Friday, July 17, 2020 Edition

Friday, July 17, 2020/ Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 26, 1441 AH

2254 Days after

Fraud allegations: PDP demands Magu’s arraignment in court

Vol. 34 No. 041 N150

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peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

NDDC boss walks out, as Reps issue arrest warrant Expresses lack of confidence in committee chair

>>pg 2

602 repentant BH members take oath of allegiance to FG pAGE 5

As Military air strike kills several terrorists in Borno

page 5

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele presents the dummy Cheque of 12.5kg LBMA Gold to the Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.

While President Muhammadu Buhari looks on during the virtual launch of Gold Purchase held at the Council Chambers, State House, yesterday in Abuja

WASSCE: We won’t change our position yet - FG Troops arrest 7 suspected sea pirates in Delta pAGE 6

Omolori kicks as NASC queries him over counter order pAGE 16

>>>PG 8

Jigawa journalists trained on Covid -19 prevention measures pAGE 3

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

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News CONTENTS News

2-10,14

Editorial

11

Op.Ed

12-13

Politics

15-17

Business

19-20

Metro

21

World News

22

Africa News

23

World News

24

Okonjo-Iweala urges WTO to elect DG on merit, says she’s well suited Page 4

Feature Sports Back Page

25 29-31 32

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NDDC boss walks out, as Reps issue arrest warrant

By Christiana Ekpa

A

cting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof.

Kemebradikumo Pondei and his team on Thursday walked out on the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, saying they were not prepared to make any presentation before the committee.

The Acting Managing Director had objected to the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Olubunmi TunjiOjo presiding over the investigative hearing, insisting that he cannot preside over a matter in which he is an accused person.

Prof. Pondei however said that they will only answer the summon from the House of Representatives if they decide to set up an adhoc Committee, stressing that if that is not done, they will not honour the invitation from the House.

He said “Let’s just say that we are not comfortable with the Chairman of this committee presiding over a matter which he is an accused party.

The NDDC has over time accused Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of different crimes against the NDDC and it’s people, and he has responded in the press.

“He is an interested party and we do not believe that the NDDC can have justice because he cannot sit on his own case. We have no issues with appearing before the committee because we appeared before the Senate committee. And as long as he is the Chairman of this committee, the NDDC will not make any presentations here.”

Members of the House including Benjamin Kali, Ben Ibakpa and Shehu Koko told the Acting MD that since there was no document before the committee he is duty bound by the constitution to answer queries from the House.

Rep. Shehu Koko said “all of us know that we have a serious business here and that is why I said whatever testimony that we are going to take, it must be on oath. Before the chairman rules on what the Acting MD NDDC said, I will state categorically that – and this is the stand of the parliament – if you have anything against the Chairman of this committee, there are many ways you can report your matter.

“You can write to the Police, the EFCC, ICPC and you can also write to the House. At the moment, we do not have any written communication from NDDC on the issue they have with the Chairman which is personal.

“But the rule of the parliament is that nobody can come and dictate to us here that the Chairman cannot sit and preside over an issue because this is not the matter in question now”.

On his part, Rep. Benjamin Kalu

cited the constitution saying that by the provisions of the constitution, the House has the power to regulate it’s affairs.

He said “I want to refer this committee as well as these invited guests to the provisions of our Constitution in Section 60... It is within the parameters of the law that the House regulates how it conducts its activities. The House has decided that this is a committee affair and not a personalised affair.

“Since it is not about the Chairman of the committee, and there is no petition or official document before the House, and the motion that called for this probe by this committee has not been rescinded by the House, I think it is out of order for an invited guest to instruct us on how to regulate the activity of the House. I’m praying that Chairman sustains this point of order.”

Another member, Rep. Ben Igbakpa, said, “Nigeria is not a Banana Republic, we are guided by the Constitution. Sections 88 and 89 give us express powers to summon and seek for information to avoid waste, corruption and inefficiency. And that is what we are doing. Nobody has come here to discuss your allegation because it is not an allegation before us; there is no document before us. Whatever allegation you have made us in the air and it remains in the air.

“You cannot come here to dictate to us, subject to Section 60. Obey that part of the Constitution and listen to what we have to do. Nobody is indicating you. You have the right to fair hearing and that is why you are here. But if you feel that fair hearing is not good for you, then it is sad as a nation.”

While members were still making

contribution to the issue, the Acting MD sought permission to leave and walked out without waiting for the committee could either grant his request or reject it.

Furious members of the Committee accused the Interim Management Committee of trying to frustrate legislative functions of the House and ordered that a warrant of arrest be issued against him.

The motion to issue a warrant of arrest for the IMC was moved by Rep Benjamin Kalu and seconded by Rep Shehu Koko.

The Committee unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman of them Committee However several contractors invited made their submission before the Committee admitting to receiving payment for various contract within the period under investigation.

Speaking with newsmen later, Prof.

Pondei said “we were suppose to appear before the committee of the House of Representatives investigating financial recklessness and malfeasance. Basically what the committee is investigating is missing N40 billion nobody is talking about.

“We have absolute respect for the National Assembly and that was why we appeared before the Senate ad hoc committee to investigate the same issues. We made our presentation over two days and we will wait for the outcome of that investigation.

“However, the committee that was set up in the House of Representatives is being chaired by the Chairman of the NDDC committee whose the NDDC severally accused of different things, he cannot be a judge in his own case for

different because we are very sure we will not have a fair hearing.

“Yesterday for reason beyond our control, we were not able to appear but the reports that came out had already indicted us. They shaved our heads in our absence. The fact given by the Account General’s office in the Senate explained that between October 2019 and May 31, 2020, N81.5billion had been spent by the NDDC. “Yesterday, according to what was read out by the Chairman, the amount was spent in four months by the NDDC; this already showed that there is a problem, a preconceived efforts to portray the management of the NDDC in a bad light and we know we won’t get justice in this.

“Any day a greasy ad hoc committee without anybody who is being accused by the NDDC is set up, the NDDC will appear because we respect the Nationality Assembly, we respect the Senate, we respect the Househas Representatives.

“When we saw that the committee was insistent that the chairman will continue, we had no option rather than to take a leave, we did not disrespect the National Assembly, we asked for permission to leave and we left.

“In the informal way, because we have always sort for peace, we voiced our reservation about the leadership of that committee. And somehow, it did not amount to anything, we knew about the chairmanship of that committee and we voiced our reservation to the appropriate quarters but nothing happened; may be we didn’t put it in writing but nothing happened.

He however refused to comment on the decision of the House to issue a warrant of arrest.

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, members of the Committee, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurun and Hon. Shehu Koko, during the investigative hearing on alleged 40 billion irregular in the NDDC, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Covid-19: Aisha Buhari receives donations from Chinese First Lady

By Ochiaka Ugwu

T

he Nigerian First Lady, Aisha Buhari has received donations of medical equipment from the First Lady of the People’s Republic of China, Prof. Peng Liyuan that will aid Nigeria in the fight against the Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Zhoa Yong, Deputy Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, who represented the First Lady of China, handed over the medical equipment to the First Lady of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Chinese First Lady in her message noted that solidarity, cooperation and mutual assistance among countries was crucial to

defeating COVID-19, hence the token of support with medical equipment from the government of China.

She said that sudden onslaught of COVID-19 has posed an enormous challenge to humanity and for countries to defeat the virus, solidarity, cooperation and mutual assistance are crucial.

“At the height of China’s battle against the virus, Nigeria gave solid support to China. This expression of profound friendship will always be remembered.

“Today’s donation is a token of friendship toward Nigerian mothers, children and young people.

“China and Nigeria are strategic partners. China will continue to support

Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19.

“With our hands joining together, we have full confidence to defeat this common enemy,” she said.

Peng reiterated the message of Chinese President, Xi Jinping at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on solidarity against COVID-19 held in June.

She said: “humanity will ultimately defeat the virus, and China, and African people are poised to embrace better days ahead.”

Receiving the items, Aisha Buhari who was represented by Hajo Sani, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs thanked Chinese First Lady for her kindgesture.

Nigerian First Lady said the donation was significant and a demonstration that the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China was growing stronger beyond international policies and being extended to local issues concerning the welfare on Nigerians.

She said the items would support Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in fighting the pandemic, assuring Peng that the items would be used judiciously by getting to those they were meant for.

Mrs Buhari also appreciated the Chinese first lady for keeping to her promise, adding that she had pledged to support African First Ladies in their fight against HIV/AIDs and even extended her collaboration beyond that to the emerging issue of COVID-19.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

News

WAEC Exam date: Education Minister to seek audience with Buhari, NGF

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services, the Ministry of Education and West African Examination Council, Nigeria Headquarters on Thursday took a hard look at options for the examinations.

The stakeholders however agreed that if they were to make the September date for the Examination a reality, there is need to get President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governors’ Forum involved in coming up with a timely and effective decision.

They agreed that in the interest of the 1.6 million candidates registered for the West African School Certificate Examinations, there was a need to agree on a date for the regional examination as time was running out for the country.

One of the options was to find a date acceptable and immediate as the head of WAEC National office in Nigeria, Patrick Areghan revealed that it takes quite a while to print question papers and that other convoluted logistic considerations might come into play.

Areghan said that Gnana had wanted to have the examination in June, because its an election year in the country, but shelved it because of Nigeria.

He also revealed that it took a presidential directive for the Gambia to shelve its desire to have the examination before now. So, according to him, Nigeria should decide on if it wants to give its candidates what he called a COVID-19 exam certificate or a WAEC Certificate in concert with the other countries.

According to him, getting parents to pay another set of fees might be difficult if the September date is missed, warning that if the November option is considered, “someone has to pick the bills.”

The permenent secretary ministry of Education, Arc. Sonny Echono said that WAEC is one of institutions that espouses regional cooperation and having a stand alone examination will defeat the element of unity it portrays.

He further noted that if there was adequate funding, it should not take more than a week to get the examination ready logistically. For the 19, 000 examination centres across the country..

Rep Nnolim Nnaji wondered why that should be a problem pointing out that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affair spent over 13 billions as palliative for the Covid-19 pandemic...

The Minister of state for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba reminded the members and all present that the decision they are to make was for an examination date and not resumption of schools in the country..

The members deliberated on if Nigeria could use its power as provider of about 60 percent of the finances in WAEC to dictate a date of its liking.

But stakeholders present eventually agreed that its better to be democratic in arriving at a decision.

The chairman of the Committee, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere ruled that the committee will approach the state governors via the Governors’ Forum so as to be on the same page and get President Muhammadu Buhari to assist in diplomatic effort to get the other regional countries on Nigeria’s side concerning the yet to be agreed examination date.

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News Editor, Ese Awhotu

NDDC: Buhari orders speedy investigation

By Egena Sunday Ode

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a better coordination among security and investigating agencies with the National Assembly to ensure that the administration’s effort to bring sanity, transparency and accountability to the management of the large amount of resources dedicated to development of the Niger Delta sub-region is not derailed.

In his reaction to the unfolding drama, which include attacks and counter attacks between and around persons, institutions, and the Niger Delta Development

Commission (NDDC), President Buhari expressed his strong determination to get to the root of the problem undermining the development of the Niger Delta and its peoples in spite of enormous national resources voted year after year for this singular purpose.

Specifically, the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the suspended Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs Joy Nunieh have been throwing brickbats at each other following the suspension of the latter by the former.

The fierce disagreement between Akpabio and Nunieh is believed to

be connected to the forensic audit of the commission earlier ordered

by Buhari.

According to the Presidential directive, auditing firms and investigative agencies working in collaboration with National Assembly Committees to resolve the challenges in the NDDC must initiate actions in a time-bound manner and duly inform the Presidency of the actions being taken, a statement by the media aide to the president, Garba Shehu on Thursday said.

The statement said President Buhari also directed timely sharing of information and knowledge in a way to speedily assist the

administration to diagnose what had gone wrong in the past and what needs to be done to make corrections in order to return the NDDC to its original mandate of making life better for people in Niger Delta.

President Buhari said the administration wants to bring about “rapid, even and sustainable development to the region,” according to the statement.

It added that the President gave firm assurance that his administration would put in place a transparent and accountable governance framework, not only in the NDDC but in all other institutions of government.

Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof.

Remebradikunmo Pondei, seated during the investigative hearing on alleged 40 billion irregular in the NDDC, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Jigawa journalists trained on Covid -19 prevention measures From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

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he Department for International Development known as DFID through Lafiya programme has trained media practitioners on how prevent themselves and public from the infection of Covid - 19 in Jigawa

state.

The two days training which comprised both tagged as covid19 control and journalism held at Hadejia town Jigawa state.

While presenting his paper at the training, the state leader of Lafiya programme in Jigawa Dr Abdurrahman said, journalists need apply basic

measures while covering covid - 19 activities.

He explained that the three basic prevention measures include constant hand-washing, social distances and use of face mask.

Dr Abdurrahman added that, the training also aimed sharing experiences among the

participants particularly on covid - 19 and maternal health related issues.

He then called on the participants to expand the skills acquired during the training to other colleagues as well as creating awareness to the general public on the measures.

Egbira people solicit for funds to build community hall

By Usman Shuaibu

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he leadership of Egbira Tao Community Association in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has appealed to the general public for the financial assistance to build a community hall in the area.

The President of the association, Mallam Yakubu Abdulrahman Ozigi, who made this known while presenting his welcome address on the occasion

of fund raising ceremony held at the Government Day Secondary School, Gwagwalada.

“It is a great pleasure and joy for me to stand before you today as the President of this great association (i.e Egbira Tao Community Association, Gwagwalada) to welcome you all to this august occasion of fund raising to build a befitting community hall in Gwagwalada”, he said.

His words: “If by God’s grace we are able to build this hall,

it shall be of immense benefit to everybody including those that are not even residing in Gwagwalada”.

He said if the community hall is built, it would generate revenue for the association whenever the hall was rented out for ceremony.

Also speaking, the chief of Egbira in Gwagwalada, Dr Abdlkarim Ibrahim, said if the community hall is built, it would enable Egbira people to carry out social activities there.

He also said the community hall would be used to train the youths on skill acquisition programme in order to boost the revenue for the association.

He, therefore, urged the entire Egbira people to co-operate with one another for the overall development of their various associations in Gwagwalada and the FCT at large.

The UniAbuja ex-Vicechancellor, Prof. Nuhu Yakubu Omeiza among the other dignities graced the fund raising ceremony.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

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News

Masari distributes drugs to Katsina LGAs From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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overnor Aminu Bello Masari has flagged off the distribution of essential health commodities for the 34 local governments in the state.

The event , which took place at Drugs and medical supplies Agency stores along Goruba road in katsina is under the laudable programme of the federal government and the katsina state on the save one million lives performance for results through the world bank.

Masari explained that the intended goal is to improve the lives of mothers and children in reducing the burden of diseases in the state.

He said that the essential commodities and consumables include long lasting insecticide mosquito nets,mama delivery kits, HIV kits, medicines, family planning consumables, basic medical equipment and Data tools.

Beneficiaries of the essential commodities, he said include 278 healthcare facilities conducting child deliveries, 504 Antenatal health facilities, 36 routine immunization centres, 361 primary healthcare facilities, and 470 family planning centres in the state.

The Governor tasked beneficiaries of essential commodities,such as healthcare workers and ward health development committees across 34 local governments to fear God and ensure judicious utilisation of the items as well as ensure sending of monthly feedback to the state.

He commended the World bank, National primary healthcare management Agency and other Development Partners for making the exercise possible.

In a remark, the state commissioner of health, Engineer Nuhu Yakubu Danja said that the distribution of essential commodities to primary healthcare facilities is a continuation of the stride of Governor Aminu Bello Masari towards improving healthcare delivery in the state.

He said that the programme was part of the restoration agenda of the APC administration that gave healthcare much priority as it affects the lives of the citizenry.

In a welcome address, the permanent secretary in the state ministry of health Dr Mustapha Kabir expressed gratitude to Governor Aminu Bello Masari for the prompt and due attention to the ministry to provide healthcare to people in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

Edo poll: Ize-Iyamu wins support of Northern professionals

Ex-judge celebrates birthday, urges Nigerian judges

T

By Usman Shuaibu

By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro,

he Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 19, 2020 Governorship election in Edo State has won the support of Northern Professionals platform living in the State.

Chairman of the group, Abdallah Tureta, conveyed their support in a statement on Thursday in Benin City.

“We Northern Professionals resident in Edo have resolved to throw our weight behind the Gubernatorial Candidate of the APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

“We are assuring him of our collective support to ensure his victory at the polls in September,” he said.

Tureta also in the statement commanded the APC for

appointing governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the Chairman of APC campaign Council for Edo election.

“Our resolve to back the APC Candidate In Edo state Gubernatorial Election is in solidarity with governor Ganduje appointed as the chairman of the campaign Council .

“We came to understand that the wisdom behind Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the Campaign Council is to make sure that no opportunity is left unattended to win the election.

“His sophistication and skills in politics are acknowledged across “ board.

“We resolve to do this after our conviction that his leadership of the campaign council is an indication that APC is willing and ready to win the election.

“As somebody who has developed his State, both in human and infrastructure, Ganduje could also be a pillar in influencing the blueprint of how to move Edo state forward when our Candidate wins.

“We are very hopeful that he would deliver.

“It is still fresh in our memories how President Muhammadu Buhari sometime last year, commended Governor Ganduje after becoming the best performing Governor for 3 consecutive months. As then rated by the APC Progressive Governors Forum.

“This among other things are what informed the decision of the APC to appoint Ganduje to chair this Campaign Council for Edo Gubernatorial election.

“And we are sure that with our support and that of large

chunk of Edo population, Ganduje is shouldering a sellable gubernatorial material.

“We challenged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to come forward and showcase the feats they achieved under their candidate “We understand that, it is because they don’t have anything to show, that is why they resolve to be attacking personalities wrongly.

“What we need is, what do you have to show to the world that these are your achievements?,” Tureta said.

According to him, it is extremely important to say that our support for IzeIyamu is largely because of the chairmanship of one of our performing governors from the North, in person of Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

R-L: Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Works, Hon. Kabir Abubakar, Members of the Committee, Hon. Edun Olanrewaju and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, during their meeting with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on the roads projects, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Okonjo-Iweala urges WTO to elect DG on merit, says she’s well suited

D

r Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has stressed the need for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to elect a credible candidate based on merit for the position of Director-General.

Okonjo-Iweala who is among the eight candidates vying for the position, stated this on Wednesday in Geneva while answering questions from newsmen at a press conference held shortly after her presentation to the WTO General Council.

“Choosing a Director-General for WTO should be on merit. The best person should be chosen to lead an institution that’s having challenges.

“If it happens to be a woman, great. If it happens to be an African

its also great. It should be based on merit,” she said while extolling the qualities which makes her well suited for the job. “ The WTO needs leadership and I’m someone with a strong managerial capability with the ability to forge consensus and reforms.

“These bundles of qualities in addition to my leadership quality is what I’m bringing to the WTO,” she added.

Okonjo-Iweala also spoke on various issues ranging from trade implication of COVID-19, challenges to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMSE) as well as e-commerce.

According to her, e-commerce and the digital economy are

vital forms of trade, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, she said, there was a need to address the challenge of the digital divide in developing and least-developed nations – where infrastructure remained a major impediment to such form of trade.

Similarly, she emphasized the need to strengthen MSMSE – a vital part of the global economy which was adversely affected by the pandemic.

In the same vein, the former finance minister, also said that in tackling COVID-19, if elected as director-general, she would ensure that vaccines are accessible to poorer countries.

“When vaccines become available, there will be allocation criteria that will ensure that it’s accessible to all,” she said while noting that she will bring her experience as Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance board to bear.

Other issues addressed by Okonjo-Iweala include fostering relations among member countries to rebuild trust in restoring consensus decision making- in other to strengthen the WTO. Alongside Okonjo-Iweala are candidates from Mexico, Egypt, Moldova, Republic of Korea, Kenya, UK and Saudi Arabia vying for the WTO Director-General position.

to be upright

A

former judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court of Justice, Hon. Mwada Balami, has celebrated sixty-seven birthday, while urging Nigerian judges to be upright in dealing with the issues of proceedings in the law court.

Balami, who stated this while speaking to newsmen during the celebration of his birthday ceremony on Wednesday at his residence in Gwagwalada, also charged Nigerian judges to be honest as well as to fear God in all ramifications.

His words: “once the judges are honest. There is nothing more than integrity, money cannot buy it for you. Again, once the judges are honest the sky will be their limit” He added: “Let the judges be honest and do their jobs in accordance with the oaths being taken by them”.

On his birthday, he thanked the Almighty God for sustaining him up to this day or time, saying that he would continue to be a happy man in life.

When asked on the challenge faced in life, Balami recalled that he had a little challenge during his primary school education, noting that from the secondary education to the university level he had no any challenge or difficult in life up till now, and said he did not one day go for somebody for mentoring.

He, however advised Nigerian youth to always depend on God, instead of looking for godfatherism to succeed in life, pointing out that he would continue to assist people anytime of the day.

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News

602 repentant Boko Haram members swear oath of allegiance As Military air strike kills several Boko Haram terrorists in Borno

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Military said 602 repentant Boko Haram members swore Oath of Allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This is as military air strike kills several terrorists in Borno State.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, while giving update about the military operations in the country, Major General John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, said the ex-insurgents have completed de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration programme at Malam Sidi Camp.

He said the Oath was taken before an 11 member quasi-judicial panel.

“The reason behind the Oath of Allegiance is to emphasize their loyalty, discipline and obedience to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby making a commitment. The implication is that, at the end of the programme, if they commit any offence, they stand to forfeit all privileges and will be liable for offence against the State.

“It is heartwarming to state that Operation Safe Corridor has successfully coordinated the DRR programme for 882 ex Boko Haram members including the 280 earlier graduated. Thus, the message here is clear to others out there; surrender and be profiled accordingly for the DRR privilege.”

Meanwhile, the Military said its Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya

Dole, 15 July 2020, destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs’) Camp and neutralized several of their fighters in massive air strikes executed at Ngwuri Gana along the Gulumba Gana Kumshe axis in the Northern part of Borno State.

The military in a statement issued yesterday by Major General John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, said the operation was carried out on the heels of Human Intelligence reports indicating that the settlement was one of the locations from where the BHTs launch attacks against own troops’ positions and villages around the general area of Kumshe.

“Aerial surveillance missions also

confirmed the heavy presence of a large number of BHTs in the settlement, some of whom were seen slinging their rifles.

“The Air Task Force therefore launched coordinated attacks on the various targets within the settlement, employing an enhanced force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships. The attack aircraft took turns in engaging the designated locations within the settlement, scoring devastating hits which led to the destruction of several structures, including the Communication Centres, as well as the neutralization of several terrorists.”

L-R: Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Lars Richter with Director of Admin, Julius Berger Nigeria Pls, Alhaji Zuberu Bayi, during their meeting with House of Representatives Committee on Works on the roads projects, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NASG condemns killing of ex-minister’s niece, nephew, promises to track bandits

BY VICTORIA IKEANO, Lafia

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he Nasarawa State government has condemned in strong terms the recent killing of the niece and nephew of a former minister of information, Hon. Labaran Maku in Gudi, Nasarawa state by alleged kidnappers who are still holding the wife of his now deceased nephew hostage, demanding for a ransom of N10 million to release her. It described the incident as ‘’unacceptable”,

promising to bring the perpetrators to justice while also assuring citizens of their safety.

Information, culture and tourism commissioner, Comrade Dogo Shammah revealed the government’s stance when this correspondent sought the Nasarawa State’s reaction to the ugly incident. He said, “This development is quite unfortunate.

The continuous attacks and killing of innocent people are totally condemned and unacceptable. The

government is doing all it can to track and bring all perpetrators of evil and banditry to book. As a committed government, we will at all times ensure the protection of our people”.

Asked what the government is doing to curb the tide of kidnapping and other forms of banditry in the state, the commissioner stated, “In order to bring to an end activities associated with criminality in Nasarawa state, government has been engaging traditional rulers and Fulani

leaders, including security operatives for strategic purposes”.

Comrade Shammah called on the general public to be alert always and to report suspected and strange people in their communities to the appropriate authorities.

Recall that unknown gunmen reportedly stormed the residence of Labaran Maku’s elder brother, Alhaji Usman Sule Maku, shot at the older Maku’s daughter, Sa’adatu Usman Maku (a Pharmacy graduate awaiting

NYSC call up) and whisking away her elder brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Salihu Usman Maku.

Salihu Maku’s corpse was later found in a nearby bush. At the time of his death, he was an Immigration Officer in the Nasarawa State Command.

Nasarawa State Police Command public relations officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ramhan Nansel was unavailable for comments when contacted on phone.

Fraud allegations: PDP demands Magu’s arraignment in court

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the delay by the Federal Government to arraign the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, over allegations of fraud, is raising public apprehensions over the integrity of the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

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

The party said the delay is

heightening suspicion in the public space over alleged attempt to give Magu a soft landing in order to cover up for certain top officials of the Buhari administration as well as some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged to have been indicted by the suspended EFCC chairman, in the course of his investigation by the Presidential Panel.

The PDP as explained that its position is predicated on conflicting reports on the status of the processes related to Magu’s on-going investigations and the direction of the Federal Government on the matter.

According to the statement, “Our party holds that where there are no undesirable underhand dealings, any government that is committed to the fight against corruption, in such a manner that the Buhari Presidency wants the world to believe it does, should have since perfected its processes and arraign the suspended EFCC acting Chairman in court, particularly with the weight of allegations and revelations unearthed at the Presidential panel.

“The fact is that the allegations of fraud including alleged stealing of billions of naira recovered by the

EFCC among other accusations, which also include alleged transfer of stolen money to certain government officials, are already in the public domain.

“The expectation of Nigerians therefore is for the Federal Government to immediately arraign Magu before a court of competent jurisdiction and prosecute him in line with the dictates of our laws.

“Nigerians are apprehensive that the EFCC investigation might go the way of the huge cover up in the handling of cases of unbridled treasury looting in the National Emergency Management Agency

(NEMA), the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among others where indicted officials were given a pat on the wrist without prosecution.

“Our party charges the Buhari Presidency to note that the world is watching the handling of the EFCC fraud case with keen interest”, it said.

The PDP therefore urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to arraign Magu and all those indicted in the matter before a court of competent jurisdiction without any further delay.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

PAGE 6

News COVID-19: UNICEF calls for routine vaccination

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

U

nited Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has called on Nigerian government to ensure routine vaccination during this pandemic.

UNICEF said that the country is facing a critical moment of choice, wherein children can either be protected from a host of preventable diseases - or face an uncertain future and possibly dire health prospects.

UNICEF in a statement issued yesterday by Oluwatosin Akingbulu, its Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, said the call came as UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of an alarming decline in global vaccine coverage due to a COVID-19 pandemic that is disrupting the delivery and uptake of immunization services around the world.

“This is a critical moment for Nigeria’s children. We can either seize it – or condemn millions of children to preventable illness or even death,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria.

“We are in a strong position here in Nigeria – we have a full stock of routine immunization vaccines and can use the strong community outreach programmes across the country, not only to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but to also ensure children receive vaccinations for diseases we can easily prevent.

We must seize this moment to be creative and act wisely,” said Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Global disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are threatening to reverse hard-won progress in immunization rates worldwide, according to new data by WHO and UNICEF. At stake is critical progress made over the last decades in reaching more children and adolescents with a wider range of vaccines, including in Nigeria.

However, despite this progress, Nigeria still contributes 30 percent of the global number of unimmunized children between the ages of 0 and 5.

“We have a long way to go to ensure greater protection for children against disease – and vaccination rates, including against the highly contagious and deadly measles virus, are in danger of lapsing,” said Peter Hawkins. “Let’s seize this moment to reimagine how we bring vaccinations to children, leveraging on existing community structures for COVID-19 prevention, to improve vaccination rates too - and ensure a brighter and healthier future for Nigeria’s children.”

Lunguda/Waja communal clash: Police arrest sponsor, 15 others in Yola From Umar Dankano,Yola

T

he Adamawa state Police Command has arrested one Alhaji Halilu Lafiya and fifteen (15) others in connection with the Lunguda/Waja communal crisis in the state.

Spokesman of the command,DSP Suleiman Nguroje disclosed the arrest in a press statement issued in Yola, Thursday, stressing that the command while enforcing the law has apprehended Alhaji Halilu and fifteen others in connection with the crisis.

Nguroje explained that the police operatives have since swung in to investigation which yielded

positive results with the arrest and recovering two guns and some dangerous weapons .

“The Adamawa state police command wishes to inform the general public that,following the communal clash in Guyuk and Lafiya in Lamurde local government Area that resulted to lost of lives and properties.

“The command while enforcing the law has so far apprehended one Alhaji Halilu Lafiya and fifteen others in connection with the case and all are undergoing investigation.

“The command calls on members of the general public particularly those in Guyuk and

Lafiya communities to remain calm and continue to give useful information to police.The statement added While assuring the public of its primary objective of protection of lives and properties,the command advised people to desist from taking laws in to their hands rather report to security outfits of any injustice mated on them.

In a related development,the state government has constituted a 7 man administrative panel to look in to the prolonged communal crisis so as to proffers lasting solutions in addressing it once and for all.

Director General media and

communications to Governor Fintiri,Solomon Kumagar disclosed the development in a press statement issued yesterday in Yola stating that the special administrative panel is to investigate the recent crisis between Lunguda and Waja communities in Dumna of Guyuk district.

It added that the panel is to be chaired by General Harris Dzarma (rtf),with Archbishop Musa Panti Fillibus,Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza,Chairman Muslim council,Gambo Jika,Imam Bappare Umar Kem,Pastor Emmanuel Kwagherga as members.

R-L: Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tolulope Sadipe, members of the Committee, Hon. Yuguda Hassan Kila and Hon. Olaifa Jimoh Aremu, during the meeting with the NAPTIP, at the National Assembly, yesyetday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

USAID launches $19.2m Child Health Award to support 76,000 HIV orphaned children

U

nited States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission has launched 19.2 million dollars Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award Region 4 (ICHSSAA 4) to support 76,000 HIV Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC).

USAID made this known in a statement by the Public Affairs Department of U.S Embassy in Abuja.

According to the agency, the new activity is kick-starting in Bauchi and Adamawa States.

It said that the USAID’s Country Director, Stephen Haykin, joined Bauchi State Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Child Development, Hajara Jibrin, at the virtual launch of the new activity.

The new activity was designed to protect about 76,000 vulnerable children and their households,

made vulnerable or orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bauchi and Adamawa states.

It said the $19.2 million ICHSSAA 4 activity was among four new USAID OVC programmes that was targeting about 450,000 people in six states.

It said that the Thevity’s integrated approach aimed to protect young people from the stigma of association with HIV and eliminate the perception of people living with HIV as anything less than fully productive community members.

It added that this USAID assistance would help Nigeria achieve a healthier, more resilient and educated population through support to children and their families made vulnerable to HIV. It quoted Haykin as saying at the virtual launch, “we hope its successful practices and procedures can be duplicated

and scaled up by state and local governments both in Bauchi and Adamawa.

“Over the next five years, ProHealth International, will implement ICHSSA 4 in concert with other indigenous nongovernmental organisations in Adamawa and Bauchi states.

“To provide much needed HIV prevention, treatment, protection, and care and Support services to over 76,000 vulnerable children and their households.

“Working with indigenous c o m m u n i t y - b a s e d organisations, ICHSSA 4 will respond to specific needs of children living with HIV and their families, survivors of sexual violence, and children and adolescents at high risk of HIV. “The activity will focus on strengthening families, communities, government

systems, and civic institutions that care for HIV infected, affected, and at risk OVC and adolescents, and help teens stay healthy, stay in school, and lead safe and stable lives.

“The five-year ICHSSA 4 will build on the successes of other past and present USAID investments in partnership with local Nigerian organisations and state governments.

“To continue support OVCs, including the launches of the COVID-19 Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) in nine states and will help further solidify USAID’s relationship with state counterparts,” he said.

The Bauchi State First lady, Dr Aisha Bala Muhammad, while speaking at the launch, said the project would ensure provision of quality services for orphans and vulnerable children in a sustainable manner.(NAN)

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

FEC okays 2021-2023 MTEF, N12.66trn 2021 budget projection

By Egena Sunday Ode

CRIME News

Troops arrest 7 suspected sea pirates in Delta

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Military said its troops of 3, battalion, Operation Delta Safe, arrested 7 suspected sea pirates at Snake creek in Warri SouthWest LGA of Delta State.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, while giving update on the military operations in the

country, Major General John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, said the suspects who claimed to be members of Ogje-Ijoh Coastal Watch were allegedly extorting money and other valuables from the locals within the creek.

He listed items recovered from them to include; 2 double

barrel guns, one pump action gun, 12 live cartridges and 6 handsets.

“Similarly, Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE discovered and destroyed a sea robbers camp containing 80,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Otoyo in Eastern Obolo LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

“Relatedly, troops of

146 battalion and Forward Operating Base Bonny raided militants’ hideouts at Ijawkiri in Bonny LGA of Rivers State. During the raid, troops recovered a pistol loaded with 6 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 17 phones, one Walkie Talkie and speedboat mounted with a 75HP engine.”

T

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) with N12.66 trillion budget projection for each of the three fiscal years.

Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clement Agba, who disclosed this at the end of the weekly FEC meeting, listed other projections in the budget as $40 per barrel oil benchmark, oil production volume of 1.6 million barrel per day, inflation rate of 11.9 per cent, projected gross domestic growth rate of 3 percent and revenue target of N7.50 trillion.

On the projected revenue for 2021, Again said: “yes, I spoke of the various assumptions that have been made in terms of parameters and those assumptions are what drives revenues that we get and in terms of how you are able to reflate the economy and spend helps your GDP. “For Nigeria, it was projected that by the end of this year we should have the GDP top at -4.42 percent. However, with the stimulus if properly done and executed, we expect that the GDP will improve to about negative -1.8 percent.

“So in terms of the revenue projection, for 2020 it was N5.84 trillion but for 2021 we expect that it will be N7.50 trillion.

“Even though the oil production is much lower than our capacity, because we are restricted by the OPEC Plus quota in order to get the prices at par, we have brought in 63 Government Owned Enterprises(GOE).

We are bringing them into the budget order to be able to shore up the budget by additional N2.17 trillion into the budget, hence we are saying we are projecting a larger budget size for 2021 over and above the N10.84 trillion for the revised 2020 budget.

“When you look at the N7.5 trillion and the expectations to spend N12 trillion, yes definitely there will be gap and that gap has to be financed.

On plan for borrowing payment, he said: “Yes there is.

Even in the 2020 budget we had provisions to repay debt and in the 2021 there is provision to repay debt. There is a sinking fund, we look at the ratio and ensure that we are able to pay our debts. Of course that is why we have the debt management office to run those numbers and advise us.”

The Commandant National Defence College Rear Admiral Mackson Kadiri (right) presenting a souvenir to the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas after a paper presentation by Nigerian Navy Course 28 participants at the Naval Headquarters, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: DINFO

Reps probe NDDC over non audited accounts, expenditure of N81. 5 billion in 5 months

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday frowned at the non submission of financial reports by NDDC and the frivolous expenditure of funds running into billions of naira without developmental benefit to the people of the Niger Delta region.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Olubumi TunjiOjo (APC, Ondo) made this known during an investigative public hearing its organized to investigate financial malfeasance and other activities in the Niger Delta Development Commission.

According to him, “the visionary eyes of forerunners in our hallowed chambers caught the dire need to develop the Niger Delta region to mitigate the impact of national economic activities in the area. In, the year 2000, the National Assembly established the Act that birthed the Niger Delta Development Commission with clear mandate to develop the land and the people. 20 years after, we must ask ourselves some critical questions as the baton of preservation falls on us.

“ The forensic audit ordered

by Mr. President in NDDC must have been premised on these critical questions, perhaps the unremitting cry of the people in the region and the need to see maximum value for successive allocations. That underscores the reason this House rightly recognised the need to appropriate fund for the exercise when the Commission failed to reflect this in the its 2019 budget estimates.

The all important audit is believed to be ongoing, albeit must be without needless controversies and disconnecting allegations of corruption, hence, the need for us as a Committee to be thorough, patriotic, and unbiased in the national call to duty”.

The law maker. while reeling out the expenses as allegedly made by the NDDC said the documents submitted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Auditor General’s office showed an expenditure of N81. 5 billion in five months with a comprehensive breakdown “In the course of going the books submitted by both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) this is the total amount

spent from January to May 2020 is N81.5 billion”.

“The expenditure is as follows; 1. Community relations -N1.3 billion 2.

CondolencesN122.9 million 3. Consultancy: N83 million 4. Covid-19- N3.14 billion 5.

DTA (Duty Travel Allowance)- N486 million 6. Impress- N790.9 million 7. Lasser fever- N1.956 billion 8. Legal Services- N900 million 9. Maintenance- N220 million 10. Overseas travel- N85.6 million 11.

Project Public Communication- N1.121 billion 12. Security- N744 million 13. Staffing related paymentN8.8 billion 14. Stakeholders engagement (February 18- May 31, 2020 N248 million Total spent: N81.5 billion”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anthony Ayine, the Auditor General of the Federation and Mohammed Sabo, the representative of the Accountant General of the Federation both confirmed they had challenges in getting to audit the account books of NDDC and

urged the House to amend the constitution to reflect punitive measures for defaulters who do not submit their financial reports to their offices as of when due.

According to Auditor General, “ it has been difficult getting NDDC to respond to us which equally affected us in concluding our report. However, there has to put in place punitive measures so as to discourage to agencies that would want to go against the constitution”.

As for Mr. Sabo, “we had challenges with NDDC. We had serious difficulties getting responses from NDDC and that’s why the audit report was delayed because of getting NDDC to respond”.

Speaking with tnews men after the session, Hon Tunji-Ojo reiterated that the Committee remains focused on delivering a very exhaustive investigation result that would be a reference point in the annals of history of the Commission.

“Please note that the House has not condemned anyone, else there would be the need for investigation as directed. We are not hypothetical or condemnatory but open without prejudice”.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

PAGE 8

News Delta Agric vision begins training for 100 Extension workers From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

T

he Delta State Agricultural and Rural Development Authourity ( DARDA) in collaboration with Emiliant Integrated Global Services on Thursday began capacity training exercise for no fewer than 100 farm extension workers.

Kick starting the training at Ibusa, headquarters of Agricultural Development Programme ( ADP), the board chairman, Dr Emmanuel Tibi who spoke to Journalists said that the essence of the training was to build capacity of the 100 extension advisory recently recruited by the state government at different areas of agriculture in readiness for agric extension service delivery in rural Communities in the state.

While expressing gratitude to the state Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa for giving agriculture a priority place in his administration, Dr Tibi however reminded the participants of the need to Join the state government in its efforts to make agriculture to take its rightful place in rural Communities in the state.

He therefore appealed to the participants to translate whatever knowledge and information impacted in them from the training into meaningful agricultural ventures programme, adding that the training satisfaction with the quality of resource persons and materials will enhance development of agricultural ventures in the state.

Meanwhile, Contractors and Consultants engaged in Projects of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project ( NEWMAP) in Delta state were on Wednesday asked to align with the vision of the state government to deliver Jobs that will stand the test of time.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Chris Onogba who Confirmed this to Journalists in Asaba said” we believe in quality timely Completion and integrity in whatever we do in Delta state, the greatest disservice we can do to our people is when we allow material considerations to sway our decisions , help us to be the watch dog over the execution of the Job and ensure quality and integrity of the projects”.

WASSCE: We won’t change our position yet - FG

By Egena Sunday Ode

T

he Federal Government has reiterated its position that it would not reopen the nation’s educational institutions shut down at the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak in the country.

It also said that the decision of the Federal Ministry of Education reversing its earlier decision to reopen schools for final year secondary school students still remained in force.

Recalled that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had last week told State House Correspondents that Nigerian schools would remain shut and secondary final year students would not write the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) until the Ministry considered it safe for such to happen.

He said his Ministry considered reopening schools and allowing academic activities, including writing examinations, to resume now as too risky, considering the increasing spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in the country.

The Minister was emphatic that it would not matter if students lose a year of their study so long as the spread of the virus failed to abate.

This decision had been received with mixed reactions, mostly a huge outcry from a section of the population, including the National Assembly, which had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Ministry to rescind its position.

But speaking to State House Correspondents after the eighth virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of State for Education, Chief

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the position of the Ministry remained as earlier spelt out by Adamu Adamu last week.

However, he said the Ministry was still consulting with Education sector stakeholders on what the best position should be, adding that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) had also started consultations with West African states on the possibility of shifting dates.

“We are still meeting with parents over the decision of the Ministry. What the Minister said reflects the true position of the Ministry; we are not confident yet that everywhere is safe, the numbers from the NCDC are still alarming and we have put this before parents and all the stakeholders in the the Education ecosystem, we are still meeting with them. In fact, there’s a stakeholders’ meeting convened for

Monday.

“WAEC on its own part is also negotiating with other West African countries to look at possible shift in date. Once they are through with that meeting and hopefully when we are through with the consultation with stakeholders, if there’s any change in the Ministry’s position, we will communicate, but as it stands, the position of the Honourable Minister, as communicated to you last week, remains the position of the Ministry until further evidence to the contrary or further agreements that may alter those arise”, Nwajiuba said.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a memorandum presented by his Ministry for a contract worth N136 million, for the procurement of computers and seats for theatres in auditoriums at the University of Benin.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta, Sen. Ita Enang (R) addressing the Traditional Leaders of Omoku Communities in Rivers State, after a meeting to resolve the issues between Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Omoku Communities in Rivers State, at the PTDF Conference Hall , yesterday in Abuja

Delta Agric vision begins training for 100 Extension workers From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

T

he Delta State Agricultural and Rural Development Authourity (DARDA) in collaboration with Emiliant Integrated Global Services on Thursday began capacity training exercise for no fewer than 100 farm extension workers.

Kick starting the training at Ibusa, headquarters of Agricultural Development Programme ( ADP), the board chairman, Dr Emmanuel Tibi who spoke to Journalists said that the essence

of the training was to build capacity of the 100 extension advisory recently recruited by the state government at different areas of agriculture in readiness for agric extension service delivery in rural Communities in the state.

While expressing gratitude to the state Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa for giving agriculture a priority place in his administration, Dr Tibi however reminded the participants of the need to Join the state government in its efforts to make agriculture to take its rightful place in rural Communities in the state.

He therefore appealed to the participants to translate whatever knowledge and information impacted in them from the training into meaningful agricultural ventures programme, adding that the training satisfaction with the quality of resource persons and materials will enhance development of agricultural ventures in the state.

Meanwhile, Contractors and Consultants engaged in Projects of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project ( NEWMAP) in Delta state were on Wednesday asked

to align with the vision of the state government to deliver Jobs that will stand the test of time.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Chris Onogba who Confirmed this to Journalists in Asaba said” we believe in quality timely Completion and integrity in whatever we do in Delta state, the greatest disservice we can do to our people is when we allow material considerations to sway our decisions , help us to be the watch dog over the execution of the Job and ensure quality and integrity of the projects”.

Aniagwu charges Journalists on professional ethics From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

M

edia practitioners in Delta have been called upon to stick to the ethics of journalism in their reportage and eschew speculative and fictitious reporting.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made the call on Wednesday in Asaba, while reacting to reports of falsehood trending in the social media deliberately intended to malign senior government officials in the state.

Aniagwu, who particularly made reference to one of such reports, told journalists that the linking memos to the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol, was outright misrepresentation by the online reporter, and said that memos were public documents.

He stated that the administration of

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was anchored on transparency, accountability and due process, emphasising that no government operated verbally but with memos and other vital documents.

“We need to bring certain development to your notice. We have observed that there appears to be some hirelings, particularly in social media.”

“You will recall that sometime last year, I hinted to you that there are individuals who have become tools and are always willing to write and communicate issues that are, by every sense of imagination, at variance with the realities of the moment.

“At that time, if you would recall and even up till this moment, I did say that no malicious publication would deter the government from the goals that the governor had set for the administration, which at this point, is aimed at building a Stronger Delta.”

``They wouldn’t deter us from this line nor are we going to be distracted by such report.

“We have observed in the last three weeks or a month that these same elements have gone ahead to take advantage of the privilege that they have in the social media to begin to write about memos that were used for the purpose of governance in the last five years.

“Let me make it abundantly clear that the business of government and the business of private sector operator are usually run via memos because you must communicate (write) for the purpose of evidencing what you are asking the government to do, because the money has to be accounted for. ``We don’t run the government verbally,” Aniagwu added.

He commended journalists in the state for their support to the Okowa

administration, and solicited the sustenance of the ``robust’’ relationship between the media and the state government.

On the issue of property tax, Aniagwu explained that it was not a new policy, but that the state government was only strengthening it with a plan to embark on enumeration in urban areas of the state with a view to bringing more property into the tax net.

On the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of the state, he said that the state government generated N7.8 billion in January, N5.3 billion in February, N6.04 billion in March, N3.9 billion in April, N3.5 billion in May and N4 billion in June, 2020.

The commissioner stated that every transaction of the administration of Governor Okowa was done transparently and not in secrecy.

He advised residents of the state living on river banks or flood-prone areas to be at alert and relocate to upland as soon as the water level increased to avert disaster.

According to him, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had predicted that 18 local government areas of the state would witness flood as a result of the increase of water from River Niger.

On COVID-19, Aniagwu noted that the state government was doing well in the treatment of confirmed positive cases, adding that persons with mild symptoms of the virus were currently on isolation in their homes and receiving treatment He advocated the need for residents of the state to continue to obey all protocols put in place by the government and NCDC so as to effectively checkmate the disease.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

PAGE 9

News

Matawalle refutes allegations of donating N100m to Islamic University in Jigawa From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Military drills boreholes for communities in Benue, Plateau A

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

s part of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities, the Nigerian Military has constructed boreholes for communities in Benue and Plateau state.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, while giving update on the military operations in the

country, Major General John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, said Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke carried out the projects.

“These include the provision of borehole to a Fulani community at Miyango and construction of school in Pashu community of Plateau State.

“Equally, Operation Whirl Stroke has drilled three new boreholes at Guma LGA of Benue State.”

“From the foregoing, peace is gradually returning to the troubled locations in the NorthCentral zone of the country, while the confidence of the local populace is being enhanced.

He added that farmers are

gradually returning to their farms as a result of troops’ patrols in the hinterlands to deny armed herdsmen, rustlers and other criminals, freedom of action.

“In addition, the ongoing CIMIC activities is fostering the much desired Civil-Military Cooperation between troops and the local populace.”

T

he Governor of Zamfara State Bello Mohammed Matawalle has refuted allegations that he recently donated N100m for the establishment of Islamic University in Jigawa State.

Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Governor, Zailani Bappa stated this in a statement made available to media in kaduna yesterday Zailani Bappa noted that the donation of N100m was for the establishment of an Islamic University in Shinkafi town, the headquarters of Shinkafi LGA of the Zamfara State.

The statement, therefore, called on the general public to disregard such reports as it was a mere such fabrication to mislead the public.

According to the governor, the leadership of the Izala led

by Sheikh Bala Lau drew his attention to the school which was under construction in Shinkafi town during courtesy visit.

The statement noted Matawalle out of his magnanimity decided to donate the sum of N100m to the school since he was told it is an Islamic University.

The statement read: “lt has come to our notice that some online media organisations have carried a story indicating that his Excellency, Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has donated the sum of N100 million for the construction of an Islamic University in Jigawa State.

“Sahara Reporters, particularly insinuated that the governor made the donation at a time when the state is among the poorest in the country.

“It is, therefore, pertinent to call on the general public to disregard this information as a phantom fabrication from the truth of what actually transpired.”

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2019 Batch B Stream II corps members in three hearty cheers during their passing out ceremony, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

Bauchi law makers to pass bill for adult and non formal institute From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

A

bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Institute of Adult and Nonformal Education Kirfi sponsored

by Hon. Abdulkadir Umar Dewu representing Kirfi has passed second reading in Bauchi State House of Assembly.

Leading debate on the Bill,

yesterday in Bauchi, Hon Abdulkadir Umar Dewu explained that the rising number of people without education is frightening and the greater challenge is in the Non-formal education sector with over 40 million adult nonliterate population hence the establishment of of Adult and Nonformal education in the country is premised on the fact that it can help to bridge the existing gap and

improve the numerical deficiency to a reasonable height.

Dewu explained that the only Adult and Non-formal Education Institute in Kangere has been upgraded to College of Education Kangere.

“Based on this development, there is need to reestablish another one in order to meet the promise of delivering the Education For All (EFA) initiative, a programme

led by UNESCO which is aimed at the learning needs of all children, youth and adults.”

He said that the Bill is intended to crave for legitimate establishment of the Institute in Kirfi Local Government Area so that the combined population of the axis and the entire State will continue to reap the huge benefits derivable from the Institute.

Era of leaving veterans to watch from the fence is over- Bauchi NUJ From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

T

he Bauchi State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Umar Sa’idu has assured that the era of leaving veterans to watch from the fence will be over under the current leadership of the union.

Comrade Umar Sa’idu gave the assurance recently at the inauguration of the two ex-

officials of the council held at the conference hall of the NUJ Press Centre Bauchi.

The NUJ Chairman said the move is to enable the new officials of the council to tap from the experiences of the veterans in an efforts to move the union to a greater height.

He explained that, the decision to appoint the two ex-officio who will be part of the State Working Committee of the Council is a

constitutional mandate just like the constitution of the advisory committee.

According to him, the two ex-officio were selected based on their outstanding contributions towards the development of the union in Bauchi. “ During our campaign visits to various chapels, we have promised to carry along our Senior colleagues especially the former chairmen of the council

and media executives in order to gain from their experiences. “ I am happy to inform you that, seven out of the nine former leaders that are still alive have promised to work hand in hand with the present exco for the progress of the union.” “ I want to remind the appointees that they were not appointed just to add the number of SWC members, but to use their experiences and contribute

towards moving the profession forward, we hope you will not misuse the trust given to you.”

The State NUJ boss reaffirmed the readiness of the present executives of the council to ensure adherence to the provisions of the union’s constitution for not only to record successes, but to consolidate on the gains of the previous leaders.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

News

EDITORIAL

Tinubu denies having annointed candidate in Ondo APC primary

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday said he has no anointed candidate in the Ondo governorship election and he is not seeking to influence the outcome of the primary scheduled to hold on July 20.

In a statement made available to journalists titled Re: Ondo Guber Poll May Lead to Crisis in SouthWest APC, Tinubu also said contrary to reports, he is not opposed to the re-election bid of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state but wishes him well in his aspiration.

In reference to the former Lagos state governor, all he desires is a free, fair and credible primary that is “is run according to the dictates of

internal democracy and are devoid of bias for or against any candidate”.

“In the matter of Ondo governorship race, Asiwaju Tinubu has stated his impartiality. As a leader of the party, he has no favoured or disfavoured candidate in the race. Neither is he trying to influence matters behind the scene in any regard”.

“His hope is that all credible and strong party members who seek the nomination will be able to face each other in a fair contest. Let them compete for the party’s banner openly and without imbalance or slant in the contest”.

“Whoever reaches the finish line before the others, shall be the nominee of the party for the elections later this year. Asiwaju will gladly and actively stand by the party’s candidate

to win the general election”.

“It is at that point that you will see Asiwaju in strong action in support of a candidate. When you see him in action there shall be no mistake as to what his objectives are. The APC candidate will have a formidable ally at his side”.

“Thus, the suggestion given by the report that Asiwaju has a favourite candidate is a fabrication of great falsity. Thus, he will not roil if a candidate is disqualified provided that the disqualification is based on a non-biased examination of the factual record”.

“Interestingly, the party’s Screening Committee led by Alhaji Tumsa has not officially stated that it has disqualified any aspirant. If any aspirant is disqualified, however, such an aspirant has the right of

appeal”.

Speaking further, Tinubu said he wishes Governor Akeredolu well and he believes the governor should be given the opportunity to present his scorecard to party members who will then determine if they want him to continue in office or not.

“Those who try to pit Asiwaju Tinubu against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu should also cease their fable rousing. Asiwaju holds good will toward Governor Akeredolu.

He believes the governor should have the opportunity to set out his record and resume before party members and let them determine if the governor or another one of our able candidates is the person they prefer to lead the state”.

“One would expect the governor to

CBN Anchor Borrowers: 4,000 cotton farmers benefit from Niger state From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

N

o fewer than 4,000 cotton farmers in Niger State have benefitted from the distribution of farming inputs of Central Bank of Nigeria CBN Anchor Borrowers scheme for 2020 farming season.

The Secretary Niger State chapter of National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), Alhaji Nura Hashimu disclosed yesterday while speaking with our reporter during the distribution of the items in Minna.

He said that the materials distributed to include seeds, organic fertilizers, sprayers, chemicals and insecticides to the sum of N174,000 to each beneficiary.

Hashimu noted that the repayment of the loan is after harvest in which Niger state came 4th in times of repayment last year 2019 after Gombe, Katsina and Zamfara states.

He noted that CBN has assigned companies who are to purchase the produce directly from the farmers at reasonable price of about N185,000 per tone just as last year CBN bought it at the rate of N205,000 per tone.

The Secretary revealed that if the farmers acquired suitable lands, early planting and comply with the agronomist guidelines and policy, a hectare of land will be able to produce between 2 - 3 tones of cotton.

He explained that Niger state performed very well last year assuring to do better for 2020 farming season.

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger State Pension Board is said to commenced the suspended deduction of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) from the state and local government civil servants in the state as recommended by the state committee and approved by governor Abubakar Sani Bello.

The Director General DG of Pension Board, Malam Mohammad U. Tinau made the disclosure in an interactive session with journalists yesterday in Minna, saying that this will take effect from June 2020.

He explained that all necessary measures has been put in place to forestall the past experienced were the state could not secured the funds accrue from the scheme hence the suspension

PAGE 11

have a solid chance in the primaries.

Yet, along with the governor, the party has the benefit of numerous capable candidates seeking the nomination”.

“Too many people incorrectly see a strong field of candidates as something wrong. They do not understand democracy and are thus behind the times. Allowing those who feel the civic duty free space to run for office strengthens the party and our overall democracy”.

“There should be a competition of ideas and programs. Such competition brings vitality. This does not connote disrespect to the incumbent. It merely exalts the democratic ideal”.

“In the end, Asiwaju is for the party and the candidate chosen by the party, who that will be, the primary will tell us” the statement reads.

State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Plateau, Caroline Embu (R), presents Discharge Certificate to a corps member during the passing out ceremony of the 2019 Batch B Stream II corps members, yesterday in Jos.

He warned beneficiaries to disassociate themselves from the dealers who are out to short change them of their produce after harvest by deceiving them as such will bring down the economic benefits to farmers in the state.

The bank officials were on ground to monitor the distribution of the items to the beneficiaries according to stipulations.

A beneficiary, Ahmed Ibrahim representing Kontagora Yanma Young Farmers Association expressed satisfaction over the kind gesture and intervention from the federal government assuring to perform better this year in times of bumper harvest.

Photo; NAN

Okowa congratulates Bayelsa counterpart on Supreme Court victory

From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

G

overnor of Delta, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated his Bayelsa counterpart, Sen. Douye Diri, on his victory at the Supreme Court.

He said that the verdict of the apex court on the pre-election matter had concluded the legal battle on the governor’s candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Nov. 19, 2019 governorship poll in Bayelsa.

The Apex court dismissed the appeal filed by a governorship aspirant on the party’s platform, Chief Timi Alaibe, challenging the emergence of Diri as the candidate in the election.

The Court declined to delve into the matter, citing lack of jurisdiction as the issue was an internal affair of the party.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Governor Okowa, said that by this judgment, the Supreme Court had put to rest all contending issues on the governorship election in Bayelsa.

He pointed out that the victory was for all parties as it remained an internal affair of the PDP, and urged the governor to reach out to all concerned in order to have an allinclusive government.

Okowa also urged the challenger, Alaibe, to sheathe his sword as the future was still bright for him.

“Bayelsans, their friends and neighbours waited with bated breath for this judgment.

“My dear brother governor, your ‘long walk’ to victory must not be taken for granted. You must reward the state with open, transparent and purposeful leadership because the people of Bayelsa can’t settle for less.

“Let me also appeal to my good friend, Chief Timi Alaibe and all other contenders, to join hands with the governor to develop Bayelsa to truly be ‘the glory of all lands’.

“It is only when leaders work together with same goal in mind that the state can accelerate its development.

“This judgment brings to an end

all contests for the office of Governor of Bayelsa and governance can’t be pigeonholed if it has to address the good of the people” he said.

The governor added that the judgement of the apex court on the matter was a victory for the nation’s democracy and a reaffirmation of the supremacy of the party in handling its internal issues.

He commended the judges at the apex court ``for refusing to delve into the matter’’.

“The ruling of the Supreme Court will go a long way in restoring the hope and confidence of Nigerian people on the sanctity of the judiciary,” Okowa stated.

Niger Govt commences CPS from June six (6) years ago March 2015 by the past administration of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The DG noted that with the current review of pension laws in the state, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has approved the 7.5% for employees deduction with governments to contribute 10.5% instead of the past same percentage while 5% for Retirement Savings Account (RSA).

He stressed that the state CPS Commission led by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso including all the relevant stakeholders has taken in to cognizance all the foreseen problems associated with the scheme and possible recommendations

to curb them accordingly.

Tinau stated that the resumption was sequel to the issues bedeviled with old pension that led to the introduction of CPS in Nigeria in 2004 in which Niger state started in 2007 and 2009 for state and local government workers respectively.

He maintained that only five (5) Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) were recommended to manage the funds now after serious scrutiny rather than the past nineteen (19), they include; Premium Pension for state, Trust Fund for local government, FAD for SUBEB while two others to 5% deduction to manage the state and council funds, just as the on 14th June, 2020 the report

was approved and Pension Board have swung into action for its implementation therein.

He reiterated that funds deducted must be remitted the Pension Board whose accounts are transit in which the deposited money must be transfer within two weeks, therefore, nobody can temper with the said money warning that any PFA who can not measure up would be deregistered.

Director General further revealed that over ninety percent (90%) of the reversed CPS workers has been refunded and those few outstanding has gaps that are to be sorted out, adding that Group Life Insurance is very important because it’s for death while in

service hence they are entitled to 3 years emolument before the RSA payment to the next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Director General has reassured workers of utmost accountability and transparency in all its dealings while he commended the state governor for the reversal of the scheme and steps taken to properly safeguard the said funds.

Consequently, the board monthly payments of pension stood at N478 million for state and N287 million for local governments while revealing that the alleged N6.2 billion missing during last administration said that N5.778 billion was discovered after a forensic auditing.

P

Free states from bondage

resident Muhammadu Buhari get the President to accept a delay, reportedly has delayed the Fayemi who is the chairman of the gazetting of the Executive Order Nigerian Governors Forum, said: “We 10 which would have compelled have a delegation of the Forum here to state governors to ensure financial discuss some matters of fundamental autonomy for state legislatures and importance to the nation and the judiciaries. Governor Kayode Fayemi President has asked that we meet of Ekiti State announced that recently with the Attorney General, the Chief in Abuja while briefing journalists at of Staff and the Minister of Finance, the end of a meeting of state governors Planning and Budget on the issue. It with Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Prof. is an issue that has seized the interest Ibrahim Gambari. of many of you in the media and a lot Executive Order 10 which the of people in the federation, it is about President signed last month requires the autonomy of the State legislature the accountant-general of and the judiciary and the federation to deduct we’ve met with the from source money due President before now to state legislatures and on it and the President The executive was very pleased that judiciaries from monthly federally generated we, as governors, are order was revenues from allocations united in support welcomed of state governments of the autonomy of across board State judiciary and that refuse to grant such autonomy. The Attorneythe legislature; that’s with the General of the Federation the position of the exception of 36 governors of the and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, earlier the governors. federation. had said the Executive No surprise here “What is an issue Order No. 10 of 2020, is the constitutionality because they of the modalities of made it mandatory for all states of the federation would lose the what had been put in to make allocations to control they the Executive Order the legislature and the and the President have always was gracious enough judiciary a first-line charge had over their to say ok, given your in their budgets. According to him, “a Presidential legislatures and concerns about that we Implementation Committee will delay the gazetting judiciaries for of the order and allow was constituted to fashion out strategies and modalities as long as they you to meet with the for the implementation of remained tied Attorney General financial autonomy for the and the Minister of to their apron Finance to work out State Legislature and State strings Judiciary in compliance the modalities.” Fayemi with section 121(3) of the said the governors were Constitution of the Federal Republic already meeting with speakers of state of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended).” houses of assembly over autonomy for The executive order was welcomed the legislature. “In any case, we have across board with the exception of the been meeting at our level with the governors. No surprise here because Conference of Speakers.” they would lose the control they have The governors know they are always had over their legislatures and fighting a battle they cannot win. The judiciaries for as long as they remained constitution is not on their side. The tied to their apron strings. Failing in best they had hoped for was the delay their effort at stopping the order, they the President had graciously given have used their number to postpone them - to prepare for the inevitable. its implementation.

Buhari has shown he has a listening Explaining how they managed to ear, but do the needful he must.

“

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Chairman “To be the market Malam Wada Maida, place of ideas and Oon, Fnge the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the Chief Operating Officer Editor, Daily truth, maintaining the Hameed M. Bello, PhD highest professional and ethical standards while Manager, administration delivering value to Hassan Hammanyaji our stakeholders”

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Letter to the Editor

Pantami and His ‘Houses’

O

n 3rd July 2020, Sahara reporters, an online news outlet published a report supposedly, to expose properties owned by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Ali Pantami. The online news medium reported Dr. Pantami as having three luxury houses in Abuja. Sahara Reporters must have employed a deep undercover method of investigative journalism to have unearthed such information?

But, did Sahara Reporters employ the right and ethical procedures for investigative journalism? Professional media houses Newspapers always employ the best practices in investigative journalism.

Investigative journalism is vital for safeguarding democracy and freedom of speech. It is an important component of a just society.

The common people rely on investigative journalists for accurate, factual information with solid evidence to keep them abreast of discreet inworkings of politicians.

An in-depth look into the claims by Sahara Reporters on Pantami showed that Sahara Reporters failed to present any evidence and facts. An investigative journalist, Taiwo Hassan Adebayo said “Investigative journalism is a fact-minding enterprise and it’s not enough to make claims. You have to present evidence for any claim and be transparent about the process, that is, show how you obtained the evidence.

I’m talking about documents/ records linking the subjects to the said properties and how you obtained the evidence. Did you get from the authorities?

Did a source tell you? Did you do some checks linking the properties to offshore firms held by the people you accused?”

Real investigative reports are always fair and they must be fair- Sahara Reporters was not fair- they didn’t attempt to get through to the accused subject to ensure fairness and to help it in further checks by comparing it with other independent sources. One can conclude that Sahara Reporters didn’t follow any laid-down procedures of investigative reporting.

An investigative journalist could spend months or years

researching and preparing a report. Sahara Reporters’ publication was a rushed unprofessional job, done just to attack the Minister.

On the other hand, we have to also analyse Pantami’s response.

Uwa Suleiman, Pantami’s spokesperson said: “For the purpose of setting the records straight, the Honourable Minister has not purchased a single property anywhere In the world, in the period he has been in office as a Minister. One of the apartments in the images published is one which the Honourable Minister has occupied since January 2017, more than two years before becoming a minister, while the other one is a house he rented since 17th December 2019” Though, the response was not detailed, but the points were made.

The targeted media attacks on Pantami in recent times are nothing short of sheer politicsthe politics of 2023 presidency is at stake. But why the attacks on Pantami? Ali Isa Pantami is a potential vice presidential candidate.

He has many advantages, which his potential rivals don’t have. He is young, highly educated with a Ph.D. from the United Kingdom at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, and he has a very rich résumé. Politically, Pantami is a good ‘material’ to balance a presidential ticket. He is from North-East Nigeria- he fits into the agitation for the northeast to present the vice-presidential candidate in 2023. He is a household name in the Northwest. They will feel at home with him – he is their cousin.

He is an Islamic scholar with a very large cult-like followership nationwide. Pantami is Buhari’s strong confidant and ally. With Buhari’s 12 million-strong vote still intact, Pantami stands to benefit from it. So, Pantami from the north-east as vicepresidential candidate with any presidential candidate from the south, especially the southwest, APC’s 2023 strategy to retain the presidency is a done deal.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa state 08036070980, zaymohd@ yahoo.com

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

PAGE 13

Comment

Revised 2020 Budget: Education and other concerns

Why a National Blood Service Commission is critical

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

By E.J Suberu & Adaeze Oreh

A

dversity comes in many forms-acute, cyclical, long-term, and systemic. It sometimes affects individuals or single firms; other times it cuts across a wide swath of entities. However, its pathology is consistent: Adversity constrains a key resource, which then depresses demand, supply, or both. That gives rise to unmet needs and releases other resources that become redundant.

Unarguably, the above words by Bhaskar Chakravorti, a distinguished scholar at MIT’s Legatum center for Development and Entrepreneurship, made a whole lot of sense. But one distinction to make is that while some afflictions are natural, many are self inflicted and the rests are inflicted by those in the position of authorities on their subject via bad policies and enactments of unjust laws.

As we all know, while an unjust law on the other hand is a code that is out of harmony with moral laws’, Bad governance on its part entails the lack of diligent exercising of the economic, political and administrative authorities to manage a country’s affair at all levels within the rule of law in such a manner that delivers maximum dividends to citizens’.

Conventionally also, governance is anchored on the constitution and effective leadership. With good policies and just laws, societies develop the capacity to strive for development. And government has great roles to play in planning for and accelerating this development process.

Despite this importance, there are glaring examples of situations where the planning processes and strategies by Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria were characterized by discontinuity, reversals and somersaults. Or total lack of clear definition of problems, the goals to be achieved, or means chosen to address the problemswith virtually no consideration for connecting the

poor with good means of livelihood-food, education, job and security.

Take as an illustration, a study by Olu Ajakaiye, Afeikhena T. Jerome, David Nabena, Olufunke A. Alaba published by the United Nations World Institute for Development Economic Research, that examines the relationship between growth and employment in Nigeria and gain insights into the country’s paradox of high economic growth alongside rising poverty and inequality.

The findings indicated that Nigeria’s growth over the last decade has been ‘jobless’ and sustained largely by factor reallocations rather than productivity enhancement. Labour reallocations have been mainly from agriculture and manufacturing towards the low productive services sector. Employment elasticity of growth was positive and quite low, reflecting the country’s poor overall employment generation record, especially in manufacturing.

From the above, it is easy to situate without labour that the greatest ill afflicting the country has to do with leadership. Unlike the developed countries, Nigeria’s case is nourished by what development practitioners tagged ‘ignorance hypothesis. A belief that poor countries are poor not because of lack of natural resources or their geographical locations but because they have a lot of market failures and because policymakers do not know how to get rid of them and have heeded the wrong advice in the past Latest revelation supporting this argument is the content of the revised nation’s budget signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 10th July 2020.

Initially, the revised budget sought to reduce 2020 budget from N10.6 trillion to N10.5 trillion, but, was, however, increased by the lawmakers to N10.8 billion, higher than the initial approved budget in December 2019.

A glance at revised development shows that N422 billion was earmarked for statutory transfers, while

N4.9 trillion was for recurrent expenditure. Capital expenditure will take N2.4 trillion and N2.9 trillion, about a quarter of the budget, will be used to service debt. N500 billion was earmarked as intervention funds for the fight against COVID-19, while the health sector got N186 billion allocation.

Indeed, considering the precarious health crisis going around the world, the allocation of N500 billion as intervention funds for the fight against COVID-19, and N186 billion allocations for the health sector is but a welcome development. That notwithstanding, there are some observations that plagues the budget.

Most fundamental, is the ‘traditional’ attention given to recurrent expenditure. In civilized climes, attention conventionally goes to capital expenditure/ projects. The reason stems from two folds. First, giving superior attention to capital expenditure ensures adequate infrastructural development and brings about urban upgrading, renewal and elimination of slums. Secondly, in the process of executing the above, employments of various kinds are created ranging from temporal to permanent.

Another inherent ill associated with the provisions in this year’s budget; titled ‘Budget of Sustaining Growth and Job Creation’, is that it exacerbated the governments’ mindless or nearexclusion of the education sector from the nation’s budgetary allocations. Even those of us that initially believed that the present government admission in 2017 and the funding of education at all levels in the country is below the benchmark recommended by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), will bring a change, has finally come to the conclusion that nothing has changed.

To explain this fact, the budgetary allocation for education in 2020 is N671.07 billion constituting 6.7%. Of the N671.07 billion allocated to the Federal Ministry of education, the sum includes the statutory

transfer allocated to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) which is N111.79 Billion.

UBEC intervention funds as we know are focused on collaboration with other state actors towards improving access to basic education and reducing Nigeria’s out of school children.

When compared with 2019, there is however a 44.37% increase in capital expenditure.Yet, a short fall in the UNESCO’s benchmark. Further analysis reveals that the following were allocated in the previous years; 10.7% in 2016, 6% in 2017, 7.1% in 2018 and 5.9% in 2019. Such allocations to the education sector can only bring affliction to the nation’s development.

Working with the above information, it rings the following questions; does this strategy make a political and socioeconomic sense? with the of Nigerian children currently put at over 13.1million,will the UBEC intervention funds pegged at N111.79 Billion be good enough to get these children off the streets? What do we make of the fact that approximately 85.2% of the total allocation, going by reports, accounts for recurrent expenditure? What shall we say about the reality that at a time the world is re-doubling their investments on research and education, has become the ripe time for Nigeria to remain stagnated to their out-of-fashioned 6.7% allocation?

Let me end this piece with this quote from Barrack Obama; I believe we have a mutual responsibility to make sure our schools are properly funded, our teachers are properly paid, and our students have access to an affordable college education. If we don’t do something about all that, then, nothing else matters.

Utomi is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant.

Social Media Bill and Hate Speech Bill – Drop them now!

By David Hundeyin

A

s the de-facto leader of his political party which holds a majority in the National Assembly, it is time for Mr. Buhari to have some frank and much-needed conversations with his party members in and around Three Arms Zone about what year it is and which country we are in.

In November 2019, there was a furore in the Nigeria civil society space when two bills were introduced into the House of Representatives.

Officially known as the “Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019” and the “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches Bill, 2019”, they quickly gained public notoriety as the “Social Media Bill” and the “Hate Speech Bill.”

There is little to say about these controversial pieces of legislation that has not been said already, but it is always worth pointing out that since the return of electoral democracy in 1999, these were two of the most anti-democratic and aggressivelyworded bills ever proposed. There were clauses that contradicted separation of powers as stipulated in the constitution, clauses that placed unelected bureaucrats above the Supreme Court, clauses that made Nigerians guilty until proven innocent – it was a mess.

After a few weeks of rancour, both of these bills were quietly put on ice, pending another attempt at sneaking them through at a time when public attention is elsewhere. It is important for Nigerians to note that the bills in question have not been withdrawn, but are merely in cryogenic sleep, waiting to be reactivated at the right time.

This is why the time to demand for their unconditional withdrawal is now. It is always much easier to prevent bad legislation from passing than to get rid of it after it becomes law – especially when the proposed law would give unelected people the power of emperors and reduce Africa’s largest democracy to the level of the tiny South Asian island state they were allegedly plagiarised from.

Nigeria is not Singapore In what has since become a recurring theme with legislation aimed at curbing social freedoms and shrinking the democratic space in Nigeria, both of these bills were largely sourced from similar laws in the South Asian island of Singapore. For different reasons, Singapore has become regarded as the gold standard of society and government that Nigeria should aspire to. In the popular Nigerian imagination it exists as a paradise state – a utopia with perfect social cohesion, world class

infrastructure and a great economy.

From the point of view of the current Nigerian government, the fact that Singapore apparently achieved such results without bothering itself with little things like democratic debate, free speech and political representation is proof that Nigeria can be successfully governed and developed using the authoritarian template of Lee Kuan Yew. Far from being the utopia it is often portrayed as however, Singapore is in fact a conflict-riven society with deep social and ethnic divisions that are barely covered by an external veneer put in place by a dictatorial regime.

For example, Singapore ranks at number 158 on the 2020 Global Press Freedom Index – 43 places below Nigeria at number 115. There are intractable problems with ethnic discrimination and racial stratification that Lee Kuan Yew’s iron-fisted tenure intensified and masked. These draconian anti-free speech laws were used to persecute Singaporean political dissidents and pro-democratic individuals, with unreasonably long prison terms and even forms of torture like daily floggings being commonplace.

The Hate Speech bill in particular, is absolutely incongruous with the reality of Nigeria as a multiethnic electoral democracy with up to 500 distinct languages and dialects covering 993,000 sq km.

In Singapore, it may have been possible for the government to enforce its single media narratives on barely 5 million people from two major ethnic groups – one of which is an overwhelming majority population – packed into just 721.5 sq km. For reference the Lekki Peninsula in Lagos (755 sq. km) is significantly bigger than Singapore and it has greater ethnic diversity.

Trying to replicate that model in a country ? the size of the USA with three equally populous majority groups and several minority groups which themselves are the size of mid-sized European countries, can only end in disaster. If the dangerous, autocratic powers being created by these bills come into effect, there is almost no possible scenario where it will not end up with a small group in power using tyranny as a political strategy.

Nigeria will once again start having thousands of political prisoners, unexplained disappearances, kangaroo courts and political exiles. Opposition politicians including those in office will inevitably be targeted, and even those on the right side of power will have to watch their backs constantly as the incubating strongman becomes impulsive and paranoid.

We have all been there before, While we may hold elections and have all the

paraphernalia of a democratic state, creeping authoritarianism is good at insinuating itself into the national fabric and spreading undetected before people become aware. It is useful to think of these repeated attempts to legislate away Nigeria’s internal freedoms as an animal virus trying out different mutations before eventually finding one successful one that makes the jump to humans. Like our current battle against the novel coronavirus, the best strategy is widespread awareness and prevention.

This sensitisation and constant vigilance is a key part of the work that several CSOs like the Centre For Liberty carry out, with support from Voice Nigeria. It is however important to make the point that we will all be individually affected if Nigeria incrementally makes its way down the slippery slope to totalitarianism again. Such legislation is not just a problem for CSOs, journalists and politicians – it is a problem for every Nigerian who wants life, liberty, prosperity, health and hope for the future. This is our collective fight.

For anyone who has kept abreast of legislative and regulatory developments in Nigeria since President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection in 2019, it comes as no surprise that no fewer than four separate attempts have been made to gut Nigeria’s constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech through the back door. In an analysis last year, I wrote that even though the bills were stood down from consideration, there would certainly be a ‘next time.’

That next time came in May in the form of the proposed Infectious Diseases Bill which like its Singaporean-influenced cousins, also proposed to end most constitutionally guaranteed freedoms including assumed innocence, right of legal recourse, property rights, freedom of speech and Habeas Corpus. Happening quietly and almost simultaneously, was an undebated amendment to Nigeria’s broadcasting code, which also quietly attacked the freedom and objectivity of the media by gutting its economic independence and sneaking in yet another prohibition on social media content.

All four legislations and regulatory codes have these elements in common: 1. They completely disregard the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians including assumed innocence, freedom of speech, freedom of association, Habeas Corpus, and especially the right to fair hearing and legal recourse, instead elevating unelected Director Generals into unquestioned Führers who exist above the court system.

2. They attack the economic and property rights of ordinary Nigerians, with special focus on those of

media platforms and journalists, effectively trying to make the State its own regulator, and the sole determinant of what can and cannot go into the civil space for public discourse.

3. They elevate the government’s desire to control narratives above the citizens’ right to free speech by arbitrarily labeling such as ‘Hate Speech’, without any clear and justifiable explanation of what exactly such consists of. Such sweeping powers make these laws the perfect vehicle for open widespread censorship and castration of the civil space, including shutting down NGOs, censoring print and broadcast media and using internet blackouts to target social media users.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has overseen the period with the most frequent and brazen frontal attacks on press freedom, democratic engagement spaces and public discourse since the start of the Fourth Republic. Mr. Buhari’s antecedents as a military dictator under whom “Decree 4” entered the Nigerian political lexicon are well known. Prior to taking office, Mr. Buhari went to great lengths to assure local and international stakeholders that he would not attempt to repeat the mistakes of 1984.

Now is the time to walk that talk. As the de-facto leader of his political party which holds a majority in the National Assembly, it is time for Mr. Buhari to have some frank and much-needed conversations with his party members in and around Three Arms Zone about what year it is and which country we are in.

The so-called Social Media Bill and ‘Hate Speech Bill’ must be withdrawn from consideration unconditionally, so that Nigeria can continue on its long but promising road to becoming a prosperous open society. Everyone from concerned individuals to civil society organisations to people in and around the government must recognise that the highway to destruction is paved with good intentions.

Most people involved in drafting and pushing these pieces of legislation do not necessarily have any intention of creating and nurturing a monster. However, out of 10 attempts to create a “Singapore”, 9 will yield an authoritarian hellscape with none of what makes Singapore great and all of what makes it terrible.

And even the one time that you get a “Lee Kuan Yew,” Singaporeans will tell you that it is not at all what it is made out to be.

David Hundeyin is a Public Affairs Analyst.

R

esearch into the causes of the high maternal mortality in Nigeria and SubSaharan Africa have noted the huge contribution of blood transfusion services that are not adequately mandated and empowered to ensure the safety of blood and derived products across health facilities nationwide as a critical factor.

Globally, it is recognised that for a healthcare delivery system to be effective, it must be supported by a robust supply of safe blood units that can be swiftly mobilised and transfused to patients in need of this lifesaving resource. Some examples of health conditions where safe blood is required to save lives include road traffic accidents, trauma following disasters and acts of terror and conflict, bleeding during pregnancy and childbirth, and under-five children with anaemic heart failure from severe malaria and sickle cell disease. For these Nigerians, the prompt administration of a blood unit makes the difference between life and an avoidable death.

For Nigeria, the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa, maternal mortality has remained an enormous challenge and progress towards drastically reducing the number of maternal deaths in the country has been slow despite strategies such as the promotion of deliveries in health facilities, in addition to the training and deployment of skilled health workers to underserved areas, especially at the grassroots. For these reasons, Nigeria contributes nearly one-quarter of all maternal deaths around the world.

Research into the causes of the high maternal mortality in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa have noted the huge contribution of blood transfusion services that are not adequately mandated and empowered to ensure the safety of blood and derived products across health facilities nationwide as a critical factor.

The country’s population has a high

prevalence of infections that can be transmitted via blood transfusion with a negative impact on the safety of blood for transfusion. The World Health Organization (WHO) supported by blood transfusion research findings has continued to emphasise the need for blood to be sourced from voluntary, unpaid blood donors, as this greatly reduces the risk of infection and transmission of infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis. However, voluntary donations of blood continue to pale in comparison to commercial blood donations given in exchange for a fee.

Unfortunately, high-risk sexual behaviours and experimentation are predominant among commercial blood donors, heightening the risk of transfer of infections to unsuspecting patients during the transfusion of blood that has not been adequately screened. The situation, therefore, poses huge challenges to the country’s efforts toward attaining blood transfusion safety.

In December 2006, Nigeria developed a National blood transfusion policy through a published set of guidelines with the support of the United States President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This publication was designed to address many of the issues surrounding blood transfusion practices across healthcare facilities in the country. The current structure of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) includes zonal blood service centres, state blood centres, the armed forces blood service, and private and other non-governmental health establishments to ensure universal coverage and the provision of safe, available, and affordable blood donor units of the country, down to the grassroots.

The vision is of the National Blood Service is a centrally coordinated blood transfusion service which functions on a country-wide basis within the National Health Plan and in compliance with global standards and best practices, and standing out in excellence in Africa and the

world.

Unfortunately, under the current structure of the National Blood Transfusion Service, the quality of blood services provided across the country cannot be robustly safeguarded, as unscrupulous and dangerous practices cannot be checkmated to ensure the safety of the lives of Nigerians for several reasons. The envisioned successes of the Nigeria’s Blood Transfusion Service are therefore far from being achieved. No law presently exists to investigate or prosecute establishments who by virtue of either a lack of the requisite qualifications or competencies collect, store and transfuse blood in a manner that jeopardises the lives of individuals who receive such blood with deadly outcomes in numerous instances.

More so, if properly harnessed, fractionating blood into various products can become a foreign exchange earner for the country through export of such products as well as treatment options for various ailment. A case in point is the use of plasma from convalescent patient who recovered from COVID 19 as passive immunity and aid in the treatment of severe cases of COVID, it can also render protection for frontline health workers.

As a country desirous of aggressively tackling its health challenges and improving healthcare service delivery and health outcomes in the country, several steps must be taken to ensure this in blood safety, and the establishment of a National Blood Service Commission is central to these.

First, legal backing is required to empower the National Blood Transfusion Service to optimally carry out its role and functions as watch dog, ombudsman, and regulator for blood safety in Nigeria. Such a legal framework would adequately ensure the appropriate collection, processing and use of blood and blood products, and effectively enable the NBTS coordinate, monitor and regulate all activities relating to blood transfusion in the country.

Secondly, a register of all establishments carrying out blood transfusion services and blood banks in both public and private sectors must be developed. This will ensure a comprehensive database of all facilities carrying out such services to assess such establishments and ensure their adherence to the requisite blood safety guidelines.

Third, a National Blood Service Commission would be empowered to inspect and accredit all blood transfusion service providers to ensure they perform and deliver services as prescribed in national guidelines. This is vital to enforcing high-quality standards in blood services nationwide.

Fourth, as a centrally coordinating body, an empowered National Blood Service Commission would collaborate with States of the Federation to carry out blood transfusion services in line with the vision of the Federal Government of Nigeria and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to carry out its functions to achieve the necessary regulatory standards.

The theme for the 2020 World Blood Donor Day celebrated all over the world in June was “Safe Blood Saves Lives”. Without the necessary legislation in place to ensure that the practices of blood transfusion service establishments are in line with national policy, global guidelines and best practices, more and more Nigerians will continue to pay huge prices and yet be transfused unsafe blood, thus jeopardising their lives, their health and their wellbeing. No Nigerian should be made to pay with their lives for being transfused with blood. Safe blood is a gift of life which must be fiercely protected under the appropriate legal framework.

Dr E. J Suberu is the Head, Clinical Services and Dr Adaeze Oreh is the Head, Planning, Research and Statistics for Nigeria’s National Blood Transfusion Service, a division of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Debugging Errors: Donald Trump and Nigeria’s alternative fact

By Hussein Adegoke

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rump is a political disruptor. His personality doesn’t tow in the laid-down ethos and ideals famous with democratic governance.

The conventional politician would build castles in the air but Trump is different.

I think Donald J. Trump, the 45th American President, would go down in history as a disruptive but honourable President.

He is always the unusual politician, who speaks from the heart. I have followed him from quite some time now, since his electioneering campaigns of 2016 till date, and I have largely been thrilled by his audacity. Truly, if you care to know, only a few people like him exist in the world.

A host of people are afraid to speak their thoughts, so they keep mute always and speak their emotions to only themselves. A number of others would speak falsities and not from their truest minds, for fear of being shunned and being hit by an impatient world. I might have only consented to a little of Trump’s opinions, truly, as he’s drawn into controversies more often than not. And as a matter of factly, he is often inaccurate with his alternative facts. But the fact that I put my thoughts together on what most American truest believes are, through the “horoscope” of Trump’s sputters has endeared the man to me even more. If Trump says, for an instance, that Africa is a “shit-hole”, I could only infer that this is also the whisper of many Americans he represents; those who would speak only behind my back.

Trump is a political disruptor. His personality doesn’t tow in the laid-down ethos and ideals famous with democratic governance. The conventional politician would build castles in the air but Trump is different. I once saw or in fact, have seen him countlessly, almost getting

into a fisticuff with news reporters who would be females. It was all due to his weakness in hiding his truest feelings about people. It is unfound in the world that we live that somebody was not beautiful and you would say it to her face that she is not. This is what Donald Trump’s personality represents. He dares even the chameleons. I know every one of us has been unconsciously trained to detest one form of truth or the other so that if it happens that we are confronted with some bitter truths, we are quick to dismiss those candid opinions. We crucify our truth-speaking friends who should become more bosom to us for speaking the truth. Well, It’s a different ball game entirely if these “friends” were telling some lies.

Several lies have been told about us, Africans and Nigerians alike, while yet we are silent and not bitter. But it took just for Donald Trump to call this place a “shit-hole” and heaven was to be let loose. Maybe anyone who would contest that “opinion” of his about us need to firstly visit the Florida and Oklahoma, the States of California and New Jersey, in the country that Trump resides and get back to the rustic city of Lagos Mainland, Nigeria, to inform us about a more factual comparison. We would need you to tell us that Trump’s remark then was only a hate speech with no single iota of truth. Please, if you can’t afford the trip, do see the movies. Oh! Sorry! Those ones would be fantasies. So, try to switch on your TV set, at least, and watch behold the fascination of Trump Towers.

One should even be fair to this POTUS even if to shut the eyes to my naturality perception.

We must recognize him as a child born into opulence; an individual who would have barely troubled all through his life; and rising to become President at 71. Such personality should have no blames not in the least misrepresenting squalors for urbanism. Even Nigerians who were birthed abroad and would come home for vacations

wouldn’t reconcile our epileptic power supplies with what happens in their homes of yonder.

They are prone to believing that each time there was a power failure, the world was coming to an end. How then do you convince these lots, not even Trump this time, to say our place is not as the “Americans” called it?

About Africans who visit abroad, about the matters that should arouse our interests more; about the wrong labels Nigerians get, no one is belling the cat. Almost no African leader I know of is blazing the trail of campaign that “we are not bad people”. Though our plumage may be black and some of us might be bad, it is not to say all of us are scamps. From Mexico to Sao Paulo to the American States, there are varying degrees of serial killers, astonishing figures of human abusers, drug traffickers, goods smugglers, cybercriminals, etc. We don’t, because of these horrible kinds of people, tag the lovely Americans and Europeans “criminals”. We don’t, because George Floyd, a black American who suffered brutality and death recently, and in the hands of a racist Police, declare all Americans as “racists”.

These are the realities we should deal with, as African Leaders and ditto Americans.

To be fair to Nigerians as we were to Trump, albeit there should be no justification for criminality, we may want to advocate that the indigent life that SOME countrymen living in the Nigerian diaspora today have been subjected to, back home, before they left, is what is responsible for their misdemeanors. Every person who had, at one time, experienced hunger to try to dare the consequences of the law at one time or the other would most likely behave the same way even after becoming comfortable. He would be seeing breaches in security measures. The story of Hushppupi, the Nigerian cyber scammer who was exposed recently, and still standing trial, is so close to us and handy. According to some

narratives, “Hush” used to be from a generation of paupers; one whose “father and father’s father” was as bitterly poor as a church mouse.

We can start to imagine what kind of absurdities a growing lad of Hush’s tender age would have indulged in, to salvage his family’s horrendous plight. This is not to dignify penury. There are numerous impoverished Nigerians that are yet humble and hardworking.

The lesson we should take from this is that the “Nigerian Non-Hushpuppies”—a term I coined I have contrived to imply countrymen and women who are humble and diligent in their various legitimate trades— are not deserving of the wrong stereotype of “scammer”. They should not bear the brunt of the few who have chosen to be involved in shady deals and illegalities. They should not be subjected to “special” scrutiny and unnecessary harassments at checkpoints, check-ins, departure lounges, bank arenas, etc., while boarding or abroad. Lately, some Nigerian residents in Dubai, UAE—the place Hushpuppi lived before he was nabbed—have complained bitterly about how opening bank accounts in the UAE, has become one hell of a hassle. Again, recently, I read about a clerical job in Dubai that was available for “ALL African men and women, except Nigerians”. Gosh! This is cruel, unfair, unfound, and baseless. The last time I checked, the UAE is rich enough to afford any cost that comes at beefing up its security outlets should it consider them too weak and too porous to deter crimes. This is the way serious nations go, not that they loop every Jick and Harry into the gloomy scheme of things simply because they share their identities with a degenerate fraudster.

Hussein Adegoke is a Public Affairs Analyst.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

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NEWS

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

Court dismisses charges against Ex-NMA officials in Edo

From. Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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Benin high Court has dismissed Charges bordering on conspiracy and felony brought against the Former officials of the Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA) state branch.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC) had filed a suit against Mr Emmanuel Ighodaro ( Chairman) Mr Anthony Owolabi , Mr Quincy Atoghengbe, Mr Raymond Ogieva and Mr Osaremen Gabriel Ogbebor over issues bordering on alleged stealing of N21.7million and conspiracy to commit fradulent fales accounting as the accused Persons were facing a 21- count charge preferred against them by EFCC. According to the EFCC, the defendants Committed the Offence while acting in their

capacities as Officers of Edo NMA between 2013 and 2014 adding that the Offences were punishable under section 516 section 435( 2) ( C) section 435( 2,) ( b) Section 390,( 7) and Section 390( 9) of the Criminal Code.

According to the charge sheet, EFCC alleged that the accused Persons between 2013 and 2014 conspired to make a false entry in the audit report for the accounting year ended August 1st, 2013, to July 31,2014 of the association, inserting” anticipatory income” in the report to cover a loan of N6million yet to be received.

It also alleged that the accused Persons conspired to omit an entry of N3miilion withdrawn from the Fidelity Bank account No 4150018859 in the aduit report for the accounting year of the association, while other allegations were conspiracy to make a false entry in the audit

report for the accounting year ended August 1st, 2013 and July 31, 2014 of the association that the sum of N2,700miilion out of the N6million loan taken by the outgone executive had been repaid on trust.

They were also alleged to have stolen the sum of N3miilion, the sum of N2million, N1million being the property of the association, N2,100million out of the N2,805million claimed to have been spent from another account number 1013598852 on exhibition stands for the annual delegate meeting/ annual general conference of the NMA for 2014 Other allegations were the stealing of N895,000 , N200,000 and N805,000 from an account 1013598852 by the accused Persons being property of the association as they were arriagned by the anti graft agency in January 2018 over the alleged conspiracy

to commit felony, punishable under section 516, 435 ( 2) ( C) 435,( 2) ( b) 390 ( 7) and 390( 9) of the Criminal Code of the Criminal Code CAP 48 laws of Bendel state of Nigeria as applicable to Edo state The court had in may 2018 ruled that Atoghengbe and Ogieva had no case to answer but the case came up for mentioning, Counsels to the defendants, Imadugbelo Ighodalo, ,( SAN) and Kingsley Obamogie prayed the Court to dismiss the charges and aquit the defendants On his part, Counsel to the EFCC, Samuel Ibekute , opposed to the applications but after carfully listening to the arguments and counter arguments, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba in her ruling on Tuesday dismissed all charges and aquitted the defendants Meanwhile,a middle aged man identified as Friday Ejiro in

Niger Govt to hand over 15 person in Pension Scam to EFCC From Yakubu Minna

Minister of State for Science and Technology Barr.

Mohammed H. Abdullahi (right), Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar (2nd left), with them Inventor/Chief Executive Officer Dalsman Technology, Usman Dalhatu (left), and SA to the Minister of State for Science and Technology Mr. Abdulhadi Abdullahi (2nd right) during a Courtesy Visit/ Demonstration of Medical Ventilator and Sweeping Machine in the office of the Hon. Ministerm yesterday in Abuja.

Mustapha,

N

iger state government says it will explore all available avenues including Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC to recover its missing (N5.7 billion) from pension during the administration of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The Director General Pension Alhaji Usman Tinau Mohammed said this while addressing Newsmen in Minna on the resumption of Niger state Contributory Pension Scheme CPS. Alhaji Tinau explained that already fifteen person have been traced to the missing funds and that the state government will not waver in it’s resolve to retrieve such monies from who soever no matter how highly placed.

According to him Niger state is now on what he described as new page in the administration of pension matters.

Tinau who allayed fears of Nigerlites however maintained that pension asset’s in Niger state is now the most protected and jealousy guarded for maximum results.

He said Contributory Pension Scheme CPS which has been suspended six years ago has now taken off last month towards providing soccour and relief to civil servants.

Alhaji Tinau commended Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for approving the resumption of Contributory Pension Scheme in keeping to his electioneering campaign promises.

Under the new scheme employer contribute ten point five percent while employee is to contribute seven point five percent.

Sapele, Delta state has allegedly stabbed his close friend to death over argument on sharing formula of N12,000 won at a gambling bet Sources said the friends won the said amount at a gambling bet and at the point of sharing the money, argument ensued which led to a fight a situation the middle aged man allegedly stabbed his friend to death and in his attempt to escape,he was caught by the police The police Commissioner in the state, Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah who Confirmed the incident, said that the arrested Suspect was helping the police for further investigation, adding that the incident occurred on Monday in Sapele town and assured that the Police will carry out thorough findings as to how the middle aged man allegedly stabbed his friend to death before he will be charged to court.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Gov Sule urges taditional rulers to create awareness on COVID-19 pandemic From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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asarawa State Governor Engr Abdullahi Sule has charged traditional rulers in the state to embark on an extensive awareness on COVID19 pandemic by ensuring constant wearing of face mask as well as maintaining social distancing.

The governor who threw

the challenge while on an interaction with paramount rulers at the Government House Lafia.

He said that COVID19 is waxing stronger due to non adherence to medical instructions and called for the need for traditional institutions to intensify effort towards combatting the spread.

According to him “I call on

you our Royal fathers to talk to your subjects on the danger of COVID-19 pandemic as it is a global issue today wearing of face mask and maintaining social distancing is very significant in curtailing the spread of the dreaded disease.”

“COVID19 is real. Let the campaign be spread to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Your contributions is highly

commendable despite the period of COVID19 pandemic” Governor Sule noted.

Also in an interview with the paramount ruler of Kudape chiefdom in Karu LGC of the state Mr Sabo Fyenu said the role played by Governor Sule during COVID-19 from inception was commendable an assured for absolute support from his chiefdom.

Okonjo-Iweala upbeat as WTO DG race enters selection phase

F

ormer Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Thursday expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for nominating and supporting her candidacy for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) position, saying that given her resumè as a development economist, she was best suited for the job.

“I want to also thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and the Nigerian ambassadors to Switzerland, WTO as well as the Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva“ Mrs Okonjo-Iweala who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Geneva, also thanked ECOWAS for endorsing her candidacy as the race for the WTO Director-General position enters the selection phase.

She is vying for the top job alongside candidates from Kenya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. UK, Moldova, Mexico and the Republic of Korea.

All the candidates are in Geneva to make presentations to the WTO General Council and address the press from July 15 – 17.

The former finance minister who had previously urged the WTO to elect its Director-General based on merit told NAN that given her resumè as a development economist, she was best suited for the job.

“People ask me often what best qualifies you for the job- I think the WTO needs leadership, it cannot continue to do what it did before.

“If it’s to stay as one of the premier institutions of the 21st century, it needs strong leadership which is a quality I have.

“It needs knowledge of trade which I have for being a development economist which my entire career is built around.

It needs someone with political skills and international connections that can reach policymakers in all countriesand I have that owing my 35 years of experience “The job needs someone who listens – and I’m a good listener and lastly, someone who is solution-oriented and pragmatic. I have experience in all sectors ranging from the public to private sectors and international civil societies as well as from multilateral organizations.

“If you put all these together, you will see I’m best qualified for the job,” she said.

NAN reports that the second phase of the selection process, in which candidates would make themselves known to members, will end on September 7. Similarly, the third phase, which is the consultation process, would commence the same day.

At the forthcoming consultation, the Chairman of the General Council alongside Chairs of the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review Body would consult with all the WTO members to determine which candidate is best placed to attract consensus support.

Meanwhile, WTO’s outgoing Director-General, Roberto Azevêdo, would retire in August this year after serving two terms of seven years.

(NAN)

Yahaya Bello heads Ondo APC guber primary C’ttee, as appeal clears Abraham

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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head of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo State Governorship Primary Election slated for July 20, 2020, the Governor Mai Mala Buniled Caretaker/Extra-ordinary National Convention Planning Committee has constituted Primary Election and Appeal Committees.

A statement issued by the Deputy National Publicity

Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena, said the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, will chair the Primary Election Committee while Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe will chair the Primary Election Appeal Committee.

Also, a statement from the party said the Ondo APC Screening Appeal Committee has cleared Segun Abraham to contest the primary election.

Recall that the screening committee had last weekend

disqualified Abraham from the contest, but the appeal committee, however upturned the disqualification.

Other members of the Ondo primary election committee are: Olorogun o’tega Emerhor, who will serve as Secretary, Alwan Hassan, Samuel Sambo, Hajiya Binta Salihu, Emma Andy, Adebayo Adelabu, Abdullahi Aliyu and Margret Ngozi Igwe.

The Ondo State governorship primary election appeal committee

are: Chris Baywood Ibe, who will serve as chairman, Abdulmimuni Okara, who will serve as Secretary.

Other members are: Festus Fientes, Okon Owoefiak, ABBA Isah, Umar Duhu, Sani El-katuzu, Osuere Eunice and Emeka Agaba.

The statement said both Committees will be inaugurated by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extra-ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni at the APC National Secretariat today.

Members of Centre for Advancement of Civil Liberties and Development, during a mini-protest at the entrance of Edo House of Assembly, calling the state Assembly to pass a resolution entreating the National Assembly to give a final passage to the 2020 Electoral Act before its annual recess on Wednesday in Benin

Governor Matawalle did not donate to university in Jigawa - Official

Z

amfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has said the donation of N100 million for an Islamic university is for a proposed institution sited in the state, not in Jigawa, as reported by some news platforms.

A statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Zailani Bappah, indicated that reports that the proposed university is sited in Jigawa as

claimed by “some online media organisations”, was false.

Bappah said “it is pertinent to call on the general public to disregard this information as a phantom fabrication from the truth of what actually transpired”.

Bappah recalled that JIBWIS paid a courtesy call on the governor on Monday and informed him of the existence of a school they own under construction in Shinkafi

town of the state.

“Hence, they sought for the support of the state government to complete the school for the benefit of Zamfara people,” Bappah said.

“Incidentally, one of the cardinal goals of [of Mr Matawalle’s administration] is to promote education in the state.

Hence, the state Government accepted a partnership with the body to ensure the school comes

into fruition.”

He said the state government hopes the institution will transform into a full-pledged university, which will benefit the people of Zamfara State and beyond.

“Governor Matawalle therefore, assures the general public that his administration will continue to partner with all well meaning and reputable

Anambra 2021: Guber aspirant tasks PDP on credible primary election

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

governorship aspirant in next year’s election in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to ensure that its primary election is credible.

Ozigbo, who spoke to journalists during a visit to the state party secretariat in Awka,

after meeting with the State Working Committee and women leaders of the party, said the unity of the party is important, and only a fair primary election can guarantee it.

The frontline contender for the Governorship position in the November 2021 governorship election said he hopes to emerge as a consensus candidate, but will not hesitate to support anyone

who emerges from a credible primary election.

He said “I am more interested in a united and strong PDP that will take over the government house in Anambra. I am seeking for a consensus candidate of the party and when that is achieved, what we used to experience in the Party in the past will no longer be the case.

“I hope to emerge as that

consensus candidate, and God willing, I will be your governor.

However, I am a party man, if the outcome of the primary does not favour me, provided it is fair and transparent, which I know is going to be, I will continue to support PDP, not only for the governorship election but for all elections and activities of the party,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

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Politics Edo guber: Northern professionals platform pledges to support IzeIyamu

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group known as the Northern Professionals platform resident in Edo on Thursday pledged their support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for September 19.

In a statement signed by Abdallah Tureta in Benin, the group said that the Northern Professionals resident in Edo resolved to throw their weight behind Ize-Iyamu because of his leadership qualities.

“We are assuring him of our collective support to ensure his victory at the polls in September,” he said.

Tureta commended the APC for appointing Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje as the Chairman of APC Campaign Council for Edo election.

“Our resolve to back the APC candidate in Edo governorship election is in solidarity with Ganduje appointed as the chairman of the campaign council.

“We came to understand that the wisdom behind Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the Campaign Council is to make sure that no opportunity is left unattended to win the election.

“His sophistication and skills in politics are acknowledged across board.

“We resolve to do this after our conviction that his leadership of the campaign council is an indication that APC is willing and ready to win the election.

“As somebody who has developed his state, both in human and infrastructure, Ganduje could also be a pillar in influencing the blueprint of how to move Edo forward when our candidate wins.

“Which we are very hopeful that he would deliver. It is still fresh in our memories how President Muhammadu Buhari sometime last year, commended Ganduje after becoming the best performing governor for three consecutive months as then rated by the APC Progressive Governors Forum.

“This among other things are what informed the decision of the APC to appoint Ganduje to chair this Campaign Council for Edo governorship election. ” And we are sure that with our support and that of large chunk of Edo population, Ganduje is shouldering a sellable gubernatorial material.

“We challenge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to come forward and showcase the feats they achieved under their candidate,” Tureta said. (NAN)

Court adjourns suit seeking Uzodinma’s sack

By Musa Adamu

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ederal High Court Abuja has adjourned until July 20, a suit filed by Reform and Advancement Party (RAP) and its 2019 governorship candidate, Okere Kingdom, asking the court to restrain Governor Hope Uzodinma from acting as Imo governor.

When the matter was called on Wednesday, Kingdom told the court that he filed an application praying the court to abridge the time within which the defendants would file their responses.

Under the rule of law, the defendants have 30 days to respond but the plaintiff told the court that he made the application for the court to abridge the time due to the urgency of the matter.

Kingdom, who is also a lawyer, maintained that the matter was of constitutional importance because Uzodinma was occupying the seat of Imo governor illegally, having not participated in the 2019 election as a candidate of any political party.

All the defendants objected to the application on the grounds that they needed the time given by the constitution to respond.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Alhassan Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that in line with the principles of fair hearing, the defendants needed to take sufficient time as allocated by the law to respond.

He argued that the plaintiff could not take the required time

to file his processes only to ask the court to abridge the time for the respondents.

The judge, Okon Abang adjourned the matter until July 20 to hear the application.

The judge also directed that hearing notices should be served on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the party was not represented in court.

RAP and its 2019 governorship candidate, Kingdom, approached the court seeking judicial interpretation on whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) indeed sponsored Mr Uzodinma in the 2019 Imo governorship election.

Kingdom said the suit was predicated on the judgment of the Supreme Court which affirmed Uche Nwosu as the duly nominated

2019 Imo governorship candidate of the APC. He said that one of the issues he wanted the court to determine was whether Mr Uzodinma lawfully participated and was sponsored by the APC to contest the 2019 Imo governorship election in accordance with Section 177 (c) of the 1999 Constitution.

“This is having regard to the tenor, clear and unambiguous legal implications/consequences of the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal no: SC/1384/2019 which upheld the decision of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court and affirmed Uche Nwosu as the authentic and duly elected/ nominated 2019 Imo State governorship candidate of the APC.”

From left: Director of Public, Private Partnership and Diaspora, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Bola Olowu; Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Director -General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu; representative of the President, Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA), Dr Ali Onoja; and Former President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr Azuibike Okwor, during the presentation of COVID-19 Medical equipment donated by NAPPSA to NCDC, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Retirement: NASC queries Sani-Omoloroi over counter order, as embattled Clerk vows to respond

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has queried the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed SaniOmolori, for exhibiting traits of insubordination to the Commission, asking him to explain within twenty four hours, why disciplinary measures should not be taken against him.

According to a statement issued by the executive chairman of the Commission, Ahmed Kadi Amshi, the Commission reminded Sani-Omolori that the Clerk to the National Assembly is an employee of the National Assembly Service Commission, inline with Section 6(1)b of the National Assembly Service Act,

2014 (As amended).

To this end, the NASC explained that as a Clerk, he has no such authority whatsoever to dictate to the commission on anything.

According to the NASC statement, “The attention of the National Assembly Service Commission was drawn to a Press Release titled: “Retirement age for staff of the National Assembly Service is 40 years of Service or 65 years of Age, whichever comes first” dated 15th July, 2020 and signed by M.A Sani-Omolori, Clerk to the National Assembly.

“As you are very much aware, the Clerk to the National Assembly is an employee of the National Assembly Service Commission, vide Section 6(1)b of the National Assembly Service

Act, 2014 (As amended).

“The Clerk to the National Assembly has no authority whatsoever to dictate anything to the Commission.

You press release is considered by the Commission as a gross insubordination to a constituted authority.

“You are, by this letter requested to explain to the Commission within twenty four (24) hours as to why disciplinary action will not be taken against you as per the provision of Section 6(2)b of the National Assembly Service Act, 2014 (As Amended) for this gross insubordination”.

However, in his response to the querry, Sani-Omolori sent a text message saying he will respond appropriately to the query at the right time.

According to the text message, the Clerk said “I will respond to the query appropriately, the content of which will make concerned parties understand the issues at stake better”.

Recall that the NASC had yesterday issued a statement retiring the Clerk of National Assembly and about one hundred and fifty other senior staff of the parliament for having attained either the required retirement age of 60years or working for over 35years in the assembly.

On the other hand, the Clerk had insisted that there was a revised condition of service passed by the 8th National Assembly, which increased by five years the 35years of service and 60years of age for retirement of the staff of National Assembly.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

Election rigging: APC petitions CP, demands exOndo SSG’s prosecution

T

he Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, have written a petition to the state Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, to investigate an allegation of electoral fraud made by a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sunday Abegunde.

Abegunde, who resigned from his position recently, had granted a media interview claiming that he and some others ensured victory for Akeredolu in the 2016 governorship election.

The APC and Akeredolu, through their lawyer, Femi Emodamori, subsequently asked the police commissioner to investigate the claim.

In a petition dated July 14, 2020, the ruling party said Abegunde’s allegations were diametrically spurious, false, reckless, senseless, and criminal.

The petition read in part, “Consequently, we have the instruction of our clients to call on your office to set all the necessary machineries under your control as the Commissioner of Police in motion, to unravel the truth or falsehood in the allegation(s) of Abegunde, by conducting a thorough investigation into the allegation in this petition.”

The petition added that in the event that the investigation revealed that the allegation(s) were false, “we demand the immediate prosecution of Abegunde for the criminal offence of publication of defamatory matter, in contravention of Section 375 of the Criminal Code, and punishable with two years’ imprisonment, as well as any other offence for which he may be found culpable.”

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Politics

Edo APC, PDP trade tackle over cross defection in parties

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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he Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, on Wednesday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had run out of membership cards due to the mass defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement captioned, ‘With the mass exodus of Obaseki’s supporters to PDP, we

have no reason to harass anyone,’ Osagie said the PDP in Edo State ran out of membership cards a few days ago over the unprecedented demands for the cards by thousands of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s supporters.

Osagie said, “This mass exodus of people into the PDP was widely reported in the media.

So, why would a well-established party like the PDP, with tested structures and verifiable track records for electoral triumphs in Edo State, harass anyone desiring

to leave the party?

“The APC is in a dilemma and working hard at deflecting attention away from the credibility crisis it is engulfed in, with the status of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who has been jumping from campaign grounds to the court to face his N700m criminal trial.”

In a swift reaction, the Chairman of the state Media Campaign Council of the APC, John Mayaki, accused Obaseki of holding his aides and other government officials’ hostage to

halt the embarrassing wave of resignations.

Mayaki said, “It is a laughable falsehood that paints the complete opposite of what truly obtains in the state. Aides appointed by Governor Godwin Obaseki and other government officials are daily resigning their positions in protest of the governor’s abandonment of governance, something he never took seriously, and a realization of the embarrassing defeat that awaits him on the 19th of September.”

Kogi House of Assembly observing a minute silence in honour of a second term lawmaker representing the Ibaji Constituency, late Deacon John Abah, during a valedictory session for the former Deputy Majority Leader of the assembly, yesterday in Lokoja.

Abah died in June after a protracted illness.

Photo: NAN

Edo: Igbo community in Edo declare support for Obaseki

By Christiana agency report

Ekpa

with

T

he Igbo Community in Edo State have declared support for Governor Godwin Obaseki’s second term ambition, expressing fears that the state will go back to the hands of thugs, brutal tax collectors and servicing of godfathers at the detriment of development and ease of doing business, if he is not supported to return for a second term.

The Leader of the Women Wing of the Community, Blessing

Ahoruonye who led a contingent of women to the State PDP Secretariat, told the PDP State Women leader, Lindsay Sorea, that the Igbo Community in Edo is against the return of the state to APC, a party immersed in corruption, citing recent NDDC and EFCC revelation and allegations amongst others.

According to Ahoruonye, they were declaring support for and mobilising others to join the PDP to enable them give maximum support to Governor Godwin Obaseki in appreciation of the

excellent work he is doing.

She stressed that Obaseki’s ability to eliminate double and over taxation which reigned in the previous APC government have improved the economy of local traders.

She also mentioned the impressive developmental stride being witnessed in the state, as well as the economic expansion that has positively influenced the rate of consumption and his prudent management of resources.

She expressed fears

that if Governor Obaseki’s administration is disrupted, the state will go back to the “hands of thugs, brutal tax collectors and servicing of godfathers at the detriment of development and ease of doing business.”

She affirmed that they have vowed to vote for PDP and Governor Obaseki to ensure that the train is not derailed.

According to her, “we the Igbo Community in Edo state have realized our past mistakes and we are fully ready to correct it this time by voting PDP”.

Kogi Assembly holds special session in honour of Tolulope Arotile, Hon. Abah

K

ogi State House of Assembly on Thursday held a valedictory session to honour the late member representing Ibaji State constituency, Hon. John Abah who passed on after a brief illness.

Hon. Abah died on 24th June, 2020.

The lawmakers who were all dressed in black took turns to eulogise late Abah for the legacy he left behind.

The Speaker, Prince Mathew

Kolawole in his submissions said, “John Abah’s death at this time is a monumental loss to the 7th Assembly considering his robust contributions to the floor of the house on any issues relating to the overall development of the State.

“Though death is an expected end of every mortal, hence I enjoined his family to take solace in the words of God which says everything under the sun have time, a time to be born and time to die”.

The House, however, called on the state government to immortalize the late lawmaker in any of the government facilities in the state in view of his numerous contributions towards the development of Kogi State.

Late John Abbah is a former chairman, House Committee on Finance.

In a related development, the House also urged the State Government to immortalize the first Combatant Helicopter Pilot, Flying Officer, Tolulope Arotile

who died recently.

The call was contained in an oral motion moved by the member representing Ijumu constituency, Kilani Olumo at Plenary on Thursday.

Kilani Olumo said the deceased pilot had contributed her quota to the ongoing fight against insecurity in the country.

He noted that her death was painful and a great loss to the State, pointing out that, immortalizing her would be a reward for hard work and

dedication to protection of the nation’s territorial integrity.

The lawmaker prayed God to grant the family and Nigeria Air Force the grace to bear the loss.

Seconding the motion, the member representing Lokoja 1, Umar Tenimu described the motion as timely in view of the efforts of the Late Pilot to the nation’s security.

The Speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole in his ruling, called on the State Government to urgently immortalize the young icon.

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BOFIA: Clarity in NDIC, CBN roles Critical to effective Regulation of Banks – NDIC boss

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Managing Director/CE, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation(NDIC), Umaru Ibrahim has said in order to establish effective legal instruments to secure the safety and stability of the nation’s financial system, there was need to closely examine enacting laws with a view to harmonising the positions of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the NDIC Act 2006 and The Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2004.

Umaru Ibrahim stated this as part of the Corporation’s presentation during the Public Hearing for the Amendment of the BOFIA Act 2004 towards the Repeal and Re-enactment of the Bill to BOFIA 2020 at the Public Hearing organised by Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions at the National Assembly in Abuja.

The NDIC MD/CE explained that variances in the Bills that may be perceived as overlapping mandates between the NDIC and the CBN should be clarified in order to avoid any ambiguity in the laws governing their operations and should be reflected in the BOFIA 2020.

This, he said was specifically critical in the area of the resolution of failing banks where the NDIC should be recognised as the primary actor in the resolution process while the CBN intervenes in the event of systemic crisis.

He also expressed the need for the Corporation to be involved in the process of licensing banks in collaboration with the CBN

in order to ensure the necessary fit and proper checks and to establish clearer assessment of the status of financial institutions before licensing.

He also noted that the bill seems to suggest the option of the appointment of other entities in the liquidation of failed banks adding that the Bill should be amended to reflect the NDIC as the sole liquidator of failed banks based on the Corporation’s core mandate of Bank Liquidation.

He said, the clear delineation of roles between the NDIC and

CBN would strengthen the legal framework and contribute towards effective and efficient collaboration in the supervision and regulation of the Banking Sector.

The highlights of the NDIC presentation focused on the following areas; Express prohibition of insider loans/ criminalising insider loans by making it an offence punishable with imprisonment and fine for directors of licensed banks to obtain credit facilities from their own banks, whether such credit

facilities are secured or not.

The Corporation noted that there is no need for approval of the Central Bank to be sought in the implementation of supervision, control and management and distress resolution of banks as reflected in the Bill as this constitutes the core mandates of the Corporation. The Corporation should therefore carryout these functions in consultation with the CBN not with the consent of CBN as both institutions are independent and compliment the functions.

Directors of banks should be held are personally liable without any limitation for the causes of the failure of their banks where they have been found to be negligent in managing the bank.

The imposition of penalties and persecution of various offences to serve as a deterrent to officers and directors of banks and will ensure that the banking industry ensures compliance with available laws and regulation in order to avoid paying stiff penalties.

L-R: The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) MD/CE, Umaru Ibrahim in a chat with the CEO Nigerian Security Printing and Minting, Abbas Masanawa during the Public Hearing on the Amendment of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment Bill BOFIA 2020), at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

NITDA opens Application for Technology Innovation, Entrepreneurship Support Scheme

By Etuka Sunday

T

he National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is calling on eligible Nigerians to apply for its technology innovation and entrepreneurship scheme, a capacity building programme for Hub managers, young Nigerians and innovative startups to spur digital job creation and economic growth.

Concerned with the fact that Hubs and Startups in Nigeria suffer from issues of capacity deficiency such as ability to support startups, poor infrastructure and high cost of running their operations especially amidst COVID19 Pandemic. As such, there is the need to build support systems that will aid in reducing the barriers of entry for startups while increasing the capacity of hubs and startups

to create new bankable products and services.

Also worried by this development and in line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s plan to create 100 million jobs in 10 years, NITDA initiated a scheme to provide opportunities for building the capacity of both Hub owners and start-ups, to ensure massive creation of technology entrepreneurs and jobs within the Industry.

In line with the Digital Economy policy, the programme is designed to ensure that Hub managers have the required skills set to support digital startups and build innovation ecosystems in their localities; build capacity of Hubs to support startups and build local innovation ecosystems; encourage innovation and entrepreneurship and increase

technology and entrepreneurship skills among aspiring and existing entrepreneurs.

The objectives of the scheme are to build the capacity of Hubs to support startups and build local innovation ecosystems; Encourage Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Increase technology and entrepreneurship skills among aspiring and existing entrepreneurs; Increase digital skills capacity among Nigerian youths; Encourage local content solutions-based products/ services; and increase the potential for job creation in the innovation and technology sector.

The Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar said, the programme under the scheme comprises of Hub Upskilling; Technical Capacity Building, Incubation and Internship

Programmes.

The hub managers that will be selected are to sign an agreement with NITDA to train upcoming hub managers within the region they come from, and equip with the skills to run a hub, support innovative startups and build an innovation ecosystem in their localities.

This is a programme designed to support ideas stage startups to move from Ideas to market.

It will be implemented in partnership with the hubs that were part of the programme. The participants will be assigned to hubs, where they will get access to infrastructure, such as internet connectivity, power supply and a rich network of other innovators.

The participants will also be matched with mentors and guided by coaches as they build out their products and services.

At the end of the training period, participants will be required to choose if they would like to start a startup or if they would like to get a job. Those interested in starting a startup will be moved into the Incubation program, while those that need a job will be moved to the job matching/internship program.

Those that opt for this track will be placed in 6-month internship opportunities with the startups in the incubation program or in other organizations to allow them to hone their skills and gain practical work experience in the process.

Interested and eligible candidates should please apply via https://scholarship.nitda.gov. ng/tiess The portal is now open for application and will close at 12:00am on 24th of July, 2020.

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FCT Taskforce dislodges drug peddllers’ den on Tora Gora hill

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n furtherance to its bid to sanitise the nation’s capital city, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT ) Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation yesterday revisited and raided a notorious illicit drug dealers colony on the Tora Gora Hill, near Apo roundabouts, in Abuja.

Also, the Taskforce dislodged some drug peddllers in Games Village, where it made some arrests and recovered prohibited substances as well as items belonging to some victims of the illicit trade.

Recall that the latest raid was the third carried out by the Taskforce, on the Tora Gora Hill, adjudged to be the capital of illicit drugs peddllers supply colony in the FCT. It was observed that more shocking discoveries were made when the Task Force while on a routine surveillance found ladies bags, shoes and other sundry accessories in the places visited.

During the raid, while several members of the drug peddllers fled their trade zones, leaving their wares, four of them were arrested and handed over to the police, who are part of the Taskforce,

for further investigation and prosecution.

Speaking after the exercise, Chairman of the Task Force, Ikharo Attah revealed that victims of illicit drugs peddllers in the nation’s capital city are largely young ladies, who seems to be their main target.

He reiterated zeal for the restoration of improved sanitation and safety of the city especially ensuring that criminal elements leave around the fringes of the city’s major road corridors and green areas.

“We are wagging a strong war because Tora Gora has been the

main supply chain of drugs in the FCT. And these drug dealers, addicts or criminals actually find that place as a safe haven for their operations.

“We strongly believe that the victims of drug addiction are largely innocent ladies, as most of these items were stolen from around the neighborhood of Gudu or around the FCT. “The last time we went there, about two weeks ago, we discovered a fire arm, bags of Indian hemp and codin, and we have also discovered same now, so we are believing that if we give that a good fight, we will be

saving and making them mentally balanced people.

“We have been doing this continuously for over two months and we hope not to stop, once or twice every week, we come out with bags of Indian hemp, boxes of codin and tramadol.

“And we hope to be able to sustain this, because the primary purpose of government is security and we can go as far as government wants us to go.

“But we are going far, and each time we go there, we save a life, so the more frequently we go there, the better for the city”, Attah stated.

Two of the suspected illicit drugs dealers arrested during yesterday’s raid, in Abuja.

ARDS trains Abuja pastoralists on efficient milk handling skills

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

s part of the measures to reposition livestock farming, some pastoralists in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been drilled on improved and proper hygienic handling of diary products.

The pastoralists drawn from the FCT Area Councils were engaged in a series of trainings, where a team of experts exposed them to efficient methods of hygienic milk handling, to help improve the quality and market value of their milk, thereby

enhancing their incomes towards better livelihood.

Our correspondent reports that the Two-Day capacity building workshop for Diary Cooperative Groups in the FCT, organised by Department of Animal Husbandry Services, under the Agricultural and Rural Development (ARDS) of the FCT Administration, held in the Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils.

Speaking at the end of the workshop, Hajiya Umma Abubakar, Director, Department of Animal Husbandry Services in

the ARDS, noted that the livestock subsector holds a lot of unexploited opportunities especially along its production and processing value chain.

Abubakar, disclosed that the ARDS will follow up trainees on the workshop, in order to monitor their progress and provide them with necessary assistance as the need arises.

“We trained pastoralists, who own 90% or more of the national herds of cattle and milk production in the country. Because, what we need to do is to enhance the way

milk is produced and handled, so as to ensure that there is no contamination or adulteration.

“We have to ensure that we have a clean hygienic raw material, used to process the milk. And we are going to have series of trainings in terms of production, handling and processing across the six Area Councils of the FCT. “We are going to strengthen diary cooperative groups, so that they will aggregate milk , and pave way for private processors that are ready to uptake the milk from them. That is why we have to

train and give them the equipment for quality milk production and handling.

“We are starting with these groups, because they produce the milk, and we want to improve the quality of the small quantity of the milk they are producing”, she stressed.

Some of the participants, who are mainly women involved in primary diary production process, described the training programme as timely and key to the towards improving and harnessing of potentials in the livestock subsector.

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news world Coronavirus: Russian spies target

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Covid-19 vaccine research

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he UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said the hackers “almost certainly” operated as “part of Russian intelligence services”.

It did not specify which organisations had been targeted, or whether any information had been stolen.

But it said vaccine research had not been hindered by the hackers.

Russia has denied responsibility.

“We do not have information about who may have hacked into pharmaceutical companies and research centres in Great Britain. We can say one thing - Russia has nothing at all to do with these attempts,” said Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Putin, according to the Tass news agency.

The warning was published by a international group of security services: • the UK’s NCSC • the Canadian Communication Security Establishment (CSE) • the United States Department for Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber-security Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) • the US National Security Agency (NSA) One expert said it was “plausible” that, despite the Kremlin’s denials, Russian spies were involved.

“The received wisdom is that in cyber-space, attribution is difficult but not impossible,” commented Emily Taylor from the Chatham House think tank.

“Usually the security services are much more hedgy in their language if they think there is any doubt.

“Cozy Bear [the named group] has been implicated in past cyber-attacks and has left quite a trail, and there are fairly good links to the Russian state itself.”

In recent years, Western security agencies have become more willing to call out hackers targeting companies and organisations in their countries in the hope it will deter them.

But the latest accusations are more unusual since officials are directly pointing the finger at Russian spies rather than talking generally about “state-backed hackers” or using other more cautious references.

Russian spies are targeting organisations trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine in the UK, US and Canada, security services have warned.

And they are also challenging them over targeting something that the general public recognises as being highly sensitive - coronavirus vaccine research - rather than simply some company or government department’s information.

However, on another level we should not be too surprised by the claim.

Understanding vaccine research and other details about the pandemic has become a top target for intelligence agencies around the world and many others, including Western spies, are likely to be active in this space.

The UK, US and Canadian agencies said the hackers had exploited software flaws to get access to vulnerable computer systems, and had used malware called WellMess and WellMail to upload and download files from infected machines.

They are also said to have tricked individuals into handing over login credentials with spearphishing attacks.

• Phishing emails are designed to trick the recipient into handing over their personal information • Spear phishing is a targeted and personalised form of the attack, designed to trick a specific individual. Often the email appears to

come from a trusted contact, and may include some personal information to make the message seem more convincing But one cyber-security expert said the Russians were unlikely to be the only ones involved in such a campaign.

“They have lots of people, we have lots of people, the Americans have even more people, as do the Chinese,” commented Prof Ross Anderson from the University of Cambridge’s Computer Laboratory.

“They are all trying to steal this kind of stuff all the time.”

Who is accused of being responsible?

The NCSC calls out a hacking group called APT29, also known as The Dukes or Cozy Bear.

It says it is more than 95% certain that the group is part of the Russian intelligence services.

Cozy Bear was first identified as being a significant “threat actor” in 2014, according to the American cyber-security firm Crowdstrike.

It describes the group as being “aggressive” in its tactics and “nothing if not flexible, changing tool sets frequently”.

The unit has previously been implicated in hacking the US Democratic National Committee (DNC) during the US Presidential election in

2016.

In 2017, it attacked Norway’s Labour Party, defence and foreign ministries, as well as the country’s national security service.

The report includes recommendations that can help protect organisations from cyberattacks.

“Throughout 2020, APT29 has targeted various organisations involved in Covid-19 vaccine development in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, highly likely with the intention of stealing information and intellectual property relating to the development and testing of Covid-19 vaccines,” it said.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “It is completely unacceptable that the Russian intelligence services are targeting those working to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

“While others pursue their selfish interests with reckless behaviour, the UK and its allies are getting on with the hard work of finding a vaccine and protecting global health.”

On Thursday, the UK government also said Russians had “almost certainly” sought to interfere in the 2019 UK general election through illicitly-acquired documents.

What has the US said?

by Tara McKelvey in Washington DC “The National Security Agency, along with our partners, remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting national security by collectively issuing this critical cyber-security advisory as foreign actors continue to take advantage of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,” said NSA cybersecurity director Anne Neuberger.

Earlier in 2020, John Demers, an assistant attorney general for US national security, warned that hackers working for foreign governments were trying to steal vaccine research.

He said that the first nation to find a vaccine first will gain clout on the world stage with a “significant geopolitical success story”.

For that reason, hackers have been pursuing vaccine research in several countries. Demers and others who work in US intelligence have been watching their activities closely.

Now, intelligence experts know more about the goals of the hackers and how they using spearphishing and malware to get what they want.

Shamima Begum can return to UK to fight for citizenship, Court of Appeal rules

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hamima Begum should be allowed to return to the UK to fight the decision to remove her British citizenship, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Ms Begum, now 20, was one of three schoolgirls who left London to join the Islamic State group in Syria in 2015.

Her citizenship was revoked by the Home Office on security grounds after she was found in a refugee camp in 2019.

The Court of Appeal said she had been denied a fair hearing because she could not make her case from the Syrian camp.

The Home Office said the decision was “very disappointing” and it would “apply for permission to appeal”.

The ruling means the government must now find a way to allow the 20-year-old, who is currently in Camp Roj in northern Syria, to appear in court in London despite repeatedly saying it would not assist removing her from Syria.

Lord Justice Flaux - sitting with Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Singh - said: “Fairness and justice must, on the facts of this case, outweigh the national security concerns, so that the leave to enter appeals should be allowed.”

The judge also said that the national security concerns about her “could be addressed and managed if she returns to the United Kingdom”.

Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who made the decision to strip Ms Begum of her citizenship in February 2019, tweeted a statement saying he was “deeply concerned about the judgement”.

He said that regardless of the outcome of her case,

if Ms Begum came to the UK “it will prove impossible to subsequently remove her”.

Begum ‘not afraid of facing justice’ Daniel Furner, Ms Begum’s solicitor, said: “Ms Begum has never had a fair opportunity to give her side of the story.

“She is not afraid of facing British justice, she welcomes it. But the stripping of her citizenship without a chance to clear her name is not justice, it is the opposite.”

Her father Ahmed Ali told the BBC he was “delighted” by the ruling, adding that he hoped his daughter would get “justice”.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said that while the government “doesn’t routinely comment on individual cases”, the decisions it made about Ms Begum had not been “taken lightly”.

He said the government would “always ensure the safety and security of the UK and will not allow anything to jeopardise this”.

Shamima Begum is not yet packing her bags to return to the UK - there’s no government plane warming up the engines at a military airfield in northern Syria to bring her home.

But the Court of Appeal could not have been clearer in its wording - she needs to be allowed back to make her case in the interests of a fair hearing.

So if the government wants to avoid the enormous embarrassment of sending a jet to pick her up, it has a matter of weeks to convince the Supreme Court to review the case.

That is by no means an automatic process.

Ministers will have to show to the Supreme Court that

Ms Begum was 15 and living in Bethnal Green, London, when she left the UK in 2015 there is a fundamental point of law that needs to be argued over because the Court of Appeal has got it totally wrong.

Whatever happens, the case will drag on because the Court of Appeal also ruled that the ongoing risk to Ms Begum’s life has not yet been properly considered.

Ms Begum’s legal team challenged the move on three grounds - that it was unlawful because it left her stateless; it exposed her to a real risk of death or inhuman and degrading treatment; and she could not effectively challenge the decision while she was barred from returning to the UK. Under international law, it is only legal to revoke someone’s citizenship if an individual is entitled to citizenship of another country.

Media captionShamima Begum spoke to the BBC from a refugee camp in Syria in February 2019 In February, a specialist tribunal - the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) - ruled

that the decision to remove Ms Begum’s citizenship was lawful because she was “a citizen of Bangladesh by descent”.

She is understood to have a claim to Bangladeshi nationality through her mother.

SIAC, a semi-secret court which hears national security cases, also said that although there were concerns about how Ms Begum could take part in the proceedings in London, those difficulties did not mean the home secretary’s decision should be overturned.

In his ruling on Thursday, Lord Justice Flaux said: “It is difficult to conceive of any case where a court or tribunal has said we cannot hold a fair trial, but we are going to go on anyway.”

Government ‘shirked’ responsibilities Human rights organisation Liberty, which intervened in Ms Begum’s appeal, welcomed the ruling, saying the right to a fair trial was “a fundamental part of our justice system and equal access to justice must apply to everyone”.

Liberty lawyer Katie Lines added: “Banishing someone is the act of a government shirking its responsibilities and it is critical that cruel and irresponsible government decisions can be properly challenged and overturned.”

Ms Begum left Bethnal Green, in east London, aged 15 for Syria in February 2015, with two school friends.

Within days she had crossed the Turkish border and eventually reached the IS headquarters at Raqqa, where she married a Dutch convert recruit. They had three children - all of whom have since died.

Source: BBC

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River Nile dam: Sudan blasts ‘unilateral’ move as Ethiopia dam fills

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udan says River Nile water levels have dropped as a reservoir behind Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance dam has filled up, hitting out at “any unilateral actions taken by any party”.

Egypt has also demanded “quick official clarification” from Ethiopia.

Both Sudan and Egypt are downstream, and fear the large dam will greatly reduce their access to water.

Ethiopia sees the hydroelectric project as crucial for its economic growth and improving electricity supplies.

“If Ethiopia doesn’t fill the dam, it means Ethiopia has agreed to demolish the dam,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told parliament earlier this month.

But state media have backtracked after reports on Wednesday that suggested the dam was being filled deliberately, though without making it clear whether the dam’s gates had been closed.

On Thursday Sudan’s foreign ministry quoted an Ethiopian official as saying Ethiopia was not filling the dam and had not closed its gates.

Earlier this week, talks between the three nations over the $4bn (£3.2bn) Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) ended without agreement, Ethiopian officials said, blaming “unchanged and additional and excessive demands of Egypt”.

Dialogue and a fair solution were needed, Sudan’s Information Minister Faisal Saleh was quoted as saying on Monday by Reuters.

Sudan said the daily flow of water had dropped by 90 million cubic metres (mcm) - equivalent to about 36,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools - at the al-Deim water station which borders Ethiopia.

Years of fraught negotiations have failed to reach a consensus on how and when to fill the

The dam’s construction, seen here in December 2019, began in 2011 reservoir, and how much water it should release.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has previously warned that filling and operating the dam without an agreement “that protects the downstream communities… would heighten tensions and could provoke crises and conflicts that further destabilise an already troubled region”.

A conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia, which are both US allies, would put millions of civilians at risk.

What did Ethiopia say?

On Wednesday its Water Minister Seleshi Bekele appeared to confirm the satellite images showing dam water levels rising, with state broadcaster EBC quoting him as saying it was “in line with the dam’s natural construction process”.

But hours later EBC backtracked, saying it apologised for “erroneous” reporting that incorrectly quoted the water minister as saying

the process of filling the dam had started. “[Mr Bekele] said negotiations on the Gerd would continue in a manner that would ensure the interests of Ethiopia”, EBC clarified.

Satellite images taken between 27 June and 12 July show a steady increase in the amount of water being held back by the dam.

Two unnamed Ethiopian officials who spoke to AFP news agency have respectively blamed this on heavy rains outpacing the dam’s ability to push water downstream, and it being a normal part of construction that has not stopped flow altogether.

When fully operational, the dam will become the largest hydro-electric plant in Africa, providing power to some 65 million Ethiopians, who currently lack a regular electricity supply.

However, Egypt gets almost all of its water from the Nile and fears the dam will reduce supplies.

How long will it take to fill?

Ethiopia says it will take between five to seven years to fill up the dam to its maximum flood season capacity of 74 billion cubic metres (bcm).

At that point, the lake that will be created could stretch back some 250km (155 miles) upstream.

Between each subsequent flood season the reservoir will be lowered to 49.3bcm.

Egypt, which almost entirely relies on the Nile for its water needs, is concerned that in most years of the filling it is not guaranteed a specific volume of water.

And once the filling stage is over, Ethiopia is reluctant to be tied to a figure of how much water to release.

In years of normal or above average rainfall that should not be a problem, but Egypt is nervous about what might happen during prolonged drought.

Join Alastair Leithead and his team, travelling in 2018 from the Blue Nile’s source to the sea - through Ethiopia and Sudan into Egypt.

What is happening with the talks?

Negotiations over the mega dam have failed to reach agreement after nearly a decade of talks between Egypt and Ethiopia, with Sudan caught in between.

Last year, Egypt sought the intervention of the US on the impasse.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi requested that US President Donald Trump mediate the conflict, which Ethiopia was initially reluctant to accept.

The US and the World Bank got involved but failed to get Ethiopia to sign up to a document agreed with Egypt in February.

When the US then said that the dam should not be completed without an agreement, Ethiopia accused the superpower of overstepping its role as a neutral observer.

The African Union (AU) has now said it will try to find a solution.

Kenya court orders $12m payout for lead poisoninga Mandela’s daughter Zindzi A tested positive for virus

Z

indzi Mandela, the youngest daughter of South Africa’s first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid activist Winnie MadikizelaMandela, had tested positive for Covid-19 on the day of her death.

She died in a Johannesburg hospital earlier this week at the age of 59.

Her son Zondwa Mandela told public broadcaster SABC that it was unclear if the disease caused her death. The family is waiting for the autopsy report.

“Simply by the virtue that there was a positive test, we are therefore obligated to function and work within the framework of the existing regulation related to such cases,” he said.

He is quoted as saying his mother will be buried on Friday morning.

Here is a video of Zondwa Mandela’s interview with SABC.

Kenyan judge has awarded $12m ($9.6m) to a community that suffered from lead poisoning from a battery smelting plant.

The court case came about as a result of work done by Phyllis Omido, a resident of the slum settlement of Owino Uhuru, which is in Mombasa on Kenya’s coast.

As an employee at the plant, she was inspired to act after her baby son was diagnosed with lead poisoning.

Her young son became very ill after she had been working at the plant for three months.

After tests, doctors discovered that he was suffering from lead poisoning that could have been

passed through his mother’s breast milk.

She found that other community members had similar problems and finally got the plant shut down in 2014.

But Ms Omido went to court in 2016 to get the government to clean up the area and pay compensation to the families of those who had died or were made sick from the lead.

As well as the money, Justice Ann Omollo ordered the authorities to get rid of the remaining lead, the Daily Nation reports.

Journalist John-Allan Namu, who has been following the case, says that various government agencies will have to fund most of the $12m pay out.

Phyllis Omido spearheaded the compensation for lead poisoning

campaign

to

get

West Africa accounts for 90% of all sea kidnappings

T

he West African coast is becoming increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping, according to a new report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

It says that 90% of all kidnappings at sea happen in that region.

In the last three months alone, 32 crew were kidnapped in the Gulf of Guinea.

Most of the vessels were attacked on the high seas, between about 20 and 130 nautical miles off the coast, the IMB said.

It found that attacks on commercial

ships and the kidnapping of crew members had been on the rise in recent times in West Africa.

It has become common for crews to be attacked by bandits armed with knives and guns, IMB director Michael Howlett says.

Egypt ‘has been authorised to intervene in Libya’

A

Zindzi Mandela with her father Nelson in 2010

delegation of tribal leaders from eastern Libya has authorised the Egyptian military to intervene to protect Libya’s sovereignty, Egypt says.

The tribal figures had earlier had talks in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The Egyptian leader had warned last month that his army might enter Libya if the country’s rival Tripoli-based government and its Turkish allies attacked the city of Sirte.

So far, this hasn’t happened.

Egypt has long supported eastern Libya’s

military strongman Gen Khalifa Haftar, who commands the Libyan National Army (LNA) force.

In recent months he’s suffered a string of battlefield defeats.

Source: BBC

PAGE 24

N

e w s

Alex Pullin: Australian worldchampion snowboarder dies

T

wo-time world champion snowboarder Alex Pullin has died while spearfishing in his native Australia, local officials have confirmed.

Pullin, 32, was found unresponsive off a beach on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Wednesday.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene but could not be revived, authorities said.

Nicknamed “Chumpy”, Pullin was Australia’s flagbearer at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said: “The man was spearfishing off Palm Beach. He was brought to shore by bystanders where he was treated by local lifesavers and paramedics.”

A snorkeler had spotted Pullin unconscious underwater on an artificial reef, local media said.

Lifeguards brought him to shore and called paramedics about 10:30 local time (00:30 GMT).

A police official told Australia’s Channel 9 News that Pullin appeared to have been diving alone.

“He didn’t have an oxygen mask, we understand he was free diving and spearfishing out on the reef,” Officer Chris Tritton said.

The athlete had previously shared pictures online of himself spearfishing, swimming and surfing.

The sport’s Australian top body, Snow Australia, said it was “shocked and saddened” by Pullin’s death.

“Alex was a beloved member of the Snow Australia community and he will be dearly missed,” it said in a statement.

“An incredible athlete, beloved teammate and role model, you will be sorely missed,” the Australian Olympic Team, which Pullin had been part of three times, said.

The chief executive of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, Geoff Lipshut, described the athlete as “one of our great winter sports pioneers”.

He told Reuters news agency that Pullin had retired from snowboarding last month but had not announced the decision before his death.

Other athletes and commentators have also paid tribute, with many describing him as a kind and generous person.

“The world will miss such a talented human and a double world champion without ego and without selfishness who is everyone’s best mate,” wrote former Australian speed skater Steven Bradbury.

Pullin, who grew up in the town of Mansfield, Victoria, first learned to snowboard when he was eight years old, going on to win world championship titles in 2011 and 2013.

He also represented Australia in snowboard cross at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Olympics.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

F r o m A s i a Tauqir Sharif: British-born aid worker faces trial by Syria jihadists

T

he jihadist alliance that dominates opposition-held north-western Syria has said it will put a British-born man who runs an aid organisation on trial.

Tauqir Sharif, from east London, was detained last month by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and charged with funding “projects that incite division”.

On Tuesday, it announced that he had been released on bail.

Britain stripped Mr Sharif of his citizenship in 2017, accusing him of links to a group aligned with al-Qaeda.

Mr Sharif, who is entitled to Pakistani nationality through his father, denied the allegation.

But he admitted he had fought in Syria and carried an AK47 rifle.

Mr Sharif, who is also known as Tox, is the founder of Live Updates From Syria, an organisation that says it provides humanitarian aid to people displaced by the country’s civil war.

According to its Facebook page, Mr Sharif was detained

Tauqir Sharif’s family and colleagues launched a campaign calling for his release by armed members of HTS in Idlib province on 22 June without any explanation and held incommunicado for several days.

His family, colleagues and supporters launched a social media campaign calling for his release, and circulated videos of demonstrations in the town of

Atmeh.

HTS later said Mr Sharif was accused of organising “the transfer of funds to support some projects that incite division” in opposition-held territories.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that

he was held over his alleged ties with rival jihadists.

On Tuesday, HTS’s “office of media affairs” issued a statement announcing that Mr Sharif had been released on bail following a request from his family.

“The court informed him that the date of his hearing with the judiciary was after 15 days... and that during his release he could prepare his defence,” it said.

On Wednesday, Live Updates From Syria posted a video on Facebook that it said showed Mr Sharif being welcomed home.

“We pray Allah keeps him and his family safe and that he is cleared of all charges,” it added.

Mr Sharif’s detention came amid a crackdown by HTS on dissidents and defectors in areas of north-western Syria that are under its control.

HTS is an alliance led by al-Qaeda’s former affiliate in Syria. Formerly known as alNusra Front, it is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN, US and others.

Iran judiciary may halt protesters’ executions after social media storm

A

mirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi denied the charges laid against them Iran’s judiciary has suggested it might halt the executions of three young men convicted in connection with November’s mass anti-government protests, following a social media campaign.

The Persian hashtag #do_ not_execute was used five million times after it was announced on Tuesday that the Supreme Court had upheld their death sentences.

Many celebrities backed the campaign.

On Wednesday night, the judiciary said its chief would consider any request from the men to review their sentences.

Lawyers for the three men also were reportedly told that they could for the first time examine the court papers and evidence against their clients.

Iran is the world’s second most prolific state executioner after China.

Despite having to deal with the Middle East’s biggest outbreak of Covid-19, which has killed more than 13,000 people and deepened an economic crisis, the Iranian authorities have not stopped trying capital cases and carrying out death sentences.

Early on Tuesday, two Kurdish men were executed in Urumieh prison in West Azerbaijan province.

Diaku Rasoulzadeh and Saber Sheikh Abdollah, who were in their early 20s and 30s respectively, had been on death row since 2015.

Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi denied the charges laid against them They were convicted of planting a bomb at a military parade in Mahabad in 2010.

Their lawyer told BBC Persian they were innocent and that no evidence was presented at their trial other than confessions extracted under severe torture.

Amnesty International said the two men were “the latest victims of Iran’s deeply flawed criminal justice system, which systematically relies on fabricated evidence”.

Hours later, the Iranian judiciary’s spokesman confirmed that the death sentences of the three anti-government protesters had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Amirhossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi and Saeed Tamjidi, who are all reportedly in their 20s, were arrested during November’s unrest, which was triggered by the government’s decision to raise the price of petrol.

Millions of Iranians poured into the streets of cities and towns across the country to protest against poverty, inflation and economic mismanagement. They were met with violence by security forces and hundreds were killed.

Amnesty International said the three men sentenced to death in connection with the protests underwent “grossly unfair trials”.

“Their allegations of torture and other ill-treatment were ignored and ‘confessions’ extracted from Amirhossein Moradi without a lawyer present, reportedly through beatings, electric shocks and being hung upside down, were relied upon to convict them of ‘enmity against God’ through acts of arson and vandalism,” it added.

The social media campaign to halt their executions was joined by many prominent figures both inside and outside Iran.

The footballer Masoud Shojaei posted on his Instagram page:

“I am asking Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi: Please be merciful with these three Iranian young people. Please stay their execution because of their families and people’s request.”

The actor Shahaab Hosseini wrote: “Swearing on the prophet of kindness and compassion, please stop the executions of these three young people.”

US President Donald Trump also called for the executions to be stopped.

Iran’s judiciary also announced last month that Ruhollah Zam, a dissident journalist and founder of the influential Telegram account AmadNews, had been sentenced to death for “spreading corruption on earth”.

One of the accusations he faced was encouraging people to participate in anti-government protests in 2017 and 2018.

Zam was based in Paris, but he was lured to Iraq by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence service and then kidnapped and taken back to Iran.

Iran’s government has not offered much help to those affected by the economic crisis, and the country’s leaders have expressed concern about future unrest.

Many Iranian human rights activists believe that by carrying out executions and sentencing protesters to death the leaders are hoping to scare people away from returning to the streets.

Source: bbc

PAGE 25

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

CLASSIFIED Public Notice

Niger State Police Command wishes to inform members of the Public that the under listed abandoned/recovered items are in Police custody. The Command therefore urges anybody with genuine claim of ownership to come forward with relevant particulars.

Description of Items 1. CER/04/2015 – One Compaq Computer Laptop (Presario 2100) 2. CER/04/2015 – One Plasma Television Model No. PDS 4214 e-s 3. CER/1/2015 – Bajaj Motorcycle Chassis No. 74861 Engine No. 70397 4. CER/1/2018 – Bajaj Motorcycle Chassis No. FWG96959 Engine No. 41476 5. CER/3/2018 – Bajaj Motorcycle Chassis No. UWF 97212 Engine No. 47953 6. CER/3/2018 – Bajaj Motorcycle Chassis No. DWL 64617 Engine No. 77595 7. CER/3/2018 – Bajaj Motorcycle Chassis No. CWL 54931 Engine No. 30070 8. CER/1/2019 – One Haejue Ladies Motorcycle Chassis No. CHX31 D0001602 Engine No. G48309 9. CER/2/2019 – One Toyota Corolla Vehicle Chassis No. J.T. 152A-100014607 10. CER/3/2019 – One Sharp Television Model No. SV-2189 (BK) 11. CER/1/2020 – Tvs Motorcycle Chassis No. 4038 Engine No. AH 1989343 12. CER/1/2020 – Bajaj Motorcycle Chassis No. JF81067 Engine No. CF41980 13. CER/1/2020 – Bajaj Motorcycle Chassis No. DWM 58367 Engine No. 33345 The command wishes to state that failure to come forward with the claim of ownership within 14 days of this publication will have no alternative than to dispose them through public auction by Auctioneer Bright Chimezie Auction Business Venture.

ASP WASIU A. ABIODUN POLICE PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER, FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NIGER STATE COMMAND 08032233454

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public on the Loss of Original Right of Occupancy in respect of plot 286 Cadastral Zone B08 JAHI DISTRICT ABUJA, with old file no. GG 664 AD 10026. bearing HASSAN ABUBAKAR. All effort made to trace the said document prove abortive.

If found contact the nearest police station.

IJEOMA I was formerly known as Ijeoma Ifeanyi Nwaocha but now wish to be called and addressed as Ijeoma Job Briggs. Former documents to remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should take note.

Public Notice BROTHERS ACROSS NIGERIA (BAN) IT NO. 14541 No. 10, Imeke/Gbanko Road, Imeko Town, Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria. grandeye.ban@gmail.com; O8033516475.

RESOLUTION OF BROTHERS ACROSS NIGERIA MINUTES OF BROTHERS ACROSS NIGERIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY HELD AT BROOKSVIEW HOTELS, UGBOROKE, OFF AIRPORT ROAD, UWVIE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE ON SATURDAY 4TH JULY 2020.

Thirty Five (35) Members were in attendance out of which Nineteen (19) members where physically present while Sixteen (16) members attended vide Zoom online.

The following Resolution were duly proposed and passed amongst others: 1. The members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of (BAN) namely Bro. Adeyemi Moshood Ayofe, Bro. Edo Avurakoghene and Bro. Adeiye Adesegun Abiodun each resigned as Trustees.

2. Consequent upon the resignation, Bro. Kehinde Abayomi Sina, Bro. Paul Otis and Bro. Kenneth Agala were nominated on the floor and unanimously elected Trustees as by all members present.

3. This resolution be published in 2 widespread dailies for the interest of the general public and the CAC properly notified.

DATED THIS 6th Day of July 2020.

Bro. I.L. Aitufe Esq. (AICArb) (President)

Bro. Ogwu Chuks Collins (Secretary).

Public Notice ZION DESTINY HOUSE CHAPEL THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1.ODOKO BENEDICT 2.OGBOBAMEH FRANK SUNDAY 3.ODOKO KELVIN ONATEFE 4.ENINEKIT ABIGAIL DANIEL 5.ODOKI AUGUSTINE ELURENOH

- chairman - secretary - treasurer

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

SAIDU

I Sabiu Muhammed, resident of Karkasara area of Tarauni Local Government, Kano State, lost documents of my shop, located ay no.

4 Gyadi-gyadi, adjacent to School of Nursing, Tarauni Local Government area.

I was formerly known as saidu aliyu but now wish to be called and addressed as saidu ibrahim aliyu. Former documents to remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should take note.

NAJIBULLAHI

All effort made to trace the said document prove abortive. If found contact the nearest police station.

I was formerly known as najibullah muktar muhd NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN and addressed as najibullahi mukhtar muhammad AND MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH is 2505-1991. Former documents to remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should take note.

ALIYU

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

I was formerly known as aliyu bashir magaji but now wish to be called and addressed as aliyu abbas magaji. Former documents to remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should take note.

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original offer of statutory right of occupancy in respect of plot no 3316 in cadastral zone E27 APO district Abuja with file no ED22617 bearing CECILIA WURAOLA OJUOLAPE. All effort made to trace the said document have proved abortive

Public Notice

ROYALTY GRANT INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED

HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Simon Igbinedion (chairman) 2. Excellent Leghor (Secretary) 3. Michael Okomudo THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To provide grants for startup businesses.

2. To provide local and international scholarship for children.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

if found please kindly return to the nearest police station,all authorities concerned and general public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL FILE CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, FROM AREA 1 TO LEND OFFICE, AREA 1 ON 7TH JUNE 2020.

1. Power of Attorney between Ibrahim Aliyu and Ce-Maxim Investments Limited.

2. Consent letter between Ibrahim Ibrahim Aliyu and Ce-Maxim Investments Limited.

3. Identification copy of Ibrahim Aliyu and Ce-Maxim Investments Limited.

4. Consent between Ce-Maxim Investments Limited and Continental Hope Investment Limited.

5. Identification copy of the managing director of Ce-Matins Investments Limited.

6. Board Resolution Ce-Maxim Investments Limited and Continental Hope Investment Limited.

7. Consent letter between Ce-Maxim Investments Limited and Continental Hope Investment Limited.

8. Identification copy of a director of Ce-Maxim Investments Limited.

9. Photocopy of certificate of incorporation of Ce-Maxim Investments Limited.

10. Form Co2 and Co7 of Board of Director of Ce-Maxim Investments Limited.

GOT MISSING. ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT HAVE PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE, KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. CONTACT MOHAMMED SALISU ADAMU of Plot 16, Auchi Street, Area 1, Garki - Abuja 08033140543. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Public Notice

Public Notice

MAIKANTI BARU MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

HEPHZIBAH INTERNATIONAL INTERCESSORY MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. JUJI YARIMA 2. AMINU BABA 3. MUHAMMAD MUSA MISAU 4. BALA SABO

- - - -

CHAIRMAN MEMBER MEMBER SECRETARTY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. To inculcate spirit of leaning among pupils in the society.

2. To encourage teachers to be punctual, diligent and have the zeal to work.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Evang. Igwe Blessing Chinwe 2. Mrs. Agbor Esther Robert 3.Mr. Obadagboye Jacob.

- Chairman - Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO PREACH AND PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORDJESUS CHRIST TO THE WHOLE WORLD. 2.TO RAISE A SPIRIT-FILLED AND WORD-BASED PEOPLE THAT WILL OFFER A TRUE QUALITY WORSHIP UNTO GOD IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR REDEMPTION. 3.TO TEACH GOD’S PEOPLE WITH SOUND INSTRUCTION IN THE WORD OF GOD AND STRONG DEMONSTRATION, by the spirit of God to a knowledgeable, understandable and practical lifestyle.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Public Notice

Public Notice

Delightful empowerment and care Foundation

ABIMBOLA-AWOLIYI ESTATE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION CAC/IT/20596.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ABDUL-WAHID, ABDUL-MAJID OLUGBENGA. - Chairman 2. ALIU, OLAKUNLE ALABI. - Secretary 3. ETTU BILIKISU IYABO 4. AKANJI KAYODE IDRIS 5. BALOGUN MORUFF OLAMIDE 6. LAWAL FATIMAH OLUWAKEMI 7. MOSURO GANIYU OMOTOLA

THE RETAINED TRUSTEES ARE : 1 Mr. Kayode Onamusi 2. Mrs. Muhibat Omobolanle Abbas

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To help the less privileged in the society.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME.

THE NEWLY APPOINTED TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Mr. Akinola Martins Temidayo 2. Mr. Nzei G. Anizah 3. Mr. Ibrahim Egbeyemi O.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PAGE 26

feature

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

CLASSIFIED

Fake pharmaceutical industry thrives in West Africa

I

t is rare to have a conversation in Nigeria about the problem of falsified medicine without a mention of the My Pikin syrup tragedy.

In 2009, 84 children were killed by a batch of teething syrup that contained diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent and ingredient found in antifreeze and brake fluid. Two employees from the company which made the syrup were found guilty by a court.

‘Bad drugs’ The case was significant as convictions for manufacturing or selling falsified medicines remain uncommon in Nigeria.

“That’s the one that got into the papers,” Dr Alero Roberts said, adding: “We’ve had numerous issues.”

Dr Roberts, a senior lecturer at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, is lucky that the hospital has a robust drug procurement system and they do not have problems with falsified medicines, although they do see patients who have encountered bad drugs.

She is concerned there may be more in the coming months due to the effect Covid-19 is having on the supply of drugs in Nigeria.

“There are shortages looming - cancer drugs, antibiotics,” Dr Roberts said.

When hospital pharmacies go out of stock, patients will purchase drugs elsewhere, often from unregulated markets. And they do not need to go far, outside her hospital window Dr Roberts can see marketers selling two things - “drugs and coffins”.

Street sellers peddling drugs is a familiar scene across West Africa - where in many countries the sale of pharmaceuticals is more a trade than a profession.

Nigeria Customs Service More than 30 million counterfeit tablets shipped from India were seized in one week in Lagos” Mohammed Babandede Nigerian customs official The lack of regulatory oversight is one of the reasons why the region is so attractive to criminals in the business of falsifying medicines. And in West Africa it is a big business.

The criminals have been keeping the head of the Intellectual Property Rights Unit at the customs service, Mohammed Babandede, and his team busy of late as the pandemic has created the perfect storm for fake medicines to flourish.

“It is really scary,” he said, adding that in one week more than 30 million counterfeit tablets had been seized.

The counterfeit pharmaceutical industry is thriving in West Africa, with law enforcement agencies battling to crackdown on foreign-linked criminal syndicates, writes Emma Hooper.

Nigeria has recorded more than 30,000 cases of coronavirus He explained that authorities in India had provided intelligence on a shipment coming into Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, the commercial capital.

Powerful networks The consignment included significant amounts of counterfeit dexamethasone - a medicine believed to treat severe Covid-19 symptoms.

In the same week, he also intercepted 920,000 fake tramadol tablets at Lagos airport that had come from India’s main city, Mumbai. These pills were likely destined for markets in northern Nigeria where abuse of the drug is rampant.

Mr Mohammed said that catching the suspects was difficult as consignments were often labelled with fictitious addresses at both ends - meaning authorities cannot trace the goods to source.

In Nigeria, when there are

arrests, often the networks are so powerful that there are rarely prosecutions - the best lawyers are hired to negotiate bail or find ways to adjourn court cases for many years.

Adebayo Alonge knows all too well how dangerous these groups are. A victim of fake drugs himself, Mr Alonge purchased salbutamol in 2003 from a chemist in Ibadan in the south-west.

The drugs were falsely labelled and contained fatal levels of diazepam that left him in a coma for three weeks.

Adebayo Alonge I have died once already. I’m not afraid to die again” Adebayo Alonge Victim of fake drugs This experience inspired him to launch RxAll, a company that uses technology to identify the quality of prescription drugs.

Last year, he started receiving

death threats for his work.

“We won’t stop - I have died once already, I’m not afraid to die again,” he said.

Holed up in small warehouses in cities across West Africa there are people in the business of repackaging pharmaceuticals.

They may also be busy tampering with expiry dates or manufacturing goods from scratch.

Sometimes, these clandestine make-shift laboratories are raided by enforcement agencies and the goods are destroyed but the scale of the networks and operations mean it does not take long for them to pop up elsewhere.

Labelled as ‘humanitarian donations’ The routes criminal groups are taking are becoming increasingly complex.

“They are getting wiser. If

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

you block a route, they will find a different one. This is why it is a big problem in West Africa and Nigeria,” a visibly concerned Mr Mohammed said.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime and World Customs Organization have set up a special unit to help regional states fight the criminal networks.

Bob Van den Berghe, a law enforcement expert who is attached to the unit, said that 81kg of pharmaceutical products in a container labelled as carrying “boxes of humanitarian donations” were seized from a port in West Africa earlier this year.

That container was shipped from France, but officials have uncovered fake medicines in containers originating from a wide range of countries, including Brazil and Switzerland, he said.

The unit reported that its highest number of seizures were at ports in the Togolese city of Lomé in Togo and Cotonou in Benin.

Containers that get past port surveillance teams are stripped and the medicines broken up into smaller packages, then taken across borders - some go north to Burkina Faso, others into Ghana and on to Ivory Coast, and others east into Nigeria, research shows.

Matter of life and death With under resourced border teams and large porous borders, authorities have their work cut out.

“We are ramping up our operations, focusing on more border crossing points to respond to the efforts of these criminals,” Mr Van den Berghe said.

With an estimated 116,000 deaths a year caused by substandard and falsified antimalarial drugs in sub-Saharan Africa alone, these operations could be a matter of life and death.

Yet, experts warn that if the overall war against fake medicines is to be won, more must be done to ensure access to healthcare for all.

“There must be a parallel effort to fix vulnerabilities in health markets in West Africa; in some countries, wealth has become a determining factor for gaining access to quality healthcare and drugs.”

“Hopefully the weaknesses in health systems Covid-19 has further exposed will lead governments to prioritise ensuring every citizen has access to safe and affordable medicines”, said Dr Gernot Klantschnig, a senior lecturer in International Criminology at Bristol University in England.

Source: BBC

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Sports

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

It’s an insult to say there are no quality players in NFPL league — Ikhana Albert Akota report

with

agency

V

oted at a time as the best coach in Africa, Kadiri Ikhana has paid his dues both as a player and even more as a coach.

The 68-year-old was the first coach to win the prestigious CAF Champions League trophy; achieving the feat with Enyimba.

Ahead of his next surgery to help correct an ailment, Ikhana speaks on varying issues concerning football on the domestic scene.

The former Super Falcons coach said ex-players of the female national team should be considered to handle the team instead of going for another expatriate coach.

Excerpts: Are you not bothered that Nigerian clubs are taking the back seat as far as CAF competitions are concerned?

In the first place, we need to look into how these clubs are run without funds, yet they want results.

As at the time I was with Enyimba, I knew the strength the club had in terms of government funding not to even talk of fan base. But the system of football management has changed from what it used to be. People now use football as a political weapon, which shouldn’t be.

Are you saying no company or individual can effectively run clubs without government interference and support?

This is the problem we have; until we separate government from football management, we cannot get the desired results. It will be difficult to succeed because the government will continue to use it as a political weapon instead of using sports to foster peace and unity.

You can hardly see much spectators at the match venue. I remember my time at Pillars and Enyimba, how fans come out in their numbers to watch league matches. But the story has changed today simply because Governors now see the game as political weapon.

Do you agree with the school of thought that says the league is not producing talents needed by national teams managers?

Where do you expect talents to emerge from when the league is not well managed? I’m sure we will produce talents once the game is well managed and repositioned to excel.

The home-based players need lots of encouragement to give their

Ikhana with Kano pillars players

best. The system is put in place to sell players abroad only rather than develop the league first. This same problem runs through every facet of our lives and we won’t make any appreciable progress if things continue this way.

Gernot Rohr also said the league lacks quality talents (Cuts In) I don’t agree with that!

It’s not possible at all. There is no way he can say there are no good players in the league. I don’t believe it all that we don’t have a singleplayer that is good enough for our national be team.

Does he want them to buy the experience when you don’t encourage and invite them to the national team? Give them the chance in the national team say one or two years, then they would have gain lots of experience and self-confidence.

That will also spur players in other clubs.

As a national team manager, there is no way you can play all 23 players in a major competition?

We expect the coach to invite three to four league players to major tournaments. Let them sit on the bench and gain experience.

By the time they return to their clubs, other players will be eager

to do better once they know they can be invited too. At Enyimba, I brought in players from feeder team and before you know it, they became mature and we’re ready to compete for shirts. It’s an insult for Rohr to say there are no quality players in the league.

But cynics say most local coaches eventually turn football agents after their appointment as national team manager while their foreign counterparts seek results?

I don’t believe that. In a house where you have different children, you’re bound to have the bad eggs amongst them. The fact that one coach does that doesn’t mean we are all the same.

I think NFF should be blamed for not doing their findings well before saddling such coach with the responsibilities of managing the national team. I don’t believe in that declaration because what you’re simply saying is that all local coaches are bad.

It has been said that NFF should look inward and appoint the likes of Amuneke, Oliseh etc to take over from Rohr when he eventually quits Super Eagles job. Do you think it’s the right step in the right direction?

I have said it times without

number that we must look inward.

Otto Gloria came, Westerhof was here too, but we failed to learn from them. We pay so much money to hire a foreign manager while no local coach is prepared to understudy these technocrats.

Get a local coach and offer him three years contract, then let him attend refresher course abroad, he will deliver. Keshi and Amodu did it and they’re gone but we still have Amuneke and Oliseh. Let’s bring them in and encourage them.

NFF is still combing Europe in search of a foreign coach for Falcons.

The country soccer governing body doesn’t seem to believe in local coaches as far as Super Falcons is concerned. Where did our coaches get it wrong?

(Laughter) Take a good look at our former female stars who obtained their coaching certificates but are never allowed to manage Falcons.

You won’t believe their qualifications until you give them the right support or else they’ll become a waste. Appoint these exinternationals to manage Falcons because not all foreign managers will give you the result you crave for.

How close are you to regaining

perfect health? Many wonder why you still seek financial support from government despite the pedigree of people you’re surrounded by.

I earned peanuts when I was actively in the game unlike now when money flies round. Money started coming in towards the end of my coaching career and unfortunately, I did not wait enough to pick them.

I have been treating myself from the little I was able to save and there is little the family can do.

Would they treat me for the rest of my life? But having represented this country in the past, it is only proper for the government to help me after all the ailments I’m battling with came while serving the nation and not an internal disease or something. I thanked Nigerian who came to my aid too during the trying period. I thank Alliance Hospital Abuja who picked up my bills and treated me for free.

Some people gave me money; NFF gave me N1 million while the sports ministry recently gave me N500, 000. Imama gave me N100k while Felix Anyansi also gave me N250k. These monies are not meant for treatment but to keep body and soul together. I shall be going for my last surgery at any moment.

Super Eagles striker recovers from coronavirus

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NFF won’t beg Saka to play for Super Eagles

By Albert Akota

P

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick says the body will not beg Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka to play for the Super Eagles.

Saka, 18, has been turning heads since making his firstteam debut for the Gunners in 2018 under former manager Unai Emery.

The versatile winger, who has been with the North London club since he was seven-years old has impressed with his trickery, dribbling skills and eye for a killer pass.

Though he has represented England at U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-19 levels, Saka remains eligible

to play for Nigeria at senior level.

Super Eagles head manager Gernot Rohr recently stated that players must first show interest in playing for the three-time African champions before an invitation can be extended to them.

Pinnick insists there are a lot of talented players , who are willing to represent the country and the NFF won’t persuade Saka to switch allegiance.

“There are many players that play like Bukayo Saka in Nigeria.

We don’t want to go begging any player,” Pinnick stated in an Instagram live chat on Thursday.

Saka will remain at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future after committing to the Gunners earlier this month.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

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Super Eagles striker recovers from coronavirus

A

week after testing positive for the new coronavirus, Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has fully recovered and has now tested negative.

Onuachu’s Belgian club, KRC Genk, confirmed the striker’s recovery on Thursday adding that he can now resume training with the rest of his teammates, having been placed in isolation in the past days.

Onuachu’ missed the club’s last training match but team’s head coach Hannes Wolf said he should be available for its next warm-up game.

“But Friday he will just train with the group,” said Mr Wolf.

“Paul can also compete against Excelsior on Friday in the exhibition match.” The other players and the rest of the entourage also tested negative”, he stated.

The 26-year-old Nigeria international was initially stranded in the country because of travel restriction before finally finding a way to join his club ahead of the new season.

Onuachu tested positive on his arrival in Belgium.

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu Before getting the clean bill of health to reunite with his teammates, Onuachu tested negative to COVID-19 in the three tests conducted on him altogether.

Onuachu became the second Nigerian footballer to contract the virus after Akpan Udoh in February.

Many football players and officials have at different times tested positive and later recovered from coronavirus.

In England, Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea’s Callum

Hudson-Odoi were among the first set of football figures that tested positive for coronavirus.

The duo has since recovered.

In Italy, Juventus also saw three of their players Paulo Dybala, Blaise Matuidi and Daniele Rugani, testing positive at different times.

The players have all since recovered.

Over eight million people across the world are said to have recovered from COVID-19 after testing positive.

Konta to play Palermo event when WTA Tour restarts

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Johanna Konta is ranked 14th in the world

ritish number one Johanna Konta will play in the opening tournament when the WTA Tour restarts in August.

The 2019 French Open semi-finalist joins last year’s Wimbledon champion Simona Halep in the field for the Palermo Ladies’ Open.

The clay-court event, which starts on 3 August, marks the return of top-level tennis after the professional tours were suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Five of the world’s top 20 are playing.

Konta, whose last match was a semi-final defeat by Marie Bouzkova at the Monterrey Open in March, is not competing at this week’s domestic Progress Tour Women’s Championships.

Relief grants to Nigerian clubs ready in two weeks- Pinnick

By Albert Akota

P

resident of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick says the Federation will roll out grants for Nigerian football clubs within the next two weeks.

Pinnick was the guest of the Federation’s official Instagram page on an Instagram yesterday afternoon where he was asked questions about the immediate future of the game in the country after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Many Nigerians had wondered if the NFF would not disburse funds from the global body, FIFA as regards to relieving football clubs of their financial burdens during

Amaju Pinnick

the pandemic.

Pinnick enumerated the funds being expected and how the Federation intend to use them: “We’re expecting about 1

million dollars from FIFA and we’re expecting about 500,000 dollars for Women’s Football.

We are also expecting about 500,000 dollars from CAF,” began Pinnick.

“We also have some funds from Nike, Nigerian Breweries and some of our partners and once we get them, then we will give the clubs monies based on what we have.”

Some African countries (including Senegal and Ghana) have in recent days published a breakdown of what each club in their countries will earn from the grants.

Pinnick however says that while the NFF will do same, his Federation have not done so because it would amount to playing to the gallery.

He adds: “We don’t want to play to the gallery by saying this is what we want to do but once we have all these funds, we hope to mop up funds from our partners (in addition to

those from FIFA and CAF), then we will put all these together and streamline it and apportion it to all clubs.

“So that if we are starting the season, we know that we will start the season and finish it. The best way we can achieve this is to make sure we get some funds for these clubs without waiting for their sponsors.

“Within the next two weeks, we should be able to come out with a reasonable template with which we can appropriate all these funds,’ he said.

Pinnick stated that the Executive Committee of the NFF will meet next week to make decisions that bother on this development and other pressing matters.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, JULY 17, 2020

Page 31

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friday, JULY 17, 2020

SPACE FOR SALE

SPORTS Banditry and lessons from North-East latest

Spain minister doubts return of fans in La Liga in September

S

pain’s health minister says he does not think fans will be able to return to football matches in the country when the new season starts in September.

The government’s department for sport and La Liga had hoped for fans to return at a reduced capacity.

But the threat of a rise in coronavirus infections is set to prevent the move.

“To be honest, I don’t see it, given the reality we are in,” health minister Santiago Illa told radio station Cadena Ser. “We have seen some clusters of infections and, although we have fortunately been able to control them, I still don’t see [fans returning].”

La Liga resumed this season behind closed doors on 11 June, and plans to start the 2020-21 campaign on 12 September.

“We’re going to take our time and provide information so the sports department can make the decision when necessary,” added Illa.

“We have to step carefully with the virus, and concentrating large numbers of people at this time is not advisable at all.”

Advert:

Advert: business: news: news: Kano: lagos: lagos:

T

he wave of renewed rural armed banditry, cattle rustling and interconnected crimes, which is the bane of security in Nigeria’s Northwest zone has spurred fresh concerns to inhabitants of this geographical zone.

It is not only the people directly at the receiving end of these organized crimes by armed criminals that are worried, but every Nigerian is having sleepless nights over this unacceptable development.

At the beginning of the present political dispensation, some State Chief Executives in the Northwest region, like the Zamfara state Governor, Alhaji Bello Mohammad Matawalle and his Katsina state counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari and so forth, played their hands on the option of peace talks with the bandits and their representatives.

Interestingly, other leaders and stakeholders were involved in the dialogue to find lasting solutions to the horrendous acts of armed bandits and their collaborators. Armed banditry in the region generally started in Zamfara, like Borno state also bears the infamous badge of importing Boko Haram terrorism into Nigeria.

Initially, the criminals agreed to armistice or a ceasefire; pledging to allow peace reign. Precisely, Zamfara’s Gov. Matawalle was widely hailed and celebrated beyond the shores of the Northwest, and nationwide for achieving peace and security in the troubled state within his first 100 days in office. He recorded this feat in just 57 days of his administration.

Good and relieving as it sounded, the consensus reached with armed bandits soon ran into muddy waters.

And the signs came plainly pointing to the sponsors and veiled actors. And what followed needed no interpretation of a soothsayer to understand.

The incumbent Governor Matawalle had disagreements on political and governance issues in the state with his predecessor, Alhaji Abdullaziz Yari.

The face-off between the duo simmered explosively and dramatically saw the revival and return of bandits, who had downed weapons. It marked the end of the peace pact with bandits.

The experience of Zamfara is similar to virtually all the states where armed banditry has become a torn in the flesh in the Northwest. And bad blood stimulated by politics of leadership, control of state resources and the battle of supremacy among stakeholders and leaders in these states have fertilized, greased and nourished armed banditry.

Of course, there could be other factors favourable to the bludgeoning of banditry in the region, but the refusal of these criminal acts to abate despite several seemingly fortified interventions voices a failure somewhere within. Therefore, the Northwest region has continued to be assailed, burdened and caged by these criminal armed gangs. And in a region with a predominantly forested terrain smooth for their operations, rural dwellers have been subjected to avoidable pains, sorrows and hardships for the heartlessness and insensitivity of others.

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GUEST Column BY

Enemali Ajibili But those worst hit by the atrocities of bandits are innocent citizens and, so, it has elicited the concern of Nigeria, and Nigerians. The world is concerned and humanity is upset by it. It is confounding that some Nigerians have pleasured in sowing a different version of Boko Haram insurgency in Northwest. It is more painful that those responsible for arresting these acts of criminality at the embryonic stage have preferred to be onlookers, promoters and sponsors of the death sentence on their people.

It is one of the costly mistakes Nigerians made by failing to descend the sledge hammer on Boko Haram at its infantile stage, until it developed a thick skin. In the Northwest too, there is a conscious imitation of the indifference and lacunas which created conducive atmosphere for the consolidation and thriving of Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast region.

Many can still remember that leaders of different shades under the auspices of Borno Elders Forum (BEF), where Boko Haram sprouted were indifferent to the brewing and potentially explosive and dangerous insurgency in their enclaves.

But unconscionably, they rushed to assemble, deliberate and issue a public statement, stating their position and condemnation of the administration of President Buhari for clampdown on the extremists religious sect, the Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky’s led aberrant and illegal Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as the Shiites in Nigeria.

To date, BEF has remained aloof to the Boko Haram insurgency, which has entrenched itself and hijacked by external forces and terror sects, as exemplified by ISWAP. For years, Boko Haram has not only been a national security problem, but both Nigerians and the indigenes of the Northeast can bear testimony to its devastative and destructive effects on the once peaceful region. The people of the Northwest are replicating the same culture of silence, endorsement and emboldening of the acts of armed banditry in the Northwest, instead of working against it.

Furthermore, Boko Haram insurgency started as a militant religious sect, with the agenda of imposing an Islamic state on Nigeria, beginning with the Northeast. Ignore its initially defined ideology as religious, but many would agree that Boko Haram insurgency has multiplied into political and economic wings.

Its confirmatory that while the administration of President Buhari has substantially blighted the fires of

religious Boko Haramists. The resurgent and festering character now in the country is attributable to its morphed political and economic branches.

It is evident in the concentration of Boko Haram activities in the oil-rich Lake Chad Basin, actively backed by some dubious foreign countries with vast interest in the natural crude oil and mineral resources of the region. The people of the Northwest are making a similar mistake in the case of the armed banditry and cattle rustling crimes committed by cursed criminal gangs in the zone.

So, apart from the other numerous problems contending against the effective tackling of banditry in the Northwest, by the Army, there are also the mischief makers who have successfully re-baptized the acts of armed banditry and other criminalities in the zone with tags unrelated to what is happening in the area. There is a very conspicuous, conscious and misleading politicization of armed banditry in the Northwest by labelling the crimes as ethnic or religious.

Given the explosive nature of religious and ethnicity issues in Nigeria, these are very repulsive attempts to inflame minds and ginger the further rapid spread of armed banditry and cattle rustling to other parts of North. This is completely irrational and satanic. These armed bandits are clearly criminals, further driven by economic motives and to propagate inaccurate identities of the armed banditry activities, even where it resists is erecting conditions conducive for its boundless escalation.

Like BEF, the leaders in Northwest are doing nothing or very little to contain, the hate preachments, indoctrination and massive recruitment of their youths into these terrible and armed criminal sects terrorizing and oppressing their people. The implication is that these Northwest leaders have not learnt the lessons abound from insurgency in the Northeast. Therefore, one can notice a discomforting repetition of the mistakes which landed the Northeast into the trouble and security quagmire it faces today. Northern Nigeria; no lessons learnt yet?

But it must be stated definitely that members of every criminal sect are first and foremost from an ethnic or religious group. Nonetheless, once a man decides to take to criminal enterprise, especially of the kind that savours bloodletting of his kith and kin and other Nigerians, he becomes unpardonably an enemy of all.

The earlier we realize that the bandits are enemies of humanity and not of any

particular ethnic stock or religious sect, the better it is for natives of the region and Nigeria as a nation. This is a wake -up call for all men and women of goodwill to see armed banditry, the terror sects operating in Nigeria now and allied criminalities in the regions as an evil or threats to all humanity irrespective of their religious or ethnic affiliations.

Once a security problem is allowed to entrench deeply, it becomes difficult to uproot it. It took the decisive and focused leadership of the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen TY Buratai, the COAS and leader of counter-insurgency operations to unveil Boko Haram and their sponsors as enemies of humanity.

The Army Chief took the battle to Boko Haram’s strongest havens in Sambisa forest and vicinities, as evident in the hatred of him by Shekau and his men. Shekau has shown it lamentingly in videos and all manner of public messages, even during the last Ramadan fasting, in which they trumpeted that Buratai and the Nigerian Army are against them. But it has been a tough confrontation, with its attendant waste of precious lives and public resources at great cost to the Nigerian state.

Gen. Buratai has stepped into the furnace once again, with “Operation Sahel Sanity,” to offer arrest the situation and offer respite to the people trapped by armed bandits. It behooves on the natives to evolve ways to consummate the respite and bliss permanently, as failure to do it, is incontestably to their detriment exclusively.

There is every need for Nigerians and in particular, people of the Northwest to learn that bitter lesson from the Northeast. And every other person that seeks to divide the country through such divisive campaigns, instead of identifying the actual problem accurately and standing together to bring an end to the issue of banditry in the Northwest should first consider himself doomed before others. Peace and security are the only antidotes to development and prosperity.

Ajibili wrote this piece from Abuja.

DAN GAYE Cross River insists on zero COVID-19 infection - News

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