Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Edition

Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Rajab 23, 1441 AH

Vol. 33 No. 082 N150

2170 Days after

DSTV, GOtv defrauding Nigerians -Reps

@pmlonline

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

APC reaches peace deal, as Oshiomhole lifts all suspensions

>>>page 5

Reps ask FG to stop flights from China, USA, UK, Italy >>>page 3

As FG confirms third case of Coronavirus in Lagos Buhari okays postponement of National Sports Festival Tijjaniyya cancels Maulud celebration Advisory Council paints gloomy picture of ecomony

page 5

page 3

APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams (middle), addressing National working Committee members, Sitting are: Deputy Chairman South, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (right) and Deputy National Secretary, Mr. Victor Giadom (left), during the NWC meeting at the Party’s National Secretariat, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Zamfara guber: S/Court Gunmen invade China finds new UTME: NSCDC nabs COVID-19: US, China reserves ruling on APC’s Zamfara market, antiviral drug 5 impersonators in in war of words over judgment review kill 3 against Coronavirus Kaduna Trump's comment >>>page 16

>>>page 6

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PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

News CONTENTS News

L-R: National President, NCWS, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Laraba Shoda, President, Medical Women’s International Association, Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, and Chief Executives, Doll Designs Ltd, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, during courtesy visit to the Minister of State for Transport, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo.

2-10, 14

Editorial

11

Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Health Business

18 19-20

Feature

21

World News

22

Africa News

23

World News

24

Coronavirus: Senate to slash 2020 budget

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu

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Nigeria to host 2020 Africa spelling competition Page 14

Environment 25 Feature

26

Sports 30-31 Back Page

32

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enate yesterday hinted that it will slash the N10.33trillion budget of 2020 to bring it in time with the economic realities arising from the global effect of the corona virus, which has crashed the oil prices in the international oil market.

This was sequel to the recommendation by the chairman senate committee on finance, Solomon Olamilekan (APC, Lagos), who presented report of the joint committee on finance, appropriations, national planning and economic affairs and petroleum resources (upstream) to the lawmakers.

Recall that the senate had set up the joint committee to consider the sharp drop in oil prices and other economic issues caused by the outbreak of deadly Corona virus, vis a vis the negative impact on the 2020 appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly.

Presenting the report of the joint committee, Olamilekan said it is necessary to down size the 2020 budget of the country, saying “The downsizing of the Appropriation Act 2020 as passed by the National Assembly is inevitable, but the modalities to be adopted in the reduction of the budget must be used as suggested by the Appropriation Chairman and agreed to by the Joint Committee”.

He said the joint committee considered wide range of issues bordering on the economic realities of the country, including: The current Appropriation Act 2020 passed by the National Assembly; Cost of production of a barrel of crude oil compared with the other counterparts in the Petroleum Producing Countries.

Others, he said are: The reality of the current situation of the Government in terms of number of agencies and parastatals of the Government putting into perspective the Oronsanye Panel Report; The need to prioritise both the Social and the Real Sector of the economy looking at their importance to the overall benefit of Nigeria.

“Loss of revenue as a result of Gas flaring which runs into several billions of dollars; Devaluation of

•As oil revenue slumps Naira; Removal of oil subsidy.

The joint committee further recommended that revenue generating agencies must be alive to their responsibility in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act passed by the National Assembly and other relevant laws of the National Assembly.

It said other issues affecting the oil sector such as cost of production of a barrel of Crude oil and any other matter be taken care off in PIB, noting that the Joint Committee will invite other relevant Stakeholders to an interactive session.

“The Stakeholders are; Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; and also engage relevant Stakeholders in the Business community for their own inputs and suggestions on the way forward of the present economic realities”, he said.

Commenting on the report of the committee, the senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said that Nigerian is in a challenging period. He stressed the need for National Assembly to hasten the passage of the PIB to enable the

petroleum industries to have the legal framework to work harder and faster.

“Now we know it is difficult to get a foreign loan, we have to be a genius as a government and a country. We have to look inwards.

This require a wholistic approach both monetary and physical to ensure that the economy does not collapse.

“If we must borrow for domestic purposes, we must be careful not to allow the private sector lose out. We should not only suffer but benefit also from this tough time”, Lawan said.

China finds new antiviral drug against Coronavirus

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Chinese official said an antiviral drug, Favipiravir has shown good clinical efficacy against coronavirus (COVID-19).

The virus was first detected in Wuhan, a city in the Asian country, in December.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, Zhang Xinmin, director of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development, said the clinical trial of the drug has been concluded, according to several news reports yesterday.

He said Favipiravir, an

influenza drug which was approved for clinical use in Japan in 2014, did not show obvious adverse reactions during the clinical trial.

According to the official, more than 80 patients participated in the trial in the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province.

Xinmin said 35 patients were taking Favipiravir and the 45 were on a control group.

At the end of the trial, he said the results showed that the patients who took the Favipiravir drug tested negative for the

virus within a short time. On the other hand, the patients in the control group have shown no improvement.

Another clinical research at the Zhongnan Hospital in Wuhan University showed that the “therapeutic effect of the drug is stronger than the control group”.

Xinmin said the drug has been recommended in the diagnosis and treatment of the deadly virus..

He added that a pharmaceutical firm in the country has been granted the approval to mass-produce and supply favipiravir.

EFCC warns Bureaux de Change operators against illegal transactions From Femi Idris Kaduna

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Oyelola/Yusuf

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned Bureaux de Change operators against illegal financial transactions.

EFCC acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu also directed that their activities should be monitored particularly in Kaduna and other

states to prevent sabotaging the Federal Government’s efforts to stabilize the naira to the dollar.

In a press release signed by the Acting Head, Media & Publicity Tony Orilade and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday, Magu stated that the Commission’s team had visited popular Hamdalla Hotel in Kaduna to monitor the activities of the group.

He warned that anyone found wanting would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The Bureaux de Change operators were also warned against hoarding, as it amounted to an act of sabotage, with a further warning that any individual or group caught involved in such illegal and illicit financial transactions will be made to face the full wrath of the law”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

News

UTME: NSCDC nabs 5 impersonators in Kaduna From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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n a bid to ensure transparency in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC Kaduna State Command, has arrested five suspects in connection with impersonation.

The state Commandant of the Corp Babangida Abdullahi Dutsinma, disclosed this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday According to him, four of the suspects who are male were arrested from Sabon-Garri, KadunaNorth and Kaduna-South Local Government areas, respectively while the remaining suspect was picked-up from Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

In a confessional statement, one of the suspects who gave his name as Victor Oforbuke, 3o, a Master’s Degree holder said he met his waterloo at Zaria Academy where he posed as Bello Mustafa, 29, who engaged him in the dirty deal for a fee of N20,000.

Similarly, Abdullahi Alkassim Maikano, a 19 year old who went to write the exam for Shuaibu Hamza, 29, was arrested together with the candidate in Kaduna-South, while John Michael, 32, who collected N15,000 out N20,000 to ‘help’ Sanusi Shehu was also arrested in Kaduna-North.

The remaining suspect, a female who gave her name as Bilkisu Ojulaye, 17 years, was arrested at Bethel Baptist Centre in Chikun Local Government Area when she attempted to write the examination for Philomena Ugbe currently at large.

Meanwhile, all the five suspects are being investigated and will be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.

The commandant who personally monitored the exercise alongside Head of Operations Department of the Command and the media, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination as he warned candidates to shun acts of malpractices which when caught may lead to conviction.

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

DSTV, GOtv defrauding Nigerians, says Reps

By Christiana Ekpa

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he House of Representatives yesterday accused Mutichoice, Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) and GOTV of defrauding Nigerians, just as it’s set up an ad-hoc committee chaired by hon.Unyime Idem and nine others to interface with Mutichoice Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) and Other Service Providers to Introduce the Pay as You Go Tariff (PAYG) Plan.

The decision followed a motion adopted on the Floor of the House on the need to call on Multichoice Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) and Other Service Providers to Introduce the Pay as You Go Tariff (PAYG) Plan raised by hon.Unyime Idem from Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency, Akwa Ibom

•Raises C’ttee to implement Pay-As-You-Go plan PDP, during plenary on Tuesday.

Moving the motion, hon. Idem expressed worry that Nigeria constitutes 40% of DSTV’s global market share, yet over 40% of the citizens do not use a greater part of their paid monthly tariff due to engagements that take them from one location to the other on a daily basis, hence they cannot access the services upon expiration, whether or not they used their previous subscriptions until they renew it for another month.

According to him, DSTV and other Direct to Home Service Provider operates a Pay As You Go Tariff Plan in other countries but has chosen to exploit Nigerians through a fixed monthly Tariff

Plan.

“The continuous exploitation

by Multichoice, owners of DSTV, constitutes economic sabotage against Nigerians as most of them pay for services they do not consume while the Company, judging from their average monthly tariff of eight thousand naira, if multiplied by 11.9 million subscribers, makes about 100 billion naira monthly at the expense of its subscribers”, he added.

Contributing to the debate, hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano) said “it is not about whether one is well to do to pay for the monthly subscription, it is just that they are playing on the intelligence of Nigerians”. He therefore advised

that DStv be called to order.

Recall that the National Broadcasting Commission Act empowers the National Broadcasting Commission to regulate the ownerships activities or operations of Radio and Television Stations, as well as Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Providers and currently, there are over 10 Direct- To-Home Service Providers operating in Nigeria and rendering paid services.

It would also be of note that DSTV, one of the leading DirectTo-Home Service Providers in Nigeria, was launched in 1995 and has about 11.9 million subscribers, which is largest market for its operations.

President Muhammadu Buhari (M) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Head of the Economic Team, Prof Doyin Salami,Dr Mohammed Sagagi, Dr Mohammed Adaya Salisu, Dr Shehu Yahaya, Prof Ode Ojowu, Mr Bismack Rewane, Chief of Staff Mallam Abba Kyari, SGF Boss Mustapa, Miniseter of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and Cabinet Members during a meeting with the Economic Advisory Council team held at the State House, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: State House

Coronavirus: Advisory Council paints gloomy picture of economy From Egena Sunday Ode, Abuja

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hairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), Professor Salami, led a team of PEAC members to brief President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday, paining sobering scenarios of what could happen to the Nigerian economy, if the Covid-19 pandemic lasted for too long.

Those effects, according to team included; slower growth,

as the supply and demand sides of global economy would be affected, uncertainty, which would erode confidence, governments acting unilaterally instead of cooperatively, further drop in oil prices, and lockdowns gaining grounds around the world.

There would also be oil glut, trade imbalance, drop in foreign reserves, and rise in unemployment, they said.

Noting that many countries

round the world may go into economic recession, the PEAC advocated hard work for Nigeria to keep its head above the waters.

They recommended, among others, a possible revision of the 2020 Budget, with priority spending on healthcare, reprioritization of expenditure on infrastructure to focus on projects nearing completion with pro-poor effects, curtailing recurrent expenditure, mobilizing the private sector to strengthen

health sector infrastructure, and boosting of government revenue The PEAC, a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said, stressed that the projections may seem dire, but the worst may be avoided with hard work and scrupulous implementation of policies.

But President Buhari allayed their fears, noting that Nigeria had foreseen the economic problems that may come in the

wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and would explore all alternatives to protect her people.

With oil prices oscillating between 29 and 30 dollars in recent times, as opposed to the 57 dollars benchmark for year 2020 Budget, President Buhari said many variables, including production cost and political impact, determine oil prices, “and we will see how to survive fallen prices, as we already envisaged the problem.”

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News From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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he Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the present Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Aliyu over N1billion secondary schools renovation contract awarded in 2018 when he was the Commissioner for Education, Science and Techology during the administration of Umaru Tanko Al-makura.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi who set up the committee when the Secretary to the state Government.

(SSG), Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Tijani and the Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Fati Sabo appeared before the House on alleged misappropriation of funds in the name of contract awarded for the renovation of schools across the state in 2018.

The Speaker added that their appearances was to explain their roles on the utilization of the fund on renovation of secondary schools across the state which most of the projects were later abandoned.

According to him, the invitation of the SSG and the commissioner was not to witch hunt them but to ensure that the right thing is done for the purpose of accountability and good governance. After listening to the SSG, who was a former Commissioner for Education when the contract was awarded in 2018 without completion up till this moment.

It is in view of this that we are setting up an adhoc committee to investigate the projects in the interest of our children and overall development of the state.”

He continued “ The committee include the chairman and members of the House Committee on Education, Chairmen of House Committees on Finance, Public Account and

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

N1b schools renovation contract: Nasarawa Assembly sets C’ttee to probe SSG Works respectively. I urged the committee to do a thorough job as it is sad and unfortunate that our children in some secondary schools are learning under the trees, “ he said.

Earlier after thorough questioning from the members, the SSG admitted that N1 billion was released in November 2018

by the state government to the ministry of education for schools renovation purposes.

His words “ Yes, the renovation work is ongoing as the contract was given in 2018 when I was a Commissioner for Education.”

On her part, the Commissioner for Education,

Hajiya Fati Sabo also revealed that N84million was given to the ministry when she assumed office in 2019 to pay contractors for the same projects.

It would be recalled that the House members on March 16th summoned the former Commissioner of Education and now, the Secretary to the

Government of Nasarawa State (SSG), Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Tijani and Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hajiya Fati Sabo to appear before the House Tuesday 17th March over school abandoned projects awarded in 2018.

L-R: Chairman/ CEO, NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, during the Chairman’s visit to the Minister, yesterday in Abuja.

FCT: Court rules on 2 years land dispute, evicts lawyer

By Usman Shuaibu

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he protracted legal battle that lasted more than two years between Clerge Saoni Properties Limited and Barr Mohammed Tsav following the alleged failure of the latter to pay rent on a property located at A4 Lias Estate, Life Camp, Abuja has ended in favour of the plaintiff.

A Chief District Court 1 siting at Life Camp area of Abuja has finally ordered the son of Abubakar Tsav, a former Lagos

State Commissioner of Police and Chieftain of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Barr. Mohammed Tsav to vacate a property located at A4 Lias Estate, Life Camp Abuja owned by Clerge Saoni Properties Limited forthwith following his alleged inability to pay rent of N3million per year on the property since April, 2017.

Delivering judgment on the matter in Abuja, the Court presided over by Hon. Celestine Odo entered judgment in favour of the plaintiff on the matter

and ordered the defendant Barr.

Mohammed Tsav to pay the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira (N250, 000) per month to the plaintiff Clerge Saoni Properties Limited from April 1st 2017 till the date he vacates the property.

The court also awarded N50, 000 costs in favour of the plaintiff against the defendant.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Barr Nanpon Wuyep disclosed that his client Clerge Saoni Properties Limited had on 27th

November, 2018 filed a suit AB/ CDC/CV/566/ 2018 at the Chief District Court 1, Holden at Life Camp following the constant failure of the defendant Barr.

Mohammed Tsav to pay rent on the property since April, 2017.

“We are happy that justice has been finally served. My client’s faith in the Nigerian judiciary has finally paid off. This should serve as a deterrent to tenants.

No matter how highly placed, nobody is against the law,” he said.

COVID-19: US, China in war of words over Trump’s comment

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spat between the US and China over the novel coronavirus escalated on Tuesday as President Donald Trump angered Beijing by referring to the pathogen as the “Chinese Virus.”

The two countries have sparred over the origin of the virus for days, with a Chinese official promoting conspiracy theories claiming it was brought to China by the US army and American officials using terms seen as stigmatising a nation.

“The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus,” Trump tweeted Monday night.

He doubled down on the comment on Tuesday morning

while Tweeting about how US states were being affected, saying: “Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all.”

Trump’s allies had previously referred to the pandemic as the “Chinese coronavirus”, but Beijing said on Tuesday it was “strongly indignant” over the phrase, which it called “a kind of stigmatisation”.

The United States should “immediately stop its unjustified accusations against China,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters.

A commentary by the official Xinhua news agency said using “racist and xenophobic names to cast blame for the outbreak on other countries can only reveal politicians’ irresponsibility and incompetence which will intensify

virus fears”.

The war of words reignited diplomatic tensions between the two countries, which have tussled over trade and other disputes since Trump took office.

Trump’s comments were also criticised inside the US, with warnings it could incite a backlash against the Asian-American community.

“Our Asian-American communities — people YOU serve — are already suffering. They don’t need you fueling more bigotry,” tweeted New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, whose state is one of the hardest-hit by the virus in the US. The World Health Organization said more cases and deaths had been reported in the rest of the world than in China.

The new coronavirus virus

was first detected late last year, with China’s own health officials initially saying its source was a live animal market in the central city of Wuhan, whose government had initially tried to cover up the outbreak.

But China has sought to distance itself from the virus, saying the origin is still unknown, while seeking global goodwill by offering aid to countries facing serious outbreaks.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a phone call he initiated with top Chinese official Yang Jiechi, voiced anger that Beijing has used official channels “to shift blame for COVID-19 to the United States”, the State Department said.

Pompeo “stressed that this is not the time to spread

disinformation and outlandish rumours, but rather a time for all nations to come together to fight this common threat”, the department added.

The State Department on Friday summoned the Chinese ambassador, Cui Tiankai, to denounce Beijing’s promotion of a conspiracy theory that had gained wide attention on social media.

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian suggested on Twitter last week that “patient zero” in the global pandemic may have come from the United States.

“It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan.

Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation,” tweeted Zhao, who is known for his provocative statements on social media.(AFP)

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PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

By Christiana Ekpa, Tobias Lengnan Dapam, Egena Sunday Ode, Albert Akota, Abuja and Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

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he House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government, the Ministry of Aviation and security agencies to immediately halt all flights from high-risk countries especially the UK, Spain, Italy, the USA, China and South Korea except Nigerian citizens who will be tested on arrival and may be quarantined if necessary The House equally urged the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, to in line with global best practice, postpone the National Sports Festival scheduled for Edo State and other activities with a large gathering in the interest of the nation’s health and wellbeing till further notice.

This is even as the federal government has confirmed another case of coronavirus (covid-19) in Lagos, making the total confirmed cases in the Nigeria three.

In a swift reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari had also yesterday approved the postponement of the National Sports Festival scheduled for March 21 in Edo State .

The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to continue to work with federal and state medical establishments to update and upgrade facilities and prepare for eventualities.

The resolutions of the House followed a motion of Matter of Urgent National Public importance moved by Hon. Luke Onofiok (Akwa-Ibom PDP) and precided over by the Speaker of the House, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila.

Moving the motion titled “urgent need for the federal government to postpone the National Sports Festival in Edo State and other large gathering” said the appreciates the place and importance of sports in national development, harmony and unity, understands the numerous ways in which sports serves as platforms for identifying new talents, building sports infrastructure, promoting friendships and preparing athletes for international competitions “Recognizes the fact that the National Sports Festival is hosted by States and involves the participation of all states of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and this year, it is being hosted by Edo State; “Appreciates that the Edo State government has spent substantial public funds on publicity, rehabilitation and upgrading of sporting facilities and already set to welcome other athletes “Further appreciates the seriousness of the current global epidemic, coronavirus, which the World Health Organization has branded a Global epidemic that has so far affected almost 200,000 persons worldwide and killed over 7,000 in over 60 nations. In the United States, only the State of West Virginia is yet to report a case of coronavirus.

“Recognizes that virtually all sporting activities in the world such as the ATP (Tennis), Judo (International Judo Federation), London Marathon, NBA, EFL, Formula 1, The US Masters, Kentucky Derby, Boxing, FA Women’s Championships, FA Women’s Super League, UEFA, LaLiga, World Cup Qualifiers, Darts (The Professional Darts Corporation), and Cricket- have

News

Reps ask FG to stop flights from China, USA, UK, Italy • FG confirms third case of virus in Lagos • Buhari okays postponement of National Sports Festival • Tijjaniyya cancels Maulud celebration

been cancelled or postponed due to precautions about the spread of the coronavirus, including indoor games, with schools from pre-kindergarten through universities and research centers shut down.”

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire, disclosed the three confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Lagos yesterday during a press conference on covid-19 update, in Abuja.

He said the new confirmed case is a Nigerian national in her 30s, who returned from a short visit to the United Kingdom on March 1 3th.

Enahire said, the patient, upon her arrival, went into a 14 day selfisolation, and voluntarily called the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) tollfree call line, to report her condition, the moment she developed symptoms of fever and cough on March 16th.

He urged all Nigerians to maintain necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families, while identifying the measures as regularly hand wash with soap and water or use of an alcohol-based sanitiser if no water and soap is available.

Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, who announced the postponement of the National Sports Festival to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Buhari in company of the Minister of State ,Health, Adeleke Mamora, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, adding that a new date for the festival would be communicated soon.

He said: “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development because of the Edo 2020 National Sports

Festival, has been in close touch and consultation with the ministry of health - particularly with both the minister of health and the minister of state, health.

“We’ve also being in consultation with the governor and deputy governor of Edo State, the LOC, and the MOC but we have had the ministry of health take the lead. Based on daily review on development, we got assurances that we could go ahead.

“But because we are dealing with a dynamic situation, this morning, we had a meeting at the ministry of health in the office of the minister

of health with the minister of state, health present, myself, the permanent secretary and the Director General of NCDC. “Shortly after the meeting which lasted for about 45 minutes, we proceeded to the presidency to brief Mr President. After briefing Mr. President, Mr President took the initiative and gave the directive that the National Sports Festival, christened Edo 2020 should be postponed as a precautionary measure against the press of COVID-19. A new date will be communicated late based on development around COVID-19.

Similarly, renowned Islamic Scholar, Leader of Tijjaniyya adherents Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi has announced the postponement of annual great Islamic Scholar of repute Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass to another period as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread.

The annual event was scheduled to take place simultaneously in Abuja and Sokoto on 21 March 2020, before it was suspended by the scholar due to coronavirus outbreak.

Between five to seven million Tijjasniyya adherents used to attend the annual NYass Maulud .

R-L: Chairman Representatives committee on Army, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, Chairman Representatives committee on Air Force, Hon. Shehu Muhammad Koko and the Clerk committee on Army, Balarabe Inuwa Dutse, during a meeting with Army senior officers at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

APC reaches peace deal, as Oshiomhole lifts all suspensions

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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he ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has agreed on the modalities to ensure that lasting peace is entrenched in the party, even as the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday announced the lifting of all suspension which the APC placed on some members of the party National Working Committee (NWC).

Speaking to journalists yesterday after the party’s five hours NWC meeting which held at its national secretariat in Abuja, the chairman of the party said the suspended NWC members, including: the Vice National Chairman (North), Lawal Shuaibu, and the Deputy Chairman (North West), Inuwa Abdulkadir, have been readmitted into the party

immediately, He said the party has moved on peacefully, against the expectations of many who waited for fights to erupt in the party, adding that what binds the members of the NWC is far above the intrigues which play out in the contestations within the ranks.

According to Oshiomhole, the NWC members, at the meeting, resolved to pursue big issues, including activating its powers to invite ministers, including the minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, to appear before the party’s working committee to explain why the Nigeria should not be proactive to ban all flights from countries infested by Covid-19, including USA, Britain, Italy, among others.

Speaking further, he said the party NWC members should

concern itself with how it will support the government in dealing with the challenges coming on the heels of the falling oil prices, which he said may affect the capacity of the government to deliver on its promises to Nigerians.

Oshiomhole, who lamented over the crisis which had rocked the party in recent time, said he was humbled by the advice of the Court of Appeal, which apart from proclaiming that his suspension should be vacated, cautioned Nigerian political parties to always manage and resolve their crisis internally rather than coming to court to settle such issues.

To this end, he called on the NWC members to consider the pressure it places on President Muhammadu Buhari, to intervene in matters that should rather

be settled internally by the APC members, at the time he should be focusing on governance issues.

Meanwhile, Oshiomhole said the NWC members have resolved unanimously that all issues and litigations pending in the court by any member of the committee should be withdrawn forthwith, just as he promised that he has forgiven those who offended him and has been forgiven by those he offended.

Addressing the NWC members earlier before commencement of the meeting, the chairman of the party had promised to amend his ways to accommodate other interests and perspective, though he pointed out that his styles are different from other peoples style.

He said after the crisis, he has resolved to turn a new leaf to ensure that the party works towards peace.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PAGE 6

News

Ex-Bauchi Gov, Mu’azu to establish dairy factory From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

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former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Governor of Bauchi State Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu has expressed his plans to establish a dairy factory in Bauchi very soon to meet the fresh milk needs of the populace.

He said that, this was part of his effort to contribute to economic development through animal crop production.

Mu’azu stated this at the opening of the 2020 Annual Conference of Nigerian Society for Animal Production, tagged; ‘Animal Agriculture: Exploring the Goldmine of Nigeria’s AgroRevolution held in Bauchi.

He lamented that the huge amount of money expended on the importation of foreign milk could be used to scale up its production locally to make it Nigeria milk, particularly in the northern part of the country which has cow in abundance.

Guest Speaker, Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar from the University of Abuja said that Nigeria is spending between N3 billion and N5 billion annually to import Livestock and its products and urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and other related agencies to as a matter of necessity embark on livestock census to determine the current population for proper management.

Chairman of the occasion and Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof Suleiman Bogoro called for the revival of wildlife parks across the country as a solution to the dearth of animals species in the country.

He said that tourism has the potential to make the country a huge revenue earner as tourists will flow into the country considering the unique climatic condition God endowed it with.

Gunmen invade Zamfara market, kill 4 From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d Gusau

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undreds of gunmen suspected to be recalcitrant bandits on Monday invaded a market in Birnin Tsaba village under Birnin Magaji local government area of Zamfara State, shooting sporadically and killing three people.

The Zamfara State Command spokesman , SP Shehu Muhammad, said three people were killed by the bandits during the attack.

However, a survivor’s account put the casualty figure at four.

The survivor of the attack who preferred anonymity, said, while the weekly market of Birnin Tsaba was in full session last Monday, hundreds of bike-riding gunmen stormed the market and started shooting sporadically.

“It was later we were made to understand that, the bandits were after two local militias who were twin brothers from the neighboring Birnin Magaji local government headquarters, they targeted at them and shot in amidst of traders who were running for safety.

“It was learnt that, the deceased twins had become a great obstacle to the bandits in Birnin Magaji as they always derail their nasty mission in their community. And for the bandits, they have chosen this time when all local militias have surrendered their weapons as directed by the state government”, the survivor narrated.

A woman trader woman who also survived the attack narrated that, “I was negotiating the price of my cooking oil with one of my regular customer

when I saw people running towards every direction in the market and were shouting for help at the top of their voices.

“Just then I heard the unpleasant sounds of guns followed by a voice directing for attack on the deceased twins at all cost, and was telling people on the run to be calm, ‘our aim was to kill only two persons’, but yet the running for safety continued”, the woman said.

According to a motorbike seller who witnessed the killing, “The deceased twins alongside many more other customers were at my shade to patronize my market, just we heard gunshots, and in less than a minute the bandits arrived.

“The next thing was to opened fire on the targeted twins as they tried to

took to their heels, in the course of which two other persons from Garin Tsaba and Birnin Tsaba who stayed close to the twins were hit by the fired ammunitions and killed”, the eyewitness said.

Confirming the attack , Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Zamfara State Command, SP Shehu Muhammad, said three people were killed by the bandits during the attack on Birnin Magaji market session last Monday.

The PPRO further informed that, the Police team were since deployed with a view to arresting the perpetrators for prosecution. He urged the general public public to always report questionable signs of dastardly acts planned by criminals for prompt actions.

L-R: Representative of Chairman, Victims Support Fund, Mr Tujani Tumsah; Gov Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Keynote Speaker, retired Gen. Martin Luther Agwai and representative of the Vice President, Babagana Monguno, during the International Conference on Insurgency and Counter Insurgency in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

Ex-workers drag Pay TV Network to court over N9.6m

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

A

total number of thirteen former staff of NTA-Star Television Network Limited, also known as Star Times have dragged the company before the National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja, over unpaid N9.6million unpaid salaries and allowances.

The former staff, led by Mr. Philip Nickson and Isah Samson, through their counsel, Teslim Agboola Esq., are also praying the court for additional N5m damages for unfair labour practice.

According to the plaintiffs in

suit number NICN/ABJ/365/2019, the plaintiffs prayed the court to declare that the termination of their appointment by the defendant on the ground of redundancy is mere subterfuge employed by the defendant to deny them of their full disengagement benefits and entitlement.

In the statement of facts attached to the general complaint form filed before the court, the plaintiffs said they were employed by the company at various times through various letters of appointments.

According to them, notwithstanding the fact that

they were made to work under unconducive environment, they were diligent, dedicated and committed to their work during the subsistence of their employment with the defendant and were never found wanting or guilty of any misconduct in their duties.

They further told the court in the suit that before the termination of their appointment on the feigned ground of redundancy, the defendant was doing very fine and a company and all the staff actively engaged.

They said based on the terms and condition of their employments

and in line with international best practice, they were entitled to be paid redundancy benefits of a sum equal to one year basic salary or an amount to be mutually determined by them and the defendant in case of termination of their appointment on the ground of redundancy.

They argued that the company, without prior agreement between them and without regard to the terms and conditions contained in her employee handbook unilaterally came up with an amount to be paid to each of them.

The case has been fixed for March 18, 2020.

Foundation empowers 100 women in Gombe

By Usman Shuaibu

A

Foundation, created by Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna has trained 100 women in Gombe State in different skills.

Non-profit making, non-political, non-religious, the Foundation disbursed N100 million for that purpose, a statement said yesterday. This was done

through the Gombawa Youth Education and Women Empowerment Initiative.

The beneficiaries were trained in various skills, including making petroleum jelly, air fresheners, disinfectants, perfumes, confectionery, food seasoning, dairy products and juice.

A statement by the Foundation’s spokesman, Sani Abubakar Banki, said

“Today, 100 women from various parts of Gombe local government area of the state, who have undergone training in different skills, received the sum of N10,000 each as start-up capital from Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna Foundation.

The gesture is to complement the laudable efforts of the Gombe state government at cushioning the effects of poverty amongst vulnerable women in

the society.”

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Malama Maryam Suleiman thanked Dr. Jamilu Gwamna for the kind gesture. She prayed Allah to increase his wealth and protect him in all his endeavours. She called on wellmeaning individuals in the society to emulate the good gesture by helping the less privileged

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

From Umar Dankano, Yola

T

he Adamawa State Police Command has gunned down three suspected kidnappers among a notorious kidnapping syndicate terrorising innocent residents of Jada and its environs in Jada Local government Area of

Police nab 2 robbery suspects in Delta, recover unidentified corpse From Asaba

A

Nosa

Akenzua,

nti-robbery team of Policemen attached to Ogwashi Uku Police Division in Delta State on Tuesday arrested two suspected members of an armed robbery gang who have allegedly been responsible for series of robbery incidences in the area Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya who confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalists in Asaba, gave their names as: Ifeanyi Ojeogo,21, and Chukwunoso Okafor,25, adding that they were arrested around Cudi Street off Isah road in Ogwashi Uku Community shortly after they allegedly disposed two ladies of their belongings at gunpoint DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya said that the suspects upon interrogation confessed to the crime, adding that they also claimed responsibility of robbing indigenes of the area as notorious armed robbery gang after they could not continue their studies at the higher Institutions of learning in the state.

Meanwhile, the police have recovered an unidentified corpse already decomposing inside Utulu Community Forest in the state, adding that the corpse may have died as a result of gunshots which pierced through the back of his head during a cross fire.

DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, Police Public Relations Officer in the state confirmed that the victim according to investigation, hailed from Azagba Ogwashi Uku Community who also may have been killed by suspected herdsmen, adding that Utulu vigilante group uncovered the corpse and notified the police who immediately swung into action and uncovered the corpse inside the bush as investigation was ongoing.

News

Adamawa police kill 3, arrest 2 kidnappers in shootout the state.

Spokesman of the Command, DSP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje made the disclosure through a press statement issued in Yola Tuesday indicating that the three killed suspected kidnappers met their waterloo during a shootout with the police at Kojoli town on Sunday.

DSP Nguroje said the police in conjunction with local hunters have engaged the gunmen after they abducted and killed one Alhaji Panyo Kojoli between 10:00pm 11:00p.

“Adamawa State Police Command wish to inform members of the general public that on the 15/3/2020 between

the hours of 10-11pm. The command in collaboration with Hunters went after the kidnappers and killers of Alhaji Panyo Kojoli. “ The criminals who armed themselves with guns and dangerous weapons engaged our operatives in a shootout as a result three of the kidnappers were gunned down while three escaped with bullet wounds.

“The Command equally recovered one AK 47 Assault rifle with four lives ammunitions and charms from the kidnappers.

‘The Command wishes to assure members of the general public that it will continue going after the criminals in

their hideouts and called on the general public to cooperate and give useful information to police.

“The Command while appreciating members of the general public, equally advice public to report to police any suspected criminals around them,” he said.

A local hunter who spoke to our reporter on phone confirmed that upon receiving alert on the kidnapped businessman, the hunters quickly mobilized and gave them a hot chase leading to the success recorded.

In a related development, the police has also arrested two out the kidnapping gang

terrorising residents of Shagari Quarters,Bole ,Lakare and Unguwar Buro-Uba in Yola South local government council of the state.

DSP Nguroje stated that the suspects; Tanimu Yakubu and Alfa Marcus were apprehended on the 15th March at about 9.00pm after attacking a commercial tricyclist with a fabricated locally made pistol.

He added that timely intervention of some operatives attached to Mopol 14 Base Yola made the arrest of the duo possible as they are assisting the command with useful information on their criminal activities .

Senior Army officers, during a meeting with the House of Representatives committee on Army, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

B/Haram: Gov. Zulum summons ex security personnel for strategy meeting

By Ese Awhotu

B

orno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has invited citizens of the state, who retired as Generals and similar ranks in the air force and navy, those who retired as senior officers of the Police, the state security service and the paramilitary, for a strategy meeting.

Zulum, announced this on Sunday when he hosted the first, in a series of subsequent consultative meetings, with Borno citizens working at different federal establishments within the FCT, as well as other stakeholders.

According to a statement yesterday, the Governor was particular about citizens who held operational positions in security.

Held at the banquet hall of

Kanem suits in Abuja, the meeting explored ways Borno citizens in the ranks of chief executives, permanent secretaries, directors and deputy directors at federal ministries, departments and agencies could contribute to addressing challenges of security, recovery and development of their home state.

The statement said that , the Governor’s invitation to retired senior security personnels, was in response to comment by a retired Brigadier General from Borno state, who at the meeting, offered to contribute with strategies that could help the government in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram.

Zulum, said he hopes to meet the retired senior security officers as soon as the meeting can take place, at a suitable location.

Beside the issue of security,

Governor Zulum challenged all participants to make contributions through other means that can help the state and its citizens on different areas of development.

The Governor began with historic context of how forefathers of Borno communities fought at different times to either rebuild territories or stand against after difficult times that threaten the existence of communities.

“All of us coming together in trying to rebuild our state will not be something new. Our forefathers did the same thing in bringing back what is now Borno state, after turbulent times. They fought to rebuild communities. We need to be united. Lets forget about 2023 and unite for Borno’s sake. Each of us should see how he or she can contribute to our search for peace,

to resettling our brothers and sisters that ate internally displaced, to education, healthcare, jobs creating and generally our economic recovery and development ” Zulum said.

In response to the Governor’s passionate call,participants took turns to make insightful suggestions and to highlight existing and potential opportunities in the federal establishments they work and how Borno can maximize some benefits.

At the end, the meeting created thematic working groups through which participants were requested to choose the areas they can best contribute, taking into account their areas of specialization and positions they currently occupy that can accelerate the development of Borno state and its people.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PAGE 8

News

2020 pilgrimage: NCPC assures service providers of transparency

By Albert Akota

T

he Director in Charge of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Mrs. Esther Kwaghe has assured service providers for the 2020 Pilgrimage exercise that the Commission would be transparent and honest in selecting service providers for this year’s pilgrimage.

She gave the assurance

yesterday at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission during the 2020 Bid Opening for Ground Handlers and Air Carriers for this year’s pilgrimage operations to Israel and Rome.

In the words of the NCPC boss, “We are willing to do what is right and only what is right will set us free as enshrined in our ground norm’.

Mrs. Kwaghe stressed that the bid opening exercise was a very important activity of the Commission. She described it as a ‘starting point for the 2020 Pilgrimage exercise’ which would enable the Commission to get the needed approval early enough for the smooth running of this year’s operation.

She further reiterated that the 2020 Bid Opening exercise for

Ground Handlers and Air Carriers was in line with the 2007 Public Procurement Act. She assured the service providers and stakeholders that the outcome of the bid opening exercise would be acceptable by all as the Commission would involve other stakeholders in the evaluation process.

The director in charge urged the Ground Handlers and Air

Carriers to continue to support and advance the cause of Christian Pilgrimage, ‘describing them as partners in the Pilgrimage project’.

About six Ground Handlers and three Air Carriers participated in the Bid Opening exercise.

In attendance were observers from the Civil Society Organizations as well as officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

Era of depending on certificates is over, Minister tells youths From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

M

inister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has said that the era of youths depending on certificates as the only option or key out of poverty has gone.

Speaking at a Conversational Conference, organised by the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Barrister Ismail Ahmed, held in Kano yesterday, Dare said “youths need to be engaged in vocational skills training with the aim of becoming self-reliant.

He noted that youth are the major pillars in every society, hence much priority needs to be accorded to them with the aim of addressing numerous challenges of poverty and unemployment.

Dare also maintained that the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is working assiduously to ensure that youths key in into digital skill so that they could compete with their counterparts globally.

He said the ministry had mapped up strategies of training Nigerian youths on digital skill, saying “over five hundred thousand youths would benefit from the initiative nationwide.”

In a remark, the Deputy Governor of Kano state, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said embracing

agriculture was the only way out of poverty.

He charged the youths to redouble efforts in keying in into agriculture with the aim of curtailing the challenges of poverty and unemployment.

DGawuna added that the state government had invested huge resources in agriculture, targeted at providing job opportunities to the teeming youths as well as curtailing unemployment challenges in the state and the nation at large.

Earlier, the convener of the event, the Special Adviser to the president on social investment, Ismail Ahmed said the aim of the gathering was to fine tune modalities of addressing challenges of poverty among youths nationwide.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State with Director General of Nigeria Center for Disease Contro, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu (middle), during the Governor’s visit to the Centre, yesterday in Abuja.

Niger govt constitutes taskforce on street begging ban From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

A

task force to ensure strict compliance of ban on street begging by the Niger State government is to be constituted.

Commissioner of Information and Strategy Alhaji Muhammad Sani idris stated this while addressing newsmen

on further details of the ban on street begging in Minna.

Alhaji Muhammad Sani Idris explained that the task force when constituted would ensure total eradication of street begging throughout Niger State.

According to the Commissioner, the state government has already given two weeks grace to beggars in Niger State after the

announcement of ban on street begging at the end of their state Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.

Niger State Commissioner for Information and Strategy maintained that the ban is to sanitise and safeguard the state from becoming a dumping ground for beggars and guarantee total security of lives

and properties of its people.

Idris however, maintained that Niger State government is not against the Almajiri system but opposed to all forms of begging at which ever guise.

He stressed the need for those contemplating on begging in the state to have a rethink as anyone caught will be dealt with decisively to serve as deterrent to others.

47 houses razed by fire in Nasarawa in 2020 -NEMA

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

T

he Executive Secretary of Nasarawa Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Barrister Zakariah Zamani Alumaga has said that, so far 47 houses were raised down across the state as a result of fire disaster ranging from the month of January – March, 2020.

According to him, “This is an unfortunate incidence that has ravaged some households in the state.”

Barrister Alumaga made this known in an interview with our correspondent in his office along Shedam Road, Lafia, the State Capital.

“Fire disaster hit nearly every local government council in the state. We have 47 reported cases of fire incidences which raised down automatically houses. We have some unknown cases. Others are as a result of electricity and Gas Explosions.

“Most cases are caused by electricity and Gas Explosions. We are conducting

Biometric of the affected houses now,” he said.

The state government is working earnestly to ensure that the affected persons would have some assistance. We are compiling the list for effective record of properties cremated in all the affected homes in the state.”

The Executive Secretary further opined that the Agency has so far embarked on an extensive sensitization on the causes of fire disaster and its preventive measures

aimed at educating the residents to adopt precaution measures in order to avoid further occurrences.

“Fire is not our friend, but it is a necessity. Once if you use it, put it off whether electricity or gas. If it is a naked fire, pour water to put it off. You need fire only when it is necessary. We should be watchful by maintaining our electrical appliances in order to avoid fire outbreaks in our respective homes,” Alumaga maintained.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PAGE 10

News

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

N

o fewer than 13 inmates, yesterday, regained their freedom from various Correctional Centers in Akwa Ibom State, when the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion visited the state.

Out of these thirteen (13) inmates was a seventy-year-old man, 11 of them had their option of fine paid by the State government while two were released on grounds of ill health.

This was made known in a statement released by the Deputy Director of the Minister of Justice, Mrs. Module Ogundoro.

The statement informed that the Chairman of the Presidential Committee and Chief Judge, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Honourable Justice Ishaq U. Bello disclosed the number of the released inmates at the end of the decongestion exercise and facility tour of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday March 16, 2020.

Hon. Justice Bello said, “a total inmates released are 13 from the Correctional Centre, out of this, 11 of them had their option of fine paid by the State government. Two were released on grounds of ill health.

He explained that the 13 inmates were released in accordance to the mandate given to the committee.

The pardon for their release were based on those who were convicted of minor offences with option of fines but were unable to pay, old age, ill health, overstay of statutory detention period and other factors that could justify their release.

He disclosed that the release was at the instance of the state government to settle the fines on behalf of the convicted inmates and set them free.

The Chairman admonished the released inmates to be of good conduct, not to involve in crimes that would likely bring them back to the correctional centre.

The Controller of Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aleze Oditah, in his opening remarks, expressed difficulties and challenges encountered in the management of the inmates due to over population.

He disclosed that the Uyo Correctional Centre housed over 1,347 inmates overshooting its capacity of 612 inmates with about 70% of them on awaiting trial.

Oditah however acknowledged that with the Ecological funding from the State Government, the renovation of the Correctional

Prison decongestion: 13 inmates regain freedom in Akwa Ibom Centre is 70% completed and this will give a sort of relief from challenges often experienced during rainy season.

The statement further stated that during a courtesy call on His Excellency, Emmanuel Gabriel

Udom, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. the Committee informed that the visit to the state is in line with Presidential mandate to decongest the Custodial Centers nationwide.

This according to Justice Bello,

is to meet with the international standard of criminal justice and human right standard.

In his response, Governor Udom Emmanuel said that the state had in the past supported with the construction/rehabilitation of

some Correctional Centres in the state namely; Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi and Uyo Correctional centres.

He promised to establish Skill Acquisition Centres in the Correctional Centres in partnership with Private Organisations.

L-R: Mr. Samuel Adeoyin Osamolu, Director and Head of Academics Nigerian Law School Bwari Abuja, Mr. Jerry Ugwu, Deputy Director, Nigerian Communications Commission NCC, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, Director General Nigerian Law school Bwari Abuja, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye Director Legal and Regulatory Services NCC, Mr. Chibueze Okorie, Director Academics during the Meet the regulator, yesterday 16th March 2020 at the Law school, yesterday in Abuja.

Northern govs wives condole Kogi gov. over mother's death From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.

T

he Northern Governors Wives Forum (NGWF) has expressed its deepest condolences to the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya

Abubakar over the demise of his Mother.

This was contained in a press statement issued Monday by the Niger State Governor's wife Dr Amina Abubakar Sani Bello who is the chairperson has condoled with

the entire people of Kogi State as well the immediate for the great lose.

According to her press secretary Aisha Wakaso, "We are saddened by the news of her demise and we understand the

immeasurable pain and grief of losing a loved one especially a mother.

"We pray that Allah grants you, your family and the entire people of Kogi State the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss."

NCDC to establish centre in Bauchi

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Nigeria Center for Disease Control has announced plans to establish its center in Bauchi state to manage outbreak of diseases.

The Director General of the Center Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu announced this when he received in audience, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of the state who paid him advocacy visit at the Administrative Headquarters of the Centre in Abuja.

The Director General enjoined the state government to provide

the required manpower in order to achieve the desired objectives.

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said already the centre has declared its interest to support the Governor to ensure effective implementation of his health policies beneficial to the citizens of the state. “ Your Excellency, even before your visit to us today, you have our commitment, let’s work together so as to ensure effective service delivery. “ Human resources is one of the major challenges in the healthcare sector, I hope you will provide the required manpower. We will

soon lay down our foundation in Bauchi state to manage outbreak of diseases.”

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said the centre is working in close collaboration with critical stakeholders to manage any outbreak of diseases across the country.

Earlier, Governor Bala Mohammed while describing as a welcome development, the resolve of center to establish its center in the state, pledged provide the necessary facilities for smooth take off. “ Our visit to you is to appreciate you for your commitment towards

reducing the infection of diseases in the country and to intimate you that we are ever ready to work with you for effective provision of healthcare services in the state.

The Governor said he is currently working on accessing alternative funding from relevant bodies through the support of Multilateral bodies and global organizations working in the state.

To achieve this, Governor Bala Mohammed said his administration will engage religious and community leaders to educate citizens on the preventive mechanism against infection with diseases.

FG to partner private sector on technology, innovation -Buhari

By Miriam Humbe

T

he President has said that the Federal Government is committed to partnering with the private sector on science, technology and innovation to ensure that the sector plays a vital role in advancing the frontiers of knowledge for nation-building.

President Muhammadu Buhari said this on Monday

when he declared open the five day Science and Technology exhibition, Expo 2020 organized by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, (FMST) at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

To achieve this, Buhari said: ”Government will continually support the creation of intervention funds to strengthen research and development, human

capacity building programmes and collaboration with the organized private sector. ”We will continue to work towards the realisation of the National Research and Innovation Fund. I am aware, this Fund will help promote research activities in our country,” he said.

The exhibition is themed: Enhancing The Growth Of A Diversified Economy Through

Science And Technology”.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu thanked the President for the many efforts in promoting STI, including recognizing the sector as being at the centre of all economic activities under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 20172020.

Onu revealed that in the last six months of the second

term of President Buhari, the STI sector helped create over 900,000 jobs while data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that Nigeria saved over N1 trillion in the importation of raw materials in 2017 and 2018.

On Covid-19, Dr Onu said this is a wake-up call to intensify efforts to manufacture goods locally and patronize made-inNigeria products.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

A deadly explosion too many

A

gas pipeline exploded on Sunday in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, resulting in the death of at least 17 people. A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said more than 100 houses had caught fire and many people were wounded. Lorries, cars and motorbikes were also destroyed by the blast.

for the victims. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said N250million would be released immediately and he pleaded with well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to contribute to the fund. He also raised a committee, headed by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, to inquire into the tragedy.

“

We, at Peoples Daily, regretting the loss of lives in the explosion. We send Fires and Farinloye said the our condolences to explosion was triggered bereaving families. explosions when a truck hit gas often occur However, we are not cylinders stacked up in surprised because a gas processing plant as people try petrol tanker and near a fuel pipeline in to siphon fuel pipeline blasts Abule-Ado area of Lagos. from pipelines have become all “We are recovering dead and as a result too familiar in this bodies as we speak and Fires and of accidents country. putting them in bags,” explosions often involving said local Red Cross occur as people try fuel tankers to siphon fuel from official Adebola Kolawale.

“We have a school here, pipelines and as a on poorly and it’s a residential area. result of accidents maintained And we have a trade fair involving fuel roads here as well.” tankers on poorly maintained roads.

As a crowd looked on, rescue In July, at least 45 people were workers sought to remove rubble killed and more than 100 others from a girls boarding school injured in Benue State when a attended by more than 250 pupils. crashed petrol tanker exploded as The school headmaster was killed people gathered around to siphon in the explosion, as were a couple fuel from it. The truck overturned and their two sons who lived close to shops as it was travelling nearby. The explosion’s impact through the village of Ahumbe. was so strong it led to “the collapse of nearby houses and damage We commend the prompt to a pipeline”, according to the response of the Lagos State Nigerian National Petroleum government to the tragedy. It acted Corporation. quickly to evacuate the injured to hospitals. Search and rescue President Muhammadu Buhari, operations are proceeding apace. in a statement on Sunday, described By yesterday, the fire had been the incident as a national tragedy. put out. However, what we want He sent condolences to the families done is to find ways to stop these of the victims and Lagos state. avoidable tragedies or reduce their The Lagos government, Monday, frequency which has become a announced a N2 billion relief fund national embarrassment.

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Letter to the Editor

Diaspora: Roads without borders

By Deborah Tochukwu Anaelechi

O

ne will agree that the major challenge when faced with change is adaptability. Likewise, the transition of going abroad for a firsttime Nigerian traveller comes with mixed reactions. Thoughts on new neighbourhood, cuisine, culture shock, host people, time frame, language, so on, will be of concern as he begins to start the familiar, yet, foreign phase all over again to be acquainted with the new environment. One of such phases, which can be daunting, is driving a vehicle when outside Nigeria.

No matter how apt your driving skills are back home, once you step your feet in a foreign land, you are regarded as a rookie until tested otherwise. In another angle some citizens find it difficult obtaining their Nigerian Driver’s License to allow them to drive while in Nigeria.

But this is about to change.

Some weeks ago, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), under the leadership of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) reached an understanding on the ease of driving and licensing for diasporans upon their arrival in Nigeria. According to the Assistant Corps Commandant (ACC) Owoechukwu Chukwuna, the effort is aimed at designing a hitch-free exercise for diasporans to have their National Driver’s License while in Nigeria. In addition, the FRSC, in another development, has plans to initiate the Driving Reciprocity Scheme (which is done in the US, some European countries and other countries), to afford Nigerians moving abroad, with valid National Driver’s License, the ability to drive cars (using the right-hand side) abroad without reapplying for a driving course over there.

This simply means that Nigerians living abroad, returning home for business, pleasure, or both (yes, you can have your cake and eat it too!) can get their driver’s license during their stay easily and in the shortest period possible.

This is a relief as most diasporans come back, indulge in their current locale and get the best experience it has to offer. In my opinion, having a vehicle and driving around in it will, ordinarily, save the everwavering transport fare, should you opt for public or commercial transportation.

The second effort by the FRSC is the introduction of the Driving Reciprocity Scheme. Now with this scheme, Nigerians opting to travel abroad will be able to drive if given the opportunity. However, there are terms and conditions- the first, a Certificate of Completion must be issued to the student from an approved and authorising driving school after a series of driving lessons and tests. Secondly, with the certificate, the individual will be issued a valid Driver’s License which he (or she) can present to the counterpart road safety agency overseas. The third condition points that this scheme can only be applicable in countries vehicles drive on the right-hand side.

The left-hand and right-hand driving in bi-directional traffic, are acts of maintaining the left side or to the right side of the road when driving, respectively.

It is a key element in driving referred to as the rule of the road (these are rules controlling the direction in which two vehicles should follow on meeting to avoid collision). Left-hand drive vehicles keep to the left, with vehicles appearing to be on the right-hand side from an exterior view and, driving in roundabouts, here, are done in a clockwise motion. But everything is reversed when it comes with a right-hand drive vehicles: the vehicles keep to the right, the vehicle appears to be on the left-hand side from an exterior view, and roundabouts are moved in a counterclockwise motion. For the sake of clarity, Nigeria is one of the countries that operate the left-hand drive but drives on the right (because we drive on the ride side of the road); though that had not always been the case. What happened, you ask? Let us go on a bit of history, shall we?

Historically, it is obscure why people kept to the left or right while moving but most people (about 90 per cent) are said to be right-handed; therefore, keeping to the right was borne out of convenience.

In 1756, the English Law ( of the London Bridge Act) made its first reference of the left-hand drive (when carts and wagons were the then means of transportation in the UK) regarding the London Bridge. In 1835, this law became an addition into the Highway Act and adopted in all parts of the Great Britain. Years later, the United Kingdom still has remained left-handed when driving; though, in the late 1960s, the British Department for Transport wanted to switch to right-hand drive but declared it dangerous and expensive for such a country that has been structurally planned. Nigeria (and other West African countries), by colonisation from the British Empire operated right-hand drive vehicles until 2nd April 1972, when Nigerians moved to operate the left-hand drive vehicles. As it is, the National Road Traffic Regulation (2004) section 71 states that “no vehicle with apparatus fitted on the right-hand side shall be registered or driven on public roads”, which to FRSC, makes it dangerous to both the user and other road users.

Currently, 166 countries (namely Afghanistan, Albania, the US, Canada, Italy, France, Georgia, Switzerland, Israel, the Netherlands, Cambodia, Niger Republic, to mention but a few), drive on the right side of the road, like Nigeria.

This stride will make driving universally accessible for Nigerians whenever they find themselves in the diaspora. The US, for example, is recognising the Nigerian Driver’s License.

This initiative from NiDCOM and FRSC deserve a pat on the back; whether or not it is in motion. The fact that it is ideated calls for applause, in anticipation of making this vision into existence. With its realisation, Nigerians can drive in that fancy Mustang, Ford SUV or any car of their fancy, hit the open roads and enjoy the warm welcoming breeze, to a new adventure in a foreign land. Just imagine.

Deborah Tochukwu Anaelechi Staff Writer, Media and Public Relations Unit NiDCOM, Abuja.

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PAGE 13

Comment

Handshake: A friend from the cradle

Immunity for lawmakers’ll jeopardise anti-corruption war

Dear Handshake,

hen Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was named by the African Union as its first “anti-corruption champion in Africa” in 2018, he called on member states to “invest in institutions to entrench transparency and accountability.” But the recent push by many lawmakers from his All Progressives Congress (APC) political party to grant themselves immunity from prosecution for corruption would seem to leave Mr. Buhari’s national commitment to tackle corruption in tatters and fatally undermined.

The bill, known as “Bill for an Act to Alter Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Extend Immunity to Cover Presiding Officers of Legislative Institutions,” has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. It seeks to amend Section 308 of the constitution to extend immunity to all the principal officers in the country’s National Assembly and the houses of assembly of the states, while in office.

Briefly, Section 308 provides that: “no civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors during their period of office.”

The proposed amendment to Section 308 to cover the lawmakers would mean that any criminal or civil action for crime of corruption or other egregious crimes they commit while in office would be stayed until the expiration of their tenures.

The bill first appeared in parliament in 2016 but the lawmakers then backtracked after a public outcry over the move.

In effect, the bill will protect lawmakers from legal consequences for corruption, exacerbate the impunity that prevails in Nigeria’s political circles and worsen the country’s ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. And this would have a negative effect on the human rights of Nigerians.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, several

By Adetunji Ayobrown

F

or you, I will, even if no one does.

Quakers spread handshake, coronavirus was spread by ….?

I knew how to exchange greetings through how you introduced me to my world. Since cradle, you have always been dependable.

My friend since I was a little boy in a strange country, who knew nothing but your gesture which blended me into my environment. But until now, I never say no to you. Oh dear handshake, because of you, I accept kisses on the cheeks, even accept inappropriate hugging.

You are centuries old, universal, unisex, and until now, a safe way to pass the message of peace. A globally widespread brief greeting or parting tradition in which two people grasp one of each other’s hands, in most cases accompanied by a brief up-anddown movement of the grasped hands. You are always between us.

Honouring equality, addressing each other as friends, they adopted the formal gesture of clasping hands as their greeting gesture. The Quakers in their 18th-century heyday were strict egalitarians and thus rejected the established gestures of deference, such as removing a hat and baring the head as a gesture of greeting.

We should not give to man, they held, what pertains to God. Many give credit to a bunch of religious radicals for introducing the handshake as we know it today. Until roughly 1700, shaking hands had a different meaning; a gesture not part of any greeting or departure behaviour.

It is a rule though, human greeting gestures are short-lived, even the handshake barely survived its launch sometimes. But many family and friends had forsaken each other because of you. Except you want to make yourself immortal. Though, many swear and even promised but cant kept you refused for too long. This might have happened to any of us.

Flattering you is beneath me, you taught me as I’m quick to learn the ways of men.

You have such persistence that wall down many resistances. Much as they are now, its meanings were mostly political or legal, a common way to seal a deal. It was a gesture that symbolised the ideals of peace and harmony cherished by all. You are both intense and generously handsome.

In pursuit of civility, many are still perplexed by the common French habit of shaking hands each morning. Constant dread that people one did not know might take advantage of too-easy familiarity.

More than a wave but far less than a hug, it is the primary way we meet people.

You sometimes used to signify romantic relationships. What you meant is the same all over the world. You are the largest early platform connecting families, friends, lovers and more in a single stroke.

Until now, it is also a little tired, maybe overused and quite possibly meaningless.

An incredibly embarrassing dream I thought I had. Even my family members are all forming attitudes against me. Because I refused you, many pay me back in like coin.

I’m too weak for your absence appetite, your friendship knows no bounds, you cut across race, colour and even nations. Our world without you seems meaningless.

Crippling lives, the creeping virus people catch these days is causing our enmity.

Words may not be enough, but do you know how hard it is for me to distance myself from you?

You spread from the Quakers to other groups as a popular way to greet equals or friends. I don’t know who was the first coronavirus patient.

Slowly, frenzied as you spread in our world, coronavirus is rapidly causing chaos and also becoming deadly. Even after all agreed that it’s about time we retire you.

Many still can’t do without you.

Some say the coronavirus is under control. Correction: It is not, to others. The edge of our hope, human must be drastic; we need brain to balance the brawl, failure of which the end of our time may be nearer than thought.

Handshake, you are now seen as a risky step in that direction.​ As no right tracks for what await you, COVID 19 seems more than active presently in human race. Sometimes, no matter how careful you may plan your playlist, there is no right track for what awaits you, corononavirus is real.

Human race is trying to give you a break now, don’t tell anyone I said that.

Always tell the truth even when some think you shouldn’t is our slogan, I know you remember this.

Executive dodges Trump’s handshake, offers elbow instead, President Trump shakes hands with executives at his coronavirus press briefing, a gesture health experts advised against amid world coronavirus pandemic. Public health emergence alert, humans thought your change of scene might

help. Claims said ‘It is no more dangerous than winter flu’.

The virus is easily transmitted and we must learn to distance ourselves socially from each another. On how coronavirus has affected people of all walks of life, opinions all over the world, governments may sugar coat coronavirus details, but the media should stand-up, for it is time to speak with one clear voice about this public health emergency. Covid-19 is about 10 times more deadly than seasonal flu, which is estimated to kill between 290,000 and 650,000 people a year globally. It spread weirdly, wildly and chaotically.

You lose everything and you win the war, you are a hero, dear friend, loosing you on the sacrificial altar now a must until the situation improves. War for the soul of our race, coronovirus became a daredevil that affects our very existence to its marrow.

There are moments in our lives when we found ourselves at a crossroad, the choice we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Sometimes the correct path is the tortured ones. In your place, simply looking into a person’s eyes now suffices as a greeting. Life is like an old steam engine, you either go ahead or in reverse.

Truly, if you lose everything and you lose the war, you are just a fool. There is no way I can take it back but my plan is to show you and make you better understand.

Till the crisis ends, I may not have further communication of any kind with you.

I missed you in my head already.

Sincerely yours.

Adetunji Ayobrown is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Civil society movements in a nation of contradictions

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

“

We need people who are activists with good judgement and interpersonal skills to move nations forward”-Anonymous.

In recent weeks, I have followed with real curiosity the efforts Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, a Havard trained lawyer and Executive Director, Spaces for Change, is making to document factors that propelled political activism in the country way back in the 80s and 90s. As part of that observation, I have read with interest various commentaries, opinion and reactions by those she interviewed-largely made up of former staff/ volunteers of the Nigerian foremost Human Rights organization- the famous Civil Liberty Organization (CLO).

Essentially, a careful analysis of the subject matter and responses in some ways provides insight to what helped activism in that era (1980s/90s), to flourish.

To use the words of Felix Morka, Executive Director, Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC), “in the 80s and 90s, activism emerged out of severe necessity. The civic space was completely closed and something had to be done to forcefully open the doors of democratic expression and engagement. Then, activists acted out of the deep commitment to free up the civic space, and many of them paid severe price for it” Also, to YZ Yau, director of CITAD, repression associated with military rule informed the focus of activism of the 80s and 90s. But, now that we say we have democracy, do citizens enjoy these rights?

Can somebody travel from Abuja to Kaduna or Rigasa without fear of being kidnapped, killed or shot by bandits?

The right to life, in particular, now has a question mark. Can somebody facing such threats claim to have the right to life? The issues we advocated for many years ago haven’t been resolved and still beg for meaningful solutions.

The police is not accountable to anybody. The army is not accountable to anybody. This is not what democracy should look like. We cannot promote democracy in an environment where human rights are not respected.

Arguably a well articulated observation by these men that fully participated in challenging, questioning and through the process breath human value constantly into the prevailing ideologies of their time and shared with others the wisdom of their own experience. Indeed, from their testimonies, repression associated with military rule informed the focus of activism in the past.

Indeed, they fought about the right to organize, the right to free expression, the right to assemble freely, the right to free movement and ultimately, the right to life. And today, they are daily celebrated at the global stage; they have interesting things to say. They forced the military to leave, and that was precisely part of the role they were expected to play Unfortunately, however, when the military left, the activists also abandoned Nigerians and the absence without any nation building programme directly allowed politicians the opportunity to use sophisticated means to manipulate public opinion as well as selectively control information relevant to decision making process in our democracy.

Aside from loosing the political ground, their departure intrinsically handed Nigerians over to politicians and the experience quoting Richard Templar has been unpleasant, selfish, narrow minded and petty as their antics invariably involves intimidating people,being sly, getting things done by lying and other dishonest means.

Comparatively, the greatest irony is that while the vast majority of activists of the 80s/90s, for yet to be identified reason(s) currently watch the nation’s affairs from the political galleries, efforts by the new generation activists to create a more human and humane Nigeria are daily rebuffed, frustrated or religated to the background by both the state and Federal governments.

Consider this disgraceful treatment reported in depth at a function in Lagos by a peace advocate in the Niger Delta region, of how in 2008, he, and some Niger Delta youth leaders in different communities/ kingdoms, with sincere effort to promote Martin Lurther Kings Jr’s non-violence philosophy/education developed a template for training of youths in the region- an initiative similar to what is today celebrated as amnesty programme.

But unfortunately, this ‘noble and sublime initiative’ had not gone without opposition from the militants as many of the proponents were intimidated, humiliated, kidnapped, beaten and their families threatened for working against their violence ideologies in the region. Despite this persecution, the government at both the state and Federal levels were all too silent that no effort was made to secure their release or words of sympathy and encouragement sent to their families.

Certainly, history will surely judge our leaders.

But while we wait, the questions before us as a nation are; what can we do to make the olden days activists to come down from the Olympian highs and merge today’s civil activism to make political action more effective? How can we bring back the experiences of the activism of the 80s and 90s and maximize the gains of the past? How can civil and political activism work together to take our great nation to the ‘next level’? Who will tell our exactivists watching the political affairs of our nation from the balcony that activism is necessary but not sufficient as political participation is essential?

How will Nigerians communicate to our policy makers that;if achieving a people-purposed leadership or building effective justice system form part of our dreams,then, the nation needs to look for ways to co-opt the likes of Olisa Agbakogba,who is the founding father of the Civil Liberty Organization,Clement Nwankwor, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Femi Falana,Richard Akinnola and other Nigerians blessed with the

spirit of the late Chief Gani Fawehinimi.

Similarly, if promotion of peace in Niger Delta and youth’s empowerment forms our objective as a nation, then, we urgently need to search out personalities-the likes of Victoria-Ibezim Ohaeri, who was at the fore front pushing for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) by the outgone 8th Assembly. And other peace advocates in the region that are not just familiar with, but well respected. People who are committed and are development-minded, and not representatives of one political godfather or the other, to champion such initiative.

Evidently, Mr. President need to do this not for political reason(s) but because history teaches that for democracy to survive, ‘it needs economic development, and political institutions that supports free speech and human rights; and a civil society resting on shared values that make people with different and conflicting views willing to corporate with each other.

On the part of the activists, it will be rewarding in political and socioeconomic to recognize that globally, when non profit sector has grown and its economic impact expands, it is important that members identify and support non profit leaders who wish to run for elected offices.

Going by reports, it was similar thinking in the United States back in 2011, that led to the creation of the 501(c)(4)organization ‘CFORWARD’ and its associated political action committee (PAC) that brought about the first large scale body with cordinated effort to identify, financially support and endorsed non profit leaders as candidates for political office in local, state and national races’.

Finding similar traditional progressive solution to the present problem in Nigeria is the purpose of this piece.

Jerome-Mario Utomi,(jeromeutomi@ yahoo.com), is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant.

By Kolawole Olaniyan

W

politicians — including governors with allegations of corruption against them — have sought to hide out in the National Assembly. The proposed bill will now make them almost untouchable once they swear their oaths of office as lawmakers.

Some lawmakers, including the sponsor of the bill, Odebunmi Olusegun of Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency (APC, Oyo), and at least two members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) — Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) and Nkem-Abonta Uzoma (PDP, Abia) — believe that the bill will protect them from “blackmail” while in office. That fear is misplaced.

The lawmakers are already covered by parliamentary immunity under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2018, which means they are immune from civil or criminal proceedings for anything they say in parliament.

This is a privilege developed to ensure open and fearless debate in parliament and is similar to the situation of lawmakers in the U.S. and U.K., where members of parliament cannot be sued for defamation for statements made in parliament, which Nigerian politicians frequently cite as “best practice.”

However, this Act doesn’t shield lawmakers from prosecution for crime of corruption or other egregious crimes. The proposed amendment to Section 308 would now extend the immunity provided under the Act to shield lawmakers from criminal and civil proceedings, far beyond existing parliamentary privileges and immunities.

The push for immunity for lawmakers ignores the history and legacy of corruption in Nigeria and its impact on human rights. It’s also at odds with Nigeria’s international commitments as a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

There is no legal justification for providing immunity to lawmakers beyond the privileges they already enjoy, as to do so would be antithetical to the fundamental principle that all persons are equal before the law, and to Nigeria’s voluntary obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption, which in article 30(2) requires states parties to limit immunity

from investigation, prosecution or adjudication of corruption offences.

Similarly, the Commonwealth Working Group on the Recovery and Repatriation of Assets of Illicit Origin has stated that heads of state/ government, ministers and other public officials should not have immunity from prosecution for alleged criminal activity.

Lawmakers also argue that if the president, his deputy, state governors and their deputies can enjoy immunity, there is no reason why they should not also enjoy immunity. But it’s difficult to see how granting immunity to lawmakers will aid the fight against grand corruption in the country.

The lawmakers’ “levelling up” strategy is in fact counter-productive, as section 308 of the Constitution is already shown to impede disproportionately the conduct of inquiries, prosecutions and the sentencing of the persons it covers, and thereby contributing to the prevailing impunity of politicians for corruption.

Lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution for corruption would fuel perceptions that those charged with the responsibility to make laws for the country are seeking to use their positions to stay one step ahead of the law.

Rather than trying to “level up” with the executive — at both the federal and state levels — members of the House of Representatives should push to exclude section 308 or limit its application to cases of corruption and other similar crimes that have an impact on human rights. Doing this will prompt real change in the country’s political culture and help to improve the lawmakers’ image with Nigerians.

If the bill is passed, it will constrain the ability of Mr. Buhari’s government to fight corruption, as it will mean that lawmakers will see expanded opportunities to line their pockets and divert scant public resources through, for example, the so-called “Constituency Projects”, and with no fear of facing prosecution while they remain in office.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) already

found in a recent report that Nigerian federal lawmakers use the Constituency Projects as a conduit for pocketing public funds.

This will deny justice to Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses caused by corruption.

All human rights can be restricted by corruption, be they economic, social, cultural, civil, or political rights. Opening the door to impunity threatens the rights of all people in Nigeria. The higher the levels of corruption, the lesser the degree of human rights protection. For example, corruption in the management of public resources and public services denies people their right to education, health and other rights.

Criminal prosecution represents the best hope for holding lawmakers to account for corruption, since Nigerian laws do not currently allow people to pursue cases in civil or human rights action against corrupt politicians.

If lawmakers want to protect themselves from politically motivated charges, they should pass laws to reform and improve the country’s criminal justice system. This will ensure that due process is always observed in corruption cases, including those that involve lawmakers, and that the executive does not use its anti-corruption fight as a tool for political expediency. Whether the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila will use his leadership position to ensure that the bill is dropped, remains to be seen.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s job of tackling corruption is already complicated enough without immunity for lawmakers. He now must publicly condemn and reject the bill, if he is to be able to deliver on his anti-corruption promises to Nigerians.

It’s time for Mr. Buhari’s government to comply in law and in practice with Nigeria’s international obligations and commitments.

Kolawole Olaniyan, author of Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa, is legal adviser at Amnesty International’s International Secretariat, London.

Handshake: A friend from the cradle

By Adetunji Ayobrown Dear Handshake,

F

or you, I will, even if no one does. Quakers spread handshake, coronavirus was spread by ….?

I knew how to exchange greetings through how you introduced me to my world. Since cradle, you have always been dependable. My friend since I was a little boy in a strange country, who knew nothing but your gesture which blended me into my environment. But until now, I never say no to you. Oh dear handshake, because of you, I accept kisses on the cheeks, even accept inappropriate hugging.

You are centuries old, universal, unisex, and until now, a safe way to pass the message of peace. A globally widespread brief greeting or parting tradition in which two people grasp one of each other’s hands, in most cases accompanied by a brief up-and-down movement of the grasped hands. You are always between us.

Honouring equality, addressing each other as friends, they adopted the formal gesture of clasping hands as their greeting gesture. The Quakers in their 18th-century heyday were strict egalitarians and thus rejected the established gestures of deference, such as removing a hat and baring the head as a gesture of greeting. We should not give to man, they held, what pertains to God. Many give credit to a bunch of religious radicals for introducing the handshake as we know it today. Until roughly 1700, shaking hands had a different meaning; a gesture not part of any greeting or departure behaviour.

It is a rule though, human greeting gestures are short-lived, even the handshake barely survived its launch sometimes. But many family and friends had forsaken each other because of you. Except you want to make yourself immortal.

Though, many swear and even promised but cant kept you refused for too long. This might have happened to any of us.

Flattering you is beneath me, you taught me as I’m quick to learn the ways of men.

You have such persistence that wall down many resistances. Much as they are now, its meanings were mostly political or legal, a common way to seal a deal. It was a gesture that symbolised the ideals of peace and harmony cherished by all. You are both intense and generously handsome.

In pursuit of civility, many are still perplexed by the common French habit of shaking hands each morning. Constant dread that people one did not know might take advantage of too-easy familiarity.

More than a wave but far less than a hug, it is the primary way we meet people. You sometimes used to signify romantic relationships. What you meant is the same all over the world. You are the largest early platform connecting families, friends, lovers and more in a single stroke.

Until now, it is also a little tired, maybe overused and quite possibly meaningless. An incredibly embarrassing dream I thought I had. Even my family members are all forming attitudes against me. Because I refused you, many pay me back in like coin.

I’m too weak for your absence appetite, your friendship knows no bounds, you cut across race, colour and even nations. Our world without you

seems meaningless.

Crippling lives, the creeping virus people catch these days is causing our enmity. Words may not be enough, but do you know how hard it is for me to distance myself from you?

You spread from the Quakers to other groups as a popular way to greet equals or friends. I don’t know who was the first coronavirus patient.

Slowly, frenzied as you spread in our world, coronavirus is rapidly causing chaos and also becoming deadly. Even after all agreed that it’s about time we retire you. Many still can’t do without you.

Some say the coronavirus is under control.

Correction: It is not, to others. The edge of our hope, human must be drastic; we need brain to balance the brawl, failure of which the end of our time may be nearer than thought.

Handshake, you are now seen as a risky step in that direction.​ As no right tracks for what await you, COVID 19 seems more than active presently in human race. Sometimes, no matter how careful you may plan your playlist, there is no right track for what awaits you, corononavirus is real.

Human race is trying to give you a break now, don’t tell anyone I said that. Always tell the truth even when some think you shouldn’t is our slogan, I know you remember this.

Executive dodges Trump’s handshake, offers elbow instead, President Trump shakes hands with executives at his coronavirus press briefing, a gesture health experts advised against amid world coronavirus pandemic. Public health emergence alert, humans thought your change of scene might help. Claims said ‘It is no more dangerous than winter flu’.

The virus is easily transmitted and we must learn to distance ourselves socially from each another. On how coronavirus has affected people of all walks of life, opinions all over the world, governments may sugar coat coronavirus details, but the media should stand-up, for it is time to speak with one clear voice about this public health emergency. Covid-19 is about 10 times more deadly than seasonal flu, which is estimated to kill between 290,000 and 650,000 people a year globally. It spread weirdly, wildly and chaotically.

You lose everything and you win the war, you are a hero, dear friend, loosing you on the sacrificial altar now a must until the situation improves. War for the soul of our race, coronovirus became a daredevil that affects our very existence to its marrow.

There are moments in our lives when we found ourselves at a crossroad, the choice we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Sometimes the correct path is the tortured ones. In your place, simply looking into a person’s eyes now suffices as a greeting. Life is like an old steam engine, you either go ahead or in reverse.

Truly, if you lose everything and you lose the war, you are just a fool. There is no way I can take it back but my plan is to show you and make you better understand.

Till the crisis ends, I may not have further communication of any kind with you.

I missed you in my head already.

Sincerely yours.

Adetunji Ayobrown is a Public Affairs Analyst.

PAGE 14

News From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

N

igeria is set to host the 2020 edition of the Africa Continent Spelling Bee Competition from November 18 to 22, 2020.

The Coordinator of the Nigeria Spelling Bee Competition Initiative, Abdulsalam Ibrahim, disclosed this while speaking to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

Varsity Don lauds Author on Gade book

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Nigeria to host 2020 Africa spelling competition According to him, 210 participants and officials are expected to converge in the country during the four day competition.

Abdulsalam Ibrahim added that the first edition of the competition was held in South Africa while Kenya

and Uganda followed suit.

He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education is the technical partner of the competition to ensure that best standard and practices are maintained.

The Coordinator further disclosed that the aim of the

competition is to encourage the learning of English language among Nigerian students.

“In the national Competition that was held last year in the country, the first winner in the Senior Secondary School section

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state in a handshake with president Muhammadu Buhari while Governors Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Babajide SanwoOlu of Lagos states look on with others, during the president’s meeting with APC Governors at the presidential Villa on Monday in Abuja.

By Usman Shuaibu

A

University lecturer in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Abuja, Prof.

Saleh Dauda, has commended the Author, Mr Danjuma who wrote a book entitled “Political Participation amongst the Gade people of Central Nigeria”.

He gave the commendation while reviewing the book at Kuje town hall on Saturday, urging the Gade people to assist the Author financially to enable him to write more book for the benefit of the youth.

He described the Author as a man who has the love for his people, while advising him to send the book to the various higher institutions in the country for the record purpose (s).

Also reviewing the book, a lecturer in the Department of Languages at the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Hon. Attahiru Abdullahi, urged the Gade people to deem it necessary to write books that would be of benefit to the generation yet unborn.

Presenting a paper tagged “Education is the Instrument of Peace that can Guarantee Political Participation among the Sons and Daughters of Gade in the North Central Nigeria”, the Director in charge of Junior Secondary School (JSS) at the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) in Abuja, Alhaji Hussain Bako Kuje, called on the Gade people to send their children to school.

Not left out, the Author of the book, Mr Danjuma said he wrote the book in order to educate the Gade people about their history and how far they had gone politically.

He urged the Gade youth to cultivate the habit of writing books for the benefit of Gade people in FCT and Nigeria as a whole.

got a one million naira scholarship, while the second and third positions got N500,000 and N300,000 scholarship respectively.

“Also, the Junior Secondary School winner last year got N500,00 scholarship,” he said.

Wadume: Court orders Army to produce accomplices for prosecution

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

J

ustice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, to produce accomplices for prosecution.

The accomplice is the army personnel, who allegedly aided the initial escape of the kidnap suspect, Hamisu Bala Ibrahim known as Wadume.

The non-appearances of the army personnel, stalled the arraignment and taking of plea of Wadume and other suspects, who appeared in court on Monday.

While ruling on the application moved by the prosecution counsel on Monday, Justice Binta Nyako directed Buratai and Olonisakin to release the army officers involved in the alleged crime for prosecution on March 30.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, prosecution

counsel, Simon Lough, urged the court to make an order compelling the military heads to release the 2nd to 11th defendants for prosecution.

Lough told the court that the Nigerian Army had rejected the request by the police asking for the release of the suspected officers for prosecution.

He said he relied on section 87 and 159 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which empowered the court to compel

any suspect standing trial to appear in court.

The trial judge adjourned the matter until March 30 for hearing.

Wadume was allegedly freed by some military personnel, who attacked policemen taking him to the Taraba Command headquarters on August 6, 2019 after his arrest.

He was later recaptured in his hideout in Kano 13 days after by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

School for the Gifted tasks public on sporting facilities

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he principal of the School for the Gifted in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Samuel Okpe, has called on the meaning Nigerians to assist the school by providing funds in order to purchase sporting facilities for the use of the students.

Okpe, who made the call while presenting an address at the 15th inter-house sports competition, held at the school’s sports ground in Gwagwalada, noted that the school’s sporting facilities were overstretched due to the increase in the number of students.

He said: “Here, the school management has provided table

tennis, handball, volleyball and football facilities for the students to exercise themselves on sports designated days”.

According to him, sporting facilities play significant role in the overall development of a sound and mentally alert of individuals.

The principal, however, expressed joy the manner at which

the FCT Secondary Education Board had been encouraging and promoting sporting activities as well as inter-house sports competitions in schools in the territory.

At the end of the sports competitions, Red House topped the 1st position, the 2nd position went to Green House and the Blue House took the 3rd position.

Surveyor General harps on synergy with military to secure Nigerians

By Ochiaka Ugwu

T

he Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Taiwo S. Adeniran has emphasized the need of synergy of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) with the Nigerian Military and all other security outfits in order to secure Nigerians and Nigeria.

In a statement released by the Office in Abuja and signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations. Mr. Abu I. Michael, it noted SGoF laid the emphasis recently during the opening ceremony of Customized Training in Application of Geospatial Information Science and Technology in Military Intelligence and Surveillance for officers of the Defence Intelligence Agency

(DIA) in Abuja.

While saluting the courage and gallantry of the Military and other security personnel who offered their precious lives in the prosecution of wars against the Boko Haram insurgency and other acts of terrorism in parts of the country, he urged them to consistently liaise with the Department of Intelligence Surveys of OSGoF for

timely provision of near real-time geospatial data for the success of their operations.

He commended the military for appreciating the necessity of geospatial science in its operations as demonstrated by the training it requested from the African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST)

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

By Musa Adamu Ikechukwu Okaforadi

and

P

resident of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has urged the World Bank to come to the aid of Nigeria in her effort at poverty alleviation in the country.

Lawan made the appeal yesterday when the new World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri led a delegation of the Bank officials on a courtesy visit to his office.

Lawan said this was the time Nigeria needs the World Bank the most when the Coronavirus, the global pandemic, is making it difficult to raise revenue for the implementation of the 2020 budget.

He said: “This meeting is a very important meeting coming at a time that Nigeria, particularly, is facing a lot of challenges of financing our infrastructural development.

“It cannot be more auspicious than this. But of course the world itself is facing economic upheaval of some sort because of the Coronavirus or COVIC-19 infection across the globe.

“Nigeria has been involved with the World Bank for a long time now and you have been very supportive. But this is the time we need you most.

“The 2020 budget was designed to be funded, in a very large part, by foreign borrowing especially for our capital projects.

“Nigeria is to take a loan of about 17 billion dollar from China out of the 22.7 billion dollar that was passed by the Senate...But today we are not sure of what will happen because almost every country from where we are supposed to borrow the money is facing some challenges.

“This is the time the World Bank should stand out to come to the aid of Nigeria. Normally you will discuss what the issues are and what the request of the country is. I’m sure you have

Lawan urges World Bank to complement Nigeria on ending poverty known our challenges because you have been involved in so many things including our power sector.

“I know that you know the issues. We have the issue of power in this country. It is a major issue.

Before the security situation deteriorated, our main problem towards achieving our desired development in Nigeria was power.

“The security situation took

centre stage because its about life and death. I’m sure that if we are able to resolve the security challenges we are going through in Nigeria and then fix our power, Nigeria will be a great country.”

The Senate President recalled the promise made last year by President Muhammadu Buhari to take out 100million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years stressing that the promise is realisable.

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari receives the new Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen Duoye Diri to the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: State House

Buhari happy with how I started - Bayelsa Gov

By Egens Sunday Ode

B

ayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari had expressed delight over the way he is handling issues in the state.

The governor who spoke with State House Correspondents after a brief closed-door meeting with the Buhari said the president assured him of

a good working relationship, accordingly.

On why he came to see the president, Governor Diri said the visit was to assure President Buhari that he was ready to work with the Federal Government to ensure pesce, stability and development of his state.

He said: “Since I resumed as Governor of Bayelsa State, precisely on the 14th of February, I have not come to

see the father of the nation.

Today I just did that to come and see the father of our country and to work with the federal government of Nigeria in ensuring peace and stability in my state and ensuring the development of my state. That is what informed my visit to Mr. President today”.

“Mr. President received me as one of his sons, as a state governor and the reception was

very warm. He went ahead to advise that he was happy that I came and that he was happy with the way I have started.

He went on to say he has read about all the statements that I have made and the security so far in Bayelsa.

‘He promised as one of his sons, a state like Bayelsa that is critical to the security and peace in the Niger Delta, he was prepared to also work with me.”

Constitutional amendment: AAC backs LG autonomy

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he African Action Congress (AAC) has commended the Senate bill seeking to make provision for the Financial Autonomy of Local Government Councils, which has passed second reading and referred to the Committee on Constitution Review.

In a statement, the chairman of the party, AAC said it is a welcome development that will fast track advancement of the third tier of government that has been neglected by past administrations since 1999.

“As the Government closer to the people, the need to give Local Government Councils direct control of their finances and other matters cannot be overemphasized. It is the only way

to accelerate development of towns and communities in Nigeria and raise the standards of living of our impoverished compatriots as it happened in the First Republic.

“It will also stop the brazen looting of Councils’ funds and termination of their tenures in office by Governors who see them as mere Departments in Government Houses.

“Starved of funds and constant threat to terminate elected and appointed Council leaders’ tenures, the nation’s third tier government has suffered irreparable damage. Social amenities.

Infrastructures and dividends of democracy could not be provided to the masses who bear the brunt of clueless, inept leadership”, the party said in the statement.

AAC further urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the Council bill and ensure the Constitution is amended to reflect the financial autonomy and endorsed by at least twothirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, saying the era of impurity is over.

“AAC is alarmed by the bill for an Act to prohibit/ban the importation of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental (air) pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector, which has passed first reading on Wednesday 11th March 2020.

“The bill prescribes at least 10 years imprisonment for any person who knowingly sells generating sets except for medical purpose, airport, railway services, elevators, escalators, research institutions and facilities that require 24

hours electricity which will be approved by the minister in charge of power.

“The bill further directs “all persons to stop the use of electricity generating sets which runs on diesel/petrol/ kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect, in the country”.

“While we agree on the need to control air pollution in the country as it is hazardous to health and affects climate change, we reject the bill on ground that it woefully failed to proffer alternative to power supply in Nigeria as the power sector has long collapsed despite trillions of naira invested in it by past and present governments.

“It is obvious that Nigerians live more in darkness (power outage) and have to resort to generating sets for domestic, office and business use including our

distinguished Senators.

“There is need to overhaul the power sector, ascertain why trillions of naira has been invested in it without commensurate results and prosecute those whose actions and inaction led to the failure of the sector.

“Once Nigerians begins to receive regular power supply, there will be no need for generating sets as obtainable in advanced countries. Fortunately, Nigeria has abundant oil, gas etc. to generate and supply 24-hour power in the country like Ghana.

“Government at all levels needs the political will to execute peopleoriented projects and deliver dividends of democracy to the citizenry. Nigerians expect good governance not carnage”, the statement said.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

PAGE 16

POLITICS Kaduna APC Zonal Chairman denies quitting party

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Zone One Chairman All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Alhaji Hussain Central Stores has debunked rumours that he had resigned his position from the party.

He stated this in a letter addressed to the State Chairman of the Party, Rtd Air Commodore Jekada, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday.

The APC stalwart urged

party supporters to disregard the purported resignation which he alleged was the handiwork of those envying his popularity within the party and the credibility he built over the years.

According to him, the story of his resignation was not true because there is nothing he had done to decide taking such action after working tirelessly for the victory of the party since its debut in 2015, and expressed shock at the length some politicians can go to discredit

others in order to gain favour.

He explained that the meeting said to have been called by the stakeholder was illegal as he was the one expected to call the said meeting in his capacity as the Zonal Chairman of APC in zone one, unfortunately he was bypassed by some interest who want to pull him down.

Alhaji Hussain said the allegation that he made uncomplimentary statement with some other people against the party was not true and

that there was no any fora he made any statement which has now led to the uproar and the call on my person to resign my office, he added.

“Looking at my veritable longterm selfless service to our great party the APC, it is worth saying at this point that the stakeholders forum resolution forcing me to resign from my position contravened the provisions of Article 21 A, B and D of our dear party’s constitution 2014 as amended”.

According to him, for the

purpose of clarity the provision of APC Constitution does not empower to summon preside over adjudged or discipline any (alleged) erring member of the party without following the due process of law, he remarked.

He described the action and the said resolution of stakeholders forum forcing him to resigned from his duly elected position as null and void and should be disregarded for the interest of the party, he concluded.

Covid19: PDP calls for More stringent measures against scourge

By Lateef Ibrahim

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Federal Government to step up its actions, move beyond rudimentary interventions and adopt more stringent measures to further safeguard our nation from the Covid19 pandemic.

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

While noting the steps so far being taken by the federal government, the PDP expressed worries that the current approach still falls short of the required preemptive measures, thereby leaving gaps that “expose our nation to avoidable risks”.

The leading opposition party observed that Nigeria is a strategic international hub, stressing that as such, the Federal Government should adopt stringent pre-emptive measures “by radically stepping up our international ports and border screening as well as quickly improving our internal surveillance and hygiene monitoring system”.

According to the PDP’s statement, “Our party holds that the Federal Government should also go beyond its proposed secondary screening of travellers from certain countries and extend the measure to all international flights coming into the country,

given the prevalence of connecting flights and land border crossing by international air travellers.

“Also, the Federal Government should ensure that domestic airlines undertake proper screening of passengers as well as fumigation of their aircrafts to guarantee the safety of air travellers within

Nigeria”, it said.

The PDP urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to create more screening centers and lead in providing more screening equipment in all the nation’s airports, seaports, land borders as well as crowded places such as schools, market places,

commercial vehicle terminals, public work places, religious gatherings, among others.

The party also counselled the authorities to mobilize a more concerted effort against the pandemic, remain open, resist the temptation of false performance claims and keep Nigerians

adequately informed on the true position of issues at all times.

The PDP however called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, ensure their personal hygiene and follow directives issued by the authorities in the collective effort to safeguard our nation from the scourge and stay safe.

Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (2nd left), Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar (left), Managing Director/Editor The Sun Mr. Onuoha Ukeh (3rd right), Editor, Daily The Sun Mr. Theonacho Nwosu (2nd right), Editor, Saturday Sun Mr. Femi Babafemi (right) during a courtesy visit by the Sun Management to the Minister, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Zamfara Guber: Supreme Court reserves ruling on review

By Vivian Okejeme

T

he Supreme Court, Abuja, yesterday, reserved ruling in the application filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to set aside the consequential order of the court that made the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) beneficiary of all elective positions in the 2019 general election in Zamfara State.

Shortly after lawyers representing parties in the matter adopted their brief of arguments, the Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad five man panel of the Apex court reversed ruling for a later date, which will be communicated to the parties

involved.

In his brief of argument urging the court to aside the consequential order Chief Robert Clarke SAN, informed the panel that the order was made out of jurisdiction by Supreme Court.

The very senior lawyer contested that the APC which brought the application challenging the consequential order was not against the main judgment because the party did not conduct primary election for nomination of candidates for the 2019 general election.

Clarke posited that what the Supreme Court ought to have done was to order f a primary election and election for all elective

positions in the state.

He told the panel that the consequential order which made the PDP candidates winners of all elective offices was in bad taste and ought to be reversed.

Clarke further submitted that it was wrong of the apex court to have declared over 400, 000 votes cast for APC as wasted simply because APC at the time did not conduct primary election known to law because of its internal dispute.

He therefore urged the court to invoke its inherent jurisdiction to set aside the consequential order that brought PDP’s candidates to power in Zamfara State and instead should order APC to

conduct a primary election and to also order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct new election into all elective offices in Zamfara State.

However Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, who is the first respondent in the matter urged the apex court to dismiss the request of the APC for want of jurisdiction and merit.

Marafa through his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, informed the panel that the APC’s application was caught by section 285 of the 1999 Constitution which prescribed 60 days for hearing and determination starting from the date the notice of appeal was filed.

Ozekhome argued that the

apex court gave final judgment in the Zamfara governorship tussle over 10 months ago, adding that bringing such application for the second time is a gross abuse of the process of the apex court.

The senior lawyer urged the court to dismiss the application with huge punitive fine to keep the party away from further abuse of court process.

Ozekhome cited the decision of the court in the Bayelsa and Imo States governorship tussles adding that the apex court has made it clear that its judgment on any issue is final for all times, ages and that no force on earth can change the decision except a law made to that effect.

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

POLITICS

IPAC commiserates with Lagos explosion victims

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) has expressed shock over the recent pipeline explosion in Lagos that killed 15 lives, injured many

others and destroyed 50 houses, describing it as a national tragedy.

In a statement issued by the national chairman of IPAC, Leonard Ezenwa, the council said “Our thoughts and prayer are with the families of the deceased and the

injured.

“We also commiserate with the Government and people of Lagos State and call for a probe on the incident to prevent a recurrence, bearing in mind that security and welfare of the people are the primary

purpose of Government.”

IPAC also commended the gallantry of Rev. Sister Henrietta Alokha, who rescued 300 students trapped in the inferno and lost her life in the process, saying she was an embodiment of leadership and

patriotism.

IPAC says the Lagos State Government and its agencies should restrict allocation of lands where critical national assets like pipelines are located and urged it to prosecute defaulters.

roles in putting out the inferno resulting from the explosion and mitigating its spread as well as rescuing victims, nparticularly lauded the Lagos State government for its prompt response to the national disaster, especially by the setting up of “Abule-Ado Emergency Relief Fund” worth N2 billion for the victims with initial take off of N200 million.

In her contribution, Senator

Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central) said there is need to upgrade the nation’s pipelines that are now obsolete to avoid incessant explosion of pipelines.

She alleged connivers in pipeline vandalization in the country and stressed the need to employ the services of local vigilantes in guarding the pipelines from being vandalized.

On his part, Senator Sam Egwu

(PDP Ebonyi North), called on state governments to demolish structures that are built on pipeline area to save Nigerians from a reoccurrence of explosion.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, recalled that similar incidence occurred sometimes last year and Senate took very far reaching 17 resolutions and sent to the Office of the Secretary to Federal Government, OSGF on the

November 13, 2019but regrettably, non of these resolutions have been attended to.

“I want to advise the Executive arm of government that when we take resolutions of this nature, we take them with all the seriousness they deserve. I also wish to advise that when our drivers carry loads, they should be mindful of the fact that they should not go beyond the weight of the vehicle,” he said.

Senate probes Abule-Ado explosion

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu

F

orty Eight hours after the Abule-Ado disaster caused

by Gas explosion in Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos State, the Senate Tuesday mandated its joint Committees on Petroleum (Downstream), Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas Resources to carry out thorough investigation of the remote and immediate causes of the explosion.

This is as the upper legislative chamber urges its members and federal government to contibute heavily into the N2billion emergency relief fund set up by the Lagos State Government.

It also directed that National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to immediately send relief materials to affected victims and offset medical bills of hospitalized ones.

Resolutions of the Senate to this effect, followed a motion on urgent need to investigate explosion at Abule-Ado, LGA, Lagos, resulting in loss of lives and massive destruction of property, sponsored

by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC Lagos West) and two others.

Leading debate on the motion, Senator Adeola said that the explosion which occurred near the Lagos Trade Fair Complex, caused no fewer than 23 deaths including that of a family of four on their way to a church service as well as the Principal of Bethlehem Girls College, Rev. Sister Henrietta Alokha who died while rescuing her students.

The lawmaker regretted that the explosion suspected to have been caused by an articulated vehicle loaded with granites hitting filled gas cylinders or pressuring NNPC pipeline at a point near NNPC’s 2B pipeline right of way, injured hundreds of persons, totally destroyed multi-billion naira properties and businesses including 200 buildings and 2,500 vehicles within a radius of over 40 square meters of the blast in the densely populated neighborhood as well as other collateral destruction many kilometers away.

Adeola, who raised the motion via Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate’s Rule, disclosed that there have been a recurrence of similar explosions in recent times in the same area as happened in 2016, 2018 (AbuleEgba), 2019 (Abule–Egba) 2020 (Ijegun), and 2020 (Ile-Epo, OkeOdo).

The lawmaker, who commended various government establishments and individuals on their prompt

L-R: National President Nigerian Society of animal production Professor A.O. Ani presenting award of excellence to Executive Secretary Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, during the 45th annual conference of Nigerian Society of animal production 2020 in Bauchi, recently. Photo: Tetfund

Non remittance of N13bn: Reps threaten to arrest PPPRA Executive Secretary, Okonkwo

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Tuesday threatened to issue a warrant of arrest for the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPRA, Tony Okonkwo, if he failed for the third time on March 30th, to honour its invitation on allegations that his agency failed to remit generated revenue from 2014 to 2019.

The Chairman of House Committee on Finance, Rep. James Faleke, issued the threat yesterday, after his Committee dismissed officials from the agency who appeared in representative capacity.

Recall that the House Committee on Finance, had threatened early last month

to effect the removal of the General Manager of Finance at the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, over alleged diversion of over N13billion of funds generated from operations of the agency in 2014.

The agency’s General Manager of Finance, Mr. Peter Joshua, who represented the Executive Secretary, told the committee that in the year 2014, his agency generated only N2.8billion, even though, according to the lawmakers, PPPRA made about N13billion from 15k on every litre, deducted from sales of petroleum products.

Joshua however, insisted that what his agency received from the actual revenue generated, was only N2.8billion, with a balance of over 11billion still

with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and other marketers of petroleum products. Mr. Joshua represented the Executive Secretary of his agency.

The House Committee on Finance, became infuriated by the submission of Mr. Joshua, threatening to order his sack.

The Committee members all agreed that for his shoddy management of the finances due to government, he should be given the boot.

The committee lamented how PPPRA shortchanged the government and people of the country for years.

The meeting with the agency, found that in 2014 alone, PPPRA was to pay as revenue the sum of N501. 2 million to the consolidated revenue account, which it declined. The agency

also defaulted in subsequent years, 2015 till date.

The committee argued that even if the 501million was a “constant”as revenue from PPPRA within the period under consideration, then it would have shortchanged government to the tune of over N2bn.

The Committee had summoned the ES to appear on February 24, with statements of account, outstanding indebtedness, annual budgets , from 2011 till date and copies of all reconciliation with NNPC as well as all the contracts awarded and names of contracts and details, but he failed to do so. The ES, also failed to appear before the House panel, on Tuesday.

The House Committee, is investigating the non-remittance of funds to the Federation Account by Federal agencies.

HEALTH PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Reps to buy 360 tuberculosis testing machines

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

I

n their determination to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC), each member of the House of Representatives will buy a tuberculosis testing machine for his constituency.

This development was disclosed yesterday by the Chairman House Committee on tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria, Abubakar Sarki Dajiru.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja during a press briefing on 2020 World tuberculosis day themed; “its time to end TB in Nigeria, Dahiru said the members are passionate about ending the menace of tuberculosis and will contribute in their various constituencies with the tuberculosis testing machines.

“In the coming week, you will see debate on tuberculosis because of the serious attachment we have for the health sector. And after this debate, I assure you that each member will buy the tuberculosis testing machines”.

On poor budget release to the health sector, Dahiru blamed the budget office for not releasing enough money to the health sector to tackle various challenges.

He however said that the house was working assiduously to ensure adequate release of funds budgeted for the health sector.

Speaking earlier, Dr. Berthrand Odume, KNVC Country Director, and Chairman, planing committee, World Tuberculosis Day 2020, said the event which with slogan: ‘check that cough, time no dey’, was meant to raise public awareness about the devastating social, economic and health impact of

Members of the planing committee of the 2020 World Tuberculosis Day and partners yesterday in Abuja during the press briefing.

tuberculosis (TB).

“Despite significant progress over the last decades, TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious killer and require acceleration of efforts to end the TB epidemic globally and in Nigeria.

World TB Day 2020 is a continuation of our joint efforts to keep TB high on the global and national agenda.

“Each day, nearly 4500 people lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 58 million lives since the year 2000 and reduced the TB mortality rate by 42%. However, the emergence of drug-resistant TB poses a major health threat and could put at risk the gains made in efforts to End TB! “In 2018, about 1.4 million people globally died of TB-related causes

including over 205,000 children. And over 95% of TB deaths occurs in low and middle-income countries especially Africa. Nigeria is one of the countries with the high burden of disease globally.

According to the 2018 Global TB Report, Nigeria is among the 30 high burden countries for TB, TB/HIV and MDRTB. It ranked 6th among the 30 high TB burden countries and 1st in Africa. TB kills 18 Nigerians every hour. Also, forty-nine (49) Nigerians develop active TB, seven (6) of which are children, every hour. One of the major challenge of TB response in Nigeria is attributed to low TB case findings both in adult and children. This is as a result of low TB treatment coverage and poor knowledge about TB that influence the health seeking behaviour of people.”

He said to accelerate the TB response

in countries to reach targets, heads of states including President Muhammadu Buhari, came together and made strong commitments to end TB at the first-ever UN High Level Meeting in September 2018.

He further called on all stakeholders to come together and collaboratively worktowards ending the TB epidemic for a TB free Nigeria.

“It is our resolve to continue to bring TB on the political agenda and build a multi-stakeholder partnership to address the socio-economic impact of the disease.

We call on our political leaders to invest more on TB control, the civil society to continue to call for accountability and the media to always help in creating the needed awareness. It is a call to action to scale up; research, funding, human rights and accountability to end TB in Nigeria.”

Groups insist stakeholders, government must ensure enforcement of tobacco regulation

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he National Coordinator, NonCommunicable Diseases, Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe have urged Nigerians to ensure all hands are put on deck to work with the government and other stakeholders in the implementation and enforcement of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act and its regulations.

Dr . Ezeigwe made the call in Abuja at a Stakeholders’ Session on Implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 organised by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA).

Ezeigwe, represented by the Head, Tobacco Control Unit, FMOH, Dr. Toma Malau, said the tobacco control Act has been approved as what remains is the implementation and which cannot be

implemented if the laws and regulations are left on the shelf. “We cannot implement the regulations without understanding the provisions in the regulations.

Thus, the need to sensitize ourselves and what we all should do. Tobacco control is hinged on some aspects either in the area of smoke-free, because the law says all public places should be smokefree.

“The law also says that tobacco should not be sold to those less than 18 years and those below 18 years should not have access to tobacco. The same law also provides that the tobacco industry should not interfere with our responsibilities, and we should also stand firm to resist any temptation to favour the tobacco industry,” he said.

Sub-Regional Coordinator, West Africa, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Mrs. Hilda Ochefu, said that

while Nigeria seems good in passing laws, the implementation of such laws remain challenge which must be overcome.

According to her, all Nigerians must work together to ensure the successful implementation of the NTC Act in the interest of all.

Deputy Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, said that the lack of implementation of the NTC Act due to funding and other challenges may be exploited by the tobacco industry to reverse the gains of the passage of the law and its regulation.

According to him, more people may die because of the non-implementation of the tobacco control laws. He said that no level of tobacco is healthy for the people and that the Shisha smoking is even more dangerous than cigarette, saying a session

of shisha smoking is equivalent of 100 sticks of cigarettes.

Earlier, Programme Coordinator of NTCA, Olusegun Esan said that the one day stakeholder session was intended to instigate dialogue among critical stakeholders on the coming into force of the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019. The Session among other things sought to inform stakeholders of their roles under the regulations, to create awareness and to get the commitment of all role-players to support the full implementation of the Regulations. The session discussed enforcement efforts of concerned agencies.

The meeting had representatives of various government agencies in attendance. They include the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.

Page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

NNPC still assessing damage, three days after Abule Ado explosion

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is yet to release report on the extent of damage of explosion which rocked Abule Ado Area of Lagos State in the early hours of Sunday.

While some reports have it that the incident was not gas explosion but bomb blast, the Corporation attributed it to gas explosion which occurred after a truck hit some gas cylinders stacked in a gas processing plant located near the corporation’s system 2B Pipeline Right of Way. NNPC in a press release signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, explained that preliminary findings indicated that the impact of the explosion was so huge that it led to the collapse of nearby houses and damage to NNPC pipeline on which efforts are being made to curtail the resultant fire.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari and other top Management of the corporation departed to Lagos this evening for an on-the-spot assessment at the scene of the incident.

Obateru stated that following the report of the explosion, the corporation quickly halted ongoing pumping operations on the Atlas Cove-Mosimi pipeline which was active at the time.

The release explained that NNPC had already mobilized its in-house combined team consisting of Health Safety Environment experts, Medical and Security personnel from its nearby Satellite Depot in Lagos, even as Lagos State Fire Service was also rallied to extinguish the fire.

The release said more fire firefighting personnel and equipment were mobillised from the NNPC Mosimi Area Office to provide extra fillip to the ongoing operation.

While assuring members of the public and residents of the affected communities to remain calm, the NNPC’s spokesman assured that the temporary shutdown of the petroleum products pipeline would not affect the normal supply of products to the Lagos and its environs.

He said the fire, currently burring at controlled condition, was being fought headlong, saying a detail assessment of the incident was underway to establish the extent of damage to the pipeline.

The NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, commiserated with the victims of the incident, praying that God provides them succor at this hour.

Nigeria’s Inflation Rate rises to 12.20% -NBS Report released

By Etuka Sunday

T

he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its February 2020 Report released yesterday, showed that the consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 12.20 percent (yearon-year).

This is 0.07 percent points higher than the rate recorded in

January 2020 (12.13) percent.

NBS said, increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index.

The Bureau said, on monthon-month basis, the Headline index increased by 0.79 percent in February 2020. This is 0.08 percent rate lower than the rate recorded in January 2020 (0.87) percent.

Recall, NBS in its January

2020 report said, the consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 12.13 percent (year-on-year).

This was 0.15 percent points higher than the rate recorded in December 2019 (11.98) percent.

NBS said, on month-onmonth basis, the Headline index increased by 0.87 percent in January 2020, this is 0.02 percent rate higher than the

rate recorded in December 2019 (0.85) percent.

The Bureau said, the percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve months period ending January 2020 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 11.46 percent, showing 0.06 percent point from 11.40 percent recorded in December 2019.

L-R: Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Aisha Ahmad, Governor of CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr. Edward Adamu and Deputy Governor, Monetary Policy, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, during the media briefing on Convid 19 (Coronavirus) and Economy, at the CBN Headquarters on Monday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Digital Economy: FG to deploy TVws for rural broadband connectivity

By Etuka Sunday

F

ederal Government yesterday disclosed that the planned deployment of Television White Space (TVws) spectrum for broadband in unserved and underserved areas was key to the attainment of digital economy.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami made this disclosure at the Presentation of Draft Guidelines on the use of Television White Space in Nigeria, held at NCC Headquarters, Abuja.

NCC said, the “TV white space also know as “Super WiFi” refers to unused TV channels in any given area.

It said, “with a Rural Connect radio, these vacant channels can be converted into wireless broadband internet.”

This innovation technology, according to NCC, has the ability to connect the world’s unconnected people.

However, the Minister said, “the whole world is about digital Economy ; it is because of this we discovered that you cannot promote digital Economy without broadband and if you look at

our unserved and underserved areas, the earlier we reach out to them by providing broadband the better for the digital Economy and that is why both parastatals, NCC and NBC are working together to ensure we can use TV white space spectrum for broadband in unserved and underserved areas.

So this is key to digital Economy.

Firstly they are working on regulations (developmental regulations), secondly: solid infrastructure and that is all about broadband.”

He said, NCC has a mandate of Broadband penetration in Nigeria and TV White Space being used today is broadband, particularly to penetrate unserved and the underserved areas.

“So it is because of this that the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) charged both of them to work together to come up with a guide line for the TVWS in order to provide broadband to unserved and underserved areas. I think this is key to the digital Economy,” Pantami said.

He said, the way digital Technology is elvoving, the regulator has no time to sleep, saying technology comes with new challenges, therefore, the regulator must sit up or up and doing.

Meanwhile, the Governor of

Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai who was also at the event said, the state was working on strategic partnership with Private Sector to improve broadband access to government schools, hospitals and private investments.

Represented by the Special Adviser on Inter-Government Affairs, Hadiza Usman Mu’az, the governor said, “Kaduna State is activity looking for partnerships. We are looking for strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to see how we can improve on that to leverage on the potentials in the agencies under the ministry and the opportunities that might present to Kaduna state.”

Earlier, the Executive ViceChairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta said, the gathering was convened by the Commission in collaboration with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for stakeholders to brainstorm at finalising the draft Guidelines on the deployment of the TVws technology in Nigeria.

Prof. Danbatta said, “the Commission has remained resolute in efforts towards bridging the digital

divide between strata of our society.

To this end, it has over the years, evolved initiatives not only aimed at increasing broadband penetration, but also promoting connectivity to the rural areas.

“One of such initiatives is this collaboration with NBC to explore the use of TVWS in the sub 1 GHz band for rural broadband connectivity while also exploring the possibility of licensing of the TVWS Spectrum,” he said.

The NCC boss said, “you will recall that in March, 2019, we convened similar event of relevant stakeholders to brainstorm and generate inputs towards developinga draft Regulatory framework for use of this technology designed at bridging the digital divide between the haves and have nots in our communities.

“Today,the Commission is the pleased to inform you that a draft of the Regulatory framework has been concluded and consultation to you.

“The man aim of this gathering is to further listen to and collect comments and feedbacks on the draft document towards its eventually finalization and operationalization,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Page 20

BU$IN€SS AFFM launches $2.2m project in Nigeria to boost fertilizer supply to 200,000 farmers

T

he Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) has kick-started a $2.2 million project to provide fertilizer suppliers in Nigeria with financial support to improve supply for 200,000 smallholder farmers.

The trade credit guarantee project is AFFM’s first in the West African nation and will involve 10 fertilizer suppliers, 12 hub agro-dealers and 120 retail agrodealers. The project will also train farmers in proper fertilizer use and other agricultural best practices.

A project launch held on 3 March in the capital Abuja, was attended by senior director of African Development Bank’s Nigeria Regional Office, Ebrima Faal and government and industry partners.

Participants discussed the project and its implementation with AFFM’s local partner, the Africa Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership, or AFAP. “We will leverage on existing networks and look for creative solutions to increase the availability of fertilizer in the country,” said NanaAisha Mohammed, AFAP’s representative at the ceremony.

Umar Musa, Assistant Director of FMARD’s Farm Inputs Support Services Department who represented the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) said AFAP should work with the Nigerian government and other actors in the fertilizer value chain to ensure that the project complies with Nigeria’s policies and sector strategies.

“We expect this project to support smallholder farmers and improve their productivity in order to help the country increase its local production and consumption of fertilizer,” he said.

“We are confident that the project will increase access to quality and affordable fertilizer by smallholder farmers and hence contribute to the transformation of the agriculture sector in Nigeria,” said Marie Claire Kalihangabo, AFFM Coordinator.

Kalihangabo expressed her gratitude to the Government of Nigeria for their financial support to the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism.

CBN earmarks N50bn to combat Coronavirus impact on economy

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it would create a N50billion ($163milion) fund as part of policy measures to combat the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s economy.

CBN’s governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele who announced this in a Press Conference in Abuja, also announced other measures to include cutting interest rates on some banks loans to 5% per annum, down from 9%, for a year.

Emefiele said: “the CBN hereby establishes a facility through the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank for households and small- and mediumsized enterprises (SMES) that have been particularly hard hit by Covid-19, including but not limited to hoteliers, airline service providersS, health care merchants, etc.

“All CBN intervention facilities are hereby granted a further moratorium of one year on all principal repayments, effective March 1, 2020. This means that any intervention loan currently

under moratorium are hereby granted additional period of one year.

Accordingly, participating financial institutions are hereby directed to provide new amortization schedules for all beneficiaries.

“Interest rates on all applicable CBN intervention facilities are hereby reduced from 9 to 5 percent per annum for 1 year effective March 1, 2020,” he said.

He explained that, “because of the drop in revenues, to companies that may be directly affected Covid-9, health crisis and economic crisis, because their revenue will drop, we are saying, if your loan was supposed to be 3-year loan, where you took N10million and you are paying N100, 000 monthly as repayment for a 3-year loan, that we are going to grant the banks the dispensation where they can restructure your loan from three years to six years such that, in addition to low interest rate, what you will be making in installment repayment of your loan will have dropped from N100, 000 to N50,000 monthly, to match the reduction in revenues arising from the

impact of Corona virus.”

On whether the bank was ready to alter the current interest rate regime, Emefiele said, “there are so many things the Monetary Policy Committee takes into consideration in its determination whether or not to alter MPR, I think we should just wait, MPC will be holding next week, I am sure that with array of data that will be confronting MPC by next week, they will direct as to whether or not to alter, whether or not reduce, or whether or not to raise interest rate.”

He said, in view of its role as banker to the federal government and lender of last resort, the apex bank stands ready to provide liquidity back stops as and when required.

Emefiele said, the Coronavirus pandemic was having significant adverse consequences for both the global and the Nigerian economies.

“It has already led to unprecedented disruptions in global supply chains, sharp reduction in crude oil prices, turmoil in global stock and financial markets, massive cancellations in sporting, entertainment and business

events, lockdown of large swaths of movements of persons in many countries, and intercontinental travel restrictions across critical air routes in the world.

“These outcomes have had serious adverse implications for key sectors including but not limited to oil and gas, airlines, manufacturing,trade and consumer markets.

“The CBN in furtherance of its financial stability mandate is committed to providing support for affected households, businesses, Binstitutions, and other stakeholders in order to cushion the adverse economic impact of this pandemic,” he said.

On credit support for Healthcare Industry, the CBN boss said, “to meet potential increase in demand for Healthcare services and products, the CBN hereby opens for its intervention facilities, loans to Pharmaceutical companies intending to expand/open their drug manufacturing plants in Nigeria, as well as to Hospital and Healthcare practitioners who intend to expand/build the Health facilities to first class centres.

L-R: Rector, Kaduna Business School (KBS) , Mr. Dahiru Sani, Representative of the Director General , Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Monday Ewans and the Coordinator, Entrepreneurship Support Centre KBS, Mr. Abdullahi BIbi, during the SMEDAN National Business Development Service Provider (NBDSP) Accreditation and Certification workshop, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Maritime experts blame Nigeria’s economic woes on infrastructure

K

ey actors in the field of maritime economy on Monday expressed delight and satisfaction with the high degree of determination so far exhibited by President Muhammadu Buhari to move the country forward.

They also commended the Federal Government for the priority it attaches to the economic recovery of the country.

At a one day seminar on Blue Economy in Lagos and tour of secondary school students and teachers to Apapa Port Complex, the experts praised the government for the introduction of conducive macro-economic policies.

They also praised the government for the policies it has enunciated and pursued in the maritime sector.

Specifically, they commended the government for supporting the sustained growth of the nonoil economy.

They said government effort to tackle youth unemployment in the country could only bear the desired fruit if the children know the opportunities in the non-oil sector.

The School to Sea event was attended by galaxy of maritime experts like Olaitan Williams, Seyi Okaga, Abdullahi Shuaibu and Samuel Oyeyipo.

The event also provided a platform for officials of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority and Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to speak on the opening of careers

to all talents in these federal agencies.

The experts stressed the need for improved investments in maritime infrastructure.

The programme convener, Olaitan Williams while welcoming guests said Ocean Ambassadors Foundation has taken a leading role in drawing attention to the opportunities in the maritime sector through the School to Sea seminar and Excursion.

She added that on the long run, the answer to the high rate of youth unemployment is to make a thorough reappraisal of the content and direction of the educational system.

Samuel Oyeyipo, South-West Regional Coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council and special guest of honour said the organization had proved itself a

force for the promotion of non-oil export in the blue economy.

‘The Nigeria’s blue economy can generate far larger revenue than currently exist once appropriate measures are taken to improve the country’s infrastructure’’ he said.

Specifically, the NEPC chief said improvement in the nation’s infrastructure would increase the contribution of non-oil export sector to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

40 students and 10 teachers from St Caleb’s Royal International, Honey Land College, Magodo, Mind Builders School, Ikeja, Methodist Girls High School, Lagos and Jubril Martin Memorial Grammar School, Iponri participated in the first quarter of the 2020 School to Sea Seminar and Tour.

METRO

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Page 21

20,000 FCT residents benefit from FG’s cash transfer in 2019

By Stanley Onyekwere

N

o fewer than 20,000 residents of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have benefited from the N10,000 monthly Conditional Cash Transfer FCT State in 2019 under the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP).

This was disclosed by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, during a one day Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Co-responsibility Engagement Stakeholders forum.

Aliyu also revealed that the programme has established savings groups for the beneficiaries to engage in various livelihood

activities that would lift them out of the depth of poverty and prevent them from plunging into shocks.

The Minister, who was represented by the Special Assistant on Technical Matters, Mubdiyu Mustapha, noted that the components of the SIP were carefully planned to encapsulate the administration’s cardinal objective of eradicating extreme poverty, and by extension, providing security and developing the economy of Nigeria.

She, however, observed that despite the milestones recorded, Nigerians are not yet where they need to be in the fight against poverty, stressing that there are a lot of things that could be done differently within the social

protection circle.

According to her, “Specifically, we need more research, we need more young people venturing into the social protection field, and we need to improve our results chain.

“We need not reinvent the wheel and we must ensure we learn from past mistakes, by documentation and analysis for future references.

“While it is true that we have an approved National Social Protection Policy and we have launched the National Social Investment Programmes, and have achieved milestones, we are not yet where we need to be in the fight against poverty. We must therefore continue to work towards changing the fortunes of our people for the better.

“Our health indices need to change for the better; our level and quality of education must improve; our life expectancy must increase; and our multidimensional poverty rating must be reduced.

“In addition, we must continue to work to checkmate unemployment, bring down the numbers of out of school children, provide vocational training opportunities especially in the grassroots where they are needed, and above all, continue to strive to ensure all human lives matter.”

Also speaking, the Head, FCT State Cash Transfer Unit, Dr. Luka Ayuba, while giving the overview of the Conditional Cash Transfer in the FCT described the introduction of the Social

Investment Programme as the best programme of government geared towards tackling extreme poverty in Nigeria.

He that the programme has covered three Area Councils of Abaji, Kuje and Kwali, revealing that the unit will scale-up its activities in the other three Area Councils of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari and Gwagwalada in the next phase.

Ayuba said the Social Investment Programme (SIP) in the country has 5 key components namely: N-Power, GEEP (Market Money, Trader Money, Farmer Money), Home Grown School Feeding Programme, STEM Bursary, and Conditional Cash Transfer.

AMAC: Traders get 30-Day ultimatum to vacate Lugbe Timber Market

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has issued a 30-day ultimatum notice to traders at the popular Lugbe Timber shed market and the Lugbe relocation market to vacate and relocate to their new site in Sabo Lugbe, and or risk severe actions.

This marching order was handed down to the traders by AMAC Vice Chairman, Lawrence Onuchukwu, who visited the traders in the affected places yesterday.

Onuchukwu, who was accompanied by Council Secretary, Ramat Abdullahi said that the ultimatum became necessary as traders in both markets were operating dangerously and illegally.

According to him, the electricity power high tension facility, under which most traders

in the makeshift market are trading was dangerous and could cause more harm to them in case of any mishap.

"People are still under the high tension doing their business and I can say that they are ignorant of what they are doing.

"But for us as a government it is our duty to protect your lives and properties.

"We are giving you 30 days to vacate this place to your new site because I believe that 80 to 90 per cent of you have your shops in that new site.

"So there is no point of doing business illegally here when you have a place where the government have provided for you free of charge," he said.

Responding, the traders, who through leaders of both makeshift markets, blamed their continued stay in both markets to lack of access road to the new site, however appealed for swift

intervention to enable them move into the new site.

According to Chairman of Lugbe Timber market, Mr Chukwuemeka Ejieaba, other

impediments to their movement into the new site include; absence of perimeter fencing, potable water and other basic amenities needed to support their trading activities.

He therefore pleaded with the Council to provide basic amenities especially access roads and water in the new site to encourage the traders to move in quickly.

L-R: Minister of State FCT, Dr, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu ; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ; Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Communicable Disease , Sen. Chukwuka Utazi ; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and Chairman senate Committee on FCT, Philip Aduda during Launching of the Free Integrated Medical Outreach Programme organised by National Primary Health Care Development (I=MOP) at Bwari Township Primary Health Care, yesterday in Abuja

FCTA intensifies upgrade of slums

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

s part measures to upgrade unplanned areas of Abuja, the FCT Administration through its Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) has upped its efforts with award of contracts for detailed engineering design and preparation for the Abuja integrated infrastructure project in Orozo in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and some settlements in Kwali Area Council.

Our correspondent reports that the contract for Orozo slum upgrade was awarded to M/S Grid Design Associates, while that of

Kwali Area council was awarded to M/S Alim And Associates.

It was gathered that the aim is to upgrade the slums, so that they can benefit from the same quality of infrastructure that is obtainable in the nation’s capital city centre.

Speaking during the Inspection exercise, the Director, Monitoring And Inspection, TpL Olawale Labiyi said the upgrade of slums in the nation’s capital city is a welcome development by the administration.

Labiyi noted that it remains a laudable initiative that will impact positively on the lives of the masses, and urged the contractors to expedite action on the project

designs.

A statement from Head, Public Relations Unit, FCT Department of Monitoring And Inspection, Josie Mudasiru, said leader of the Team that inspected the designs, Engineer Ijirotimi Olanrewaju revealed that the scope of the work includes; carrying out of reconnaissance survey of the project area, planning design, preliminary and final engineering designs that will include roads, water, sewage and electricity.

Olanrewaju noted that the first step in achieving slump upgrade is the design stage that will appraise the current situation on ground

and that is what the contractors are working on.

He added that the contractors are so far doing well as they have conducted stakeholders meetings, that have involved the villagers and community leaders to get their buy in.

He further noted that on previous area of challenge of compensation, the contractors have done well in bringing on board the communities so that they can help identify properties that will be affected by the upgrade.

According to the Team leader, the Consultants have started some work and we have been able to

make our input as we discovered that there was no synergy with relevant departments like Urban And Regional Planning (URP).

“We are all aware that communities like Orozo, Kwali and others in Abuja have unplanned developments and the plan of government is provide Infrastructure that is commensurate to that in the City Centre.”

“Department Of Urban And Regional Planning are the agency charged with the responsibility of integrating the end product of the design into the Masterplan,” he stressed.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Page 22

world news Coronavirus: Spanish deaths

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

surge close to 500

D

eaths from coronavirus in Spain surged to 491 on Tuesday from 309 the day before, health officials have said.

The number of confirmed cases also soared by 2,000 to 11,178, as Spain closed its borders and maintained a partial lockdown on 47 million people.

Spain is the worst-affected part of Europe after Italy, which has had 26,000 cases and 2,500 deaths.

The EU is set to ban all nonessential travel from outside the bloc, as France starts its own strict lockdown.

Death tolls have increased elsewhere, with Iran reporting 135 more, taking its official total close to 1,000.

The EU travel ban will be in place for at least 30 days. It will affect all foreign visitors except long-term residents, family members of EU nationals and diplomats, crossborder and healthcare workers, and people transporting goods.

EU leaders will discuss the measures via videoconference later on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Euro 2020 football competition has been postponed by a year.

The latest World Heath Organization (WHO) figures list nearly 185,000 infections globally and 7,500 deaths.

What are the latest updates in Europe?

In France, citizens who leave home must now carry a document detailing the reasons why, with fines for transgressors to be set at €135 ($150; £123).

It comes after President Macron put the country on a war-footing, ordering the population to stay at home and only go out for essential trips.

France has so far registered more than 6,000 infections and 148 deaths.

Mr Macron said the previous measures, including the closing of schools, cafes and non-essential shops, had proven insufficient.

His 20-minute televised address on Monday was watched by a record 35.3 million people, Le Monde reported.

In Britain, people have been told to avoid social contact, work from home if they can and avoid all non-essential foreign travel.

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has unveiled a £330bn-financial package to ease the burden caused by the virus, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday urged people to avoid pubs, clubs and cafes.

Meanwhile, the government’s chief scientific adviser said it would be a “good outcome” if 20,000 or fewer people died of the virus in the UK. The latest set of Brexit talks has also been delayed.

Spanish police guard the border with France near the village of Dantxarinea The number of confirmed cases in Spain has soared by 2,000 to 11,178. Authorities there are maintaining a partial lockdown on 47 million people.

Death tolls have increased elsewhere too, with Iran reporting 135 more, taking its official total close to 1,000.

Spain began at midnight stopping cars crossing its borders from France and Portugal. Only Spanish nationals, residents and

cross-border workers were being allowed to the country, one of the worst-affected in Europe.

Madrid remains the area with the highest number of cases - 4,871 - with Catalonia next on 1,394.

Some 1,028 people are listed as having recovered from the Covid-19 disease.

El Pais reports that the the government of the Balearic Islands has asked the 25,000 tourists who are still on the islands to leave and

return home.

Italy, which has registered the most cases outside China at more than 26,000, announced another surge in deaths on Tuesday, from 2,150 to 2,503. The country remains in lockdown.

The government meanwhile is set to renationalise flag carrier airline Alitalia with a rescue package worth $670m (£550m).

Germany, which has had more than 6,000 cases and 13 deaths,

banned religious services and told people to cancel any domestic or foreign holiday travel.

Venues including clubs, bars, leisure facilities, zoos and playgrounds will be closed. Schools are already shut.

The country’s disease control centre is training students to assist health authorities with contact tracing of infected patients, Der Spiegel reports.

In other developments: • Belgium’s death toll doubled from five to 10 on on Tuesday • Sweden is to close all high schools and universities from Wednesday • Orthodox priests in Georgia have started blessing the streets of the capital Tbilisi with holy water What is the latest elsewhere?

Iran remains the world’s thirdworst-affected nation, after China and Italy.

More than 16,000 people are confirmed as infected and 988 have died, although some analysts believe the figures are far higher than officially reported.

A spokesman for the judiciary said on Tuesday that 85,000 prisoners, including political prisoners, had been temporarily released to try to combat the spread.

Most shops and restaurants remain open but the health ministry has urged people to stay at home.

Pandemic throws US primary elections into uncertainty

O

hio’s governor has ordered polling stations in the state to close as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupts vast swathes of American life.

The state was one of four due to hold Democratic primary votes on Tuesday.

However, Governor Mike DeWine has closed polls following a state supreme court decision allowing the vote to be postponed.

Other Democratic contests to choose a nominee to take on President Donald Trump have also been disrupted.

Mr DeWine made the decision to close in-person voting sites soon after Americans were warned by the White House to avoid groups of 10 or more.

On Tuesday, another Republican governor, Larry Hogan of Maryland, said his state’s primary contest would be postponed from 28 April to 2 June.

Millions of people are sheltering in their homes as the Covid-19 transmission rate grows.

The outbreak has interrupted the primary contest season in the

US as Democrats hold state-by-state votes to pick a candidate who will challenge Mr Trump in November.

It is now a two-man race between Vice-President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders.

Four states had been scheduled to vote on Tuesday - Arizona, Illinois, Florida and Ohio - but now only the first three will go forward as planned.

Georgia, Louisiana and Kentucky have already postponed their contests due to the outbreak.

Wyoming has suspended in-person voting.

The Democratic primary season has crashed headlong into the growing coronavirus pandemic.

This was supposed to be a day of reckoning for Bernie Sanders, when Joe Biden posted dominating wins in a handful of major states - Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona - and effectively secured the Democratic presidential nomination.

It may still end up that way, but Ohio governor Mike DeWine’s decision to postpone his state’s primary has changed the equation.

The biggest story out of the day may be how the routines of American

democracy - in-person ballot-casting, elderly polling-place volunteers and the occasional crowded rooms and long queues - can exist in a time of contagion.

The other states - including those, like Florida, with older populations have decided to go ahead with their balloting as best they can. It remains to be seen what turnout will look like and if that shapes the results.

With a presidential election looming, however, the challenges and issues being raised now - for example, when and whether a political leader can order voting postponed for public health reasons - could be just a taste of things to come. The stakes will be even higher in November.

Mr Trump has said the nationwide coronavirus emergency could last until the end of the summer or even longer.

The White House on Monday advised Americans not gather in groups of more than 10 for the next 15 days, and to avoid bars, restaurants, food courts, gyms and crowds.

The country is facing “an invisible

enemy” that is “so contagious,” Mr Trump said.

The US has so far had more than 4,600 cases of the virus and 85 deaths.

There have been more than 180,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 globally and over 7,100 deaths, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

How are US states responding?

At least 40 US states have declared an emergency over the virus, and 29 states are shutting schools.

Millions of Americans are already working from home and city centres around the country - including Times Square in New York - are drastically less crowded.

On Monday, officials in the San Francisco Bay area issued a sweeping shelter-in-place order affecting nearly seven million people.

San Francisco is placing itself on lockdown for three weeks from midnight on Tuesday. The California city will legally ban residents from venturing out of their homes except to meet basic needs including buying groceries or medicine. Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Page 23

N e w s F r o m A f r i c a Mutharika Chad ‘repaying $100m refuses to debt to Angola with cattle’ allow May elections T

T

he president of Malawi has refused to ratify changes to the electoral laws which had been approved by parliament and were meant to pave the way for fresh elections in May. Last month the courts annulled Peter Mutharika’s victory in last year’s election citing irregularities.

He has filed an appeal against that decision.

Mr Mutharika is increasingly being accused of doing everything he can to frustrate the holding of a new presidential vote.

A spokesman said in the president’s opinion the proposed electoral laws went against the country’s constitution.

Algerians urged to suspend protests

I

n Algeria, prominent personalities in the opposition and top health professionals have called on pro-democracy protesters to suspend their weekly gatherings to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Algerians have been demonstrating since February 2019 to demand change in the government, a situation which led to the forced resignation of long-time leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika two months later.

There has been growing calls on protesters to end their protests since Algeria reported its first case of Covid-19 in February, but they have been ignored.

Algeria has confirmed 60 cases of coronavirus.

Five patients have died.

Mustafa Bouchachi, a high profile human rights lawyer and fervent supporter of the protest movement, has supported the call to stop the protests.

Student organisations have also call for a suspension of the protests.

Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerrad has said he would not ban the demonstrations, adding: “I would like to ask my brothers and sisters who take to the streets on Friday and Tuesday to be cautious. It is about their health.”

Four South Africans left in Wuhan

T

he South African government has said that four of its citizens had to remain behind during repatriation from Wuhan in China - the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak - as they displayed symptoms of the virus.

The Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said the four were not infected.

He added that everyone was tested and all those who came into the country tested negative.

Two of them have been isolated as they developed a mild cough on arrival but the minister says there is nothing to worry about the two.

The government repatriated over 100 people on Saturday and are being quarantined at a hotel in Limpopo province.

he unusual agreement is seen as creating a win-win situation for both nations - Chad is short of cash while Angola needs cattle.

More than 1,000 cows arrived by ship in Angola’s capital, Luanda, as the first payment, Jornal de Angola reported.

In total, Angola would receive 75,000 cattle over 10 years, meaning it has accepted payment of $1,333 per animal.

Chad would send a further 3,500 head of cattle later this month, the report added.

Chad had proposed repaying the 2017 debt with cattle, and Angola had agreed because it would help the southern African state rebuild its cattle population in drought-affected areas, the state-run daily paper said.

Angola is often hit by drought, causing animals to die of hunger and thirst and leaving many villagers destitute.

Although oil rich, the country is still striving to recover from the legacy of a 27year civil war that ravaged the country after independence.

Chad is described by the the World Health Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) as a “livestock farming country par excellence”, with about 94 million head of cattle.

Livestock accounts for 30% of Chad’s exports, and is its main source of foreign exchange after oil.

In a report last October, the World Bank said Chad’s economy “remains fragile and vulnerable to considerable risk, such as oil price volatility and regional insecurity” caused

Chad is a major exporter of livestock by militant Islamist groups operating in the region.

Liberia’s President George Weah has suspended a government official who tested positive for Covid-19 after he returned to the country from Switzerland, becoming the West Africa nation’s first case.

Mr Weah said Nathaniel Blama, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, had refused to be quarantined as required by health protocols set up to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

But Mr Blama denied the accusations, saying he had complied with the health rules and that he regretted that state officials were

“misinforming the public”.

Meanwhile, President Weah has suspended all school activities including those of universities for one week from 17 March, a statement from the information ministry says.

The measure will allow the health authorities to conduct surveillance and trace those said to have arrived in the country on the same flight as Mr Blama.

Many Liberians are anxious, with many worried that if the virus is not controlled it could create a health crisis similar to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people in the region.

Coronavirus: British tourists stranded after flight suspensions

B

ritish tourists in Morocco and Peru have told the BBC they are stranded and unsure how they will get home after their flights were suspended.

EasyJet and British Airways told the BBC they were running rescue flights from Morocco after general flights from there to the UK were cancelled.

But tourist Beth Marletta said she would have to wait weeks to get home.

“Just off the phone to BA who have said they can’t reschedule our flight until April now,” she told the BBC. “There are no rescue flights despite what the news are saying.”

Beth and her partner have been in Morocco for a week-and-a-half. They were due to fly back from Marrakech to Heathrow and then on to Edinburgh with BA on Saturday.

On her original call to British Airways, she was told the next available flight was in August.

Another British woman told the BBC she was supposed to fly back from Morocco with EasyJet. She said she had had trouble booking herself onto a rescue flight and that the situation was very confusing.

Thomas Reilly, the British ambassador in Morocco, tweeted that there would be a number of rescue flights operated by British Airways, Ryanair, EasyJet and Tui over the next three days.

Meanwhile, another British tourist,

Amir Mahmood, has tweeted a video from the airport talking about his experience of trying to get home.

He was due to fly home from Morocco with EasyJet on Tuesday and the airline’s website said his flight was leaving on schedule.

He said he queued up for five hours at the airport, only to be told when he reached the front of the queue that there were no flights.

Amir said in the video: “We don’t know what to do. We feel completely stranded along with hundreds of other British people.”

Since publishing his video, however, he has been booked on a flight back to the UK on Tuesday evening.

EasyJet and BA said while they were running rescue flights they could not comment on individual cases.

Meanwhile, two British women are on forced lockdown in a hostel in Peru with other Britons, after they were unable to book flights out of the country.

Tess Bettison and her friend Stevie Chandler said they were also concerned for their safety.

“We saw on the news in Peru that the Peruvian government were locking down the country and we were given 24 hours to get out. We were not informed by the British Embassy or our travel company,” said Tess.

“We started looking for flights out of

the country but all of them back to the UK were cancelled as were ones to places like the US and Chile. We tried getting out to anywhere else like Mexico but the flights were £2,000-3,000 and when you clicked on them they were gone.

“There is rising tension in Peru with a lot of xenophobia towards the Chinese and European people as they blame us for bringing the coronavirus to their country.

“We have been locked inside our hostel for safety alongside other British nationals but we don’t know how long we’ll be allowed to stay here.”

‘Nervous about health’ The Department for Transport has been in discussion with airlines to ensure that rescue flights continue from destinations around the world even when tight travel restrictions kick in, to make sure British tourists can get home.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We recognise that any British people currently overseas may be nervous about the impact of coronavirus on their travel and their health.”

Another operator, Tui, said it was “working hard” to bring back its customers from Morocco, following local authority travel restrictions.

“We’re in direct contact with customers to keep them updated of their new departure flight times and our reps inresort are able to help with the latest information.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

A SI A

Satoshi Uematsu: Japanese man who killed 19 disabled people sentenced to death A

Japanese man has been sentenced to death for a stabbing rampage in 2016 which resulted in the death of 19 disabled people at a care home.

Satoshi Uematsu said people with disabilities who were unable to communicate well had no human rights, said broadcaster Kyodo.

The 30-year old had once worked in the care facility, located near Tokyo.

The case is one of Japan’s worst mass killings and has shocked people in a country where violent crime is rare.

In an earlier interview with Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, Uematsu had said there was “no point in living” for people with mental disabilities and that he “had to do it for the sake of society”.

The Yokohama District Court on Monday ordered him to death by hanging.

Uematsu previously said he did not plan to appeal against any verdict or sentence.

‘He abused marijuana’ During the trial earlier this year, the former employee of the Sagamihara care home did not dispute that he stabbed his victims.

But his defence team pleaded not guilty, citing their client’s mental state. They said he had

Tehran province is the worst affected by the new coronavirus disease been under the influence of drugs at the time.

“He abused marijuana and suffered from mental illness,” his lawyer said.

“He was in a condition in which either he had no capacity to take responsibility or such a capacity was significantly weakened.”

There were traces of marijuana found in his blood after the attack.

Prosecutors though insisted Uematsu was mentally competent

and that the rampage was “inhumane” and left “no room for leniency”.

The attack has also raised the issue of how disabled people are treated in Japan.

The identities of most of those killed have not been revealed by their families, reportedly because they do not want to reveal they had a disabled relative.

Before the start of the court hearing, however, one mother

whose 19-year old daughter was killed in the attack revealed that her first name was Miho.

“Even the most extreme penalty is light for you,” the mother said according to public broadcaster NHK. “I will never forgive you.”

“Please bring back my most precious daughter... you’re still alive. It’s not fair. It’s wrong. I demand capital punishment,” she added.

What happened during the

attack?

On 26 July 2016, Mr Uematsu drove to the Tsukui Yamayurien care facility outside of Tokyo, armed with several knives.

He entered one of the buildings by breaking a window and began attacking sleeping residents one by one in their rooms, according to the prosecution.

His 19 victims were aged between 19 and 70, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo.

Another 25 people were wounded, 20 of them seriously.

Soon after the attack, Mr Uematsu handed himself in at a police station.

The facility, set in extensive grounds, had about 150 residents at the time of the attack, according to local officials. Nine staff members were on duty at the time.

It later emerged that a few months before the attack Mr Uematsu had taken a letter to Japan’s parliament saying he would kill 470 severely disabled people if authorised.

“I want Japan to be a country where the disabled can be euthanised,” he said.

He was subsequently taken to hospital but released after two weeks. Since his arrest, he had shown no remorse.

Israel election: Gantz vows to form ‘broad’ unity government within days

B

enny Gantz - the main political rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - has been given the chance to form a new coalition government in Israel.

Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party won more seats than Mr Gantz’s Blue and White in the general election. But Mr Gantz was backed by a thin majority of lawmakers.

The former military chief vowed to form “a national unity government, as broad as possible, within days”.

It comes as Israel confronts an outbreak of the coronavirus.

Much of the country has been brought to a standstill in an effort to contain 250 cases. ple have been placed in isolation; schools and universities have been closed; and gatherings of more than 10 people have been banned.

The opening of Mr

Netanyahu’s trial on corruption charges has also been delayed.

The Palestinians have reported 39 cases of Covid-19 the disease caused by the new virus - in the occupied West Bank.

What is the background?

The election on 2 March was Israel’s third in less than a year.

Neither of the main party leaders was able to command a majority following the last two rounds.

This time, Likud won 36 seats, and allied right-wing and religious parties another 22. But that left Mr Netanyahu three short of a majority in the 120seat Knesset.

Blue and White meanwhile won 33 seats; the Joint List representing Israel’s Arab minority came third with 15 seats; the centre-left LabourGesher-Meretz list won seven; and the nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party also got seven.

Benny Gantz hopes to form a national unity government, “as broad as possible”, within days Over the weekend, President recommendation.

Mr Netanyahu had proposed Reuven Rivlin asked all parties about who they recommended t h a t h e l e a d a “ n a t i o n a l he task with forming a governing emergency” government for six months to confront the Covid-19 coalition.

S i x t y - o n e l a w m a k e r s crisis.

What happened on Monday? supported Mr Gantz, including Mr Rivlin officially gave those from the Joint List and Yisrael Beitenu, compared to the Blue and White leader the 58 for Mr Netanyahu. One mandate.

Noting “the greatness of lawmaker chose not to give a

the challenges facing us”, the president urged Mr Gantz and “all elected officials” to move swiftly to form a government.

“A fourth election is impossible at this time of crisis,” he warned.

Mr Gantz will have 28 days to try to form a coalition, after which he may ask for a 14-day extension.

After receiving the mandate, he said: “I will serve the voters of all of the parties and all the citizens of Israel. I will lead the effort to heal the Israeli society of the coronavirus, as well as from the virus of hatred and division.

“These are not normal days,” he added. “Leaders must put aside personal considerations.”

He called on Mr Netanyahu to agree to a unity deal, but also criticised what he said were “the illegitimate efforts by the current prime minister to evade justice”.

Source: BBC

Mumbai is India’s most ‘forgetful’ city, says Uber

M

umbai is India’s most “forgetful” city, according to Uber’s Lost & Found Index 2020, followed by Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and Allahabad.

This is an annual database compiled by the cab aggregator,

based on what passengers in different countries leave behind in Uber’s taxis.

Phones top the list in India, which also includes items as unusual as artificial acrylic teeth.

Uber found 3 August 2019 to be the “most forgetful” day in its

survey.

India’s capital, Delhi, ranked fourth among the 10 most forgetful cities, followed by the southern city of Bangalore at number 5.

Are Uber and millennials behind India’s auto slump?

The list of the top 20 most

unique lost items also includes mangoes, safari suits, brooms, military shoes and copies of Becoming, Michelle Obama’s memoir.

Uber found that Thursdays and Fridays are the most “forgetful” days of the week, and afternoons

- between 13:00 and 15:00 - are the most likely hours when people lose things.

The data suggests that people are most likely to leave behind a guitar on Saturdays and Sundays, and their lunch boxes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

PROPerty PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

COREN, ICPC setup joint task team to investigative, prosecute offenders

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), said the two are setting up a joint task team to checkmate investigate and prosecute engineering offenders in country .

The President of COREN Engr.

Ali Rabiu made the disclosure in a statement issued by Head, Public Relations Department, COREN Mrs Ojonugwa Haruna, in yesterday in Abuja.

Engr. Rabiu spoke when he visited the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), Prof.

Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye According to him, COREN is the ethical court for engineers with the vision to promote and ensure the highest standards of professionalism in engineering practice in the country.

“It is therefore my suggestion that ICPC and COREN create a task team to review the 2014, MOU for possible update and enhancement.

“I believe this marks a positive milestone in our robust relationship and that it will also strengthen the partnership between ICPC and COREN.” He said the council had been empowered by law, adding that the implementation of the powers of COREN, directly and indirectly meant increased cases of investigations and prosecutions of offenders.

He stated that the council has being empowered to regulate and control engineering practice in Nigeria in all aspects and prosecute any person or firm that contravenes the provision of the Act in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“ICPC also seeks to free Nigeria of all forms of corruption and practices.

“The coming together of these two important organs of government (ICPC and COREN) as partners to achieve the major objectives of their creation is an initiative that must be commended”,Engr. Rabiu said He pointed out that,COREN is now empowered to determine who engineering practitioners are, what standards of knowledge and skills are to be attained by persons seeking to become registered as engineers.

The Council president said “it is my hope that our partnership will positively contribute to the industrial and socio-economic growth of our Nation as we eradicate all abnormalities including corruption in engineering practice”.

Peoples Daily recalled that On 16th of May, 2014, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and COREN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and agreed to go into partnership for the purposes of investigation of offenders of corrupt practices, among others.

Page 25

Estate Surveyor’s input is a necessary requirement in property development

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

A

n Estate Surveyor and Valuer, ESV Festus Chidozie Egbulefu yesterday said an estate Surveyor’s input is a necessary requirement in property development.

Egbulefu, stated this yesterday in Abuja, emphasising that the rate at which property is being developed in Abuja is high due to the high influx of people into the city.

He said based on that high influx, properties are being developed in a hurry without due cognizance of building designs and finishing details.

He reiterated that an Estate Surveyor and Valuer’s skillful hand comes in as a professional who deals directly with the end user and knows what they want in properties.

Speaking further, he pointed out that the Estate Surveyor would advice the property developer on the way the property should be designed to achieve its highest and best use taking cognizance of room spaces and location of different facilities in the property.

“The location of where the property should be is also taken into cognizance.

For example, it is wrong to locate a residential building next to a local market or Petrol filling

ESV Festus Chidozie Egbulefu, An Estate Surveyor and Valuer.

station.

“The Estate Surveyor will also do a proper due diligence on behalf of the property developer to ascertain the required land use of the land before he starts the development so as not to have a problem with the government authority on development control”.

He disclosed that to achieve high returns on investment by the developer, the Estate Surveyor and Valuer will advice the developer on the types of property that should be built on a particular area of choice.

“For example, building a bungalow in a high brow area will not yield you good returns on your investment”.

NIOB confers fellowship on Fashola

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), National Council has conferred honourary fellowship on the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola.

Fashola was conferred with the fellowship when the National President of the institute Kunle Awobodu ,and his team paid the minister a courtesy visit in Abuja yesterday .

Awobodu said the conferment came as a result of the exemplary leadership of the minister when he was the governor of Lagos State.

He said Fashola tackled the issue of building collapse in the state, in which he set up a technical committee to look into proper building procedures. “ We need to appreciate a man that has done so much to the built environment, ’’.

The NIOB boss however, used the occasion to call on the government to ensure that quacks were eliminated from the building industry..

Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola been conferred with honourary fellowship award by Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), yesterday in Abuja .

“Building collapses cast a dent and a slur on our national image, we enjoin all public-spirited individuals and organisations to join in this campaign.

“Do your part, build right, use the right professional for building construction, engage and support professional builders.’’

He said that construction of buildings is a barometer of a thriving economy, adding that what distinguishes a city from a town, and a town from a village is the number and quality of buildings.

Speaking further, he stated that, “ Any nation bereft of building codes is vulnerable to inappropriate building

construction.”

He therefore called on manufacturers of building materials, artisans and professionals that the culture of doing it right must be embraced.

He enjoined the Minister not to relent in his efforts to ensure the use of Nigeria’s building code to guide building construction in Nigeria.

Responding, Fashola said the conferment was for all those who helped him to achieve all he was able to achieve in Lagos State and even those who were presently working with him.

He said those who build “are those who contribute to prosperity, and it is also important to create knowledge and value.’’

According to him, building with knowledge and value will not give room to comprise and the results are predictable and painful.

Fashola enjoined the professionals to ensure that people who came out from the institute were found worthy in knowledge and in value before they could be called members.

FG handovers 1.33km road to federal university Ekiti

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Federal Government has handed over 1.33kilometer internal constructed road to the federal university of Oye, Ekiti State.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola,

expressed the government’s commitment to bridging infrastructural gap .

Fashola represented by the Ekiti State Federal Controller of Works Engr. Ishaq Lawal said that the intervention of internal roads construction within tertiary institutions is currently going on in 43 tertiary institutions, out of which

18 had been fully completed by the government .

He also admonished the school authority to ensure that the asset was maintained and not abused.

Earlier In his welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kayode Shoremekun, thanked the federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing

for the reconstruction of over 1 kilometre internal road within the campus to ease vehicular movement and other activities.

A statement signed by For: Director Press & Public Relations said,He urged the Minister not to abandon the school in subsequent budgetary provisions as more projects were begging for attention.

1.8km Loko -Owoto bridge to boost economic activities

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

M

inister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said that completion of the 1.8km Loko -Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa and Benue States will boost economic activities in Nigeria.

He said this during an inspection tour of the bridge construction site over

the weekend.

According to Fashola, the LokoOweto Bridge being a major strategic transport road connecting the Northern part of the country and all those coming from the Eastern part would develop into a vital economic route inclusive of transportation of agricultural produce.

Fashola also said that the Oweto part of the bridge is in Benue state while

Loko is in Nasarawa state, noting that the bridge would reduce the long hours that were normally spent on journeys from the East to the Federal Capital as well as the Northern part of the country.

“This is a major impact on business reducing the cost of time and improving the ease of doing business,” Fashola said.

This was contained in a statement signed Stephen Kilebi Deputy Director

Press stated that Fashola said street lighting was a feature added to the bridge.

He mentioned that the Ministry had to ensure the communities were connected to electricity for it to achieve the street lighting of the bridge, saying it has given the communities the privilege of enjoying electricity which they had lacked before the intervention on the road and bridge began.

feature PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

CLASSIFIED Public Notice

Uganda’s Kanungu cult massacre that killed 700 followers

J

udith Ariho does not shed any tears as she recalls the church massacre in which her mother, two siblings and four other relatives were among at least 700 people who died.

Exactly 20 years ago, in south-western Uganda’s Kanungu district, they were locked inside a church, with the doors and windows nailed shut from the outside. It was then set alight.

Two decades on, the horror of the event is still too much for Ms Ariho, who appears to only be able to cope with the trauma by closing herself off from the emotion.

This still from archive footage shows the ruins of the church in the wake of the fire The dead were members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God - a doomsday cult that believed the world would come to an end at the turn of the millennium.

“The end of present times”, as one of its books phrased it, came two-and-a-half months later, on 17 March 2000.

Twenty years later, no-one has been prosecuted in connection with the massacre and the cult leaders, if they are alive, have never been found.

Anna Kabeireho, who still lives on a hillside that overlooks the land that the cult owned, has not forgotten the smell that engulfed the valley that Friday morning.

“Everything was covered in smoke, soot and the stench of burnt flesh. It seemed to go right to your lungs,” she recalls.

“Everybody was running into the valley.

The fire was still going. There were dozens of bodies, burnt beyond recognition.

“We covered our noses with aromatic leaves to ward off the smell. For several months afterwards, we could not eat meat.”

Kanungu is a fertile and peaceful region of green hills and deep valleys, covered in small farms broken up by homesteads.

The journey down into the valley that was once the headquarters of the Movement has to be taken by foot.

From down there, it is easy to see how the religious community would have maintained their lives away from the eyes of neighbours.

Birdsong bounces off the hills and there is the sound of a waterfall in the near distance. It is the ideal setting for a contemplative existence.

But nothing remains of the building that was doused in petrol and set alight. At the edge of the spot where it stood is a long mound of soil, the only marker for the mass grave in which the remains from the inferno were buried.

Defrocked priests and nuns The faithful had been drawn by the charismatic leaders Credonia Mwerinde, a former bartender and sex worker, and exgovernment employee Joseph Kibwetere, who said that they had had visions of the Virgin Mary in the 1980s.

They registered the Movement as a group whose aim was to obey the Ten Commandments and preach the word of Jesus Christ.

Christian icons were prominent in the Movement’s compound and the cult

Twenty years on, the whereabouts of (from L to R) Ursula Komuhangi, Credonia Mwerinde, Joseph Kibwetere and Dominic Kataribabo are unknown

This still from archive footage shows the ruins of the church in the wake of the fire had tenuous links to Roman Catholicism with its leadership dominated by a number of defrocked priests and nuns, including Ursula Komuhangi and Dominic Kataribabo.

Christian iconography was found in one of the compound’s buildings after the fire Believers lived mostly in silence, occasionally using signs to communicate.

Questions would be sent to Mwerinde in writing. Known as “the programmer”, she is said to have been the mastermind behind how the establishment run, and would write back with answers.

Ms Ariho, 41, joined the Movement with her family when she was 10.

Her widowed mother was struggling to raise three children, one of whom suffered from persistent headaches. Kibwetere’s group offered prayer and a sense of belonging, she says.

The self-sustaining community would take in whole families, providing for their every need. The members grew their own food, ran schools, and used their skills to contribute labour.

Ms Ariho’s family hosted a branch of the church with about 100 members in their compound, 2km (1.2 miles) outside the town of Rukungiri.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

“Life rotated around prayer, although we also farmed,” she says.

“We did everything possible to avoid sin. Sometimes, if you sinned, they would command you to recite the rosary [an entreaty to God] 1,000 times.

“You had to do it, and also ask friends and family to help, until you had served your punishment.”

Devotion to the Movement regularly involved pilgrimage to a steep, rocky hill nearby. After a tough hike through a eucalyptus forest, hanging onto rocks and grabbing at tufts of grass, the faithful would reach a rock that they believed depicted the Virgin Mary.

As we walk through her village, she points to the homesteads of the immediate neighbours. “Over there, they lost a mother and her 11 children, and in that home, a mother and her eight children died too,” she says, shifting her gaze to the ground.

Ms Ariho had not travelled to Kanungu as by 2000 she had married into a family who were not part of the Movement.

But she remembers that the leaders had an omniscient grip on the faithful, saying that Mwerinde and Komuhangi seemed to be aware of every sin that had been committed in the far-flung outlets of the

church.

When a follower broke the rules, the two women would shed tears of blood, she says.

But it appears that the cult leaders may have also engaged in murder and torture before the final massacre.

In Kanungu, there are numerous wide and deep pits where dozens of bodies, thought to have been dumped over several years, were retrieved days after the blaze.

At the back of what seems like a ruined office building are two more pits, said to have been torture chambers. Pits were also found near other branches of the church.

What turned ordinary members of society into murderous cult leaders is still not clear.

Before his apparitions, Kibwetere had been a successful man, and a regular member of the Roman Catholic community.

Topher Shemereza, now a local government official, saw him as a father figure.

“He was an upright member of the community and a shrewd businessman.

I did not have a job when I finished university, so he offered me a deal to transport local moonshine, which we sold in the neighbouring districts,” he explains.

A few years on, Kibwetere informed his protégé that he would no longer sell alcohol. The older man and his fellow cult leaders spent a fortnight in Mr Shemereza’s government-issued house right up until the night they set off for Kanungu, where they would establish the Movement’s headquarters.

“That was the last time I ever saw him. The man I knew was not a murderer.

Something must have changed in him,” he says.

After the Movement’s foundation, word of Kibwetere and his religion spread across south-west Uganda and beyond.

The community was not closed off from the rest of society, and several people in positions of authority - including policemen and local government officials - were aware of its activities. But little action was taken against the cult before the inferno.

Although Interpol issued notices for the arrest of six cult leaders in April 2000, it is still not known if any of them died in the fire or whether they are living in hiding.

A 2014 Uganda police report indicated that Kibwetere may have fled the country.

But others doubt that he was well enough to do this.

No memorial Spiritual movements that bear the hallmarks of the Kanungu cult, where devotees unquestioningly believe their pastors can resurrect the dead or that holy water will heal ailments, have continued to emerge across the continent.

Their appeal is clear, according to Dr Paddy Musana of Makerere University’s Department of Religion and Peace Studies.

“When there is strain or a need which cannot be easily met by existing institutions like traditional faiths or government, and someone emerges claiming to have a solution, thousands will rally around them,” he tells the BBC.

LASPOTECH SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE '86 - '91 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION C/O LAGOS STATE POLYTECHNIC, SHAGAMU ROAD, IKORODU LAGOS STATE

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1.

MR. ABIODUN KAMAL, BAYEWU 2.

MR. JONATHAN OGBENI, ALIGBE 3.

MR. TOYIN MUSTAPHA, SANBE 4.

MR. OLUSEGUN ADEBISI, ADEBOGUN 5.

MRS. ADENIKE, ANTOINETTE, ADADE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote the welfare and interpersonal/personal relationship among the members of the Association through social networking and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between members.

2. To initiate and execute programmes and/or activities aimed at marketing our Alma mater through various means which may also include the encouragement and promotion of exchange programmes between our Alma Mater and other Government Accredited Institutions.

3. To deal in any real or personal property and acquire rights, interests and privileges therein in any part of Nigeria or elsewhere which the association may consider necessary or relevant for the promotion and/or realization of its aims and objectives.

4. To undertake any other measures or activities which are consistent with or incidental to the promotion and/or realization of the interests, aims and objectives of the association.

Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Adetayo Bello, Esq. (Solicitor to the Association)

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IZUCHUKWU CHUKWUMA - CHAIRMAN 2. CHUKWU BASIL - SECRETARY 3. SUNDAY OKEKE - TREASURER 4. EWENIKE UCHENNA - MEMBER 5. JOSEPH EDEH - MEMBER THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. TO OVERSEE WELFARE OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. SANDRA ABIEYUWU IDHIKE 2. TITI ANNE ADELEYE 3. KHADIJA ASUNKE ADEJUMO 4. ANGEL CHINWE EKENG 5. LAURA EHELOGBAI ALUYA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO BRING TOGETHER MOTHERS. 2. TO SHARE IDEAS AND SKILLS TO BE BETTER MOTHERS. 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 : AKUDAZIE NDUGBU

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ANTHONY DANASEBE AGBU (CHAIRMAN) 2. MATSUNDE SHEDRACH SHISHI (SECRETARY) 3. HASSAN MOSES GANI 4. SAIDU TSOKWA 5. JOEL BARDE DANYAA 6. DANLADI SALE 7. MAZAWOJE TANKO 8. DANIEL GANI 9. JAPHET TSOKWA. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.TO PROTECT THE INTEREST AND WELFARE OF YAM PRODUCERS AND TRADERS IN NIGERIA. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : BY ISHAYA KOSHI DANFULANI ESQ.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1) EKANOLA ZACK 2) OGBEIDE THOMPSON OSAMUYI 3) EGUAVOEN ABIEMWENSE ESE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To protect the interest of the members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

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NSPIRE VOCATION & SKILLS ACQUISITION FOUNDATION CAC/IT/NO: 100686

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR ADDITION OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE : 1. OLATOMIJOGUN DOSEKUN - RETAINED 2. ADESEGUN ADE-MARTINS - RETAINED THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE : 1. OLADIPUPO AWOSIKA - APPOINTED 2. DOSEKUN ALFRED OLU - APPOINTED 3. CHUKWUKA OBIDIKE - APPOINTED 4. BARNABAS YISA - APPOINTED 5. DR. RONKE OGUNMAKIN - APPOINTED 6. OLAJIDE BABASOLA AYODEJI - APPOINTED THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Public Notice

GENERATING HOPE FOR THE NATIONS MISSION

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. JAMES ENEMAKWU AJEKA. 2. AMOS UKWILE EDIME 3.OMAKOJI SIMEON OYIGUH 4. SPENCER OJOGBA ONUH 5. EDIME ELIZABETH ALEWO 6. REUBEN AKOGWU ADEJO 7. OGBADU PHILIP ALIYU. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO CARRY ON CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES IN ALL RAMIFICATION, TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND SEND MISSIONARIES TO ALL NATIONS OF THE WORLD. 2. TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND IMPACT DESTINIES AND MENTOR THEM THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD. 3. TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE 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 : Contact: Barr. N. O. Udalo. 08033727601

Public Notice

OKPELLA INDIGENOUS MINERS & ALLIED PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION

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. SUNDAY ANAMERO DEKERI 2. OSHOLU GERALD ADEWOLE 3. KAPPA OFEMILE 4. ISAH AFEGBUA 5 ZUWEIDU HUSSEINI 6. DANIA OBALO 7. JAMES ABACHE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To promote the interest of Okpellas.

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 : CORNERSTONE ADVOCATES 08036317910.

Public Notice

LOSS OF LAND DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of loss of original Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) in respect of a Parcel of Land known as Plot No. 1831 located at Cadastral Zone E23, of Kyami District, Abuja-FCT belonging to BENCHMARK HOMES LIMITED ABUJA-FCT got missing and all efforts made to trace it proved abortive.

If found please return to the nearest police station.

Public Notice

MUSTARD SEED FARMERS SKILL ACQUISITION FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : (1) UCHECHINAEKE PETER PAUL (chairman) (2) UCHECHINAEKE SUSAN KEREN (3) UCHECHINAEKE HANNAH OGECHI (4) UCHECHINAEKE PETER CHIMA (secretary).

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To reach out to the poor masses, create employment for the youths and unemployed.

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

Salvaging the future stars FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Edema Pamela fejiro 2. Edema Jaja Emmanuel.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To assist the less privileged ones .

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : CHAIRMAN

Public Notice THE BASILEIA COMMISSION KINGDOM MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

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. Alexander Victor - Chairman 2. Esther Benjamin Akhuewu - Secretary 3.Eme Effanga - Member THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. Provide spiritual nourishment to the body of Christ by way of encouragement, enlightenment and equipping for Christian life and ministry.

2. Spearhead diverse platforms by which the message of Christ and His Kingdom is propagated and its influence brought to bear upon our lives and in the earth.

3. Facilitate initiatives by which the culture of God’s Kingdom is introduced and established as the reference point across every spiritual, economic, political, social and academic stratum.

4.

Influence professionals—both individually and corporately—with Kingdom principles for business innovation and advancement.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

CLASSIFIED Public Notice

THE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF ALA-ELEFOSAN COMMUNITY

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. Ogunnika Akinde Samuel (chairman) 2. Ogunnika Babajide O. 3. Omnoiyi Ayodele 4.Adetuyi Boluwaji Oluwatobi (secretary) THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.To ensure that there is equitable distribution of common resources within the community.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Public Notice

Public Notice

Public Notice

WOMEN AT THE FEET OF JESUS INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named is applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act, Cap 59, 1990.

Trustees 1. ENEYO CHINYERE GOSPEL 2. NLANU PRECIOUS ONUN 3. ODII SARAH AJAH 4. OKON IQUO OROK Aims & objective . TO CARRY OUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 2. TO EMPOWER YOUNG WOMEN, WIDOWS, AGED AND PREGNANT WOMEN AND RAPE VICTIMS. 3. TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH CRUSADE AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

The Acholonu Family Foundation

Public Notice

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR CERTIFIED TRUE COPY (CTC) OF LOSS OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Acholonu Christopher Ugochukwu 2.Princess Mary Acholonu 3.Ipinyomi Soji Joash.

THE TRUSTEES REMAIN THE SAME.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.Provide Assistance to Orphanages, homeless and poor widows in the community and nationally.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS 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.

SIGNED : SECRETARY

Public Notice

Public Notice

Public Notice

OASIS OF HEALING AND LOVE WORLDWIDE

PRINCE OBI ORIZU FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

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.CHARLES OBIANAEFO ORIZU 2.EBELE IFEYINWA ORIZU 3.IKECHUKWU FELIX IBETO 4.IFEANYI CHUKWUEMEKA ALEXANDER 5.CHUKWUDI EUGENE ORIZU THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1.Royal Core International is a global community services and educational support organization establish to strengthen community capacity in education and youth empowerment that creates wealth for all.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : Barr Blessing Eyee

29

CAF postpones 2020 CHAN until further notice

EZINANO COMMUNITY UNION AWKA CAC/IT/No.66195.

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).

Page

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Any objection to the Registrations should be forwarded to the Registrar, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198 Garki Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Public Notice

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

PAGE 28

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. APOSTLE JOHN ANDREW PETER 2. JOSHUA DATHIONG AUDU 3. YAKUBU KATUNG 4. JONATHAN KURE USMAN 5. YAKUBU YAHAYA MUSA THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF GOD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

FATIMA

ABUBAKAR

maryam

I, formerly known as FATIMA NASIR. NOW wish to be known and addressed as FATIMA ABDULKADIR NASIR. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known as SALIHU MUSA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABUBAKAR MALAMI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known as maryam abdullahi NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS maryam abdullahi kano. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Amina

Fatima

fatima

I, formerly known as Amina Bello Jabaka now wish to be known and addressed as Amina Yusuf Lawal. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Fatima Abubakar Magaji.

NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Fatima Abubakar Ukasha. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS fatima marwana suleman. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS fatima marwana sule. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ABDUL’AZIZ

ibrahim

IBE

I formerly known as ABDUL'AZIZ SANI now wish to be know and addressed as ABDUL'AZIZ SANI INUSA DATE OF BIRTH 02-01-1989. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known as ali mudhi ibrahim Now wish to be known and addressed as ibrahim mudhi ali umar‎. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS EMMANUEL IBE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS IBE EMMANUEL UME. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

T

he Confederation of African Football, CAF has announced the postponment of the 2020 Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) which was due to be held in Cameroon as part of the global effort to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.

CAF said in an official statement on Tuesday 17th March, 2020, that the decision was arrived at after wide consultation and an on the spot check by a medical team sent to Cameroon to assess the situation on the ground.

“Following the growing concern of the COVID-19 virus and the report of the recently concluded Medical inspection visit to the host country of the Total CHAN, Cameroon 2020, CAF Emergency Committee decided today to postpone the competition until further notice.

“The following factors were taken into consideration by the Medical Committee in its recommendation to the Emergency Committee. – Even though the situation is considered as being under control in Cameroon and as per the advice from the WHO, the crisis is not yet stabilized yet in Africa and it’s very difficult to predict its evolution in the next few days; – “Travelling across the continent is getting increasingly complicated and even impossible for some countries, due

Eagles to the restrictions put in place by the different governments.

“For all these reasons, and to avoid any useless risk, the Medical Committee’s proposal was to unanimously postpone the CHAN.”

“We would like to assure you that CAF is monitoring the situation closely and working with the competent authorities such as the WHO on the impact of the virus in the continent and CAF Competitions.”

CAF Administration will propose the potential new dates in due time depending on the improvement of the situation.

The CHAN tournament in Cameroon was set to begin on the 4th of April, 2020.

French Open moved to September amid Coronavirus pandemic

O

rganisers of this year’s French Open have moved the start date to September due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The French Open was due to begin at Roland Garros in Paris on May 18 but the French Tennis Federation (FFT) decided to move it date which will now run between September 20 and October 4.

“We have made a difficult yet brave decision in this unprecedented situation, which has evolved greatly since last weekend,” said FFT President Bernard Giudicelli.

“We are acting responsibly, and must work together in the fight to ensure everybody’s health and safety.”

The French Open is usually the second grand slam of the tennis calendar, with the clay-court spectacle running between the Australian Open

and Wimbledon.

The new date means it will now be the final major of the year, following shortly after the US Open.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Australia’s Ashleigh Barty are the respective defending French Open men’s and women’s singles champions.

Organisers have confirmed that any tickets already bought can be refunded or exchanged to take into account the new dates.

The news comes on a landmark day for global sport, with European football governing body UEFA postponing this year’s European Championships until 2021.

Both the ATP and WTA tours have already been temporarily suspended as the world struggles to get to grips with the spread of COVID-19.

Rafael Nadal

Martins’ death: Pinnick charges committee to fashion out recommendations >>>30

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PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

p

Manchester United move reward for Ighalo sacrifices - agent

Odion Ighalo

O

dion Ighalo’s agent believes the striker ‘deserved his prize’ of fulfilling his dream to play for Man Utd. The Nigerian was a shock arrival at Old Trafford on deadline day of the January window, as United sealed a loan deal to bring him back to the UK from China.

Ighalo had performed well

during a previous Premier League stint at Watford, but had all-but given up on signing for his boyhood club.

Yet agent Patrick Bastianelli insists his client’s reward is a product of years of hard work.

“Odion is reaping what he deserves after many sacrifices, after many years around Europe,”

U

Virgil

t

Why I did not sign for Real Madrid, AC Milan -Batistuta

L

egendary Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta has explained the reason he snubbed Europeans giants like Real Madrid and AC Milan during his playing career in Europe.

After spells with Argentinian top clubs, River Plate, Newell’s Old Boys and Boca Juniors, Batistuta signed for Serie A side Fiorentina in 1991.

During his time at Roma, Batistuta won the Serie A in the 2000/2001 season and also the Italian Super Cup. At Fiorentina Batistuta won the Serie B in the 1993/1994 season, the Italian Cup and Super Cup the following season.

He made his Argentina senior national team debut in 1991, scored 54 goals in 77 appearances before retiring from international football in 2002.

With the Argentine national team he won the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup and the Copa America in 1991 and 1993.

Also Batistuta represented Argentina at three FIFA World Cups in USA 1994, France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002.

He was awarded the bronze ball at the 1999 FIFA World Player of the Year award and the FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe at the 1998 World Cup.

June 11 and ending on July 11.

“Uefa has decided that the Euros should be postponed until 2021. It will be played from 11 June to 11 July next year,” the Norwegian FA tweeted.

This effectively means that for the first time ever, European nations will play a major tournament in an odd year.

The proposal was agreed during a video conference with all 55 of its affiliated national football federations and representatives of clubs, leagues, and players.

CLASSIFIED LOSS OF DOCUMENT

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R OF O) IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO.165 WITH FILE NO. CR 20601 MEASURING ABOUT 1400.00sqm LOCATED AT CADASTRAL ZONE B02 DURUMI. BELONGING TO THOMAS AGBOR ETTA. ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE IF FOUND KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR AGIS. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

This is to notify the general public of the loss of ORIGINAL OFFER OF TERMS OF GRANT/CONVEYANCE OF APPROVAL NO. KAC/FCDA/LP&S/MISC.6043 dated 16/5/2020 in respect of Plot No.CD-6 in Kuchiyako 111 District Layout,Kuje Area Council Abuja, issued in the name; LIVELY STONES INTERNATIONALCOMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED. Belonging to Mr.ADEBUSUYI BANJI STEPHEN. All efforts made to trace the lose document proved abortive.

If found please return to the nearest Police Station.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS Ifeoma Grace Ezenwa, Ifeoma Remy Anyanwu. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS Mrs Ifeoma Grace Okey Obiefule. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Gabriel Batistuta

Martins’ death: Pinnick charges committee to fashion out recommendations

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resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick yesterday inaugurated the ad-hoc committee set up by the football –governing body to investigate the death of Nasarawa United player Chineme Martins, charging the panel to come up with robust and sincere recommendations that will constitute the standard protocols for football organization in the country going forward.

“I am happy at the calibre of the people who make up the membership of this committee and I have no doubt you will come up with the right protocols that must be adhered to before any football match takes place anywhere in Nigeria. This is the time to make difficult decisions and I trust you to make them for us.

“Your job is a very serious one. You are free to tinker with the terms of reference and avail us the steps that will safeguard the future of our players in the areas of medical, safety and security.

We pray that the soul of Chineme Martins rest in peace but we are pained by his death and we must use it as a wake-up call to enforce compliance with the provisions of Club Licensing as well as the fresh medical and security protocols that this committee will draw up.”

Pinnick and members of the committee, as well as NFF Executive Committee member Aisha Falode who was present at the inauguration observed a one- minute silence in honour of the departed Chineme Martins, who slumped and died during

PAGE 31

This is to inform the General Public of the loss of original Application for Grant of a Statutory Right of Occupancy Acknowledgement with FILE NO. KDL/64466, covering Plot No. 1 Block ‘BT’ TPO,639A National Eye Center in the name of Yahaya M Isa dated 25th January 2004.

All efforts to trace the said documents proved abortive.If found please return to the nearest Police station or KADGIS.

Mrs Ifeoma

By Albert Akota

UEFA postpones Euro 2020 nion of European Football Associations, UEFA has postponed Euro 2020 until next summer, the Norwegian FA stated.

Euro 2020 was scheduled to begin on June 12 for one month, but the decision has been made to postpone the finals due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has wreaked havoc on the sporting calendar.

The tournament, which involves 24 nations and takes place across 12 host cities, will instead be played in the summer of 2021, starting on

r

PEOPLES DAILY, Wednesay march 18, 2020

Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick a Nigeria Professional Football League match between his club Nasarawa United and Katsina United at the Lafia City Stadium on Sunday, 8th March 2020.

Chairman of the committee, Dr. Peter Singabele, who is a member of the CAF committee on sports medicine, thanked the NFF President for the opportunity given the committee to take a very critical look at organization of football matches in Nigeria,

pledging that with the experience, energy, assiduity and sincerity of members, the committee will draw up recommendations that will ensure that such lapses as led to the unfortunate death of Chineme Martins never recur in the country’s football.

The committee will also visit Lafia City Stadium for similar checks, before concluding its work and submitting its report to the NFF President.

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SPORTS COVID-19: A virus redefining global economy latest

Coronavirua: Diamond League meetings postponed amid outbreak

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he first three meetings of the Diamond League season have been called off because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The events were scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar on 17 April, Shanghai on 16 May and another Chinese venue that was yet to be named, on 9 May. Organisers hope to stage the Shanghai meeting on 13 August.

No new dates for the other two meetings have been announced, but they could be held after the Diamond League final in Zurich in September.

Joshua, Pulev fight to be rearranged

A

nthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title fight against Kubrat Pulev on 20 June could be moved to July, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

The 30-year-old Briton is due to defend his WBA, WBO and IBF belts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“We do have a potential date in July but, right now, we are hoping June 20 can remain the date,” Matchroom Boxing’s.

Advert: business: news: lagos:

G

ood enough, Nigerian government and its people have shown tremendous and commendable acts by its timely and effective response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

For the second time in a row, the Nigerian system has proven its readiness and capacity to respond to dire health emergencies and to protect the Nigerian citizens We are witnessing developed and seemingly sophisticated nations of the world struggling to curtail the spread of the virus as their populations are being ravished by the pandemic; yet, the report and the reality from the world most populated Africa nation, expected to experience a catastrophic hit by the epidemic has not only been positive but equally surprising.

The U.S. death toll has climbed to at least 60 as confirmed cases in the country approach 3,000; trades are drastically dropping in the country as retailers are cutting hours or totally closing shops in the face of the virus. A travel ban from euro-state into the country means a great deal of negativity not only to America but the global community; but one we cannot dispute or condemn.

When the government said it was ready for the virus attack, many of us, including myself, were not totally convinced, but the speed and accuracy of containment of the virus in Nigeria has boldly, once again, shown that the country is indeed great and capable of greater things, if only we would put our house in order.

I feel elated wth the current recognition and position of respect Nigeria enjoys among nations and international health organisations. Just few days ago, the World Health Organization used Nigeria as a case study on how to best handle the spread of coronavirus across hard hit zones. That is a positive and the kind of things we want to hear and continue hearing about our country.

Globally, what has now become more worrisome, even more than the physical, health attack by the virus and its continuous spread globally, is its impact across national and global economies.

If being contented with becoming zero infected with the virus is enough for us, without taking stock of the economic implications of the pandemic and be adequately prepared to insulate our systems to reduce the economic shock rampaging nations - connected to the global economy - as a result of the virus, we might end up being a greater victim despite overcoming physical affronts of the virus.

The world is currently discussing the coronavirus (Covid-19) shock; businesses are nose-diving. The virus is roaring and threatening to push the globe into recession.

The globe is witnessing a disastrous plunge in oil prices; the devastating collapse of the hospitality industry, an industry responsible for almost 10 percent of global businesses, due to collapse and ban of air travels and global tourism, is hitting hard on global economic survival.

It is becoming clearer that major industries such as the energy, hospitality and auto would experience a major attack as companies are experiencing hard times repaying loans leading to a hell lot of rating downgrades that may eventually shut down the global financial market.

Altogether, we are looking at a compounded economic shock if an end does not come to the pandemic soonest. Also, sporting activities, another key global industry has been halted indefinitely; companies are laying off staffs at an alarming rate. The ban on flight from Europe to the U.S., already announced by the U.S. authority is taking its toll; some airlines like the Norwegian Air has already mule temporal laying off of up to half of its workforce. Likewise major football

0806 564 8620 0704 385 9705 0814 292 9046 08074420617

WEDNESDAY COLUMN By

USSIJU MEDANER info@medaner.com, justme4justice@yahoo.com leagues and other notable events have been indefinitely suspended The potential for a global systemic risk is on the high and staring the globe in the face. Oil price is plummeting, dropping by as much as 50 percent since January; yes, this is a fallout of the alliance between major producers, who had till now chose to prevent flooding of the global oil market. Right now, producers who depend on existing higher prices to manage their loans and continue drilling for oil are definitely under significant pressure because of the economic strain imposed by the coronavirus invasion of nations.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) raised an alarm over the fear of nationals’ significant drop in growth rates. The Airline industry alone has been estimated to lose $29 billion according to the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), and the truth is that that figure is very conservative; we are actually been faced with a scenario more worrisome.

Looking at China, dubbed as the world factory, in its current state of near total lockdown, it has been estimated by Standard Chartered that close to 42 percent of the country’s economy could be affected. If and when China is attacked, what nation would literarily not share in the effect considering the trade interrelations of nations and most nations’ unhealthy dependence on China?

Another research work is not so gentle with its use of words; it states “Coronavirus is going global, and it could bring the world economy to a standstill.” With significant outbreak from South Korea to Iran and Italy; and then panicking and reports of casualties in the U.S. and several other high ranking nations, we are facing potential economy fallout.

The research by Tom Orlik, Jamie Rush and Jinshan Hong and published on Bloomberg feared the fallout could include recessions in the U.S., Euro-area and Japan; and forecast a total of $2.7trillion in lost output - a figure equivalent to the entire GDP of the U.K. All these happening in the international scene, but then can we quickly debunk the theory of the world becoming a global village; if all these are happening and/or forecast to happen if the pandemic is not brought under total control, how safe is our economy?

Already, the symptoms of attacks on our economy is boldly staring us in the face.

Already, the raging global fight against the virus coupled with oil price crash has triggered dollar shortage in the country and we are already paying more for dollar as the naira got weakened.

Nigeria businesses are losing rapidly because importation from China has been curtailed. It suddenly dawn on us that despite all government move toward import reduction, we are still extremely over dependent on China. For a fact, the country is responsible for about 25 percent of all our total exports. How then can we stay unaffected, when our sources are falling? By extension and direct implication, we cannot be economically untouched.

The last six years have been a very trying period for the nation’s economy; we had suffered a paralysing recession that we barely survived and are currently rebuilding; attacks on nations we do business with are indirectly attacks on us. It is high time we mapped out strategies to effectively deal with all expected and already existing economic fallouts from the pandemic.

Of equal important as the measures we have in place to fight the virus invasion in the country is the need to device and immediately deploys proactive measures to insulate Nigerian economy against shocks due to the present global meltdown.

Already, we have seen our economic growth projection for the year 2020 cut to 2% from 2.5% due to plunging oil prices and it is becoming very certain that even if the crude price recovers, we would still need in the range of three months to fully clear our production backlog. Currently, holding 50 unsold cargo of crude at our terminals, our only saving grace would be a recovery and at worst, we should wish that the price seize falling.

There is already a strain on our nation’s budget; plan to adjust the budget is being mulled. Capital development plans may have to be altered along with the capacity of the government to execute its projected plans for the calendar year. We might end up facing a new regime of inflation and a greater strain on the purchasing power of the citizens.

But I still feel somehow at peace. If we were able to paddle safely through the recession of the 2015 and 2016; if we were able to handle the Ebola virus despite naysayers predictions of doom; if compare to greater nations of the world, currently, we have our head above the waters in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, then, we are more than able to surmount whatever challenges we may face in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Talking about proactive measures to stave off imminent economic crisis, the U.S. and China have reportedly administered short-term policies into their respective economies in the sector that matter most: the financial market. The U.S. Federal Reserve has not only injected $700 billion into the market by purchasing target securities but also cutting its benchmark interest rate to around zero percent. China, on the other hand, through its central bank has also injected 100 billion yuan (about $14 billion) into the Chinese financial market apparently to maintain short-term liquidity. After these interventions, it however gladdens my heart to learn of the CBN’s 5-point policy measures which include directing deposit money banks to restructure loan terms for businesses and sectors vulnerable to the pandemic.

It should also be considered that it is most likely for more businesses to be affected directly or indirectly in the next 12 months; necessitating a special funding mechanism as well as a new loan term structure altogether - distinct from all existing transactions that are billed for restructuring. The brewing oil war between Russia and Saudi Arabia (both with combined foreign reserves of over $400 billion) to crash oil prices further requires CBN and the newly constituted superb economic team of Mr President brace up the

the challenge that is beyond restructuring existing transactions.

Since CBN has assured the business community of a special consideration in this pandemic times, our policy drivers should also consider suspending flights from coronavirushit countries. Other African countries have already taking this cautious step.

It is not my wish in any way that the infection rate should increase above the single index case recorded so far in the country which has been satisfactorily managed. However, a further healthy propositional consideration should be that if we were to record 5 more cases - I will even suggest 3 cases - extreme containment plan should be designed right now and widely publicised beforehand, which in itself, will help to promote awareness and needed precautions among citizens. The measures should include a 6-month ban on all public gathering (religious and public schooling activities not exempted); a definitive all-border closure including suspension of all flight operations with an exception for critical services; government-sanctioned social distancing; and a commitment (government) to fund mass production/supply of hand sanitisers and face masks to be distributed for free or at a subsidised amount to the public.

This suggest complements existing formidable national health preparedness which includes its commendable testing facilities. The cost of executing this simple measure, a mere plan, is far less compared to that of a possible 5 case situation. Countries badly hit, at the onset, discounted the above precautionary measures; and today, they are all frantic at curbing the pandemic.

Finally, I would offer this piece of advice to all Nigerians; regardless of our differing affiliations and persuasions, let us rally round the government to survive the scar together. For the sworn enemies of the current Administration, if it remains an aberration to repent, you can desist from operation for a season. We would gain nothing by speaking different languages now; rather we would be destroying the nation. A reminder here is that Covid-19 has no known cure for now and some health authorities have noted the mutant nature of the virus whereby some patients earlier treated tested positive again therefore there is need to procure sophisticated air purifier with technologies with 99.99% success of killing not only the corona virus but also a number of less deadly viruses and airborne bacteria with over 360,000 units installed in locations in South Korea alone( so as curtail the spread of corona vvirus and other deadly airborne bacteria).

May God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and infinitely aid us to survive this current global attack on all fronts.

DAN Dan GAYE gaYE

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So self serving!

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