RUFUS EZEH - REMOVED 4.PASTOR JOHN EGBEIGWE - REAPOINTED 5.PASTOR NWOKEDI DANIEL IKENNA - APPOINTED (NEW SECRETARY) THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THESAME.

SIGNED:SECRETARY

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:BARR. BELLO OLAITEN 08035531344

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.OKORIE STANLEY CHINWE - CHAIRMAN 2.EKWENEM JOHN OSITA - VICE CHAIRMAN 3.ADAMS ABONU ABONU - TREASURER 4.ONWUMERE OGECHI AUGUSTA - PROVOST 5.NNAEMEKA OGBODOH - SECRETARY 6.PRINCE ARTHUR IGWE - FINANCIAL SECRETARY 7.NNAMDI PRINCEWILL CHIJIOKE - MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO TAKE CARE OF INDEGENT MOTHERS & CHILDREN. 2.TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT TEENAGE GIRLS, SINGLE MOTHER,WIDOWS,ORPHANS,AND WOMEN ON THE NEED TO HAVE A CAREER,SKILL ACQUISITION AND CAPACITY BUILDING. 3.TO CATER FOR THE INTEREST AND WELFARE OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: JAMES NNAEMEKA OGBODOH

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

GLOBAL HUMAN RECONCILIATION FOR PEACE & DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

ADVOCACY FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND EMANCIPATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.CHIEF FRANKLIN NNAMDI OBILAM - PRESIDENT 2.BLESSING NNEOMA OBILAM 3.BARRISTER EMMANUEL CHINEDUM IGWE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO ESTABLISH FACILITIES AND PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION TO COMMUNITIES THROUGH PEACE-BUILDING AND LIVELIHOOD. 2.TO PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN PROMOTING UNITY,PEACE AND HARMONY IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:BARR. NDIDI ORJIAKO IWULE 08033044395

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.OZOR GODWIN ONYEBUCHI - CHAIRMAN 2.OTUYA MICHAEL IKECHUKWU - SECRETARY 3.BAR PETER AJA 4.IKECHUKWU NWABUDE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO ENLIGHTEN THE YOUTH ON VALUES OF SELF RELIANCE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR ROWLAN O. OLAIFA

Pinnacle of salvation Bible church

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Pastor Iheanacho Nwadike Okere 2. Mrs. Blessing Okere 3.Barr. Lizzy Ijeoma Nwagbara 4.Pastor Anthony Egbuchulam 5. Snr. Pastor Felix Onwuka 6. Pastor Gloria Adams 7.Mr. Johnbull Aniyanghan 8.Mr. Elvis Nwogu 9.tor Felix Onwuka 10. Pastor Gloria Adams 11. Mr. Johnbull Aniyanghan 12.Mr. Elvis Nwogu THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF GOD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: secretary

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

GWANARA CASHEW GROWERS ASSOCIATION

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON MONUMENTS AND SITES

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.HRH. Alh. (DR.) Sabi Abdullahi Idris 2.Ahmed Oyoru Aliyu (Alh) 3. Alh. Musa Aliyu Gwanara 4.Alh. Mohammed Bio Aliyu 5.Alh. Idris Abubakar THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To foster unity among its members and to educate and empower cashew growers and farmers in nigeria.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Dr Yaro Gella Chairman 2. Yusuf Abdallah Usman secretary 3. Kehinde Fatusin 4. Mr.Akin liasu 5. Dr Levi Ifeanyi Izuakor 6. Dr Joseph Eboreime THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. Conservation and preservation and restoration of Archaeological heritage and Acting on matters affecting museums monument and sites.

2. Act as Supervisory body for, museums, professionals, monument officer registered under them.

3. Promoting, supporting and developing monuments and sites and to organize training program me and conventions on the conservation of monument and sites .

4. Presentation of cultural heritage sites, structure, towns and urban Areas.

5. To protect the interest of members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: Barr. Mohammed Attahiru B.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

SPRING OF LIFE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

FIRE & MIRACLE POWER CHURCH OF CHRIST INTERNATIONAL

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pstr.Emeka Iroham 2. Evang. Julius Chukwu Ikpor 3. Mr. Daniel Egbutu 4. Rev.Dr. Florence Dika Nwankpa 5. Rev engnr.Robert Ndukwu 6. Rev.Dr.Lucky Egbutu 7. Barr.Oriaku Ngozi THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO EQUIP THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. MRS. GLADYS UGBOM - FOUNDER 2. REV. MICHAEL UGBOM - GENERAL OVERSEER 3. ELDER S. A. ARINZE - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN ITS ENTIRETY TO THE WORLD. 2. TO PROMOTE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THROUGH MASS EVANGELISM. 3. TO BRING TOGETHER CHRISTIANS FOR FELLOWSHIP, COSELING, CORRECTION, COMFORTS AND DISCPLINE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PEACE GOLDEN FRIENDS CLUB OF NIGERIA

ACADEMIC SOCIETY FOR ARABIC LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN NIGERIA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OKECHUKWU NWOKEDIKE 2. MARCEL ANYAEBOSI 3. JUDE OBIEJESI 4. JOSEPH OKOLIE 5. OKWUCHUKWU OKONKWO 6. OBIORA NWOSU 7. ONYEKA UMEH 8. SAMUEL UGOJI 9. JOSEPH OKAFOR THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO FOSTER AND ENHANCE LOVE, PEACE, UNITY, PROGRESS AND COEXISTENCE AMONGEST MEMBERS OF THE CLUB. 2. TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL, INDIVIDUAL OR SHARE INTEREST OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: ANICHE BENJAMIN ESQ. 08068657263

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.DR. HAMZA I. ABDULRAHIM - CHAIRMAN 2.PROF. ATTAHIR MUHAMMAD DAUD 3.JUSTICE IDREES A. HAROON 4.DAUD ORIMADEGUN HAMEED 5.DR. MOSHOOD MAHMOOD JIMBA 6.DR. MUHAMMAD UMARU NDAGI - SECRETARY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To bring together all teachers of Arabic Language and Literature in Institutions of Learning in Nigeria.

2. To initiate, encourage and support scholarly research in Arabic Language and culture.

3. To promote and encourage the development of courses in Arabic language.

4. To collaborate with other interested parties at home and abroad in providing suitable syllabuses and text books for use in teaching Arabic in primary and secondary schools.

5. To establish a suitable journal of Arabic to be published regularly.

6. To organise seminars, conferences, symposia and workshop etc. from time to time on various aspect of Arabic studies. 7. To attend to, and make necessary efforts to solve all problems inhibiting the progress of Arabic as a living language and a language of Islam.

8. To undertake whichever activities consistent with the foregoing aims and objectives.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEPROSY PREVENTION AND ERADICATION INITIATIVE

ASSOCIATION OF LANDLORDS’ OF NYEWELI LAYOUT,TOMBIA EXTENSION PORT HARCOURTRIVERS STATE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MRS MARGARET O. ENIOLA - PRESIDENT 2.MRS SYLVIA IFY ATOGU - GENERAL SECRETARY 3.MR IFEANYI CHUKWUDINOBI 4.DR CALLISTUS CHUKWUEMEKA ONUNKWO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO ACTIVELY ASSIST PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM POVERTYRELATED DISEASE SUCH AS LEPROSY AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF MARGINALIZATION,STIGMATIZATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION. 2.TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF SUFFERERS OF ‘LEPROSY’ IN ‘NIGERIA’ THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL ADVICE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:MRS YEMISI OAIKHINA OAIKHINA & Co SOLICITOR AND COMPANY SEC. SUITE H102 & H103, IKOTA SHOPPING COMPEX, VGC,AJAH.LAGOS 08022235916, 018832235

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Gabriel Dimowo 2. Ikenna Onu 3. Kennedy Obeto Osarhobo 4. Imegi John Chukwuma 5. Maidoh Augustine Chiedu THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 2.TO ENSURE PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AMONGST THE LANDLORDS. 3.TO CO-OPERATIVELY MAINTAIN THE COMMON INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ESTATE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICTION. SIGNED: S. A. Adukwu Esq

PUBLIC NOTICE AZAMODOBI DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Samaila Sangumashi Ibrahim - Chairman 2. Mr Ezekiel Azulai Haruna 3. Mr Suleiman Ishaku Galadima 4. Mr Yakubu Ibrahim Lakalle 5. Engr Daniel Habila Galadima - Secretary THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.To mobilize coordinate and bring together all the members of azamodobi clan to foster cooperation peace unity and the holistic development of members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE MADELYN FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MADELINE UDOWA 2. UMOH BEN UDOWA (chairman) 3. LYDIA UDOWA 4. VICTORIA UDOWA (secretary) 5. PRINCE AGBONLAHOR 6. YVONNE UDOWA 7. QUEENETH UDOWA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To empower the rural women and girls, to carter for the widows, orphans and the less privileged in the rural areas. 2. To extend microcredit facility to the less privileged women and girls in the rural area.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. Signed: secretary.

PUBLIC NOTICE ECHEZONA NWANNE DI NA MBA SOCIAL CLUB THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.NWEFI CHIBUEZE 2.UDENTA ANTHONY ONYEBO 3.EZEOKOYE IFEANYI - CHAIRMAN 4.ABADUA CLEOPAS 5.CHUKWU INNOCENT - SECRETARY 6.ABAZIE KINGSLEY 7.OKOLOCHA CHIDOZIE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO CARRY OUT OUR BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND CONVENTION AS WELL AS THE ACCEPTABLE AND GOOD ETHICS IN OUR SOCIETY IN GENERAL. 2.TO HELP OUR MEMBERS IN GOOD AND BAD TIMES LIKE MARRIAGES,POLICE CASE THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES,BURIALS AND SO ON. 3.TO HELP PROMOTE EACH OTHERS BUSINESS IN TERMS OF ASSISTING WITH THE CONNECTION AND REQUIRED LINKS. 4.TO REMAIN NEUTRAL IN INDIVIDUALS PERSONAL AFFAIRS LIKE RELIGION AND OTHER SOCIAL LIFE THAT IS NOT TARNISHING THE IMAGE OF THE CLUB. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE THE APPLE OF GODS EYE MINISTRY THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AYOGU DANIEL FRANCIS 2. ANAELE SYLVIA 3. ANIEKWENSI OKWUCHUKWU 4. ANIEKWENSI JULIET OBIAGELI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2. TO HEAL THE BROKEN HEARTED AND ALL MANNER OF AFFLICTIONS. 3. TO MINISTER DELIVERANCE TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND. 4. TO TEACH BELIEVERS TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST AND LIVE LIKE HIM. 5. TO INSTRUCT THE BELIEVERS ABOUT THE REALITY OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. NNEKA OFORDILE, 08063405608.

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Peoples Daily, friday, may 16, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE GOLD CROSS HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY CENTER

PUBLIC NOTICE

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Cherubium and seraphim church agbala-ayo olomowewe

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED center HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED center HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.) GREAT UKANDI UNIMUYI JOEL-LEE-VENNS CHAIRMAN) 2.)ADUNG JANET-MAVIS UNWADA(SEC), 3.)EFFIONG EDET IGNETIUS, 4.)MATHEW OKWOLI, 5.) SANI SAMUEL CHINDE.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.) Iyanya onoyom mbuk, 2. Ubi Ekapong ofem, 3. Bassey okon Bassey.

MARIAS(

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THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To cater for the less privilege, To promote Afrobeat music in nigeria, 2. To provide scholarships for the less privilege.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1)fapohunda aderemi isreal (2) fapohunda adebola atinuke (3) adebiyi christianah olufunke.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: (1) to propagate the gospel of jesus christ through revival and evangelism (2)to promote and develop spiritual growth of members.

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ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

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THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

friday, may 16, 2014

SPORTS latest

AC Milan promote 15 year old to first team

A

C Milan has promoted promising 15-year old forward Hachim Mastour into their first-team squad.

The under-16s player born June 15, 1998 was introduced to the first-team squad on Tuesday, when he took part in his first full training session with the professionals.

If Mastour makes his debut in Serie A in the Rossoneri’s final game of the season against Sassuolo on Sunday, he would become the club’s youngest ever player.

He would also become the fifth youngest player to appear in Italy’s top flight, behind Amadeo Amadei, Gianni Rivera, Aristide Rossi and Campione, just one month short of his 16th birthday.

After an introduction to the team in the dressing room, he showed some of the tricks which have already made him a major attraction on social media channels.

The 15-year-old already has over 36,000 followers on Twitter and almost 400,000 likes on Facebook, where he regularly posts videos of his tricks.

He is now set to take his senior bow, potentially alongside Mario Balotelli, a month before his 16th birthday on June 15.

Hachim Mastour Advert: 0805 business: 0805 news: 0814 lagos: 0805 0803

. . . putting the people first

In general, Nigeria has failed to mount an effective campaign against Boko Haram… In the face of a new and more sophisticated threat than it has faced before, its security forces have been slow to adapt with new strategies, new doctrines and new tactics.

–Alice Friend, United States Defense Department’s principal director for Africa.

Abductions: What a difference a hashtag makes

O

ver three million people have tweeted about it by now.

The #BringBackOurGirls Twitter campaign has seen a phenomenal uptake, with heads of state (and their wives), movie stars and women’s rights leaders all joining in to highlight the plight of the more than 200 school girls kidnapped by the militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, in north-eastern Nigeria last month.

However, criticism of the campaign is mounting, with some comparing it to the illinformed Kony2012 viral campaign to hunt down the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army leader, Joseph Kony.

What is behind this ‘hashtagactivism?’ And will it really change anything for the victims?

After all, nothing came of the Kony campaign.

Yet, it seems something is being done - at least in the short term.

For the first time last week, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan agreed to accept help from international partners like the United States, Britain, France and perhaps even China and Israel. Reuters reported on Tuesday that US surveillance aircraft were being deployed to try and track down the missing girls.

A security summit is also being planned in Paris tomorrow, where Jonathan is expected to meet with Western leaders and some from Nigeria’s neighbouring states. But it wasn’t online solidarity alone that got the world talking about the tragedy playing out in Nigeria. A number of factors converged to force the Nigerian government into doing something about the kidnapping of the schoolgirls by the radical Islamic group.

Whether those doing the retweeting are aware of it or not, Nigerians - especially women - have mobilised in protests across the country to urge the government to search for the missing girls. This, as well as the awareness raised by the Twitter campaign, led to protest actions in various capitals, from Johannesburg to London, to publicise the issue.

In addition, the World Economic Forum (WEF) for Africa, which was held in Abuja last week, unintentionally led to renewed interest in Boko Haram’s reign of terror that has caused thousands of deaths in the north of the country, as well as in Abuja.

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Friday Column Liesl Louw-Vaudran

Mrs Obama joins the #BringBackOurGirls protest Ironically, the WEF meeting was meant to be a triumph for Nigeria, having recently announced that its rebased GDP figures make it the biggest economy in Africa. Instead, the abduction of the schoolgirls and the Nigerian army’s failure to locate them - was a huge embarrassment for the country.

To have so many important people gathered at the meeting, only for the conversation to turn to Boko Haram, must have been devastating for Jonathan and his government.

Anton du Plessis, Managing Director of the Institute for Security Studies, who participated in a panel discussion at the WEF last week, says the discussions at the WEF might have encouraged the Nigerian government to manage the issue with greater urgency.

‘The leadership in Nigeria can’t hide behind their inappropriate responses to Boko Haram. I think you’ll see progress that you might not have seen had the WEF not taken place at this time,’ says Du Plessis.

However, he warned that international involvement could play into the hands of Boko Haram if the matter is not handled correctly. ‘There is a danger of letting it look like this only became an issue for Nigeria because of pressure from the West. This plays into the Boko Haram narrative - that it is fighting some type of global

jihad.’

The international help to find the girls kidnapped from Chibok ought to be welcomed, but it shouldn’t evolve into a wider anti-terror campaign in West Africa, says Du Plessis.

‘We must not forget the damage done by the “war on terror” narrative in Africa. We are only now starting to recover from that.’

For years, analysts and observers have warned against human rights abuses by the Nigerian military, and of the risks posed by a purely military response to the threat of Boko Haram. The politicising of counter-terrorism strategies in the run-up to the 2015 presidential elections has also been highlighted. Yet, almost for the first time now, cable television networks are sending their reporters to Nigeria to tell the story of the desperate mothers of Chibok, who are the latest victims of a scourge that has haunted the region for years.

Certainly, there is a risk of the oversimplification of complex issues - such as Nigeria’s northsouth and Muslim-Christian divides – by perhaps wellmeaning media campaigns. The choice of vocabulary could, for example, be of great importance.

While the Nigerian media have always referred to Boko Haram as an ‘Islamic sect,’ some are now calling members ‘Islamic

militants,’ which could give them a veneer of respectability for jihadists around the world.

Many questions remain unanswered. To what extent is Boko Haram linked to al-Qaeda?

And how many members does it have? Du Plessis says it is surprising how little even the Nigerian government knows about the group. ‘We need to understand where they are and how they get their money. If, for example, they are getting it through organised crime, it means one cannot deal with the problem through a purely antiterrorist response,’ he says.

While there probably has to be some military involvement, it is clear that the government can’t ‘shoot its way out of this,’ says Du Plessis. Many mistakes were made in past dealings with the sect, and historical factors, such as the lack of infrastructure in the North of the country, will affect how the issue should be dealt with in the longer term.

‘What the Nigerian government desperately needs now is legitimacy, because ultimately, they lost so much legitimacy when the military went after the leaders in 2009 and publically executed them,’ adds Du Plesssis. ‘I think the best you could do as a government now is to very publically and clearly articulate what your strategy is ... and really start investing in governance and development of the north; and distinguish that from the Muslim-Christian issue.’

Ideally, if the Boko Haram leaders are captured, they should be brought to trial in a civilian court, Du Plessis says. ‘Show the world that the Nigerian government actually has the legitimate upper hand.

Put them on trial for the crimes they’ve committed, and in that way you strip them of the undeserved badge of honour that they give themselves.’

The #BringBackourGirlscampaign was started on 23 April by a Nigerian lawyer, and has now become a worldwide issue.

But social media campaigns are frivolous, to say the least, and the media frenzy can die down as quickly as it started.

The world’s attention span is very short: lasting responses are now in the hands of the Nigerian government.

Liesl Louw-Vaudran, is a consultant with the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), Pretoria, South Africa.

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